September LIS Loop
by Pete2Paddle
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
09/17/2021
Entry & Exit Point:
Little Indian Sioux River (north) (EP 14)
Number of Days:
8
Group Size:
2
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (5 messages)
Day 8 of 8
Friday, September 24, 2021
Day 7 – ‘A Rainy Exit’ – It started to rain the next morning right after breakfast. We could tell it was coming and managed to gather our gear under my hammock rain-fly before it cut loose. We took our time packing the bags in hopes that the rain would break. Eventually, we realized it would probably rain the entire way out. Rain gear on and off we go.
We scouted the portage to Little Shell the day before and knew we could skip it by paddling through. The portage into Shell Lake was short and easy and paddle across Shell was smooth. Thankfully it wasn’t a windy day. Just cold and rainy but we had good gear so it was no big deal. The portage into Pauness was another long one but it was broken up by a large beaver dam in the middle. At first, we thought we could drag the canoe across but quickly realized it was a lot deeper than it looked. A short 20-yard paddle and we were back to portaging.
We decided to take the southern route through the Pauness Lakes. There was a beaver dam we had to pull over and the portage had an interesting/technical climb over rain-soaked rocks. I managed to not fall, but it was interesting. In hindsight, I would opt for the northern route. The portage is a little longer, but much easier.
It was bittersweet to be back on the Little Indian Sioux river heading to our exit. It was cold and rainy so I was ready for a hot shower and a cold beer, but I hate leaving such a peaceful place. With a cooler of beer on ice in my truck, my paddling mantra became “Coooold Beer…. Coooold Beer”. Somehow that always manages to add a little oomph to my paddling. We also kept looking for a beaver dam we remembered pulling over on the way in. The only probable was… we miss-remembered and the beaver dam were thinking of was actually north of the Devils Cascade. So, before we knew it, we were back at the entry point!
~Lakes Visited: Little Shell Lake, Shell Lake, Lower Pauness Lake, Upper Pauness Lake
* Plan for a rainout day and bring more whiskey! If you’re stuck under a tarp all day, you might exceed your daily whiskey rations.
* Hammock camping is the ticket for me. I’ve never spent this many days camping without a sore back.
* One-and-a-half portaging is a good way to avoid getting too exhausted on difficult portages. Plus, on the way back to get the other bag, it’s nice to look around the forest a bit.
* Buy an arborist's throw weight, some light line, and thank me later.
Day 7 – ‘A Rainy Exit’ – It started to rain the next morning right after breakfast. We could tell it was coming and managed to gather our gear under my hammock rain-fly before it cut loose. We took our time packing the bags in hopes that the rain would break. Eventually, we realized it would probably rain the entire way out. Rain gear on and off we go.
We scouted the portage to Little Shell the day before and knew we could skip it by paddling through. The portage into Shell Lake was short and easy and paddle across Shell was smooth. Thankfully it wasn’t a windy day. Just cold and rainy but we had good gear so it was no big deal. The portage into Pauness was another long one but it was broken up by a large beaver dam in the middle. At first, we thought we could drag the canoe across but quickly realized it was a lot deeper than it looked. A short 20-yard paddle and we were back to portaging.
We decided to take the southern route through the Pauness Lakes. There was a beaver dam we had to pull over and the portage had an interesting/technical climb over rain-soaked rocks. I managed to not fall, but it was interesting. In hindsight, I would opt for the northern route. The portage is a little longer, but much easier.
It was bittersweet to be back on the Little Indian Sioux river heading to our exit. It was cold and rainy so I was ready for a hot shower and a cold beer, but I hate leaving such a peaceful place. With a cooler of beer on ice in my truck, my paddling mantra became “Coooold Beer…. Coooold Beer”. Somehow that always manages to add a little oomph to my paddling. We also kept looking for a beaver dam we remembered pulling over on the way in. The only probable was… we miss-remembered and the beaver dam were thinking of was actually north of the Devils Cascade. So, before we knew it, we were back at the entry point!
~Lakes Visited: Little Shell Lake, Shell Lake, Lower Pauness Lake, Upper Pauness Lake
If you enjoyed my trip report you can watch the videos I took here: https://youtu.be/b8pGD40_taQ
Closing Thoughts:
* Plan for a rainout day and bring more whiskey! If you’re stuck under a tarp all day, you might exceed your daily whiskey rations.
* Hammock camping is the ticket for me. I’ve never spent this many days camping without a sore back.
* One-and-a-half portaging is a good way to avoid getting too exhausted on difficult portages. Plus, on the way back to get the other bag, it’s nice to look around the forest a bit.
* Buy an arborist's throw weight, some light line, and thank me later.
Lakes Traveled:
Little Shell Lake,
Shell Lake,
Lower Pauness Lake,
Upper Pauness Lake,
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