BWCAW - Day five (August 29th, 2013)

Last full day...

It had rained some the night before, but now was partly sunny.  We started our day with polenta and bacon bits, then packed up and were ready to go.  We were leaving later than we had planned on and by the time we rowed out on the lake we could see that rain was soon coming and we still had quite a ways to go across the lake.  The first drops started as we were close to the portage (the 216 rod portage!).  We got to shore and started the portage to the beaver dam which is about a third of the way.  Wasn't long before we were completely drenched, but unfortunately the rain didn't stop the mosquitoes.  When we got to the beaver dam it was very muddy.  We managed to get the canoe loaded and pushed off to the other side. 

BWCAW - Day four (August 28, 2013)

After a breakfast of blueberry pancakes we packed a lunch and headed off to the portage on Heritage Lake.  As we walked the portage seemed to get less well traveled until it just seemed to end, but we kept going, making our own path.  It was hard because it was a marshy area and you never knew what you may step into.  When we reached the lake all we saw were rocks and a few lily pads.  DB decided to try it out anyway.  BH then went in but stayed close to the rocks.  I went in and swam out a ways.  We were quite disappointed and finally headed back blazing our own trail again as we went.  When we got back to Shell Lake we went to the empty campground next to ours and swam there for awhile, ate a lunch of cheese, crackers and jerky then DB and BH went back out in the water again.  Since I didn't have a swim suit I stayed out to dry.  We finally headed back to camp and had chicken, cranberry stuffing, potatoes and gravy.  Still didn't feel like making dessert.  We sat out in the dusk and then dark and watched lightening in the distance.  When it finally got close we went to our tents.  Rained some, but not buckets.

BWCAW - Day Three (August 27, 2013)

We wanted to get an early start so we just had energy bars and fruit sticks for breakfast, which meant no dishes to wash.  We tore down camp, repacked out packs (food pack was lighter) and loaded the canoe.  For some reason we were unable to get the three big ones side by side like before when we started so we put them two by two.  We rowed across the lake, found the portage and unloaded the canoe.  Now for our big 216 rod portage.  About two-thirds of the way we came to the beaver dam.  we needed to load up the canoe again and row across a small section of water.  Getting the canoe out deep enough to load was quite the challenge as the mud was quite thick.  Getting out at the other side was a challenge too.  Since I was in the front is was me who has to get out first and pull the canoe in some.  There was a small rock that I stepped on and started to pull the canoe forward.  It was there that I started losing my balance and not wanting to land in the thick mud I propelled myself backwards and fell on my back on a drier portion of grassy, reedy area.  Now the trick was to get everything and everyone out of the canoe.  DB and BH got out on the other side of the canoe which was also quite muddy.  Somehow DB ended up in mud up to her ankles which was very hard to get out of.  We then portaged the last third of the way to Shell Lake.  We checked out what were considered the prime camp sites first, but they were taken.  Found one that looked pretty good, but someone wanted to go on and see if there was a better one.  It was decided to leave some of our stuff there incase something better was not found, but since nothing was we headed back to the first site and unloaded.  It was early afternoon and we had not eaten lunch yet.  By the time DB started the camp stove the fire pit was bathed in full sun and very hot.  We decided that this may be a good time to put up the tarp.  It was very hard as all the trees were quite far apart.  We barely made it with the 50 feet of rope we had.  Lunch of scrambled eggs (using the rest of the fresh eggs) and Spam was made and the dishes washed.  Then we had the afternoon to enjoy.  We all went out for a swim...or more like a bob.  Whenever anyone came by we would ask where they had come from and they all said Little Indian Sioux!  We had originally planned to do that much too, but we got too worn out.  It was harder than we had expected.  We then went out to get water and went by a camp with two guys.  They told us about a wonderful sandy beach on Heritage Lake, all we had to do was leave our canoe and walk the portage and we would come out on the sandy beach.  We decided to stay at that camp site an extra day so we could go to the sandy beach and swim.  After a supper of Salmon and spinach linguini we started a fire hoping that would keep the mosquitoes down and have some hot cocoa (no, it hadn't suddenly gotten cold) but it didn't keep them down so we quickly cleaned up and went into our tents.

BWCAW - Day Two (August 26, 2013)

Awoke early after sleeping quite well.  We started the day with French toast using apple fritter bread dipped in farm fresh eggs (they will last a couple of days without refrigeration) and milk. Yummy!  We washed up the dishes, which is not an easy feat as we had to heat water and wash in a pot that really isn't too big.  We then discussed taking the 216 rod portage to Shell Lake (we were all dreading the portage with that heavy food pack.  Decided instead to just take a lunch of spinach wraps, tuna and fruit sticks over to Devil's Cascade.  We left the canoe at the entrance to the portage and just carried our light pack in.  Not sure how far we walked, but it wasn't too far.  DB and BH had their swim suits on and went into the water right below a falls.  I had forgotten to bring mine so I sat on shore until they talked me into joining them.  They said to just zip off the bottom of my pants and wear my sports bra (very similar to a swim top).  I had to walk back and get my life vest, even though it wasn't very deep we thought it best to wear them.  Had a great time in the water, we went behind the falls too.  Then we ate our lunches.  The other two went back in, but since I had nothing to change back into I sat on the rocks and dried off.  We walked down further and they got into the water in another spot, but it wasn't as nice so we went back up to the former spot.  After spending part of the morning and all afternoon there we headed back.  We canoed back to camp, getting our water while still on the lake to filter.  We were once again too full after a supper of gnocchi and cheese to make dessert.  Once it got dusk the mosquitoes came out in force.  So after cleaning up we headed for our tents.  That's when I realized that there was a rock under my back that I had not noticed the night before.  I did not sleep as well this night.

BWCAW - Pre and Day One (August 25th and before)

Last spring a coworker (DB) came in and ask the other two of us if we (me and BH) would like to go to the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota.  Without thinking I said sure.  That's when the journey began and I realized this was not going to be a cheap trip.  I had to get hiking boots, nice water sandals, fast drying shirt and pants where the legs zipped off, rain jacket and pants, sleeping bag that was good for colder weather and that did not weigh much, canteen, bug spray along with other sundry items. 

DB and BH studied all the routes and decided on a few they felt were good.  I looked at them and said that I didn't want it to be too easy (don't know what I was thinking).  We finally decided on Entry point 14 Little Indian Sioux River North.  We booked our dates and got a permit.  Next we found an outfitter where we could rent a canoe and a few other things.  The first one we called was really rude, but the next, Canoe Country Outfitters in Ely, MN was very nice and helpful.

The three of us also shopped for food to bring along.  DB was going to put it all together.  She showed us the meal plan and I couldn't believe it!  Gourmet meals! I don't come close to eating like that at home.  DB purchased a small camping stove and BH purchased a water filter system.

The day finally arrived.  We planned to meet at work at 6:00am on 24 August.  We finally got on the road at about 7:45am after loading all of our gear and filling up with gas.  We arrived in Ely, MN early afternoon going to the outfitter first to rent whatever gear we needed.  As we were finishing up I saw some vinyl buckets that folded flat and asked if we needed one.  Good thing we bought it as I have no item how we would have gotten water to drink and cook with.  We rented 3 packs, the largest was for food and the other two for all of our other gear.  I had brought a larger backpack.  We also rented a saw (which we never used), a four person tent and therm-a-rests for BH and me, BH rented a sleeping bag and pillow.

We ate our (late) lunch at Rockwood-Bar-and-Grill. I had tomato basil soup that was very good.  We then went to the grocery store to pick up a few odds and ends.  Now time to pack.  We laid everything out on a picnic table and decided what would go in each bag.  This is when we realized how heavy our food pack was (took two of us to lift using the handles, probably about 65-70 pounds) and how much we brought.  DB assured us that this is how much we needed.  We asked Mark from the outfitter about bringing our hiking shoes in the hot weather.  He said our sandals would do (wonder when I'll ever use my hiking shoes).   We then did a little tourist shopping in town and then went to Ely Steak House for dinner.  Had a wonderful dinner and splurged on dessert.  We had rented a room at the outfitter which consisted of two bunk beds.  None of us slept well that night, but we got up when the alarm rang at 5:30am.  After getting dressed we had the canoe put on top of DB's new vehicle and away we went.  It was a long drive to our starting destination.

When we arrived we took everything out and locked the vehicle.  We put the 49 pound Kevlar canoe on BH and she took off down the trail.  DB and I helped each get the medium packs and we took off. We got about a third of the way down the 40 rod portage (1 rod = 16 feet) and there was BH with the canoe on the edge of a large, wet slippery rock that slanted down a steep cliff that had to be crossed. We helped get the canoe back up and DB helped her while I went ahead to find out what the trail was like.  Ah, first load down.  We all went back up and DB and I helped BH get the food pack on and then each took another pack.  We loaded the canoe and took off on the Little Indian Sioux River with me in front, BH in the middle and DB in the back.  This day was turning out to be a sunny,  hot humid day.  After paddling about 1.5 miles we came to our next portage.  We now decided that it would be better to take packs first so that we could check out the trail.  I got the food pack this time for the 65 rod portage.  Wow, that was heavy, but somehow I made it.  We set our packs down and then went back for the other pack and the canoe.   We then canoed about 2 miles to Upper Pauness Lake and crossed the lake to the next 40 rod portage.  This time BH got the food pack (DB has bad knees so we didn't want her to carry it.  The other three packs were probably about 45-50 pounds each.  When we reached Lower Pauness Lake  we decided that there was no way we could portage 216 rods to Shell Lake with our heavy food pack like we had planned.  We found a camp site and set everything up.  Mosquitos were terrible and BH and DB had been bothered all day with biting black flies.  I wore long pants and anklets with my sandals along with a floppy brim hat and of course a shirt.  It was so hot and steamy that my glasses were fogged up.  We said that we needed to eat a lot of the heavy food so the pack wouldn't be so bad.  DB and I canoed out to the middle of the lake to get some water with our new bucket.  When we returned DB and BH set up the Platypus water filter (Platty).  We ate, Spam, potatoes, fresh green beans and fresh squash for dinner, but were too full and hot for any dessert other than bars that DB's mom had made.  Since the mosquitos were so bad we went into our tents, told a few stories and were soon fast asleep.

I must also tell about the latrines...  The one at this camp site was located almost a block back from our site through woods and brush.  The below picture was not from any of our camp sites, but it is better to see than try to describe.  All except for one of ours had a lid.  Because of the mosquitoes I kept moving.