Frost Lake

6 - day canoe trip to Frost Lake and back.

The plan was simple - put in at the Sawbill Lake
entry point and head north. With no route planned
or special destination in mind, I set off with a bag
full of maps and seven days worth of food. This
will be my first solo trip to the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area.

After two days of paddling I made it as far north
as Frost Lake and setup base camp - my home
for the next three days. I found a nice camp on
the north shore of the lake next to a large sandy
beach. It had a nice view of the lake, room for a
couple of tents and a short trail going down to the
beach. One of my favorite campsites I've found in
the BWCA.

Landscape and wildlife photography
by Todd Palmquist

Every evening around 9:00 p.m. a storm would roll in and rain
throughout the night . Every evening. Luckily, most mornings and
afternoons were dry and sunny. I only had one campfire the entire
trip. Did I mention it rained every night :(

I Spent my first night on the north end of Sawbill Lake. After getting up
and out on the water early that next morning I spotted a Black Bear on
the shore. I struggled to keep up as it swam across the lake. Once on
the other side the bear followed the shoreline checking campsites for
scraps of food. I spent close to an hour with it, yelling ahead, as it
approached occupied campsites, warning campers a bear was coming
into their camp. Before long the large bruin disappeared into the forest.

Large Black Bear testing the air for the
scent of food at an empty campsite.

Black Bear swimming in Sawbill Lake.

Passing afternoon shower on Cherokee Lake.

Foggy morning on Frost Lake.

Large sand beach near camp on Frost Lake.

I kept a watchful eye on this beach the entire time I was here, hoping to photograph the
moose that would always leave its prints in the sand during the night. I never saw it.

Common Loon with baby on Frost Lake.

Cherokee Lake is a very pretty lake. It
has many islands and rock outcroppings
as well as many excellent campsites. If
it wasn't as crowded I may have stopped
here to camp, but as it was, it didn't have
the solitude I was seeking.

I think my first solo trip went well. I didn't go crazy and despite the weather, left
only one day early.

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