With a very cold, early start we quickly packed up our tent and headed to Rockwood Outfitters to pick up our life jackets and paddles and to arrange to have them transport the Northwind 20 we were renting for the week to Round Lake. They were ready when we got there and we had everything loaded in the canoe and were shoving off the landing at Round by 8:30. The kids had pretty much zero canoe experience, so we spent the trip across Round learning to paddle. After a quick paddle we were across Round and ready for our first portage. That would indeed be the theme for the day-quick paddle across the lake and then portage. While the constant in and out of the canoe drove me a little nuts, for my kids that felt more comfortable hiking than canoeing, it was a great intro to the Boundary Waters.

The first portage was a learning lesson, but we quickly figured out how to get everyone and everything out of the canoe, and then get it all loaded on to our shoulders for the trek across the portage. We had many opportunities to practice during the 8 portages of day 1.

We packed light in hopes of being able to single portage. My husband was a rockstar and took both the canoe and a canoe pack in one fell swoop so we were able to do it. The kids also loved the portaging and felt like 100 rods with a pack was nothing compared to the 8 mile hike we took them on last summer on vacation. I guess it's all a matter of perspective (and how much weight you are carrying on your back-we kept their packs pretty light).

In the end all of the portages kind of blurred together into one memory of rocky, hilly and some tough landings. We also came across three other groups which required some waiting for our turn.

We arrived at Gillis at 12:20 and began the hunt for a campsite. When we arrived all but two campsites were taken. We ended up at campsite 509 right next to the portage into Fern. It was a great campsite, our 12 year old declared it his favorite of the entire trip. We have a pretty big tent (we bought it in anticipation of bringing our younger two along on trips in the future) and there were only a few smallish tent pads, but we made it work. The boys loved the rocky point/peninsula they could fish and swim from.

We quickly got camp set up. After a swim to cool off, the boys tried some fishing from the point and the adults took a nap in the hammock. We ended the evening with steak grilled on the fire and roasted veggies with s'mores for dessert. All-in-all a great first day in the BWCA.

~Round Lake, West Round Lake, Edith Lake, Brant Lake, Gotter Lake, Flying Lake, Green Lake, Bat Lake, Gillis Lake