Friday, July 27, 2012

Banadad Lake, Sebeka Lake, Ross Lake, Cave Lake, Long Island Lake

We woke up to SUN! We needed this! Our trek to Long Island Lake would be straight through. There were no campsites between Banadad and Long Island so stopping wasn’t an option. After breakfast we broke camp and headed to the 95 rod portage.

Pancakes with fresh raspberries.
We were thankful it was dry! Slippery rocks are not fun! After finishing the entire trip, the 95 rod portage from Banadad to Sebeka was voted the portage we liked the least. Due to the rocks, ups and downs, switchbacks, plus needing to watch our footing carefully it got the “pain in the rump portage” vote .
I usually lag behind taking pictures as we walk the portage back for the second load. It made me smile to see the pink water bottle left on the trail for me by the B’s. They are so thoughtful! Pictures never show the full depth of what is was like but here are a few.

Now on Sebeka Lake, we agreed it reminded us of Slim Lake north of LIS. The 180 rod from Sebeka to Ross was longer but easier than the previous 95 rod. Every now and then there was a mud hole to slosh through. Rock slabs with moss growing on them took me down…but only once. The moss gave way and I dumped with a pack. At least it was a soft landing! The path was rather overgrown in some areas.
This picture is taken from the end of the 180 looking into Ross.
Ross was a unique little lake.
Ross is small in size yet had a huge rock cliff on the east end.
When we landed at the beginning of the 195 rod portage to Cave Lake we noticed a USFS canoe stashed just off the portage in the brush. As we made our way with the packs we ran into the two USFS workers. The task they had ahead of them was to build a bridge at the bottom of a hill where water was pooling. The gentleman said he had been watching this area get worse for years. “Visitors” to the area had attempted to remedy the problem by detouring …but that just made matters worse. The bridge was to be done by the end of the week. We got a little muddy here! We also learned the workers were the occupants of the Banadad island site we wanted.
We have never in our lives seen so many baby toads! The portage was infested with them! At times you couldn’t put your foot down without stepping on them. This portage was also overgrown and when we separated the foliage and as we walked the toads scattered! The tiny little guy shown is being compared to B2’s pinky fingernail. We had our first mosquitoes on this portage but not enough to get out the bug spray.
This is the hill that dumps water into the bridge construction area.
The start of the new bridge.
The detour.
One of the million baby toads!
Cave Lake was small and must have had a lot of iron in it because the water was very brown!
B2 ready to start the paddle across Cave Lake
B3’s first canoe carry! You go girl! Heading west on the 109 rod portage to Long Island Lake!
We did it! After a 95, 180, 195, and a 109 rod portage we are all smiles knowing our next stop will be a campsite!
We decided to head to the island sight closest to the Muskeg portage. As we paddled we saw lots of people! We had just come through seven lakes and had only seen the two USFS workers! We were worried about getting a campsite. As we rounded the corner of island…the site was open! Woo Hoo!

It took us seven and a half hours to go from Banadad to our Long Island campsite. We weren’t rushing but kept moving. The girls worked hard and I was proud of what we accomplished that day! They were HUNGRY so I made their favorite dinner. A big pot of chicken alfredo and carrots!
I think it was gone in all of two minutes!
It was a beautiful evening to relax!
B2 fishing.
The B’s found a high perch to watch the sunset from!