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voyager
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I looked for a trail to Solitude from 3 Eagles and could find none. There is a trail right from Ima. It's been a few years. All I remember is a downed tree right where I wanted to land, which made it tricky, and someone had done some recent cutting to make the trail a bit easier. I was solo and caught no fish, but I'm the world's worst fisherman. I didn't see any great spots to camp if I recall.
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JLand
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Anyone ever been into Solitude lake in the Spider PMA? We are basecamping for 5 nights 4 days on Ima in late September. My buddy and I are planning on making the walk back in to Solitude Lake either way and depending on how the route is, trying to get a canoe back there.
Has anyone ever been back there? I’ve heard the portage from the other side (Three Eagle Lake) May be easier but I figure if I’m base camping on Ima for that long I can bushwhack at it in segments across my several days if I gets tough.
Any insight? I will post a trip update either way.
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Ausable
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I hope that you can reach Solitude Lake. You would be the first person I know of on this board to report on that lake.
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Ausable
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voyager: "I looked for a trail to Solitude from Spider and could find none. There is a trail right from Ima. It's been a few years. All I remember is a downed tree right where I wanted to land, which made it tricky, and someone had done some recent cutting to make the trail a bit easier. I was solo and caught no fish, but I'm the world's worst fisherman. I didn't see any great spots to camp if I recall."
Where does the trail to Solitude start on Ima?
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JLand
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I just checked back in and saw all of your responses! It’s good to hear someone has made it back there before. I wish drones were allowed in bwca as I’d take mine with just to use if I make it back there and get some video of the lake.
To the person who fished the lake briefly, any memory of the structure? Shallow and weedy, or deep? I’ll try to bring a variety back in, it’d be nice to have the first confirmed catch on the lake!
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voyager
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Notice my edit : changed Spider lake to 3 Eagles. As for exact coordinates I rarely ever carried a GPS so I can't help with that. I always explored with the premise that explorers of the past, or present, don't want to portage any further than they have to. IF! my recollection is correct ( it may have been 8-10 yrs. ago), the portage ended at the eastern most bay ( of the 2 southern bays of Solitude L). I cruised the shoreline on Ima and it was at the shortest point. I think I went ashore at times to check. If things haven't changed it should be fairly obvious.
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straighthairedcurly
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I'm excited to hear how it goes. We are taking our 1st foray into a PMA in August. Your plan sounds like a good way to try it.
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DanSolo
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I've done a little recon from both Three Eagle Lake and from Ima Lake. Like Voyager mentions, there is an obvious canoe landing. I tried Solitude from Ima Lake I think 2 years ago. Three Eagle attempt was in 2015. From the landing the point on Ima Lake, the trail was obliterated not 50 feet from the lakes shoreline. Been a huge amount of blowdown in this area. I have video of both attempts from Three Eagle and Solitude posted on the web -- just Google "Solitude Lake BWCA" and you will find it. The photo under the heading "Failed Bushwhack Attempt from Ima Lake" on the page shows the canoe landing I found clearly visible from the lake. Just left of a couple of huge boulders. Not positive same one Voyager mentions, but it was most obvious when I was there.
Hope you make it as I'd really like to see that lake.
P.S. I attached photo of where I landed on Ima. 
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