We entered last Sunday at Baker Lake without much planning as far as the exact route was concerned. We like to break camp every day because we don't do much fishing and get bored otherwise. The water levels were up especially for August so we decided to paddle down the Frost River.

We spent our first night on South Temperance Lake and were lucky enough to have a nice view from the campsite up on the rock on the south side of the lake. We put up camp and were relaxing when a canoe came to the landing at the bottom of the campsite waving at us in greeting and two guys got out. We thought that they probably wanted to eat their lunch. After ten minutes or so they carried up their canoe. At that time I thought it was appropriate to ask what they were up to. They said they were doing a portage. After helping them find their way, we had the camp to ourselves again. During the afternoon and night we had 3 waves of thunderstorms going over that collapsed our tarp. Luckily, our tent stayed dry.

The next morning we paddled east to Brule which was on her normal behavior whipping up waves even at the early hour. North then west along the rocky and that day slippery portages toward Cherokee Lake. Our single portaging came to an end because the poor footing and balancing were just too much. At the end of the portage into Towne Lake we ran into a father/son team on their way to Brule. They were single portaging in open-toe sandals. After they asked how the portages were we informed them that they were 'pretty rocky'. They did have boots with them to change into should the need arise. Being pretty worn out we were glad to find the only campsite on Towne open.

The next day took us to Frost Lake and the Frost River. The camp on Bologna Lake was available. Unfortunately it was pretty brushy and mosquito infested. Like the afternoon and night before we saw groups that were looking for a campsite late in the day. In the case of the Frost River that is bad news. It's a good long trip either way to the next one.

Day 4 took us the rest of the way down the river and we ended up on Mesaba Lake. It was pretty warm and a swim was in order. Having been in my birthday suit I fled into camp when I saw a canoe approaching. They headed for the campsite across the arm, looked around, got back into their canoe, and headed straight for ours which was clearly flagged as occupied with a tarp and the laundry flapping in the wind. My wife fled into the woods. The canoe docked and the two young ladies identified themselves as US Forest Service rangers. I asked them to wait until I was 'decent', which they were more than happy to do. After checking our permit, the fire grate and latrine, and a couple questions about downed trees along the portages they were on their way.

The following day took us south along the long but relatively easy Zenith-Lujenida portage along the Kelso River to Sawbill Lake. Along the Z-L portage we came across footprints of a sow and her cub. On Sawbill we camped near the portage to Burnt Lake. It's a nice spacious camp and while Sawbill is a busy place during the day, the night was very quiet because the campsites are concentrated along the north end.

As always, our trip came to too early an end the next day when we paddled back to Baker.

The Boundary Waters seemed to be pretty busy this year even after putting some portages between us and the entry points. Many people had to go farther than anticipated to find a campsite for the night. Obviously it was early August, but that is our usual time. It definitely was a good thing to get up early and make camp early as well.

We can't wait till next time. With a 12 hour drive and limited vacation time it will be another year before we can be back.