The Boundary Waters Canoe Area – BWCA located within the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota provides a truly unique vast wilderness adventure experience. It’s huge expanse of lakes intertwined with random portages expedites an amazing opportunity like no other for a wilderness adventure! Follow along on our BWCA – Wilderness Adventure SAWBILL to MAKWA. Part one of this series told the story of exploring from Sawbill Lake to Lake Polly (passing rapidly through Phoebe Lake.) Part two continues the tale of the trip from Polly through Malberg Lake and exploring the Kawishiwi River Loop with a day trip to MAKWA LAKE’S famous jumping rock! READ on for Part Three that concludes this years adventure from Malberg Lake back to Phoebe Lake then the return to Sawbill Lake.
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“In every walk with Nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
—John Muir
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) located within the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota offers adventure, wilderness, canoeing, portaging and camping opportunities. These wilderness adventures should NOT be entered into lightly. Careful planning alongside skilled guidance for a wilderness adventure from others of experience or a professional outfitter’s preparation and route plan are essential to a successful outcome. Even the most skilled, prepared, experienced travelers can experience peril!
Our family has been traveling within the BWCA for 20+ years on many a wilderness adventure. This hiking (portaging) trip into the wilderness involves navigation of a series of lakes. We fish to eat, and move camp as we go. My first trip was the first summer after I married my husband in 1997. His family had already learned the “smart way” to experience this rugged wilderness through other’s expertise as well as through trial and error.
Each year a new way to be smarter or wiser evolves in the group of no more than 9 people and 4 canoes (permit restrictions). From lighter more efficient packed gear, to tastier and easier food ideas, each year we discover new ways of improving the ease of the trips. Greater enjoyment is found through ease of packing when portaging a lighter, smarter pack!
If one has never ventured into the BWCA on a circuit of wilderness over the course of several days, you just really have no idea what you are in for…
Well, one must consider the perils of nature first and foremost. Horrific, terrifying storms have been known to blow into the BWCA from out of nowhere and blow massive trees over on campers. Wind storms have been known to take canoes right up off land and hurl them into the lake stranding campers. Lightning strikes have sparked forest fires that have burned thousands of acres and trapped people in the wilderness. Bear, moose, wolves, snakes, beaver, otter, chipmunks, and other wild animals are present and must be respected with proper care of your provisions.
Awareness of your surroundings and ALWAYS tying off your canoe when on shore are essential behaviors. So many things can go wrong when you are 3 days away from your vehicle that is parked 2 hours away from civilization and no cell signal! One miss-step can alter the entire “planned trip” if leaving to seek medical attention is required.
The BWCA can be a dangerous place for BOTH those that are unfamiliar with it AND for those that are experienced. Proper respect for the WILDERNESS is necessary at all times. A leave no trace mentality must be observed.
WHOLE TRIP VIDEO WORTH A WATCH! AMAZING FISHING, SCENERY & PEOPLE!!
On this trip my oldest son Jacob was determined to capture a time elapse of a beautiful sunrise or a sunset. The challenges of battery power limited his efforts on this wilderness adventure. He really wanted to capture a storm rolling in and the rain that would follow. Believe it or not, we did not experience rain on this trip or a storm overhead. Below is his six second video that took many hours to film with time elapse. He enjoyed the challenge of a capturing this footage on our last morning on Lake Phoebe.
Day 6-8: MALBERG LAKE TO PHOEBE LAKE TO SAWBILL LAKE
MALBERG LAKE to PHOEBE LAKE (13.3 miles, 11.1 miles canoeing, 2.2 miles portaging = TOTAL TRAVEL TIME 6:38 if single portaging and paddling 3 mph)
PHOEBE LAKE to SAWBILL LAKE (8.2 miles, 6.4 miles canoeing, 1.8 miles portaging = TOTAL TRAVEL TIME 4:12 if single portaging and paddling 3 mph)
MAP OF DAY 6-8 TRAVELS
DAY 6: LEAVING MALBERG CAMPSITE
Today the camp decision was to head out of MALBERG LAKE at daybreak (OH MY… THE BUGS THIS MORNING!) moving to camp on PHOEBE LAKE. A quick oatmeal breakfast with english muffins and jam were consumed. Then we headed out in early morning mist. We traveled through KOMA LAKE, LAKE POLLY, then down the PHOEBE RIVER, and HAZEL LAKE to then face the 140 rod portage at the end before traversing KNIGHT LAKE into PHOEBE LAKE. We were determined to take advantage of the cooler morning air and calm waters.
“Nature has been for me, for as long as I remember, a source of solace, inspiration, adventure, and delight; a home, a teacher, a companion.”
— Lorraine Anderson
There were many obstacles on this trek as the water was very low and several rocks became exposed. This results in several in-and-outs of the canoe to get our canoes (loaded with gear) through. We moved steadily and safely through a series of lakes, while portaging and canoeing through these obstacles of the wilderness. Careful movements throughout the day provided steady forward movement towards our destination. It was hot, buggy, and wild! What a beautiful wilderness to explore!
We traveled steadily all day and finally landed at a GREAT CAMPSITE on PHOEBE LAKE with a wonderful breeze. A quick cheese, sausage log, and cracker lunch was consumed to refresh everyone along with refilling the water supply to keep hydrated. We, once again, erected our campsite. The check list of chores were completed: hammocks, water purification system, bear ropes for stowing food, firewood collection, etc. Then, the swimming and fishing commenced! PHOEBE LAKE did not disappoint!
Dinner was prepared and consumed. Tonight was Jambalaya night! It’s strange how much better food tastes in the BWCA after building up an appetite after a day of portaging and packing to achieve these stunning views!
BWCA – WILDERNESS ADVENTURE : (Part 3 of 3)
DAY 7 – EXPLORING PHOEBE LAKE
We started Day 7 with a BIG PANCAKE BREAKFAST! Today is about recovery, rest, relaxation, and FISHING! Our weather has been exceptional. Not a drop of rain. Temperatures have been great and not too cool at night. I love it when the rain coat is used as a warmth layer (early and late in the day) and not a layer to protect from getting wet! YAHOO!
Several were excited to fish Knight Lake where we came in yesterday. It looked like a great place to explore! WHOA! The fish were biting here! What a great time. The wind was really strong here crossing between islands and strong oaring was required. Lots of campfire bonding, card playing, napping, and general enjoyment happened here at this Phoebe Lake campsite!
Dinner tonight will be foil packets of fish with butter, lemon and seasonings, macaroni and cheese, hash-brown potatoes, broccoli and rice, and anything else left in the food pack so it is virtually empty when we break camp tomorrow!
“There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.”
– Sir Ranulph Fiennes
The evening brought thoughts of this trip coming to a close as we will need to break camp in the morning and head back to SAWBILL LAKE. We are on a timeline as we need to leave SAWBILL LAKE by noon to commence the long twelve hour drive back to Michigan. Gainful employment resumes for some the next morning, so keeping on a specific timeline is necessary. We wouldn’t trade this special time together for anything, so we just make the logistics work!
“Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better.”
Grey/Black – Watertight Backpack for Hiking and Light Water Activities Approx $50
BWCA – WILDERNESS ADVENTURE : (Part 3 of 3)
DAY 8 – PHOEBE LAKE TO SAWBILL LAKE TO HOME
We set off from our camp site on DAY 8 to backtrack to SAWBILL LAKE where we will need to quickly load, pack up, and depart after a HOT SHOWER! It has been a great trip. We still have a distance to go to get to SAWBILL LAKE though! Today we will traverse PHOEBE LAKE, GRACE LAKE, the 285 rod portage to BETH LAKE, the 140 rod portage to ALTON LAKE and then the long haul down ALTON LAKE, and back into SAWBILL LAKE in hopes of arriving by noon.
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”
– John Muir
Katadyn Hiker Pro Transparent Water Filter, Lightweight, Compact Design for Personal or Small Group Camping, Backpacking or Emergency Preparedness. Approx. $100
“Wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity of the human spirit.”
– Edward Abbey
BWCA – WILDERNESS ADVENTURE : (Part 3 of 3)
Day 8 cont. THE TRIP HOME
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
We determined a great flow of travel. Always keeping each other in our sites, yet spreading out enough to not bottleneck the portage sites. Our system worked for group safety to move quickly and efficiently through the wilderness.
God travels with each of us daily! He is listening. Start your day talking to Him. Share your burdens, ask for His guidance, plead with Him for wisdom. Put on your protective “armor” each day. Earthly distractions overwhelm. Let God’s grace be a comfort daily. Seek an inner-stillness quest! Enjoy His gifts even through His creation, like a quiet place in the middle of the wilderness!
Try to find beauty in ALL of His creation. Seek quiet for contemplation and introspection often. Others diminish us daily. Refill your cup with assurances of His promises. Don’t let others steal your joy! Don’t judge them. Love them right where they are at in their walk with HIM. Pray for them and forgive them even through their hurt of you. IT’S HARD!
Dig deep and try, even when you don’t want to…do it! It is God’s command that we Love our neighbors as we Love ourselves. Forgive them and move on. Their choice is to behave how they choose to behave. Your choice is behave how you are instructed to behave! Try to focus on this!
Take God along with you throughout each day, don’t shut Him out by not including Him in your life. LOOK for HIM in even small things, LISTEN for HIS wisdom through HEARING HIM talk to you, SEEK HIS guidance, comfort, and peace. HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH!
We were truly blessed to have this experience again this summer. What a great respite from everyday busy routines with a group of amazing people, we call FRIENDS!
DO you have a special remote, quiet place to LISTEN for God’s instruction for your life?? Where have you been? What have you done to provide a respite from the chaos of life for your family? How are you doing as a family overall? WHERE is your special place?
Every trip to the BWCA is not complete without an ice cream stop! Make your trip fun and enjoyable with special treats. Build memories!
Leave me a reply below. I really would like to hear from you!
Inspirationally Yours,
Barbara
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A 1993 graduate of Michigan State University, Barbara earned a BS in Social Science Pre-Law. She is a Business Manager/HR Director. Her passion is travel, discovering new places, experiences, cuisine, cultures while enjoying temperate climates. Barbara is a newly transitioning empty-nester who became a travel blogger. She’s a great photographer, talented writer, and has a great family to highlight in her adventures!
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Thanks for exploring our travel blog! We hope to assist you in your next adventure through learning from ours! We are transitioning empty-nesters perpetually seeking our next luxury snorkeling adventure! Daily God’s awe inspiring inspiration surrounds us with all of His natural beauty in every direction if we but slow down to observe. Take a moment each day to ENJOY!
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4 Comments
Tracy McHugh
Those nature pictures are gorgeous!
Barbara Robinson
Glad you enjoyed the photos! Reality is even more amazing! Nature is awe inspiring!
Fransic verso
These are interesting, never been to this but it’s always amazing to adventure in the wildness.
Barbara Robinson
Yes! Yes, it is! I encourage all to learn to survive in the wilderness. It is a basic skill.