The more snow I shovel the more I think about going down the Basswood River as early as possible this spring.  The last time I did it (solo) early and in high water, maybe 15 years ago, it was quite a thrilling adventure.
I'm not as young and dumb as I used to be, nor as nimble or as strong, so I'm proposing a group solo to anyone who wants to take it on.  An extra "life line" would be prudent IMO.

You're supposed to carry your stuff around the falls on the portage trails, not run the whitewater. :-)

I'd be interested, except I'm planning a 55-mile loop out of Sea Gull in mid-May.  But it isn't cast in stone yet.  Care to try to twist my arm a bit?

Don't worry, I seldom run any white water...I would not want to swim that early in the season  :o
How about this for a reward...being nose to nose with the pictos on Crooked Lake, instead of 7-9 feet below them  8-).

Last time I went right after ice with big snow and late ice out (08) Lower Basswood was rocking.

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mere childs play........

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Solus...that IS rocking!  :o  You seem to always have the most "fun" trips  ;D  Last time I went in high water was 2001. 

MT...are you insinuating my little 12' Poke boat is "small"  :(

Going in the 19th to check out Little Sag. And maybe the week before to fish with Jerry (IC knows who I'm talking about). But I'd like to paddle again with you some time... So we'll see how that goes. May 1st might mean using our ice skates. MT... IC can get more in and on that Poke Boat than you'd think. I've seen her go thru some pretty rough waters also... Water rough enough where one person bailed and camped out and paddled out the next day... in the wind.

NcB,
I recently asked Jerry to come down the Basswood River with me on this proposed trip, he said he would consider it.  Maybe you would come too? 
Then I was thinking (instead of going home) of heading up to Moose Lake and spending a week going into Knife Lake and back.
It is possible we WILL be snow-shoeing on May 1st.  This is the longest, most snowy and coldest winter I can remember  :P

PS - Remember my car was stranded on the island last spring (2013)?  Last week after the most recent blizzard all three of the family vehicles were stranded at the island...the snow and wind having obliterated what we had for a road.  It took us three days to shovel, snow-blow and plow our way to the mainland.  I was unsure how I would explain allowing my car to get marooned yet another season!

I might be able to make it depending on the actual dates. If it's okay to be rather vague at this stage of the planning -- then I'm interested.  Never say never :)

Hi N -
It is okay to be vague on dates.  I just suggested the 1st as a possibility.  Today is the first day of noticeable melting and we have a LONG way to go to get rid of this snow!  The ice may be somewhat thinner (under the snow) than usual since it has been blanketed all winter.  Reports of 22 inches of ice from fishermen drilling holes on Vermilion.  The next 10 days look to be melters without more snow; that will be a good start.
Would like very much to have your company on the trip.  V

Finally some melting weather here in canoe country, and we missed the last two snow storms so we are making progress toward spring.  If the weather stays relatively warm we may be fairly close to the first week in May for doing the Basswood River. 
Arm twisting:
Nice, green campsites ahead of the "crowd" coming later.
Hardly anyone else out there.
Watch the Red Horse suckers spawning in the shallows.
Pictographs of Crooked Lake at eye level.
Rare spring flowers blooming.
Ducks in their breeding plumage.
Company in case you are timid about braving the fast water as a solo traveler.
How about it???

I suppose the intrepid paddlers are enjoying the Basswood River ... :o

Knife and maybe Man Chain for one of us --- this Fri and next week.

Not sure we can even get to Basswood River yet.
On to plan B...heading into Knife Lake on the 9th, ice permitting.  Looks like the weather will finally be improving.  Been a L..o..n..g spring.  :P
If anyone is in Knife over the 10-15th feel free to drop into my camp....look for the pink tarp  ;)

I thought I could be arm-twisted, but my doc says no way.  I'm on blood thinners for the next few weeks so had to cancel my May trip plans.  I'm hoping to do an east-side BW loop starting June 10.  The good thing is that I have only a 5% chance of a-flutter (related to a-fib) returning.