Welcome to tahoe's BWCAW 2003 Route.
2003 September Trip
As has become our entry date, got to Ely the Saturday before Labor Day. We made the Wahpeton exit again this year and stopped for lunch in Duluth. After stalling in Ely for longer than anticipated, we entered the water Sunday afternoon. We tried a new bunkhouse this year. Not bad, but we'll return to CanoeCountry next year.
We put in on the South Kawishiwi River and canoed rather than portaged for as much as possible. We entered Little Gabbro and proceeded into Gabbro, camping on the penninsula at the east end of the lake.
The 120 rod portage into Little Gabbro was very nice. There were great opportunities for photos, rest and just a nice hike. The little rapids north of the portage were fun too. Several people got to see just how much work going up even the smallest rapids can be...
We had really good weather the first part of the week. On the second-to-last night, however, we had snowflakes at 11pm when we were heading to bed. That night got a little chilly! We had wolves howling back and forth across the lake on our last night though. Sounded like a bunch of pups learning to howl and an elder answering. Wish I had a tape recorder!
Again, we found an eagle. Two of our group watched him miss a hammer-handle northern, only to have them catch it on a line right after. They said the eagle was within 50 yards of them and just about glaring at them for stealing his lunch. The wildlife list ended with loons, gulls, chipmunks, lots of chipmunks, and the eagle...and float plane traffic!
**Map curtesy of Superior National Forest Map Server, available through the links page.
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