Iron Lake - BWCA Border Lake

September 28, 2013

Iron Lake - BWCA Border Lake

Time for the annual fall 6 man Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area trip. Strapped the Quetico 17 Souris River Canoe on top of the ever trusty 2000 Honda Accord (now at 252,000 miles) and head to Ely, Minnesota via Sioux Falls, Sd, and Bemidji, MN. It's our usual gang of 6 (4 from MN, 2 from CO; 4 originally from Saint Charles, IL).

Entry point is Moose River North, up the Moose River (actually saw two moose, a rare occurance these days - the moose population is dramatically down - most likely global warming - they're heading north; another sign of warming - we never used to have mosquitos at this time of the year - now they are common - not as bad as the summer, but still pesky on some nights), canoe thru Nina Moose Lake, then more Moose river paddling into Lake Agnes, where we camp for the night. Manage to get out for some late afternoon fishing and we come through with enough fish for our first of what is to be 4 fish dinners. Two more portages the next morning, and in to Lac La Croix, then an 80 rod mudhole of a portage from Lac La Croix, and we are in Iron Lake.

5 nights in Iron Lake, and then retrace our steps for a total of 8 nights in the wilderness. Decent fishing, although fish were generally smaller, especially for me - but no problem having our 4 fish dinners (along with steaks, spaghetti, and brats twice). as you can see from a few of the pictures we eat well on these trips.

New Marmot Limelight tent performed well, with a 2 inch rain our third night. Hour trip over to see the beautiful Curtain Falls between Crooked Lake and Iron Lake was a highlight along with the usual camaraderie, relaxing, fishing, etc. makes this something we all look forward to every year.

Colors just beginning to change at the end of our trip (late this year). Our traditional dinner at the Ely steakhouse before the trip confirmed that we are getting older, as I was somewhat behind the others coming onto the restaurant, and told the hostess that I was with a group of guys, and she said "well, the older gentlemen are over here" - ouch that hurts - of course I was quick to note that I was much younger than those older gentlemen (not true - but that was my story and I stuck to it).

Here are the pics (some of which are courtesy of Brad Dobski; i.e. the food pics, the moose photo, any pic with me in it, and a few others).