LAPOND LAKE CAMPSITE: Campsite 1 (#187): Only campsite on the lake
Lapond Lake is located in the Burntside State Forest. Haven't been able to find any reference to the origin of the lakes name.
You encounter few other travelers through here. The lakes in the general area of Lapond Lake tend to be large and shallow (i.e., Big Rice Lake, Duck Lake, Big Lake and Big Moose Lake). And the portages that connect this lakes are long and grueling. The exception is the portage between Lapond Lake and Big Lake, which is fairly long, but otherwise rather easy.
This is a shallow lake with much of its surface covered with lily pads by late summer. The lake is surrounded by bogs except for an area of slightly elevated ground along its eastern shoreline where the only campsite is located. The Portage River flows through the west side of the lake. It is the only obvious source of water flowing in or out of this lake. It's mouth is marked by dense vegetation (mostly lily pads).
The lakes only portage is on the west side of the point protruding from the north shoreline.
Northern pike are present in this shallow lake.
References:
Beymer, Robert, Boundary Waters Canoe Area – Volume 1 – Western Region (Berkeley: Wilderness Press, 2006), 58, 62, 64.
Pauly, Daniel, Exploring the Boundary Waters (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2005), 83.
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PADDLING FROM THE BIG LAKE PORTAGE TO BWCA CAMPSITE 187
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Here you are gazing to the northwest from the lakes eastern shoreline.
From the Big Lake portage, paddle to the east around the point extending out from the north shoreline. Follow the north shore toward the east and then turn south. Make for the only campsite near the middle of the east side of the lake.
PADDLING FROM BWCA CAMPSITE 187 TO THE MOUTH OF THE PORTAGE RIVER
Here you are gazing to the northwest from the lakes eastern shoreline.
After leaving the campsite, track along the eastern shoreline of the lake for a short ways, before making a more direct route toward the southwest over to the mouth of the Portage River. Paddle into the Portage River -or- Explore Another Route ***********************************************END OF ROUTE***********************************************
PADDLING FROM THE MOUTH OF THE PORTAGE RIVER TO THE BIG LAKE PORTAGE
Nearly a direct route across Lapond Lake from the Portage River to the Big Lake portage. The yellowish color to the atmosphere is caused by smoke from large fires that were burning in the western U.S. and Canada at this time.
