4am brings thunder and lightning and rain. My shoes will not be dry when I get up this morning. After about 2 hours of storms we unzip at 6:30 to find the lake is as still as glass and a rainbow has developed in the southern sky; two very good signs. It takes 50 minutes to pack everything up and we are on our way back the way we came. 

This time with most of the food eaten, we are able to single portage without stopping, and this feels great. Snowbank lake greats us with fluffy white clouds, and most importantly calm waters. As we cross this massive calm lake I reflect on the many trips I have made into this pine-filled heaven and conclude this morning’s paddle is one of the best I have ever had. I thoroughly enjoy this revelation while I soak up the sun and the scenery. The trip has come to an end here, because the 12 hour drive back to Chicago that follows our docking at Smitty’s is just not something I am going to keep in my long-term memory.