I'm heading up through EP 16 in less than 2 weeks, and have been watching the weather predictions for the Ely area. I've understood that at this time of the year the water levels are low, but I haven't seen much for rain either in the recent past or predicted over the next 10 days.

I've also heard that this year is one of the hottest on record, although the current temps look very normal for Ely.

A couple of questions:
I've expected the bugs to be mostly thinned out by 8/22+. With the warm, dry weather, is that still expected or is it going to tend to be buggier than normal?

Also, are water levels lower than normal and how much does it take to bring them up a bit? I only see 1 day in the next 10 with more than a 30% chance of rain predicted. (Which unfortunately means the next big storm will likely hit when I'm up there.)

Benutzer-I'll guarantee you'll get rain as I'll be in the wilderness August 19-20.

Bugs-there will be some but probably not too bad with the exception of the bees. This time of year the bees are starting to look for food with so few flowers, watch your drinks and food for them and bring an epi pen if you think anyone may react to a sting. I doubt it is buggier than normal-if anything the dry weather may make for fewer mosquitos.

Moose River is usually not impacted to much by low water. It may create an extra portage or two, the beaver dams may be problematic but you wil have plenty of paddleable water.

Enjoy the trip and pack the bug dope and rain gear. You never know how much you might need them.

The bugs weren't too bad on our trip, but we did have one evening when they chased us into our tents about 9pm, and we then went to sleep to a constant skeeter buzzing drone. The other nights were all okay, though, and we were able to enjoy the sunsets and campfires (we were actually in the crownland just east of Sag). The water did seem to be low, about 2 ft off the high water mark. Not sure how that correlates to 'normal' for August.

Do the bugs tend to be better or worse in bushwack areas? I seem to remember they were worse, but that could be because we bushwacked through a couple of swamps last time (years ago).

How much rain does it take to bring the water levels up? Couple of days or more like a week's worth of downpour?

I'm not sure what I'd wish for if given the opportunity, less chance of getting stuck in the muck, or more and longer portages? I'm just curious as to what I might expect.

Bugs in bushwack areas-I think you hit it on the nose Benutzer it depends on the surroundings. Certainly stagnant pools of swampy water will be bad, but deep spring fed lakes may have fewer bugs than the regular routes. Of course one of the reason many areas are bushwacks is becasue of the difficult terrain including low lying swampy areas. So in most bushwacks you will find more bugs.

It will take a good week or more of rain to bring water levels back to higher levels. Remember one thing though. When people see high water marks on rocks surrounding lakes and say water is down 2 feet-the water level they are comparing to is the highest it gets. The normal level of a lake is usually a foot or so below the high water mark so water levels are probably not down as far as some are reporting. Even so I suspect it will take a good week of steady rain to bring water levels back to what might be considered the "average" level of a lake. This is pretty typical for this time of year though that water levels will be at their lowest going into fall and winter.

Sounds like I should definitely bring the headnet and plan on seeing more bugs than I'd expected, since we'll be spending a great deal of time away from maintained portages.

Unless the predictions are way off, doesn't look like there'll be a week of rain prior to going in. Odds are, the rain will happen once I get there. ;-)

Thanks!