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

Did some of that route in September of 2020. Went from public launch on Burnside to Cummings first day. The long portage into Crab isn't too bad, just long.

Stayed two nights on Cummings, then went back to Crab via the east portage out of Cummings and thru Korb. Tamaracks were golden paddling the creek.

Portaged out of Crab to Saca, Hassle, Battle and camped on Phantom. From Phantom, we went thru Meat and Clark back to Crab for our last night. Only saw people on Crab and Little Crab, but it was late September. None of the paddling days were super long or grueling and the portages were mostly ok. Can't speak for that Lunetta portage, and I've heard the creek going east out of Lunetta can get pretty mucky and weed choked in lower water.

I was solo for the route and two of my adult kids were in a tandem.

Thank You! Whatever trip I do I'll try to post a trip report. -Steve

I don't have a trip report but I do have a photo album here of the trip. I also posted on the portages from Crab thru the little lakes to south in the "portages and campsites" special forum. Also, if your interested, you can get a tow across Burnside to Crab portage. I handled ok in and out but coming out was pretty tough with a nasty NE wind.