Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: Route suggestions for Scout Trip (Gunflint)
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Jackfish |
My entire point is the COUNCIL contracting with a private outfitter. IMO, a BSA council should only outfit their high adventure activities with official BSA facilities. Former council high adventure chairman here in eastern Wisconsin. We only outfitted through Northern Tier. If Troops wanted to outfit privately, we would help any way that we could - training, etc. - but they were on their own to make their arrangements. |
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Lionelhutz |
From my perspective, it was not the cost of Northern Tier, but the lack of availability. Northern Tier is booked for the majority of 2021, and all of june/july/august. We lost our 2020 summer HA trip to Summit due to Covid. I have a group of soon to be 9th graders that are on the cusp of Eagle, have not been able to take a HA trip, and EW likely to be pulled in numerous directions in high school, my son included. I wanted to be able to offer them a trip in the summer of 2021. Northern Tier was not available. Our Council high adventure team provides a "guide/interpret" to join us and contracts with an outfitter on the gunflint trail for canoes, paddles, vests, any a la carte rental, shuttle service to the EPs and a shower. I believe the Scouting experience we will be able to offer under this model to be quite comparable to that which Northern Tier offers. At this point in time, I would also prefer to see our Troop's $$$ going to our council, rather than the national organization, and in turn, plaintiff's attorneys. Sad to say it, but I believe the days are numbered for national's crown jewels - Philmont, Summit (terrible idea to begin with), and all the Norman Rockwell paintings. |
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mmarksnp |
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floatstanley |
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mmarksnp |
If you want to go to Northern Tier and you have some flexibility in your start dates, you can do it. The long time registrar Kevin recently left and I do not know the name of the new one, but I am sure his replacement will able to help. I am a strong believer in taking Scouts to the National High Adventure Bases (except summit, I agree with the earlier post). Feel free to contact me offline. YiS Michael |
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mirth |
floatstanley: "Float doesn't care how you outfit your trip but wants to make sure that everyone has a proper life jacket and wears it at all times when on the water. :)" Glad you were able to make a trip with me & my Scouts, Float! =) Up the Gunflint there are lots of options. I agree that you want to have a rest day in there just in case you have to burn it for bad weather, etc. Sea Gull -> Alpine -> Red Rock -> Saganaga -> Sea Gull is an option that still gets you away but remains close enough to civilization. Granite River is another one that you could do. You didn't say when you're planning, but parts of the river are blanketed with blueberries if you hit the season right. I just experienced the Vento unit last fall, and a short loop through any of those lakes would be some good adventure for your Scouts. Interesting that your council has a program like that. I know our summer camp has a high adventure program that partners with local outfitters for things if needed. I went thru NTier for a winter trek & highly recommend that as an option for someone who is looking for a trip that can also count towards the Triple Crown and Grand Slam awards. Also, the fact that they will nearly completely outfit you for winter camping is a good value for your program dollars IMO. I hope to do a soft water trek thru NTier in 2023 for the 100th anniversary. YIS |
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thegildedgopher |
Lionelhutz: "At this point in time, I would also prefer to see our Troop's $$$ going to our council, rather than the national organization, and in turn, plaintiff's attorneys. " Ding ding ding ding. Let him outfit his troop as he sees fit. |
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fishonfishoff |
I would advise to allow one layover day, small lakes, and let the Scouts make many of the decisions on the trip agenda. Let all the Scouts portage the canoe at least one time, if possible. Let the Scouts do the map reading, cook the food, etc. Rent aluminum canoes instead of kevlar ones. When you go with adults, then rent the kevlars. Just my two cents, FISHONFISHOFF |
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Lionelhutz |
In late July, I will be leading my son's Boy Scout Troop on a trip. We will have 4-5 Scouts and three adults. The Scouts will be engaged in the route planning for a 5 night trip, but I'd like to offer them some options from which they can decide. I'd welcome any suggestions to add to my own research. Our council's high adventure team contracts with Tuscarora outfitters so we could be looking at a Gunflint Lake EP. Thank you for any suggestions and best wishes on your own trips this summer! |
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mmarksnp |
Day 1: Enter by Tuscarora outfitters at 51 or 50. Head south to first night on Frost Lake. Day 2: Frost River and end day with 300 Rod uphill portage to Hub for 2nd night. Day 3 Exit Hub to the south and go through Mesaba, Chaser, Dent (good chance of moose siting in this stretch) Bug and Louse river all the way down to Malberg. Trail lake is a good spot for lunch. Day 4: Exit Malberg to the north east and follow Kawishiwi to Little Sag for night 4. Day 5: Little Sag to Tuscarora Day 6. Back to entry. Mapping it out it is about 53 miles with 10 miles of portaging (more if you consider all the beaver dams on the Frost. This is a glorious remote trip. We did most of this as part of a 10 day trip a couple of years ago. The back to back Frost and Louse days are tough but stand out as about the best I have experienced in the BWCA |
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Michwall2 |
Option 1: Seagull Lake Entry 54. Day 1 Seagull to Ogishkemuncie. Day 2 - Day trip to Mueller Falls. Day 3 Ogishkemuncie to SAK (Thunderpoint area). Enjoy Eddy Falls along the way. Day 4 SAK to Ester Lake. Day 5 Ester to Saganaga Lake. Day 6 Saganaga Lake out. Option 2: Lizz Lake Entry 47 - Starts on Poplar Lake Day 1 Poplar to Gaskin Lake. Horseshoe is moose viewing central in the BW. Day 2 Day trip to Winchell Lake. Climb the cliffs and find the waterfall on the south shore. Day 3 Gaskin to Long Island Lake. The east end of LIL has a couple nice campsites. Day 4 - Day trip to Frost Lake - Golden sand beaches and better than average moose sighting chances. Day 5 LIL to Banadad Lake - Very remote route. Lots of challenge today. Very nice Campsite on the west end island of Banadad. Day 5. Back to Poplar through Skipper Lake. Option 3 - Would you consider a start off the Sawbill Trail? Entry 38 - Sawbill Lake. Day 1 Sawbill to Cherokee Lake. Day 2 - Day trip to Frost Lake (see above). Day 3 - Cherokee Lake to South Temperance Lake. Day 4 - Day trip to Brule if the wind allows. The northwest corner has an impressive rock scramble. Day 5 - South Temperance to Kelly Lake. Stop and see the abandoned gold mine between Jack and Kelly Lake. Day 6 - Kelly to Sawbill Lake. Hope this helps. |
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Jackfish |
Lionelhutz: "Our council's high adventure team contracts with Tuscarora outfitters so we could be looking at a Gunflint Lake EP. " This is interesting. Your council contracts with a private outfitter instead of the BSA's own Northern Tier High Adventure base? I know there are Troops who, for varying reasons, decide to outfit through a private outfitter. I just find it odd that the council would choose to officially contract with a private outfitter when there is a National High Adventure base right there. Good luck in your trip planning. I hope your Scouts develop a lifelong love of paddling canoe country. |
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mmarksnp |
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burrow1 |
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straighthairedcurly |
13 and 14 years will do best if you pick a loop such as EP 51 Missing Link and then do a short loop that ends up back at Cross Bay Lake (EP 50). The lakes are small as you know from being in that area, so they can learn to paddle the canoes without getting too off track. The portages offer some challenges without being too onerous. Snipe is usually a pretty quiet lake (and beautiful) because most people drop down into Tuscarora. You have options to add distance if needed, but can also basecamp and take day trips. Older or more experienced boys can handle some added challenges. Seagull entry, head over to Ogish. Or EP 62 Clearwater, make your way over to Pine Lake, visit Johnson Falls. You could extend this route by going in at EP 60 Duncan Lake, go to Rose Lake (Rose Falls) do the long portage into Rove, Watap, and drop south into Clearwater then go to Caribou, Little Caribou, Pine, Johnson Falls, and back out through either Clearwater or East Bearskin. Since you will have multiple vehicles, you can just shuttle one to leave wherever you will come out. |
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Lionelhutz |
Yours in Scouting! |
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rtallent |
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mmarksnp |
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straighthairedcurly |
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