Ogishkemuncie Lake, Annie Lake, Jenny Lake, Jasper Lake, Eddy Lake, South Arm Knife Lake, Hanson Lake

After breakfast we had a hard decision to make. Should we go back up Ogish, into Jasper Lake, Alpine Lake and eventually Seagull Lake? Or (because we are not fans of the burned areas – which Jasper and Alpine are) do we head toward Eddy and head into Hanson Lake? Our decision came quickly; Hanson Lake and a return to one of the sites that we have not stayed at since our very first "big trip" into the BW, in 2006.

Crossing Annie and Jenny lakes were uneventful. Nice and quiet with most of the continuing wind being blocked by the trees. On Eddy Lake though we ran into a group of Scouts; old friends now into their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s who were all group leaders at one point. We sat on the shore of the portage to Knife Lake and talked for a little while (Gopher being an old Eagle Scout himself) before pushing on. (Thanks to the guy who hooked me up with a cigarette.)

The Knife Lake crossing was windy but uneventful as well and we headed for the portage into Hanson Lake. We spied the portage, put to shore, and started to unload the gear. Then we discovered that we were not at the portage. It was just a sandy area that many people before us mistook as the portage. We laughed it off, ate lunch and paddled the 200 yards or so to the actual portage into Hanson. If you are looking for a site in the BW with a sandy beach there is a site right next to the portage on the Knife Lake side that fits the bill for you.

We made it to the Hanson Lake site by early afternoon, set up camp and relaxed once again (can you see the common thread to this trip yet?) on the lake shore. Dinner was good, swimming was better (if somewhat cold) and that night I finally got to indulge in something I have always wanted to do. There was no wind at all that evening and the water was glassy calm so we climbed into the canoe and paddled around Hanson Lake. The stars reflected off the water like a mirror. In fact, water was so calm and smooth that, despite not moving at all, it felt like we were moving in all directions at once. I cannot explain the feeling beyond that. I would love to camp in my canoe on nights like that. Too bad some clouds rolled in on us during the night.