Isabella River, BWCAW?

Idiot Savant · Oct 25, 2024

Gamma1214 said:
My understanding was that there will be some people on the trip who are new to canoe camping and / or some with whom you have not tripped previously. If that's the case, I'd want options to cut out early on a trip in case someone was really struggling, the weather turned to crap or if the group dynamic was such that it ceased to be fun.

That's just me though... I can probably count on one hand the number of people that I want to be around 24/7 for 2 weeks.

I think you could easily stretch that route to 14 days if you wished and my biggest concern for the group trip that you've described would be the two long ports without any (legal) way to do them on separate days.

I agree that portages slow things down and, in his books, Beymer seems to cover a lot more ground in a day than I usually would. He describes the loop in 8 days while I suspect that 10-12 would be more reasonable and 14 might be downright leisurely.

That would also be a valid concern. I'm not sure how you could get up-to-date intel on water levels (check with the Forest Service?) but dragging boats through rock gardens is slower than portaging IME

That's a valid concern, but it's pretty hard to find a good multiday route that stays close to an exit the whole way.
Most likely, the club members, that sign up, would be experienced canoeists, but maybe not with anything like the Boundary Waters. But then, this route isn't typical BW.
I had no plans of going near the two lakes you mention, almost all of it is on the South Kawishiwi, and the only long portage is at entry point 32 One of my guide books recommends avoiding 32 and using the campground SW of there. Adds a little distance and some short portages.
I used the string method to get a rough idea of the length and came up with between 13 and 14 miles, using entry point 32. Add a couple more miles, if you use the campground. Way too short. So, I may need to rethink this, or do two short trips.

Gamma1214 · Oct 25, 2024

...it's pretty hard to find a good multiday route that stays close to an exit the whole way.

I wasn't thinking "stay close to an EP" (that usually means more people). I'd look to build a loop where you have options to cut through the middle if you need to shorten mileage or time. I did that when I launched from Round Lake on my BW trip as I could cut North thru Mora or Little Saganaga and return to my truck if I was in over my head. My planned shortcuts will be at the end of the trip this year and I'll cut the last 1/3 of the route off if I'm running short on time.

For example: BWCA in 2021:

Probable Wabakimi Route for 2025:

BWCA66 · Oct 25, 2024

Idiot Savant said:
That's a valid concern, but it's pretty hard to find a good multiday route that stays close to an exit the whole way.
Most likely, the club members, that sign up, would be experienced canoeists, but maybe not with anything like the Boundary Waters. But then, this route isn't typical BW.
I had no plans of going near the two lakes you mention, almost all of it is on the South Kawishiwi, and the only long portage is at entry point 32 One of my guide books recommends avoiding 32 and using the campground SW of there. Adds a little distance and some short portages.
I used the string method to get a rough idea of the length and came up with between 13 and 14 miles, using entry point 32. Add a couple more miles, if you use the campground. Way too short. So, I may need to rethink this, or do two short trips.

I've put in at the campground and while I'm glad I did cause it was November and we got 14" of snow and the road to EP 32 wasn't plowed it does add 4 portages that added together are more portage length than the portage at EP32. The south kawishiwi is a very popular route often with few open campsites. It is a very easy 2 day 1 night paddle from the campground to Lake One.

Idiot Savant · Oct 25, 2024

Ah! Of course. I must be getting dementia. Of I just have the mindset of a river runner.
Well, I guess that is a problem with a one way route. You can always double back, if you haven't passed the halfway point.
I'm starting to think both Isabella, which I kind of forgot was the original focus of this thread, and Kawishiwi, aren't going to work out.
I think a group of attached lakes, like One, Two, Three and Four, might be a better choice. Not necessarily those, which are very busy, but something like that. A couple long, narrow lakes might work out, if the prevailing wind isn't along their axis.

Isabella River, BWCAW?

Idiot Savant

Gamma1214

BWCA66

Idiot Savant

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