Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Winter Camping, Clearwater Lake
by UncleMoose

Trip Type: Dog Sledding
Entry Date: 02/10/2011
Entry & Exit Point: Clearwater Lake (EP 62)
Number of Days: 4
Group Size: 4
Day 4 of 4

Day 4 - Sunday, February 13

Morning meant it was time to pack up and prepare to head back out. The tip-ups would remain, however, until the bitter end. This strategy payed off with a hit on one of the lines midway through tearing down camp. This time Brian would not be denied. He worked the huge lake trout to the surface and up onto the ice - a beautiful 33 1/2" laker.

About 9:00 am Mike returned with the dogs. We packed up the sleds and headed back across Clearwater Lake. The temperature must have been somewhere around or just above freezing. The snow was softening up, and slush was becoming more conspicuous. A few hours later, though, we were loading up the cars, another successful winter adventure having come to an end.

Thanks to Dan, Dave and Brian for the great company and fun times. And thanks again to Mike Nelson and the folks at Adventurous Christians for their hospitality and the opportunity to experience dogsledding in this amazing northland country.

Click on any image for a higher resolution version.


Brian gets a second chance. This one feels like another big one.


Success!


Brian with his 33 1/2" lake trout.


Mike returns with the dog team.


Mike loads up the sled for the trip back.


Sled dogs.


Sled dog.


Sled dogs.


Sled dogs.


Sled dogs.


Tillman the sled dog.