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BWCA Adventure

Willie

Willie

PMA Member
Me and a buddy are heading for the BWCA this summer the week of July 4th. We're going to make a base camp in the federal campgrounds on Fall Lake just NE of Ely, MN. We'll take a few day trips and do one overnight trip to spend some time with the bears
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. Should be a blast and can't wait to go.

Does anyone here have any plans that include the BWCA this summer? If so, where are you going?
 
Willie that sounds like a great trip. My wife has been to the Boundary Waters canoeing before we where married and would like to go back. I will be looking into a trip with my family in the near future.
 
I did this once, really fun.

I also found my first and only moose shed on that trip! Very Lucky!
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I've never canoed the area, but have talked to a lot of people that have. Heard nothing but good things, other than who didn't carry their weight during portages. Let me know what you think of the Superior National Forest area just south of there, I'm still working on a bear hunt there in 2006.
 
Wilie, Don't forget the misquito spray. There vicisous! It is a beautiful place and someday I will go back with my boys. I've lost count how many times me & my dad went together. I have lots of memories from up there. Good luck and have fun.
 
Speaking of skeeters has anyone used a product called Thermacell. They claim it's an odorless mosquito repellent. Below is an overview from a website I found today.

Creates a "cell of protection". Great for hunting, fishing & camping. Cordless, powered by butane cartridge that heats a chemically treated repellent mat. 50 times more active ingredients than coils & citronella candles. Covers 225 sq. ft. Keeps mosquitoes away for up to 12 hours.

One booth had them at the Classic this spring - I think they're around $25. Our outfitter, who's actually from Iowa, suggested a good head net too.
 
Boundary Water Canoe Trip

During the July 4th holiday week three buddies and I headed off for Ely, MN for a weeklong fishing trip. We had a great time, great weather, a little hot at times but we always seemed to catch just enough fish to eat a shore lunch when we wanted to. We took my camper up to Fall Lake Campgrounds - what an awesome campground. They just spent $3M in that park over the last two years and it shows. We made base camp from there and took off in regular boats and motors for two days of fishing on some of the local lakes. We were able to portage the boats and motors the second day with the help of some wheels. The third day we set out for our overnight canoe trip to Ella Hall Lake. To get there we had to take a two mile portage, again we had wheels for the canoes and all our gear. We had roughly 300 yds of water to walk thru thanks to the beavers damning up a small stream. The portage took a little over an hour, but the walking wasn’t too difficult. Ella Hall Lake is named after a lady who lived on the lake but who drowned. On one of the islands on the lake lays a tombstone for her grave. This lake is around 400 acres so we we’re able to fish a majority of it. We were the only people on the lake – talk about seclusion. We made camp and were fishing by 10:30. After catching a few smallmouths we headed back for lunch. The afternoon gave us lower 90’s and a blistering sun. We decided to take some naps in the afternoon and head out later for some additional fishing. Supper that night was again smallmouth fillets with a northern mixed in too. Can’t beat fresh fish especially from those clear waters. That evening the sunset was spectacular and the stars after sunset were awesome. I woke up at 4:00 the next morning to a pack of wolves howling – a thrill to hear but yet a little eerie as well. Breakfast was served early that morning and we cleaned camp up and tried to pack everything back in the packs like the outfitter had done. Man those guys can pack a bunch of stuff! The weather looked like rain so we headed back to the outfitter instead of fishing that morning. Man, I’m glad we did that. We paddled against a 20mph head wind all the way home and just beat the rain. Nonetheless a fantastic trip with good friends. We had no real schedules, cell phones only when we wanted them on and no alarm clocks. Great campfires every night and a cocktail or two to go with it helps a guy settle down from the stress of everyday life. The Boundary Waters is something every outdoorsman/women should try to do once in their life. The scenery is awesome, and the seclusion (if you want it) is second to none. If anyone is interested our outfitter was PackSack Canoe Trips in the nearby town of Winton, only a few miles from Ely. They are former Iowa residents and are great people.

Following are some photos.....

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been in that general area twice. stayed away from the canoe areas. didn't want that much work, and wanted to cover more territory. also, almost killed our "guide" too many cocktails. definately a trip worth taking a few times in life
 
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