Has anyone here camped on Ham Lake? It's out of the BW, but on the way to the Cross Bay Lake EP (#50). I was thinking, depending on the time we arrived up north, that we could go out onto Ham Lake and spend the night on the day before our permit, since Ham isn't in the BW. Then we'd be sure to be getting an early start the next day, and it would kind of be like extending the trip.

Although we have never camped on Ham, we have been through there many times. It's a nice little lake. The only issue I can see with your plan is what would you do if all of the sites on Ham are taken? Ham Lake is close to Trails End Campground - so hopefully you could find space there if you needed to.

I dunno...it'd be a gamble! ;-)

I think we'd be there mid-week so it would be a risk I'm willing to take. Not sure about my trip partner yet, though.

Well good luck - once you get past Ham, you will be in a very beautiful part of the BW. Cross Bay is intimate (watch out for the submerged rocks) and you might see moose if you paddle quietly. We did - more than once. Have fun and enjoy!

Nojo.....I think it is a safe idea. If by chance it is full, it's not that far back out and then zip in to Tusc Outfitters and see if they can't squeeze you into a bunk for the night. Maybe call ahead and run that by Sue......just a thought.

I'd guess that mid-week you'd probably be OK. Anybody going in on, say a Wednesday, is pretty likely to paddle past Ham L. If someone's exiting, Ham lake being the not far from the EP, you'd think that they'd keep going and exit unless weather or daylight made them stop on Ham. I spent a last night of the trip, on Ham 2 years ago, at site 550, which is where the Ham Lake Fire started. Kinda creepy. We were trying to get closer to the take-out and that was the last site open on a Friday night. I like to enter mid-week, or on a Sunday, it seems to kind of thin the traffic out a little most of the time. Have fun, it is a pretty area.

Nojo, I have been thru Ham at least a half-dozen times, usually later in the afternoon and looking for a campsite, and I have only been skunked once. Those were all weekdays.

quote Kevlar: "Nojo, I have been thru Ham at least a half-dozen times, usually later in the afternoon and looking for a campsite, and I have only been skunked once. Those were all weekdays. "

What did you do the time you got skunked?

Kept going and got a campsite on the next lake...I had a permit for the day I entered, so I was legal.

I think it's a great idea, long as you have time to drive there and get your permit before heading in to paddle.

Cross Bay was my very first EP/BW trip and it was a good one. Yes to moose (and moose hunters) and nice water. Initially the paddles were much shorter than I imagined before the portages, but then I got used to the scale a bit better. I remember some really rocky landings, but that could just be because it was my first time up there. Funny what sticks in your brain. It was pretty territory.

Cross Bay Lake is indeed a good spot for wildlife sightings!

The third picture is another reason I think twice about my choice of attire for swimming!

bello - That is one big turtle!

Yeah, it's beauty! You don't see too many that big.

Bello...in the first pic, are those otters?

bello- Great photos. What time of year was this? We've seen otters in the fall. Very curious and humorous to watch.

Otter,Moose, and Turtle all on same trip in July, 2008. Otter and Moose on the way in, turtle coming out. All in Cross Bay Lake, I think.

quote bellolake: "Cross Bay Lake is indeed a good spot for wildlife sightings! "

That picture is going to haunt me everytime I go for a swim...

That last picture reminds me of the ugly snapper we found in our front flowerbed once when I was in high school ... wilderness is NOT a requirement for big nasty turtles!!! The thing was at least 2 1/2' long, looked like a freaking dinosaur!

Oh my, look at the rear leg on that snapper. Gigantic.

I hope I see these fellas up there. ;-)

Given the size and the moss growing on it's shell, I'd bet that turtle is 100 years old. Cool pics Bello! Thanks for posting.