Wednesday, August 05, 2020 Traveled total 8.75 miles. 7.9 miles paddled and 6 portages totaling 272 rods. Lakes traveled: Boulder, Adams, Beaver, Trapline, and Kawishiwi River.

The map said we did 6 portages totaling 272 rods today but reality was different. We arrived at the southern portage out of Boulder just after the group from Kentucky had started over. Due to the low water instead of the 39 and 11 rod portages separated by a short paddle we did multiple longer portages, muddy drags, and in and outs. Think we missed the 11 rod portage altogether and pushed over a couple of beaver dams to finally make our way into Adams lake. Another picture perfect BWCA day with sunshine and a breeze out the the west or northwest. Adams is a very pretty lake that I would love to come back to and explore some. Once we reach the large south part of the lake we could see our southern friends up ahead to make navigating to the next portage easy. They obviously thought Adams lake was worth spending more time at as well as they headed to explore some of the eastern channels. We headed to the 92 rod portage to Beaver lake. I had been looking forward to this portage because of what I had read about it and vaguely remembered from 25 yrs ago. Just as we were finishing unloading the guys from Kentucky pulled up deciding they had spent enough time exploring Adams. This portage, especially the end by Beaver lived up to its billing. Met one other group on the portage headed to Boulder lake. Shared a bit of knowledge on the campsites and fishing on Boulder and shared some contact info with the Southern guys to potentially share some pictures after the trip. On into Beaver lake and what the hell is this? We are paddling into a significant head wind. Fist time of the entire trip! Just over a mile of paddling mainly west and we take a hard left and head SE on Beaver with things back right with the world with the wind where it belongs, behind us! Quick portage into Trapline and across to the river. Low water here definitely impacted the entry into the Kawishiwi river and we ended up dragging the canoe a couple hundred yards to floatable water. This is also where we said goodby to the group from Kentucky, as they were headed to Alice and we were heading east. Once on the river we saw numerous canoes out fishing, a number in some beautiful cedar stripper canoes. Once across the short portage connecting the river we saw no one. Checked out camp #1039 and this deserves its 1 star rating, low, marshy, and not very appealing. We paddle on to campsite #1050 to call home for a night. As other reviewers stated this site does not have great tent pads, the landing is small, and a bit of a carry up to get packs into camp. But it has a lot of character and great views. Lauren was able to hang a little north of the fire grate close to to water, and I was able to find 1 good place for the tent. Set up camp, swam, and ate supper. Went out in the canoe that evening to gather water and paddle around. Filled up and used the steri pen to treat the water and then paddled around the small island and up the channel towards Malberg. Entertained by a couple of beavers and some birds. Probably out for around an hour when we were back by the small island I noticed a perfectly round ring about 2 inches wide in the water. Paddled over to teak a closer look and on removing it from the water realized it was the rubber ring from the pre-filter for our Steri Pen. Obviously it fell out when I was shaking the water out and I never noticed! Can’t believe we found it! Called it a night soon after and retired after yet another gorgeous day.