04/13/2024 04:06PM
Hi all,
Thank you all for past advice.
A little about me so that you can offer the most appropriate advice: I competitively paddled kayaks for nearly forty years, slalom --> Rodeo --> long (Texas Water Safari long) distance. Then raced 6-man outrigger canoes for a couple of years. I remain very very fit at 72. I fish and I don't like people that much (an overstatement, but you get the idea).
My wife, Carolyn, and I have paddled (Wenonah MN II kevlar) BWCA twice. Our first trip was out of Ely and was seven days and an easy 44 miles. We liked our second trip much better, and we found it on this list. The trip was out of Sawbill and started at Kawishiwi Lake and nights were spent at Malberg, Alice, Kekekabic Lake, South Arm Knife, Little Saganaga, Mesaba Lake, and ending at Sawbill. That trip was 7 paddling days, 71 miles, 2880 rods portaged (9 miles). We travel ultralight.
That said, I have never paddled a solo canoe except to goof around and this will be a solo trip. Yesterday I pulled a Crab Lake permit, put-in August 14. Tentatively (underline) thinking about Burnside - Crab - Battle - Lunetta - Cummings - Crab and out. (This is route, not campsites). Pauly doesn't have this exact route, but rates part of it as challenging.
Assuming portages will be two trips, 1) Is this a decent route? 2) Any info would be helpful. 3) Is this a reasonable route for a solo paddler? 4) Not counting layovers, how many days seems about right assuming a modest pace? And alternative suggestions are always fun to consider.
Sorry for the long post.
-Steve