BWCA 2018 | Cherry is a Cherry! pt. 6 (FINALE)

In September 2018, I set out with a friend on a 6 day, 40 mile loop through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness via the Moose Lake (EP25) entry point, not yet satisfied with my taste of the wilderness for the year. More than anything, I wanted to reach a lake I had read much about and dearly wanted to see with my own eyes: Cherry Lake. We ventured down the long stretch of Knife Lake toward Cherry, seeking crisp weather, solitude, and star-filled skies. This is a video series documenting that journey!
In this final part, you get to experience with us a fierce thunderstorm with crazy winds and a true downpour! We wake up to bald eagles calling to each other on an island across from our campsite and bid farewell to Knife Lake. We didn't want to leave 2 days early, but we ultimately made the right call, thanking ourselves when checking the weather forecast the next day. More severe storms had moved in and would have trapped us in the BWCA for a few days. Sometimes that is just how things go. Nature lives by its own rules.
Let me know any thoughts, comments, or questions! I really appreciate any feedback you have. Thanks so much for watching!!
Instagram: / technically_rugged

[@ssiegle0515]

super nice video. I was on Cherry in 1992 for a week and it still looks beautiful. Fishing hint: Jigs and leeches, crawlers or artificial. You have to get down to where the fish are! Surface lures at sun down. Safe travels!!

[@TechnicallyRugged]

It is a stunning lake! I normally try to avoid using live bait as it is extra hassle and I sometimes feel like I am cheating with it. Fall fishing can be really tough even with live bait but getting deep is definitely important for many fish. Appreciate the comment, thanks for watching!!

[@ClapperChristmas]

Awesome video series! We took a group of boy scouts out July 2019 for a 5 day 50 miler. We set in at Canadian Border Outfitters on the west end of Moose, spent night one in Carp (wouldn't recommend that site). Day 2 we made it to the South Arm Knife site next to Eddy Falls. That is a beautiful site! We stayed there two days, then paddled back to the site you spent your last night in. Planning another BWCA trip in 2022 or 2023, and hoping to hit Cherry lake!

[@TechnicallyRugged]

Sounds like a great time - any trip down Knife is great in my mind! I finally got to experience more of the South Arm in 2020 and loved it. If you make it up to Cherry you have to do a day trip to Lake of the Clouds! It's an adventure getting there and it's a really cool lake. I hope you make it up there!!

[@petescharber8567]

JD, I really enjoyed this video series. It actually has me thinking about planning a trip to see Cherry for myself next year. I already have my permit for my trip this year. Keep it up!

[@TechnicallyRugged]

Thanks Pete!! You really should make a visit if you can. I hope to return this year, maybe not in June as planned, but hopefully in September. Where are you going this year?

[@petescharber8567]

Isabella Lake area. My son turned 13 this year and though an appropriate time to let him choose the destination, make the trip plans and be the leader! I am also hoping to plan a solo trip. Also planning a couple solo BWCA hiking trips this fall. Thinking of possibly tackling the border route trail or souix hustler trail

[@TechnicallyRugged]

That's awesome, to let him plan it. Are you guys gonna be base camping on Isabella then? It's not an entry I have ever considered given the Pagami Creek burn but I imagine it sees less people as a result! Probably some good fishing as a result too. I'm hoping to thru-hike the BRT and Sioux-Hustler as well. Might try the latter this fall and leave the BRT for next year, just based on most of my vacation time already being allocated to trips I have planned.

[@petescharber8567]

@@TechnicallyRugged Yes, my son selected Isabella primarily on the prospect of some good fishing. We really like to spend time fishing. We will be most likely spending one night each on Isabella, Quadga and Perent. If you ever are looking for a hiking partner let me know, as I have struggled to recruit any of my friends and family to join me, lol. My boys are still a little to young to do it yet. I did the Angleworm last fall solo and it was AWESOME. Just me, my pack and my hammock!

[@TechnicallyRugged]

Well tight lines to both of you!! I am hoping to do some serious laker fishing on/around Knife this year but we will see if the trip gets postponed. I think I'll also do the Angleworm trail this year in a long weekend with some friends. It's been on my list since I saw Shug hike it! Maybe I'll hit you up :) Take care Pete! And thanks again for watching!!

[@charlesdavis2891]

How long was the paddle from the portage into birch to cherry? I've made it into spoon in a day with paddling moose/newfoundland/sucker but pay for the drop off now, so worth it.

[@TechnicallyRugged]

Well we split it into two days, and went further into SAK than you'd really need to if you were going straight to Cherry. I'd wager the total travel time from Birch to Cherry, double portaging, is somewhere around 10-12 hours, depending on wind and breaks. The total paddling distance is probably somewhere around 12-15 miles.