Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Firsts
by MichiganMan

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 09/21/2020
Entry & Exit Point: Saganaga Lake (EP 55)
Number of Days: 8
Group Size: 1
Day 6 of 8
Saturday, September 26, 2020 Didn’t sleep great last night. Too damp. But it isn’t raining in the morning, so I’m out of the tent a bit after 7. There’s a nice breeze, so I string a line and start drying stuff out. I keep at it for a while. I have a nice pancake breakfast- I’m in no rush. Then the sun even comes out. Hooray! I’m packed up and paddling by around 10:20. I nearly get swarmed by hornets at the first portage. They’re living in a hollow log right there and I lean my canoe against it. Yikes! I get away just in time. The portage wasn’t bad. It's nice to be back on Ottertrack, what a gorgeous lake. As I approach Monument Portage, I hear voices behind me coming up the lake. When I get back for my second trip, they’re there. Eight of them in four canoes. Turns out it’s a class from Northland College. They’re 9 days in on an 18-day trip doing the border route all the way to Lake Superior. As I get on the other side after my 2nd trip, there’s four more canoes there too. A traffic jam in the BWCA! Nice folks- they wait for the college kids to finish. I chat with them- they’re from Wisconsin and Illinois. One guy is a UWGB prof and is planning to lead a trip with students next year. At the portage from Swamp into Sag I stop for a lunch break. A chipmunk takes interest. Soon though, a kestrel swoops in looking for him. He hovers literally 10’ from me. He doesn’t get his prey, so he heads off. Very cool to watch though. Now I’m looking for a campsite. There’s two just before the lake opens up near Cache Bay, and I’m hoping to get one of them. The first is taken by a couple of dudes from Arkansas, but the 2nd one is open. I’m home! It’s about 2:30. I set up camp. It’s overcast with some sun, but I’m worried about rain. Gee, wonder why? The clouds to threaten, but it doesn’t rain. After camp is set up and I’ve sawn and split a good firewood supply, I try the bobber/worm off the campsite. I was planning on just eating mashed potatoes tonight, but down goes the bobber. I get it, a perfect eater sized smallie! Fish fry tonight! It’s amazing how low the water is. At least 2-3’. I hike along the shoreline both ways a bit. I get my fish cleaned and then take a troll out into the main lake. I don’t catch anything, but man that lake is massive. And gorgeous. It’s cool to see Cache Bay right over there. So many memories from Quetico trips going through there. I come back and have another great fish fry dinner. I get camp cleaned up, have a nice fire and I write. Eventually it starts raining, so I head for the tent. Today the temperature was maybe around 60 degrees, with a westerly breeze.

The nights are definitely long this time of year. Lots of tent time. The weather really plays on your psyche. Last night in the rain was tough. So was the night with the east wind ripping through my camp unexpectedly. I used the InReach a lot more than I thought I would. It helped me keep my spirits up, especially on those weather days. Next time I need a more uplifting book to read. 1984 was pretty darn depressing! On the nice days though, I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve seen quite a few folks, but it wasn’t overrun with people. Another cool thing is how many people have their fingerprints on this trip. My wife for sure with my awesome new chair! My daughter too- I've had her catchy pop songs going thru my head all week. My Dad- I’m using lots of his old gear. Also my son, I have some of his gear as well. He's been with me on Quetico trips for the last ten years. He's in college now, so couldn't pull off a September trip. My buddies James, Dave, and Mike too, who have let me borrow gear and I know are thinking of me. I know my Mom is praying for me every day, which I really appreciate. The message on one of the Dove chocolates (that my wife got me before the trip) I had at lunch today said “Smile! Someone is thinking of you!” I know a lot of people are thinking of me and I’m lucky for that. I never did make it to the western part of Knife Lake, which is kind of a bummer. These shorter days (and being solo) make it tough. I’d have needed another couple of days to do that. Hopefully someday I can see Thunderhead and Dorothy Molter’s Island. Ester and Hanson are both gorgeous lakes, but I never really got to fish them. ~Ester Lake, Ottertrack Lake, Swamp Lake, Saganaga Lake