Chance Is Here Today

Boundry Waters Trip

Well, we are home from our annual Boundry Waters Trip. Craig Holgate, David and I took off from Hibbing around 4:00pm on Thursday. We had to make a stop at Peragus in Ely to pick up our Permit and that is always fun. I love that store and wish every time I go in there that I had alot of money to spend. This trip I bought my Fisher map and a water proof case for my GPS. We were warned by the kid that gave us our permit that the mosquitoes were out in full force. This was not wonderful news, but at least we had bug spray.

We got to our campground on Fall Lake at about 6:30pm or so and were really hungry. All of us agreed that if we had known how late we were going to arrive we would have skipped buying groceries for Thursday night and just ate in Ely. However we had hamburgers, corn on the cob and baked beans on the menu. So, we started a fire, cooked the corn and hamburgers and enjoyed a later than normal meal. The rest of the night was spent sitting by the fire waiting for the 4th person in our party our friend Stan from the Itasca Kayakers. Stan arrived around 9:00pm with Dilly Bars (Yeah Stan).

Friday morning dawned sunny and cloudless for which we were very happy considering the forcast was for 60% chance of rain. We ate a breakfast of eggs and sausage, cleaned up, packed up and headed for the Lake One Entry Point. This is the 2nd most popular entry point into the BWCA and there are 18 permits given per day. The entry was busy with canoeists and kayakers loading up there gear. It is alwasy fun to watch what people bring. I am so amazed at what some people try to bring in with them. Sometimes I wonder if they really understand that they are going to have to carry all of that stuff across portages. After doing that a couple of times, you realize there are some things that you can do without for a couple of days!!

On this particular trip we paddled almost 11 miles, 4 portages and 5 lakes to get to our destination of Fire Lake. This lake isn't even in the guide books so we figured it would be really remote. Three days there and we only saw one canoe and they were just in for a day trip of fishing from Hudson Lake. The rest of the time was spent with about a mother otter and her two kits, turtles, and 4 loons that never left very far from our campsite and had a passion for 4:00am. Every morning at that time they would start to yell, wonderful sound, but unbelievably loud!

Friday nite was dinner of Steak on a stick (steak cooked on sticks over the campfire), corn on the cobb and mashed potatoes. The rest of the night was spent sitting by the fire and chatting. I have to say, the mosquitoes were not bad, but the natts were horrible. I don't think there is a place on the back of my neck that hasn't been eaten.

Saturday after a breakfast of Pancakes we headed for Hudson Lake because they heard the fishing there was pretty good. Each year we bring in the Fish Breading for a meal of fish and each year we bring the Fish Breading out. Thank God for backup meals. We paddled the 3.5 miles to the mouth of the River coming out of Insula Lake and then while they fished, I just floated back toward our Lake while reading my book. The wind was blowing in the right direction and it was fun. Saturday nite we had our back up meal of Chicken and Rice. We agreed that we were all thankful for the person that invented foil packages. Last year we tried the hamburger in a foil pack and decided that it tasted and smelled like cat food. This year it was Tyson Chicken in foil packages and that wasn't so bad. Unfortunately Saturday evening it started to rain and pretty much rained most of the night.

Sunday morning dawned cloudy and looking like rain. We packed up everything quickly so we wouldn't have to do it in the rain and started breakfast. Just as soon as we finished breakfast the rain came. We had to paddle the first hour or so and the first 2 portages in the rain. But, after that the clouds broke and the sun came out. I was able to use my GPS and am happy to say that if left alone, I could have found my way out!

Another trip into the Boundry Waters is done and I can't wait to go again. Thanks guys (David, Stan and Craig) for being willing to carry more than you should so that I could make the trip.

posted by Colleen @ 7:00 PM