OVERVIEW
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Test Lake
A reading of the Backpacker Magazine article, about the Pitfall Primitive Management Area, revealed that Faith Lake is the most promising lake that the magazines team visited. They describe Faith Lake as "Tanqueray clear". The article mentions a sand beach on the northeast end of Faith Lake, but a review of satellite images does not confirm this; so if the beach is there, it is small. Article also mentions fishing and catching two 40 inch range northern pike. That seems promising.
Like nearby lakes, Faith Lake had its surrounding forest completely devastated by the 2006 Cavity Lake Fire.
According to 1964 Minnesota DNR map, Faith Lake used to be called Hope Lake. Another lake in the Fungus Lake Primitive Management Area within the BWCA also has that name.
The forest around this lake was impacted by the July, 2006 Cavity Lake Fire. This fire burned over 30,000 acres. Fire began on July 13.
A huge fire in 1863 or 1864 known as the Kawishiwi River/Alice Lake/Cypress Lake/Saganaga Lake complex burned the forests in this area.
Just after the turn of the 19th century, in 1801, another fire burned the area stretching from Gabimichigami Lake up through the Saganaga Lake area.
In 1727, area was burned by a fire that covered the region from Amoeber Lake to Sea Gull Lake.
1692 saw another large fire affect this area in what is now the BWCA.
Approach to Test Lake
You can reach Faith Lake by a short 5 rod bushwhack from Trust Lake, or via a 30 rod bushwhack from Fish Lake. The trail from Fish Lake used to be a maintained portage as indicated on circa 1980 BWCA maps.
Bushwhack to Test Lake
From Trust Lake: An easy 5 rod "liftover" from Trust Lake through burned forest.
From Fish Lake: There used to be a 30 rod portage connecting these two lakes. The Cavity Lake Fire probably removed all vestiges of that old portage. Getting between these two lakes now involves a 30 rod bushwhack through the blackened forest.
Exploring Test Lake
Faith Lake is about 15 feet deep and reportedly pretty clear. The entire forest around the lake is gone because of the fire, so this is probably not a great place to camp. The fishing here sounds promising, so "cast 'em if you got 'em".
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