2 lakes, 1 portage

We were up at 6 AM. It looked like a nice morning, but it was quite cold. (47 degrees in the tent.) We had a hot breakfast and were on the water by 8:30. [It is worth noting that all times are Michigan time, so everything in Minnesota was an hour earlier on the clock, and we were actually on the water at 7:30.]

The portage to Frost Lake (140 rods) is a nice one with easy footing, and we came out onto sunlit water, startling three ducks who thought they had the place to themselves! Paddled through a marshy river-like area, very shallow, and had a slide-over into the actual lake from "Unload Lake" (strikes me as sort of a makeshift name.) On Frost we explored two nice campsites and found the third one occupied. We took the second; we have our own sand beach and a great view of the lake from several directions. There is one big boulder out in the center of the lake. The rosebushes are lovely.

We hung things to dry and I took a walk on the beach, without the camera, unfortunately. I noticed a large white-tail deer walking toward me from the opposite end of the beach. She didn't notice me, probably because of the curve of the bay. We ended up about thirty feet apart, looking into each other's eyes, before she froze and then ran off. I was impressed by her big ears and huge brown eyes.

This is a terrific campsite! We explored areas back in the woods and found a stand of very large pine trees.

The weather felt cold, but we did clean up and shampoo, even as the sky became more overcast. A canoe came by while we were resting in the tent and Neil went out to speak with the men. They seemed to think that a 22-day trip sounded long! They had just come in from Sawbill.

In the late afternoon we looked over to the beach to see a large bull moose. I was unsuccessful in getting over there with the camera, but we did have a good view of him.

After supper we went for an evening paddle, photographing the cliff on the east shore of the lake.

Then I sat "Moose Watch" for an hour on the beach until I was chilled, but I had no luck in spotting anything, unless you count ducks! A group of mergansers entertained me for quite a while. But no moose!

This is a wonderful place! I planned to keep memories of this one for when there were the inevitable difficult days ahead.

People have moved into the adjoining campsite with a barking dog! [Never has been my favorite thing--even less so in the BWCA.] It was fifty degrees in the tent at bedtime, and Neil's sleeping bag began disintegrating. (broken zipper pull) [He made this trip with an old White Stag sleeping bag that was heavy and not nearly warm enough. We had cause to regret that when the clear night turned very cold.]