Monday, August 22, 2022 Up at Sunrise and coffee is going. Beautiful clear morning except for the mist coming off the lake We eat a quick breakfast ( more rehydrated backpacker food), load up and head out. We're going to Iron and have heard campsites can be tight. First we got to get down the Beartrap. Blasted beavers have built even more dams down stream. But they seam to be more for marking territory than water control. Most don't have much drop and I'm able to scooch over most of them. It is a gorgeous day with mirror water and no wind. I was able to answer my question on camping spots along the river. I saw various spots that looked very usable and had trees for hanging hammocks and food. So if you want to camp other than Sunday lake there are some spots for that. We didn't do any fishing so I can't give a report. We hit the small portage in the middle and I got off downstream first. Next wildlife sighting was those two huge Trumpeter Swans from Sunday lake. They were down stream and I had no choice but to pass them. They didn't want to be passed so they took to flight right in front of me. Awesome photo opportunity and I snapped away, positive that I was getting some great pictures. Nope just this one while they were still on the water as I approached. Apparently the sun was just right to completely wipe out the four pictures I took while they took off. Luckily we saw them again when they regrouped with a buddy to make three. Mart was able to capture the full take off with a series of pictures Then on to the portage to Iron lake. The river was basically flat with little or no current. It was nice and peaceful except for those dang dams. There must be a good 20-25 from Beartrap to Iron. We make it to the end and hit the portage for Iron. At this point I want to point out that I have been in the solo the whole time! The other guys seemed perfectly happy in the tandem. I was feeling fine paddling on my own and it was getting better every day. I liked all the room I had in my own boat. I carried it over each and every portage along with two packs and my Go Pack. I figured I'd keep going until I was too tired or burnt out. I also wanted to see if I could do a full solo trip.
We crossed the last portage in the PMA ( which was just as tough as the others) and got to Iron about 1. Remembering yesterdays beaver encounter, and feeling like I'm being watched, I proceed to make loud noises and some whistling. "HEY BEAR I'M HERE GO AWAY FOR NOW" ect We head up into the main part of the lake and hit the wind for the day. Not horrible but not a tailwind either. We see two of the guys fishing who we saw two days ago on the long portage out of Beartrap. Okay, so if you're young and only double portage, you can make Iron in a day. The first site in the south end is taken by them so we beat it to the east for a 4 star on Three island which is available! Site #1840 The mosquitos have abated and we have a nice peaceful evening. Tomorrow is a rest day and we all sure need it. Maybe we'll even go fishing ~Sunday Lake, Iron Lake Total people/groups seen. nobody until Iron lake. Then saw 2 of those 3 guys out fishing.