Burntcabin Overnight

Consider the following: (1) I carry a packable white gas single burner stove (Coleman Peak). It is great for getting supper started quickly and you don't have to wait for the fire coals to develop. Plus if it rains, you can still cook. It is also good in the morning for those, like me, who enjoy a good cup of coffee to shake the cobwebs. (2) A small packable coffee pot - I put coffee, cream and sugar in plastic baggies and stuff them inside the pot (I use the water from Burnt Cabin - boiling kills everything.) (3) In case you don't catch supper (heaven forbid), I always pack some cans of stuff like Dinty Moore Beef Stew, or canned Ravioli/Spaghetti, etc. Of course you'll need a pot to heat it in ( I have a backpack kit with a nest of pots made by Coleman that works great!) (4) Waterproof matches or regular, strike anywhere matches enclosed in a zip-loc bag (I use the zip-loc) (5) A plastic flask with your favorite brandy for evenings around the camp fire. These probably are not all essential, but it sure makes the camping a little more comfortable.

• Packable stove
• small coffee pot w/cream, coffee and sugar pre-mixed
• Dinty Moore Beef Stew or canned Raviloli/spaghetti in case dinner won't bite.
• Nested cooking kit
• Waterproof matches or lighter
• Plastic flask for brandy, etc.

• Adequate mosquito netting or small tent.
• Sleeping pad & a sheet.  I doubt you will need a sleeping bag. A "mummy style" sleeping bag liner is perfect.
• Mosquito repellant
• Potato/orange sack
• Duct tape

• Food you do not have to cook
• Rope
• "Beverage" of choice
• Flashlight
• Rain suit
• Tackle & bait
• Leatherman tool or its equivalent

Your successful trip to BurntCabin will depend greatly upon the weather.  First, BurntCabin favors cloudy, rainy days.  So this will require you are prepared for rain.  A good packable LIGHT  tent helps tremendously. However, more than likely, BurntCabin will be HOT.  A tent will serve as a sauna and cook the bejeebes out of you.  Just ask the Klines about last summer.  If its hot w/ no rain the ideal shelter is a simple mosquito net that fits over your sleeping bag.  This allows for maximum air flow and maximum protection from the KILLER mosquitoes that lurk around this lake.  If I were bringing no tent, I would have a tarp to provide some protection in case of rain.

Typically, we pack and prepare for the trip to Burnt in the morning and plan on leaving for Burnt by 11AM.  The earlier you leave, the better. 

At Lower Cranberry, Stoney/Burnt fisherman can only take one boat.  This allows others to fish Billy and Little.  Make sure the large boat is left for the Burnt trip.  Otherwise, the passengers and the gear carried by the Burnt group could swamp the smaller boat.... something to avoid on the Little Cranberry.  Last year, we ferried over in two trips.  God help you if you have so much gear that you swamp the Cranberry portage.

By the time you reach Stoney (one hell of a hike) you will need to find the canoes stashed in the woods.  Most of you are familiar with this. I have always been concerned about catching enough food for dinner on BurntCabin so I like to catch a few fish in Stoney.  We have been skunked before on Burnt... makes for a bummer dinner when all you have is potatoes.  However, I might go-for-it this year and concentrate on fishing BurntCabin.

I would guess you could be at BurntCabin by 2 PM.  We usually dump our gear at the campsite across the lake and set up camp so when we come off the water, later in the evening, we are ready to make dinner and then head for cover from the mosquitoes.

For dinner, have as much prepared ahead of time as possible.  Precut and cook as much of the food before arriving at Burnt.  This just makes it easier for everyone.. especially if you don't have a cook in your group.  Todd and I will loan our pans to anyone who needs them.. Also it really helps to have a good, thin, light cutting board to clean your fish.  Trying to clean on a rock sucks.  So, bring one of those light, white cutting boards.  Make sure you throw your guts and carcasses on land and not into the water.   The carcass will breakdown much faster on land than in the water.

Besides your fishing gear and a toothbrush, there is not much else you will need. 

GROUP GEAR

Food for dinner

• precut potatoes, onions, peppers and seasoning to taste.
• Cooking oil
• non-stick pans
• light cutting board
• soap - scrub
• spatula, knife
• Paper towel & paper plates... light and burnable so you don't have to clean or packback. 
• WATER - You don't want to drink the water from BurntCabin.
• T.P.
• Tents/shelters

Equipment

• Paddles
• duct tape
• anchor rope & sack
• first-aid kit.  I carry one if you need to borrow for the week.  Luckily, I don't have to use it very often.

PERSONAL GEAR:

• Fishing Gear
• Tooth Brush, etc.
• light sleeping bag or sheet
• Shelter - Pack Tent or mosquito netting over a stick frame.
• Flashlight
• Rain Gear
• Bug Repellant
• Utensils and Cup
• Food for breakfast and lunch on second day, snacks