Friday, August 25, 2017 The Jack Lake site was the only time we really had issues with mosquitoes and we all slept terribly due to the cold and aching muscles. We had not been able to dry anything out the night before and we woke up absolutely freezing. No amount of yelling was going to get the 9yo out of the tent and the 12yo was huddled wrapped in his sweatshirt and long underwear. I broke out the toe warmer heat pads that I had been saving for when we were at our worst. This was it. This at least got the 9yo out of the tent, but the stove still wasn’t working so we had to get a decent fire going for oatmeal and hot chocolate (and coffee!!). After getting a hot drink and food in his system, the 9yo picked up the map and realized we could reach the exit point today instead of camping another night. His great sales pitch began. His determination to move fast increased his missing muscle strength and enabled us to single portage to Kelly Lake. After entering the lake, we saw a mama moose and her babe crossing the water! I dropped my paddle trying to get the camera and failed to get any pictures, but this was a needed highlight at the moment that made the boys beam and again brought the possibility of 1 more night in the BWCA. When we got to Burnt Lake, where we were hoping to stay, we were with another group frantically looking for a site and coming up empty - a Friday night close to 2 entry points. We stopped at a nice shoreline for lunch and discussed our trip, our moods, and all the pros and cons to heading out. We pushed off all in agreement that while it had been a great trip that surpassed all our expectations, the gravity bag filter must be done, the fuel was not working, and none of us wanted to wake up that cold again. Being Minnesotans, it would always be easy for us to come back. We breezed thru the last 2 portages, turned in our canoe uneventfully and drove home to the other half of our family who were extremely excited to see us a day early.