Peter LakeMaking Connections
MapsLinks |
Full image approximately 4 miles square |
Description
Peter is an elongated lake stretching east from Gabimichigami nearly two miles towards French and Gillis. Beyond its southern shore the ground rises up some 80' to the parallel line of smaller lakes Virgin, West Fern, and Powell. To the east, a 132 rod portage connects with the crossroads lake that is French. In the southwest corner an 80 rod trail climbs some 50' to Virgin and to the west a 39 rod carry leads to the open waters of Gabi.The forests along the northern shore of Peter and north to Howard are some of the oldest in the area, dating back nearly two centuries to a great stand replacing fire in 1801. (Subsequent small and localized fires in 1854 and 1876 burned small patches of this area, to the east and west respectively.) The forest to the south and east of Peter is younger, having burned in 1864.
Campsites
Peter has four established campsites, one on the point opposite the portage to Virgin, and the others along the northern shore. The most westerly of the northern sites sits on an elevated, rocky point and is one of our favorite BWCAW campsites.Planning Considerations
Peter provides a link between the Chub River area and the Gillis to Round and Gillis to Frost River routes to the east, and Gabimichigami and the interior lakes to the west. It provides a single paddle, east/west alternative to the three smaller lakes immediately to the south which provide basically the same connections. The choice between the two routes is a matter of personal preference, but a good trip would include both - one inbound and the other outbound.Wildlife
Peter supports White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni) and Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush). We've seen Boreal Chickadees (Parus hudsonicus) at our camp here, and otters playing in the lake.Notes and Comments
Our prefered campsite on the north shore point is an easy location for checking out some characteristic north woods flora. The drier woods immediately behind the campsite hold Pipsissewa (Chimaphila umbellata), Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens), and several species of Shinleaf (Pyrola spp.) and Clubmoss (Lycopodium spp.). Check the trail to the latrine for Goldthread (Coptis groenlandica). The rocks near the lake often support colonies of Rock Fern (Polypodium virginiana) and, in season, the hillside above yields Moccasin Flower (Cyperidium acaule) in bloom, and later ripe blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium).
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