Ham Lake, Cross Bay Lake, Rib Lake, Lower George Lake, Karl Lake, Long Island Lake. 7.7 miles.

6 portages. 65 rods, 35 rods, 24 rods, 50 rods, 37 rods, 28 rods.

Lauren and I woke at 6:30am in the comfy confines of the bunkhouse at Seagull Outfitters. It had rained last night and the skies were still looking ominous. After a quick breakfast of muffins and cereal, we loaded up the truck and Dave shuttled us down to the entry point, Cross Bay.

We hit the water around 8:30am. Since we had been through this area a month ago, we made quick work through the first two portages into Ham Lake. A nice tail wind pushes us across Ham Lake to the portage into Cross Bay Lake. We met group with a kayak on this 24 rod portage who had just left Long Island Lake this morning. They informed that they pretty much had the lake to themselves, so I was optimistic that we wouldn't have any issues finding a camp by the time we arrived. Cross Bay Lake is very cool. It starts with neat twists and turns while passing high cliffs on either side before the topography flattens out and the lake becomes more marshy. We encountered many ducks, lily pads, mergansers, and flowers along the way. The nice camp site on Cross Bay Lake is taken, so we forgo a break and push on.

Rib Lake is neat with lots of grassy / shallow water on the south end. A short stream was paddled to reach the portage to Lower George Lake. This lake was crossed in a blink of an eye and soon we were at our last portage for the day.

Today's travels were pretty easy and Lauren did a great job. She carried her pack the entire way on each of the portages. We reached Long Island lake around noon. We explored several of the camps before picking an elevated site on a point. The camp is a nice, breezy site with good views of the west. There are many trails to explore, a nice fire pit area, and lots of tent pads.

After lunch and setting up camp, we lounged the afternoon away enjoying the sun. The first night's dinner would be our usual brats and hot dogs. We tried fishing a bit from shore, but didn't catch any. The great sunset and a nice fire made up for that. Finally, it was Uno and cards in the tent and then sweet slumber. What a great day.

Long Island Lake

Today would be a basecamp day on Long Island Lake. We woke to rain and hung out in the tent until around 8am when it stopped. Breakfast was pancakes and sausage. The remainder of the morning was spent relaxing around camp and fishing from shore.

In the afternoon, we explored the west end of the lake. The island camp near the portage to Karl Lake has huge pines and cedars. Lots of shade, wide open and a very nice kitchen area. On the way back to camp, we caught 3 x 30 plus inch pike while trolling. One was caught using a green and silver Lil' Cleo and the other on a white airplane jig with a 5" twister tail.

Back a camp, we had a late lunch and spent the afternoon fishing, relaxing and swimming. Our experience on this lake is that the fishing is very slow. Evening brought another beautiful sunset. There was zero wind today and when the sun went down the bugs came out. We were chased to our tent around 9:30pm and quickly fell asleep.

Long Island Lake

Today would be a basecamp day on Long Island Lake. We woke to rain and hung out in the tent until around 8am when it stopped. Breakfast was pancakes and sausage. The remainder of the morning was spent relaxing around camp and fishing from shore.

In the afternoon, we explored the west end of the lake. The island camp near the portage to Karl Lake has huge pines and cedars. Lots of shade, wide open and a very nice kitchen area. On the way back to camp, we caught 3 x 30 plus inch pike while trolling. One was caught using a green and silver Lil' Cleo and the other on a white airplane jig with a 5" twister tail.

Back a camp, we had a late lunch and spent the afternoon fishing, relaxing and swimming. Our experience on this lake is that the fishing is very slow. Evening brought another beautiful sunset. There was zero wind today and when the sun went down the bugs came out. We were chased to our tent around 9:30pm and quickly fell asleep.

Winchell Lake, Gaskin Lake. 3.7 miles.

1 portage. 58 rods.

We woke to a breezy sunny morning on Winchell Lake. After pancakes and sausage for breakfast we broke camp and headed out around 9am. We said our goodbyes to Lauren's friend "Buddy". Buddy was a frog who lived in the small pools on the rocks in front of camp.

With a good tail wind, we coasted down Winchell Lake in about a hour to the portage to Gaskin Lake. Most of the camp sites we passed on Winchell look to be rather nice and the lake is lined with huge tress of both sides and the massive cliffs of the Misquah Hills on the south end. Towards the east end of the lake, the Redeye fire of 2006 burned both sides of the lake.

The portage to Gaskin Lake is up and down and not too bad. Parts of it pass through the burn area and the portage landing on Gaskin Lake is very muddy. The portage lands on a shallow, weedy bay on the south end of the lake. Just past this bay, the first really nice camp on a west facing point was taken. The two camps across the way on the north shore were open but not very nice.

The island camp on the east end of the lake was open and we took it. It is an expansive, open site with huge trees and some good shade. The entire camp is rather sloped, so none of the tent pads are the greatest. In some ways the camp is overused, but we were happy to be here. We arrived around noon and after lunch we got camp situated.

We started off the afternoon with a quick swim and then we headed out for some fishing and exploring. We had a nice talk with a gentleman on a solo trip in a white Magic. Another group of 8 boy scouts in tandem canoes also passed by. The fishing was very slow, so we decided to hike the short portage to Jump Lake which follows a small stream between Jump and Gaskin.

As evening set in, the temperature dropped and a good breeze from the west started. We enjoyed another beautiful sunset and a warm fire. Fortunately, the breeze kept the bugs down and we were able to stay up late tonight.

Winchell Lake, Gaskin Lake. 3.7 miles.

1 portage. 58 rods.

We woke to a breezy sunny morning on Winchell Lake. After pancakes and sausage for breakfast we broke camp and headed out around 9am. We said our goodbyes to Lauren's friend "Buddy". Buddy was a frog who lived in the small pools on the rocks in front of camp.

With a good tail wind, we coasted down Winchell Lake in about a hour to the portage to Gaskin Lake. Most of the camp sites we passed on Winchell look to be rather nice and the lake is lined with huge tress of both sides and the massive cliffs of the Misquah Hills on the south end. Towards the east end of the lake, the Redeye fire of 2006 burned both sides of the lake.

The portage to Gaskin Lake is up and down and not too bad. Parts of it pass through the burn area and the portage landing on Gaskin Lake is very muddy. The portage lands on a shallow, weedy bay on the south end of the lake. Just past this bay, the first really nice camp on a west facing point was taken. The two camps across the way on the north shore were open but not very nice.

The island camp on the east end of the lake was open and we took it. It is an expansive, open site with huge trees and some good shade. The entire camp is rather sloped, so none of the tent pads are the greatest. In some ways the camp is overused, but we were happy to be here. We arrived around noon and after lunch we got camp situated.

We started off the afternoon with a quick swim and then we headed out for some fishing and exploring. We had a nice talk with a gentleman on a solo trip in a white Magic. Another group of 8 boy scouts in tandem canoes also passed by. The fishing was very slow, so we decided to hike the short portage to Jump Lake which follows a small stream between Jump and Gaskin.

As evening set in, the temperature dropped and a good breeze from the west started. We enjoyed another beautiful sunset and a warm fire. Fortunately, the breeze kept the bugs down and we were able to stay up late tonight.