This one was a last minute scramble for me.   It’s usually not a big deal to get an entry permit, especially for access to the more remote areas that we look for, but this year when I logged on there was very little available.   I quickly snagged the last entry to Little Isabella River #75 and then figured I’d check back periodically to see if anything opened up.   As it got closer I kept checking but nothing was being released, so I did a bunch of research and was pretty comfortable that if we entered at Little Isabella and exited at #32 or #33 it would be a nice route.   I doubt very much that there is a “bad” route up there, but our first trip was through a burn area so we’ve tried to avoid those – and the burn areas to the east meant that we had limited options with Little Isabella.

So around 4 PM the afternoon before taking off I checked again, and permit had opened for Sawbill Lake.  Took a quick look and liked the option for a loop and also no burn areas to worry about.  A few frantic phone calls and texts later and around 7 PM I made the switch.  Usually I have maps and have done campsite research so asked my navigator (in Brooklyn) if he could take some campsite notes while I loaded the canoe and packed – we’d have to get maps at the outfitter’s.   

This meant going to Tofte instead of Ely, which we thought was a “con” to the switch because the drive is a little longer and you don’t have the fun of running around the town of Ely before putting in and after coming out .  But it turned out to be a nice change, with different experiences that were equally enjoyable. 

Off we go…