Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Reports :: Trip Report - The Gunflint Shows Its Beauty, Again
|
Author | Message Text | ||
Boppa |
By any chance will you be spending another summer working on the Gunflint? Just trying to gauge how envious I should be. Take care, Boppa |
||
nolanbunch |
|
||
Boppa |
Thanks for your comments on the trip report. Yes, we find Canton to be a nice place to have raised our family. New Britain is only 20 minutes away, and I spent a lot of time at CCSU, of course it all was in the library, LOL. Envy your last 20 something years, you have made some good choices yourself. Boppa |
||
Boppa |
|
||
Boppa |
Trip Name: The Gunflint Shows Its Beauty, Again. Entry Point: 47 Click Here to View Trip Report |
||
Koda |
|
||
gutmon |
|
||
ducks |
As you know, we were there right before you and your report brings back great memories of our trip. Some comments on a couple of things in your report. "timing is everything" NO DOUBT. we left Rockwood at 6:45 like you and didn't see anyone on a portage or on the water until we got to the Gaskin side of the portage from Horseshoe. On the way out we got to the portage from Lizz to Poplar around 9:00 and encountered 3 groups that were going in. An early start makes a big difference. We were also worried about seeing a lot of people in this area but did not see too many at all and I think you had even fewer than us. There were some people on the messageboard that were there earlier in Aug. and said that all the campsites from Caribou to Gaskin were occupied. "sounding like a broken record" Totally understand, we loved the area and thought all of the small lakes were very beautiful too. We are definitely going to return to the area again. Base camping on Caribou or Horseshoe would be a great trip when we start taking our little girls. Koda, site #628 on Gaskin is a definite 5 star. |
||
TomT |
It's amazing that you travel so far to be able to do this but really seem to have it down. Looks like you found a good outfitter too. Thanks for the report! |
||
Koda |
|
||
alpine525 |
|
||
Spartan2 |
I thoroughly enjoyed your excellent report and kept wondering why there weren't more photos! Now I understand! That is really unfortunate, but the squirrel photo is a masterpiece! As you know, we were in the BW the exact same six days you were, only we were in the Sawbill area, so we enjoyed those beautiful sunny days also. It was a perfect time to be canoe-tripping this year. But. . .the trip you took is a favorite of mine. We have seen moose on Horseshoe several times, and that campsite on Vista is one that I particularly love. We also have enjoyed a couple of sites on Caribou. Reading about your trip brought back some lovely memories. Thanks. |
||
onajourney |
We left the Thursday after Labor Day and saw at least 6 groups going into Lizz - one group was just a day trip, but the others were definately staying. Hmmmmmmm - seems like the permit numbers just don't jive. |
||
Boppa |
Koda - We enjoy visiting and evaluating empty campsites. At some point this winter I will post our findings in the map section on this site. We were able to visit most campsites. gutmon - I certainly can understand your desire to return to this area, it offers so much. When you return I hope the weather Gods are as kind to you. Spartan2 - We remembered you were in the BW at the same time, just weren't sure of your whereabouts. We commented on knowing you and Spartan1 were also enjoying the wonderful weather. Thanks for your remark on the squirrel picture, you are kind as so many other shots were missed. I actually think the squirrel would have climbed aboard if offered the paddle to walk up. Also, pleased it renewed memories. That Vista site is certainly a nice goal, pleased we were lucky enough to enjoy it. Ducks - I agree with your wanting to return to this area, so do we. I think it offers a great introduction to the BW for kids. In fact there is a chance we may have our granddaughter on next summers trip. Inspired by Kiporby's success no doubt. Hope your family gets to enjoy it next year as well. kanoes - Thanks, you are right on about that squirrel being lucky that no Pike were hungry. What surprised me most was that this squirrel swam because it wanted to. It jumped in the water and swam towards us to check us out, never having seen this before I/we were surprised at it's apparent comfort with the water. Boppa |
||
rlhedlund |
|
||
Koda |
|
||
SunCatcher |
Thanks for the wonderful report, enjoyed thw squirrel story, Moose encounter, Eagle sqwacking, and bear swimming parts. You make a long journey and it must take some coordination to pull that all off. Thank you for the pics and sharing and hope all goes well in 2010. SunCatcher |
||
bobby726 |
Next time, try the campsite on Caribou directly across from the portage to Horseshoe. The site isn't the best, but it's okay. The fishing from shore is really good! |
||
Boppa |
I found the fishing on Banadad good. It took me a day to locate, but then it was fine,(10-15 deep). The Northern's were enchanted with jigs + grubs. Did very well with smallies in the narrow part of the lake. I never did fish Rush. Boppa |
||
RoJoYo |
|
||
Boppa |
rlhedlund - Thanks, while it was the easiest trip that we have taken in the BW it was very satisfying one. You cannot go wrong with it as a choice. We have never seen so many nice campsites on three lakes to choose from. We do look forward to your next trip report. TomT - Thanks, yes, Daisy was the highlight for us and the no rain experience was very special. The BWCAW is such a special place, it is worth the extra effort to get there. Rockwood Outfitters came highly recommended to us two years ago by Bannock on this site. We certainly concur with him. Koda - Your guess is as good as any, it truly was the 1st time we have seen a squirrel swim. It swam quite well and willingly - it was a hoot. alpine525 - Thanks, pleased it brought back great memories. Wildlife viewing enriches a trip immeasurably for us as well. Boppa |
||
ducks |
Thanks |
||
Boppa |
We have not done Meeds but ran into two groups that did fish there and both found the Walleye fishing the best that they encountered on their trips. While we often stay at a site for two nights, we really enjoy paddling slowly and quietly around to check things out and often do day trips to surrounding lakes. It gives us a sense of the character of each lake that we are on. Agree, that the Lizz entry seems to attract more than the allotted number, and from the packs being carried they certainly don't seem to be day tripping - Hmmmmmmmmmm. Boppa |
||
Boppa |
First, we would do both trips again as they both offered enjoyable but different experiences. You have already noted the obvious differences. The Skipper portage (Poplar to Skipper) is not difficult, just long. The portage from Skipper to Little Rush is the stream connecting them, you will probably need to walk part of it at the Skipper end. We were told this year by our outfitter that the FS moved the portage a tad from Little Rush to Rush to avoid the muck created by the beaver activity on Rush, so it should be better. The factor that made this trip tougher than expected was the wind. We had above normal wind conditions and these lakes with their West to East orientation meant going in, we paddled into it. While never in danger it was an effort to contend with. Another comparison is that there are fewer campsites till you get to Long Island Lake, but of course there should be fewer trippers as well. Also from Banadad you go Sebeka to Ross to Cave Lakes, which is roughly 550 rods, until you come to a lake (Long Island Lake) with a campsite. This makes for two days of long travel. On our trip list we hope to take this way and continue to loop out through a number of lake choices and exit out at #47. It certainly offers a lot. If any other questions don't hesitate to ask or E-mail. Thanks for your compliments. Boppa |
||
Boppa |
Thanks for your comments and the heads up on the fishing at that site. We hope to return that way. SunCatcher, While it does indeed take some coordination, it should be properly described as a "labor of love" for me. Hope your plans for 2010 work out well. Boppa |
||
lilcowdoc |
|
||
kanoes |
|
||
ducks |
If we entered at Skipper we would base camp on either Rush or Banadad. Sounds like the northern peninsula site on Rush or western island site on Banadad would be the ones to shoot for. Our entertainment would probably be fishing Rush/Banadad, hiking the Banadad Trail, daytrip towards Long Island. What did you think of the fishing on Rush and Banadad? There must be some decent fishing there, I think it was Mickeal that posted he's gone there a bunch of times (around 20 maybe) for the fishing. A strong desire to see Johnson Falls has us leaning towards an East Bearskin entry to Alder or Canoe, but we really liked the small lakes through Lizz and the convenience of pushing off right from the beach a Rockwood after a night in the bunkhouse makes Skipper sounds like a good option too. |
||
jb in the wild |
|