MARK (Dad)- Got an early start. On the water around 6:30am at Mudro Entry Point. No problems through Mudro, Sandpit, and Tin Can Mike Lakes. Was taking a short break at the entrance to Horse Lake by 9am when we noticed a slight breeze started paddling Horse Lake the wind picked up even more. At around 1/4 mile from the entry to the Horse River we had a decent size wave hit us on our left side and my daughter said "I don't like that". A few strokes of the paddle later I looked to my right to see how the two guys were doing and to my surprise a wave (possibly the same one my daughter mentioned) gave them a nice roll and on their recoil another one equal to or even bigger smacked them again and they rolled even farther to the right. This caused me to see the underside of their canoe and both of their bodies disappeared into the water. Instant panic made took over as we scrambles to get to them as soon as possible. They were both ok physically. Fortunately I was able to tie their upside down canoe to our canoe and drag it to an island probably around 75 yards from the scene. They both swam to the same island. Two of the three packs they were carrying were still trapped floating under their canoe. The third pack luckily floated straight to the same island. We were lucky to lose nothing. We then became windbound for the next 4 hours before felling safe enough to proceed. Back on the move again we entered the Horse River around 2:30. Beautiful scenery for the rest of the Day, however I was getting nervous about finding an open campsite near Lower Basswood Falls as we arrived there around 6pm. The first two sites that we checked were taken. After portaging to Crooked Lake the three sites below the falls were all open so that is where we spent our first night.

LILY(Daughter)- Woke up at the bunk house at 4am and started getting ready. Slept decent, AirPods with white noise playing definitely helped with the 3 men snoring. We got to our Mudro entry point around 5:30ish and left there around 6am. Stared off with a portage but is was not bad at all besides the bugs. Once we actually got to the water it was so beautiful. It was small and winding and had so many beaver dams. We were able to float over some and others we had to step out and lift the canoe across. No portage that we did today was hard, just bugs everywhere and muddy. We saw over 60 people today and I thought that seemed like a lot. We were making such good time and the weather started changing and it was getting windy and rainy. Brian and Montana were really struggling and were still trying to figure out how to work as a team. We got to the Horse Lake which was the biggest open water we had been on yet and a combanation of wind and waves and themselves resulted in Montana and Brian flipping their canoe. Me and Dad immediately paddled to them and we were so scared because we heard them coughing and I could only see Brian and not Tana. Hats, glasses, seats, paddles, and personal packs started floating away. They were able to have their life jackets and swim to a small island closest to us as me and Dad were trying to save the canoe. I was able to grab the paddles and personal packs along the way. The big pack that were in the flipped canoe were still wedged in it floating along upside down. We attached a rope from our canoe to theirs and pulled in behind to the island. 1 of the 3 packs started to get lose and started floating away to were me and Dad could'nt even see it anymore so we thought that is was gone. The waves were getting worse and the island was solid rock had had nowhere good to get in and out. I finally found a spot were me and dad could both get out and get to work emptying canoes and bring them to onto land. The guys were even able to safe the pack that got lose! Montana hat and glasses even floated to the island and we were able to grab them. I was so scared that I wanted to cry. We were so lucky that everyone was ok and that nothing important was lost. Everyone was pretty shaken up though. We stayed on the island from like 9:30 to around 2pm because of nerves and storms. We tried to paddle to the land pretty close to us but the wind blew us back into a cove and we ended up banked along the side of the place we were trying to get to. We were able to walk the canoes a little ways and make it to a beach were we then waited out another storm before braving to take the water again. At this point we are stressing, tired, hungry, wet, and totally ready to be at a camp and this day be over. We had a few more portages to do along our way. We were hoping to camp before we got to Basswood Falls but at that point it was like 5pm and the 2 sites that we went to look at were full. Dad was really starting to stress which was making me stress out more. We were all at our wits end but had to take the Canadian Portage around Basswood Falls into Crooked Lake in hopes the 1 of the few sites on that other side were available and thank goodness they all were and we settled in to the closet one around 6pm. It is right beside the falls! We quickly set up camp and me and dad started a fire and gathered wood so that we could start on dinner. We had steak and baked potatoes for dinner and it was so good! We hung the food bag and cleaned up and I went to bed while they sat by the fire for a few.

Montana- The best part about Chicago is having a full tank of gas. Started out great this morning. Moving fast. After a good morning we demonstrated how to properly go in for a drink. Flipped a canoe. I'm sure you will hear a 3 hour tour that the Minnow went over.

Brian was too cool to write.

~Mudro Lake, Sandpit Lake, Tin Can Mike Lake, Horse Lake, Basswood Lake, Crooked Lake

Mark- Lazy day at camp all day. Fished from shore a bit but wind was terrible. Off and on rain all day.

Lily- I woke up needing to pee. Had no clue what time it was. Explored for a little while and fish a little but with no luck. No one else was up yet and i got cold so i went back to bed for alittle bit. Me and Dad hung out in the tent until around 10am. I made oatmeal and Peanut butter honey wraps with some Crapolia granola for breakfast. We rested all day. It was windy and rained off and on all day which made it super cold out. It was in the 80's here some last week and this week its in the 40's some. :( I am really hoping that it starts to warm up some. We all fished some more with no luck. We have some neighbors staying in a site close to ours and we watched them catch a decent smallmouth which kinda of frustrated all of us. We were hoping for a fish dinner but settled for instant mash potatoes and Mountain House Beef Stroganoff and it was SO GOOD! Montana took a walk and found an old foundation with concrete slabs and a old fireplace. We hid from the cold in our tents a big chuck of the day. Tomorrow the plan is to move along Crooked Lake and into the day bays. I am nervous about the other 2 traveling even on calm water let alone choppy water and wind. Trying to stay optimistic about tomorrow and the rest of the trip.

Montana- Windy, wet, lets stay in camp. Burn ban was lifted but its to windy for a fire. Everyone tried to catch dinner with no luck yet getting close to store bought time.

~Crooked Lake

Mark- Woke up to a cold windy morning. Had planned on traveling today. Stayed in camp all day except for a small fishing trip where Lily caught two small mouth and a pike. We had a great breakfast of fried spam and blueberry pancakes. Dinner was fresh fried fish and creamy parmesan noodles. It was a great food day. Also Montana caught a 36" pike.

Lily- We planned on moving today but because of the issues that we had before we thought it better to stay here than to push our luck. The weather was better in the afternoon but the morning was freezing cold and the wind blew all day long! I made blueberry pancakes and fried spam for breakfast. After breakfast me and dad went out in the canoe to a little bay near us to fish a little bit. I caught a pike and 2 smallmouths. We would have stayed out longer and fished more but the wind started blowing us around so bad that it was getting hard to steer and fish. While we were out, Tana caught a big pike about 36" long and Brian caught a few smallmouths. We had fish for dinner with a Knorrs Alfredo that was actually really good and so was the fish! We had people fish near our camp all day and a few even went swimming even though it was freezing in the wind. Later in the evening we had a group walk into our camp on accident when they were out exploring. We had a small sea level elevation sign on a rock near our camp that it seemed like they were looking for. We also have a ranger station on the back side of where we camped. It looked really nice and not super old. Me and Dad tried to stay up and see the stars and possibly the northern lights but both of us headed to bed around 10:45pm and part of the sky was still lite up. Overall it was a decent day, the best so far. Hoping for no or at least less wind tomorrow. We have decided that our safest option is to start back toward Mudro tomorrow due to our struggles and concerns.

Montana- Still wind bound cold morning. Clothes are finally dry sun has came out. Good mess of fish for dinner. Have had to change our route planned. Weather disappointed. Last bath was Horse Lake 2 days ago.

~Crooked Lake

Mark- Left camp today at 7:30am. Portaged out of Crooked Lake into Basswood River then into the Horse River. Ended up traveling about 6 miles and finding a campsite around 2 pm. Wind a rain started again but calmed down around 7pm and had a nice evening. Plan on traveling tomorrow deeper into Fourtown lake and spending the rest of our trip there.

Lily- Dad woke me up a little before 6 this morning. It didn't seem that early. It's crazy how time works out here. We cleaned up camp and I made PB+honey wraps as a little breakfast and we strarting heading toward Mudro. After the Canadian portage that was right across from our camp the water on the Basswood River was much more calm but there was still a bit of wind. Once in the smaller part of the river and away from open water everyone seemed to feel a bit better. We were paddling up steam and the baby rapids that we were able to shot on the way in we had to portage or get out and carry our way through them. Some of the in's and out's became a bit sketchy. Brian flipped the canoe getting into it and we had to take the bags out and dump the water out. Our plan is to camp somewhere on Fourtown Lake. After the last portage into Horse River and we knew that we could not cross right now with the weather the way it was, we pulled into the first camp that we saw. There was a nice couple there that understood that we needed to seek some shelter until the weather passed. Once weather cleared we made it to a camp on Fourtown. We had these weird shredded beef stuff that came in a pack like tuna that we seasoned into taco meat. With that we had Taco Bell sauce, tortillas, and mac and cheese for dinner. It was better than I thought that it would be but it still wasn't great. At that point it was like 4pm and we were all wore out. We were all in our tents by 8:30pm. Again, hoping for less windy weather! On a positive, I had enough service to check in with family so that was nice!

Montana- Slow leaving camp this morning still early. Even though we are ready to go this is a dangerous journey back up the Horse. Water navigation is getting better. Lots of rabbits in camp.

~Crooked Lake, Horse Lake, Fourtown Lake

Mark- Left camp around 9:30 after a brief rain shower came through. After a while wind stared picking up and getting bad again. We took the first site we came to. Hope to fish the evening if weather cooperates. Ended up catching a few fish. Had smallmouth, pike and creamy garlic noodles for dinner.

Lily- Woke up and started cleaning and packing up camp. I made hashbrowns, bacon, and toast for breakfast. We saw so many red squirrels and big ole bunnies last night and this morning. We don't really have a goal toady besides getting deeper into Fourtown Lake. We had a wide section of open water that we had to cross. We made it across and struggled with a few areas where portages were'nt on the map but there was no other way around. The couple whose camp site we sat at for a little while was day tripping and was behind us and they were having the same issue. The next portage that we came to was also a camp and we decided to stay there for the night. It was a cool camp with a small waterfall infront connecting big water to a little cove. Me and Dad went out and did some fishing in the cove. I caught 1 pike that we ate for dinner and 4 others just for sport. Dad caught a smallmouth and what we think is a rockbass. For dinner we had fish and creamy garlic pasta. The fish was really good! We had some ramen noodles as a little lunch earlier in the day. I took a small nap today before fishing. I'm tired of my crappy mattress that holds air for maybe 5 mins and blew another hole last night. I put a folded trap under in that help provide a little more support. Other than that, it was a pretty good day.

Montana- Still water on the headed toward the last half. Good day. Short paddles, short portages, clear skies, and fish dinner. I NEVER want to live in the city.

Mark- Woke up to a light sprinkle. Got a fire going and got the food bag down. Had a coffee down when the others decided to wake up. Had a good breakfast of blueberry pancakes and spam. Left camp around 8am and arrived at the new site at 10am. This new site is only a few hours from our exit point. Wind was bad all day till an hour before sunset. Never left camp again today.

Lily- Woke up around 7am. We started packing up and I made blueberry pancakes and spam for breakfast. It sprinkled all morning but was never bad. We left camp a little before 9am and traveled only about 3/4 of a mile to a different site closer to the Mudro entry point. The site wasn't the best we've had but it's not bad. Me and Dad fished a little with no luck. Tana caught a smallmouth from bank. There is supposed to be an old resort near here that I want to go explore tomorrow if it's nice weather. We found a levy kind of looking thing that seems like something with when they logged up here. It was big piles of rocks that were spaced out like parking/loading spots and big logs with rods down the middle of the log holding it together. I saw a few old beer cans underwater in that area too. I found a pile of old glass bottle by the latrine. We had hashbrowns and Mountain House chicken and dumplings for dinner. It was very good. We invented a snack earlier of a tortilla wrap on the skillet with PB and a strawberry fruit leather. We named it an F'in PB. It was really yummy! Planning on fishing more soon since the wind and water are calmed down. It is still cloudy out and has not been warm our whole trip. We are probably going to spent our last 3 nights here so hopefully we can do some good fishing and relaxing before heading back to normal life.

Montana- While Jamimia is taking her daily nap, I think she is ready for more adventure. Fair weather morning. Another short travel day. Gray skies this afternoon. I would say the rocky shoreline full of pine and fur has to be better than almost anywhere.

Mark-Rainy windy day. Stayed in camp all day. We caught one small fish from bank today. We ate lasagna dinner and homemade garlic bread roasted over the fire for dinner.

Lily- SUCKED! windy, cold, and rainy almost all day. I didnt leave the tent until like 1pm. Dad made and brought me a PB+honey sandwich to the tent. The evening got a little better and we were able to sit around the fire. Napped and read all day. We had Mountain House Lasgana and spaghetti for dinner with homemade garlic bread. It was pretty good. Really really hoping that tomorrows weather allows us to have a good last full day here!

Montana- With weather and mishaps it has still been a rewarding trip. Has been cold and windy the whole trip.

Mark- Woke up at 5:30 got fire going and made coffee. Woke Lily up around 6. Her and I went fishing. It was a nice morning. Lily caught 3 smallmouth. One of them was 19" long. Went back to camp and made breakfast. The other guys caught a couple fish while we were gone from bank at our camp. Having fish for dinner this evening. Caught a pike. Had fun accidentally making beavers mad. Seen the best sunset ever while on the water. Had fresh fish and noodles for dinner. Heard an owl while fishing.

Lily- Dad woke me up a little before 6 to water that looked like glass. We headed out on the canoe to fish shortly after. We stayed out for around 3 hours. We had a great time! Using a crank bait I caught a decent smallmouth. After a while I switched bait and started using a hula popper. It was definitely a good choice! I fought a big smallmouth for a few minutes. It kept jump out of the water and driving down deep. I was very excited but I think Dad may have been more excited than me. It ended up being 19" long and we are guessing between 4.5-5lbs. My next cast I caught another smallmouth! Not near as big as the last but still decent. After that we starting making our way back toward camp. I caught a small pike along the way. I made a big breakfast of pancakes, hash browns, and 2 packs of bacon. Very yummy! Hung around camp for awhile. Everyone napped some today. I laid in the hammock for awhile and read alot. Me and Dad took 2 more trips out fishing today. We had the 3 smallmouths I caught this morning plus 2 from the guys and a largemouth with some chicken flavored noodles for dinner. The fish was delicious, the noodles not so much. The trip me and Dad took after dinner we caught a few pike. I thought I saw a bear from across the lake but it was just a big ole buzzard standing on a rock lol. We saw a bunch of birds and ducks, heard owls, and accidentally pissed off some beavers! Days like today make the whole trip worth it! I am so glad that I get to experience this with my Dad. Tonight is the last night here and we are heading out in the morning.

Montana- Last day in camp we need provisions. Have packed well and running out as planned. The cooking out here has been great and going to fish tonight we all agree that. The beavers live here because they want to, I want to too.

Mark- Woke up around 5:30 and left camp around 6:30. Made it to the car around 9:30. Got back to Ely at 10. Got showers and went to Dairy Queen and ate lunch. Hit the road to head home around 1pm central time.

Lily- Got up a little before 6 and stared packing up camp. No breakfast today. Left camp around 6:30. Didn't take long at all to get to our first portage. Maybe 30-40 minutes and we were paddling pretty slowly. This was the first of 3 portages known as the Billy Goat portages. The middle one was slick and rocky and basically a cliff. These 3 portages are by far the worst ones that we have done this entire trip. We had a group of 9 people, 3 canoes that started out in front of us but the had alot of kids with them that they were letting learn to stear the caneo and were going very slow so they waved us around them. Once we got to Mudro and the narrow water ways it was so calm and our only concern at that point was beaver dams. I think we had 3 dams that we had to get out of the canoe for and 1 that we were able to go over. The biggest one that we had to cross was like 20 feet across and had like a 1 foot water level difference. For these ones we had to get out of the canoe for, we left/pull it over and then get back in. Once we got to the Mudro portage that goes to the parking lot it was a bit busy. There was 1 man going solo, and group of 4 men that looked like they were ready to do some serious fishing and a family of 4 that were all unloading and starting to make their way. We got to the car around 9:30 and loaded everything up. We were back in Ely around 10. We all showered at our outfitters and shopped a little bit. One of the outfitters said that his thermometer at his house read 38 degrees on Thursday morning which was day 7 for us and the day that we hardly left our tents. Dad drove me down town to the Blue Loon store where the sweetest lady ordered me a pin when I went in the other day so I went to pick it up! We went to Dairy Queen for lunch and left Ely around 12 their time or 1 Ohio time. We made it home around 8:30am that next morning. I slept decent in the car when I wasn't driving, passenger, or Montana wasn't snoring. Glad to be home but missing the BWCA already! ): Maybe we can convince Lucas and Coltin to come next time! ;P

Montana- Food has been great. Now we are running low. I would love to restock and head back in. Was not the trip we planned but I had a good trip. Weather has improved and I hope to make it back soon. Just remember a man has to know his limitations.

~Fourtown Lake, Mudro Lake