Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Chasing a Fine and Pleasant Misery
by jbshotgun

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 09/13/2011
Entry & Exit Point: Brant Lake (EP 52)
Number of Days: 6
Group Size: 2
Day 5 of 6
Day Four New plans, CBS is sore and wind is changing from the south. I scout a ridge that is perfect for him and we get set up. Drop him off and paddle to the south side of the lake and up the ridge to my spot. Get all hunkered in and I hear voices on the lake talking loudly. View across with the binocs and there are people at our campsite messing around. I figure it’s the park service checking permits so I just silently watch. Then they point at the beached canoe on my side and make a b-line for it. They get close enough and I see the gentleman’s hat, yep park service emblem. They pull up next to the boat and start shouting “Hello.” Well I scamper down the 100 ft ridge using the downed birch as the ladder that I climb up it with. Hit the flat and let them know I’m coming out and I’m armed. Very nice set of rangers great me with, “{So you must be the bear hunters?” after a short discussion I am informed at least a dozen times I am being mandatory evacuated due to the fire and the wind shift. Like I said very friendly pair, let me know exactly where the burn was and said use my head as it was 3:20 pm. Back up the hill to bunker in. So my wife’s voice yelling at my imagination got to me so after 20 mins I pack up and head off to CBS’s bunker. Well we decided night portaging sucks son well finish the hunt and out in the am. Skunked that night also. But got everything packed and to bed by 10:30.