Slow getting Mountain Goat out of his hammock this morning. He was really tired after the early start yesterday. Quick breakfast of oatmeal loaded with dried fruit and nuts, and we were on the water at 10am. We made quick work of the first short portage since we were camped right near it. On the 140 rod from Gordon to Unload Lake, a young couple arrived at the start just after us. They were double portaging so we were able to finish well ahead of them the rest of the way to Frost Lake.

On Frost Lake, we treated enough water to fill all our bottles so we wouldn't need to refill on shallow Octopus Lake or the Frost River stretch we planned to complete today. Note that the 10 rod portage shown right after the 130 rod into Octopus doesn't exist. You can just paddle right through. We ate lunch on the 15 rod portage out of Octopus. After the men took their after lunch snooze, we finished the 15 rod.

The next portage was supposed to be 5 rods, but the river was much too rocky at the end of the 5 rods so we followed the path another 10-15 rods. After that portage we pulled over one beaver dam. Then we did the next 5 rod which bypassed a beaver dam and what Mountain Goat dubbed a "water tumble" (too small to be a waterfall, too big to be a stream).

After this, the river went by quicker than we thought so we were never exactly sure where we were until we reached the 30 rod into Chase Lake. We never saw anyone else after we left the couple behind earlier in the day. We did the portage into Bologna and were pleased to find the campsite open. Bear advocated for a layover day, but the campsite on Bologna is not great for that. It is a small site. I had a small grassy patch for my tent, Mountain Goat found a distant hammock hanging spot, while Bear found one closer in. But it was nice to have a lake to ourselves.

There was a moose skull nailed to a tree. Butterflies were sucking off the skull. We found the remaining moose skeleton (minus the legs) farther away and wondered about the cause for its demise. We decided to move the skull back to the rest of the bones. Lots of wildlife so far on this trip. Otter, eagles, lots of mergansers with their babies, wood frogs, and garter snakes.

Chicken noodle soup with dumplings for dinner followed by Mug Cakes cooked in silicone muffin cups in a water bath. Played some rummy and took a long swim.

~Long Island Lake, Gordon Lake, Unload Lake, Frost Lake, Octopus Lake, Chase Lake, Bologna Lake

Travel Time: 10:00am-3:15pm 5.25 hours