Our trip began on 12/29/08 at the Tuscarora Lodge, on Round Lake about 47 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais.
Our trip began on 12/29/08 at the Tuscarora Lodge, on Round Lake about 47 miles up the Gunflint Trail from Grand Marais.
We pulled sleds from Round Lake, just off the Gunflint, across six lakes and four portage trails to reach our campsite on Crag Lake.
We were able to ski across the first three portage trails, though it wasn't easy through the deep snow. At the the longer and more difficult Brant to Gotter portage we dropped the sleds and switched to snowshoes to break trail.
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Arriving at Gotter after completing the first leg of the 100 rod Brant to Gotter portage.
On Gotter Lake looking northeast towards Brant. On our return trip we bypassed some of the portage trail by intercepting it just down this inlet.
And back at Brant Lake, preparing to pull the sleds across the freshly broken portage trail
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One of the steeper inclines on the trail
Back on Gotter with the sleds. We're over half way to our destination - and we're hoping that the worst is behind us!
Day two, with Jim preparing our usual breakfast - bacon and toast, oatmeal and a hot drink. The tent sleeps three “very comfortably”, but Tim and Jamo seemed even more appreciative of the warmth after climbing out of their frozen sleeping bags... at the other end of camp
I've downloaded our GPS tracks onto a couple aerial photos. On the afternoon of the traditional “Camp Improvement Day” we snowshoed about 1 2/3 miles south to Fishing Lake, stopping at one point to appreciate the view west over Gillis. (The RED track)
Heading south towards Fishing Lake
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Looking west over Gillis Lake
Typical rock face - covered with lichen, moss and ice.
Heading back to Crag from Fishing Lake. We crossed a couple sets of moose tracks on this hike - and pretty much everywhere we went.
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Looking north, up the “crag”
Just south of Crag Lake
This map also shows the track to Fishing Lake, as well as our next daytrip to Blue Snow. We decided to attempt a “direct” route rather than risk deep snow and slush on the swamp and lake to the north. Our path intersects a narrow canyon - and of course there is no direct route in the backcountry. We did follow moose tracks when we found that they were going our way, but after 2.5 miles we knew we were at risk of running out of light on the return trip, so we headed back to camp. A little short of Blue Snow Lake, and apparently a little off course.
A map from the Tuscarora website (tuscaroracanoe.com) also shows the canyon which runs SW to NE between Crag and Blue Snow. It was quite impressive, but unfortunately my camera batteries were too cold that day!
On the 3rd day we snowshoed north to John A Pearson Lake (formerly known as “Jap Lake”) - about 8.4 miles round trip. We hadn't left camp until almost noon, after restocking our supply of firewood. We broke trail about 1/4 mile through the woods to Green Lake, but returned by way of Gotter Lake - in the dark. It was the coldest day yet (high of 3 degrees) following the coldest night (- 22), and it was -5 or 6 by the time we reached camp. Another great day in the BWCA!
Recent fires have missed this old pine on the trail between Flying Lake and Fay Lake - on the way to JAP Lake
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Somewhere near JAP Lake - probably Glossy Lake
Later it was time to attempt field repairs to a broken snowshoe. A couple bow saws and baling wire might do it...
And final touches, before finishing off with duct tape
A couple Gray Jays found our camp and eagerly accepted Jim's handouts of GORP.
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Our last daytrip - on Green Lake after skiing (and walking) the portage trail from Flying Lake
On the SE shore of Bat Lake
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Looking southeast across Bat Lake. After some discussion we returned by way of the trail we had broken between Crag and Green Lakes.
Last day, preparing to pull back to Round Lake after breaking camp. It was about 6 degrees (11:40 AM 1/2/09)
We'd been discussing the merits of snowshoes vs skis for pulling, but because we were expecting more slush, snowshoes won out
Jim had kept a rock overlook cleared of snow for star watching - which was fantastic! He took this photo as we left the Crag camp.
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This is the bypass around the east end of the Gotter to Brant portage trail, with significantly more snow than in the earlier photo.
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Nearing the end of the West Round Lake to Round Lake Portage.
And the end of the last portage trail!
About 8“ of new snow had fallen since we'd gone in
On Round Lake, looking east to the Tuscarora Lodge
About 13 minutes later, and closing in ...
Another 15 + minutes, almost within shouting distance of the Tuscarora Lodge and just before the slush got REALLY bad! Moments later Jim dropped his sled to help with mine. Even together we could barely move one sled, and the harder we pulled the deeper our snowshoes pushed into the slush!
Tim removes frozen footgear for the last time. It was about 0 degrees as we loaded up and left for Grand Marais.