Monday, September 24, 2012

Well, today we finally were able to strike camp before 1:00! Our great hope was to be able to make it to Lake Agnes to somewhat minimize our travels tomorrow. Vickie tried the SPOT again with no success.

A consequence of camping where we did was that we would need to complete our largest open water crossing of the trip thus far if we wanted to most expediently get to our first portage of the day. Fortunately there was only a mild breeze this morning, so our knuckles were able to retain their pinkish hue for the duration of the crossing.

The skies were overcast as we reached the portage to Green. This was a good path that had a decent climb up out of Ge-be-one-quet for about the first quarter of the trail tapering off then eventually dropping back down to Green.

By this time the sun was winning it's struggle with the clouds and brilliantly highlighted the fall colors which were really starting to hit their stride.

After a thankfully uneventful paddle across Green, the next portage was a shorter trail to Rocky lake. There is a neat swampy area at about mid trail that the trail passes by. The Rocky end is just that....Rocky. We stopped here and grabbed a snack.

Before tackling the next portage, we paddled over to the cliffs along the western shoreline to check out the pictographs. It is my understanding that no one has been able to determine who made the pictographs, or what they actually mean. So, for all we knew, we could have been looking at ancient markings that were merely saying, "Class of 73". Never the less, we briefly paid our respects & contemplated possible - more significant meanings. As we paddled away we passed some large rocks with water line marks that showed just how low the water was.

Another rocky landing. While unloading here I slipped waist deep into the lake. It was warm and sunny & my Mountain Hardware Talus pants dried before we finished the portage. So it really wasn't an issue.

If you haven't been able to tell by now? I really like running across old growth mature trees of all sorts. This trail was quite level & blessed with several large specimens. So this was, perhaps, the most enjoyable portage of the whole trip for me.

Upon completion of this portage, Vickie frankly admitted she'd had enough. Aurora had really been a Daddy's girl this trip. Almost every time I'd disappear down a portage trail she would more often than not throw a fit until I returned. This, understandably, really wore down Mommy's resolve. I told Vickie we likely wouldn't make it much farther anyway. Even here behind the Oyster lake peninsula, the wind was really pushing up some waves. I hoped the 5 star site at the "pinch" would be available.

The wind was really something, even blowing my hat off. Let the waves push us across the narrow finger of water in a nor'east direction until we reached the west side of the peninsula. Then turned & battled the waves head on back SW to the, mercifully open, 5 star peninsula site.

This is one of my all-time favorite campsites in the BWCAW. Nice landings on either side of the peninsula where you can alternately view the sunrise & sun set, awesome fire grate & kitchen area, several flat tent pads & plenty of room to explore. As an added bonus the way the log seating was constructed around the fire grate made for a great natural play pen for Aurora.

As noisy as the wind was when we set up, we didn't claim the premo tent pad behind the base of the large sloping rock face tucked under the cedar trees. Instead we setup near the fire grate so, if necessary, we could hear Aurora while we were sitting by the fire later that evening.

After supper Vickie took the time to bake some banana nut bread.

As we enjoyed a great dessert, the wind had receded to only a trace. We sat up and savored the warmth & crimson glow of the camp fire on what we hoped was our last evening, while wolves hauntingly howling from the direction of the Oyster river intermittently echoed across the night.

Ge-be-on-e-quet Lake, Green Lake, Rocky Lake, Oyster Lake