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Day 1: 9/8/04 Arrive at Duluth Airport before 3:00pm. Travel by van to Ely, MN for dinner (own expense) and hotel check in followed by introductions and orientation.
Day 2-6: Canoe and hike in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area camping each night in your tent or under the stars. A typical day will involve 4-7 hr paddling with several short portages and setting up camp by 3-4pm. We will share in meal preparation and clean up.
Expectation: Multi-day (5) canoe trip into the BWCAW with wilderness camping, fishing, visit historic sites of native Americans, relaxing by spectacular water falls and rapids, and photograph wildlife, hear stories of the voyageurs when they traveled the area 300 years ago. Below is one possible water route: depending on permit approval.
Day 2: 9/9 Entry point: Mudro Lake. ( max = 9 people, 4 boats) Canoe and portage to Horse Lake. Spend afternoon exploring historic lumbering sites (old timbers leftover from lumbering days, look for iron rings used for tying-off timbers etc), fishing for bass and walleye, hiking southern shore in search of wildlife (moose, deer, otter, beaver). Prepare dinner and relax by the campfire in the evening with short readings from book "Portages into the Past" (book about French voyageurs that traveled BWCA in the1700s).
Day 3: 9/10 Rise early to see the sunrise and prepare breakfast. Break camp and paddle/portage down the Horse River watching for wildlife. Set-up camp along the Lower Basswood Falls. Afternoon will be spent relaxing, swimming and exploring the area. Campfire activities including more readings about French Voyageurs and history of area.
Day 4: 9/11 Today is a layover day. After preparing breakfast, travel down river to visit Native American pictographs painted on rocks about 1000 + years ago. Continue on to Table Rock for lunch. Return to campsite mid afternoon for relaxation and swimming below Basswood Falls in the rapid moving water. Late evening spend time star gazing and looking for Northern Lights.
Day 5: 9/12. Paddle and portage up the Basswood river. This day will be a bit challenging with the number of portages. Be sure to stop along the portages to view the many rapids and falls. Camp just past the Upper Basswood Falls. Time to look for Bald eagle nest on Canadian side of the river. Many of our guests report hearing wolves howling in this area at night.
Day 6: 9/13 Get up early to fish for walleye. If you are lucky to catch 1-2 fish, be sure to fry them and add to your breakfast or have a shore lunch later in the day. Paddle southwest to Jackfish Bay Lake and on to Sandpit Lake where the portage is an old railroad bed from lumbering days. A short paddle to Mudro Lake and ending at the Chain Saw Sister Saloon, a small quiet outpost operated for the convenience of BWCA travelers. A phone call to Hill's Wilderness Trips and our staff will be on its way to pick you up and return you and your gear to Ely. A warm shower awaits you and dinner (own expense) in town to reminisce about the challenges you experienced, the wildlife you saw, the fish you caught, the "new muscles" you acquired and the new friends you shared the wilderness with for the past 6 days. Motel lodging included.
Day 7: 9/14/04 Visit points of interest (your choice) in the Ely area such as the International Wolf Center, Dorothy Molter Museum and the many quaint shops featuring hand-made items and art from Minnesota. A visit to the Tower-Sudan underground mine (25 minutes from Ely) is a must to learn about the impact of mining in northern Minnesota. Farewell dinner in Ely. Motel lodging included. Admission fees and meals are on your own.
Day 8: 9/15/04 Van service will be provided to Duluth Airport. Plan return flight no earlier than 11:00 am.
SUPPLIERS:
Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters (formerly Hill's Wilderness Trips)
2030 E. Sheridan Street
Ely, MN 55731, 800-950-2709, Fax: 218-365-7404 www.elycanoetrips.com
Steven and Kathy Nelson, owners, e-mail: info@elycanoetrips.com
Accommodations: 5 nights in tents, 3 nights in motel
Transportation: (during trip) Van service to and from Duluth airport,
motel, museums and put-in and take-out location. Vans and operators comply
with Minnesota State safety regulations.
2004 Cost, $835, ($75 non-refundable) includes motel on pre and post
departure days, most meals, roundtrip van service between Ely and Duluth
Airport, transportation to put in and from take out locations, Kevlar canoe
and canoeing equipment, BWCA permit, USFS fee. Airfare and personal gear
are not included.
CANCELLATION POLICY of Trip Outfitter/Agent/Guide:
$25 fee be charged for trip cancellation
Cancellation must be made 45 days in advance of reserved date to receive
refund of deposits on canoe rental and guide services. A $25 reservation
fee is non-refundable. If a bona-fide emergency requires early termination
of your completely outfitted trip, you will receive a refund of equipment
costs only (no food refunds) for unused days, minus one day. No refunds
are made for early termination of partially outfitted trips.
5-day canoe package includes:
Route consultation, pre and post departure accommodation, Minnesota
fishing license, ground transportation to entry point, tent, ìDuluth-styleî
personal and equipment packs with liners, sleeping bag and pad, canoe,
paddles, life jackets, carrying yoke with pads, Delux Food and pack, kitchen
caddy with utensils, cook kit, stove (fuel extra), fire starters, waterproof
matches, TP, Bear and extra rope, saw, set of detailed maps/group, dining
tarp, ground transportation, permits.
Not included: Air fare, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, admission to optional points of interest ex: International Wolf Center and $21.50 Minnesota fishing license (optional). Tents can be rented for $25 and sleeping bags and pads for $25 for the 5 day canoe trip.