2021 BWCA Wildfires Force a Sylvania Trip
by Ausable
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
08/22/2021
Entry & Exit Point:
Other
Number of Days:
9
Group Size:
2
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (4 messages)
Day 9 of 9
Monday, August 30, 2021
It was our last morning in the wilderness before returning to civilization, and I was feeling wistful. I made us some buttermilk pancakes with apricots, bacon, and maple syrup. We broke camp efficiently. Just before we shoved off, I set up the camera on a tripod for a series of self portraits of us in the loaded canoe, paddles in hand. It was a gorgeous day and we were really happy.
We quickly found the short 22 rod portage to Crooked Lake and moved across it to the opposite side. We shared the portage with a group of three women who were dragging loaded solo kayaks along the trail in the opposite direction to us (judging from drag marks on other portages, this seems to be a common practice). I set the canoe carefully in the water but belatedly realized that I should have set it down on the land. The wind was blowing more strongly here than on High Lake and I couldn't let go of the canoe or it would have been severely scratched by the rocks at the landing. Jim gamely went back for a second load before I thought to ask him to hold the boat while I went for another load.
Jim pointed out the narrow entrance to the northern-most section of Crooked where the landing is located. It is so narrow, I was about to miss it even though I was looking at the map. Once we entered the narrows, the wind died and the temperature rose. It was an easy paddle to the take-out. Jim struck up a conversation with two fishermen who were also pulling their boat out.
We got our equipment into the car and changed our clothes as soon as the other people departed from the area. We broke out the lunch food and ate at a picnic table before leaving Sylvania at 2 PM. The trip home was pretty uneventful. Venus was visible as the Sun set. We arrived at my house around 8:30-8:45.
It was our last morning in the wilderness before returning to civilization, and I was feeling wistful. I made us some buttermilk pancakes with apricots, bacon, and maple syrup. We broke camp efficiently. Just before we shoved off, I set up the camera on a tripod for a series of self portraits of us in the loaded canoe, paddles in hand. It was a gorgeous day and we were really happy.
We quickly found the short 22 rod portage to Crooked Lake and moved across it to the opposite side. We shared the portage with a group of three women who were dragging loaded solo kayaks along the trail in the opposite direction to us (judging from drag marks on other portages, this seems to be a common practice). I set the canoe carefully in the water but belatedly realized that I should have set it down on the land. The wind was blowing more strongly here than on High Lake and I couldn't let go of the canoe or it would have been severely scratched by the rocks at the landing. Jim gamely went back for a second load before I thought to ask him to hold the boat while I went for another load.
Jim pointed out the narrow entrance to the northern-most section of Crooked where the landing is located. It is so narrow, I was about to miss it even though I was looking at the map. Once we entered the narrows, the wind died and the temperature rose. It was an easy paddle to the take-out. Jim struck up a conversation with two fishermen who were also pulling their boat out.
We got our equipment into the car and changed our clothes as soon as the other people departed from the area. We broke out the lunch food and ate at a picnic table before leaving Sylvania at 2 PM. The trip home was pretty uneventful. Venus was visible as the Sun set. We arrived at my house around 8:30-8:45.
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