We met a solo paddler named Mona that was making the border trip all the way through to Lake Superior that we saw at each portage. She said she would put up a trip video on Youtube, but I haven't found it yet. I told her to reference it here, too. Most of the other groups seemed to be planning on staying on Knife. One group of 2 canoes going west had a duffer in each sitting sideways with their feet over the side dressed as Marcel Marceau, makeup and all. Not sure what was up with that, or if we wanted to know. We said hello and kept paddling. Then we had to go around a group of 9 in 4 canoes floating aimlessly next to the Bonnie portage. They didn't seem to be interacting with each other or us and looked pretty disgruntled. Getting off the main route was seeming like a good idea.

There were only a few other groups on the Knife portages, some of them single portaging, so they got through fast. We had about 200 lbs of gear, including the canoe, for two 65 year olds, so we were double portaging. We wanted to make it as far as possible and were hoping for the usual west wind to help us along. It was mostly from the west, but not strong enough to help much, but still better than a head wind. We made it through pretty fast and decided to aim for Kekakabic. I remember some difficult landings and put ins along the way, but none of the portages are too bad. Bonnie lake portage was a little hillier than I remembered, though. We made it to Kekakabic about 5:30 and were happy the 1st campsite to the west was open. We were pretty beat. Rain was threatening, but we just wanted to get camp set up, eat dinner and collapse, so we didn't set up the tarp. Dinner was homemade BBQ brisket soft tacos, instant rice and rehydrated dried Ranch Style Beans. It started sprinkling off and on while we were cooking and really raining when we were sitting down to eat, so we grabbed the food and ducked into the tent to eat. We really should have put up the tarp, but it was just one more thing to put up and take down for a short visit. I spent 10 minutes frantically looking for my hat only to finally realize I had put on my raincoat and it was under the coat with the string holding it on around my neck. I chalk that up to fatigue. I also counted 20 raised inflamed bites around my neck that lasted a few days. I didn't spray down because we had permethrin treated clothes and I didn't see mosquitos. I think it must have been a black fly. We got everything cleaned up and the bear bag and ursaks stowed and then finally crashed.

Route: Sucker to Birch, 7R, Birch to Carp, 51R, Carp to Seed and Knife 24R, 22R,34R,73R. Knife to Bonnie 42R, Bonnie to Spoon 32R, Spoon to Pickle 20R, Pickle to Kekakabic 85R 14.3 miles total: 10.6 miles paddling, 3.7 miles portaging due to double portaging  Best tent pad at back on the right

We got up late since we were tired and we could hear what sounded like a lot of wind outside the tent. We made pancakes with dried blueberries and Lil smokies. It started raining just as we were ready to start cooking the pancakes, so we stuffed most of the loose stuff in a bucket and stuck it under the tyvek tarp. It passed over so we finished cooking and were able to eat outside. We packed up and left camp about 12:30 for the trip to Sagus.

It was a pretty long paddle to the Strup portage with a stronger wind from the side today. The Kek to Strup portage is pretty well known for the steep trail on the Kek end. We decided to sort of triple portage this one, with both of us carrying an end of the canoe up to the top of the hill. Just as we got most of the way up and dropped the canoe to the side, a group of 9 scouts (boys and some dads) with 4 canoes started coming through. We went back down to load up and waited for the scouts to get through. They are carrying heavy loads and single portaging. We chatted with them for a bit. They were heading for the South Arm of Knife and had started out at Hatchet that day. A 9 person group of female scouts from the scout camp were coming in as we went back for the next load. They seemed excited to see each other. We took the rest of our gear up to the canoe in 2 carries, then I went from there with a big pack and Dan took the canoe and guide pack the rest of the way and we came back for the last 2 packs and started up behind the last of the girls, also single portaging.

All together we had 3 packs at about 45 lbs, a 43 lb kevlar canoe (Northwind 17ft) , one smaller 25 lb guide pack, 2 hand carry bags (with cameras, snacks, raincoats, binoculars etc.), 3 paddles and fishing poles. We carabiner and tie the life vests to the back of 2 of the packs. So I carry my personal bag and the fishing rods with one big pack. Then the paddles with the next pack. Dan carries the canoe with the guide pack and then the last big pack with his personal bag. We haven't decided if we want to join Overpacker's United of or Overpacker's Anonymous. We don't seem to be able to cut out much of what we take.

We got to the Wisini portage as the last of the scouts were clearing the portage. A smaller girl was trying to pick up the canoe out of the water by herself. They seemed in good spirits and were talking to each other in Swedish accents. She had some trouble, but managed to get it overhead, I know it was heavy, it was a 3 person canoe with quite a bit of water in it, unfortunately most of the water ended up drenching her when she turned it up. She stuck with it though. Respect. They were heading to Fraser for the night a fact that the map reader wasn't sure of at first. We got through the next 4 portages, with a stop for sandwiches on Wisini. The campsite on Wisini that seems to be one everyone wants was open, but it is too verticle to be appealing the way our legs were feeling, and not far enough along. Wisini seems scary deep, with drop offs close to shore. We decided to take the longer portage to Sagus instead of the 2 shorter ones since we were tired of loading and unloading. We got to Sagus at 7:30. and checked out one of the better rated sites, but it was not promising. It (site 1912) was dark and closed in with no breeze likely. There is lots of room and it is pretty level with pine needles covering the ground, but no view and the logs look water logged and are collapsing from rot. We went around the island and checked out site 1910. Campsite 1910 landing

It is hard to see from the lake. There is a steep trail up to the site and it is pretty level at the top and has a better view and decent sitting logs and kitchen. Much better fortunately since we weren't going much further.

We got busy getting water and rehydrating the marinara sauce, dried ground beef, and mushrooms, then setting up camp. We made salad and cooked spaghetti, cleaned up, put up bear bags and got in the tent at 1:15 am.

Kekakabic to Strup 85R, Strup to Wisini 10R, Wisini to Ahmakose 98R, Ahmakose to Gerund 27R, Gerund to Fraser 18R, Fraser to Sagus 57R 5 miles paddling, 2.8 miles portaging, 7.8 miles total.

We had Egg Taquitos with sausage and cheese for breakfast. We used dehydrated ground beef and added sausage seasoning. It worked out pretty well. We spent the rest of the morning setting up the camp and getting water for the sunshower for hand washing and dishes, and filtering drinking water. The new gravity filter is fast, but only holds 3 liters at a time, so it takes several refills to get much water filtered. Kind of a pain. We made BLT's for lunch and headed out to go fishing. I caught a walleye around the end of the island, but we weren't getting much action after that and Dan kept catching rocks on the bottom, so we moved to the end of the lake near the Roe portage. I caught and released a small northern we probably should have kept, but we seemed to be getting several bites. We decided to fry up the walleye and make fish cakes with a tuna packet for dinner. We got back to camp about 5 and rehydrated green beans, filleted the fish and fried it with the fish cakes and made instant mashed potatoes. Our dinners are way too complicated sometimes. It was a warm evening, which we figured out when we tried to go to sleep. The tent was uncomfortably hot, but rain was predicted, so we kept the rain fly on.

We got up the next morning and had cereal so we could go out fishing earlier. Dan caught and released a small Walleye down near the 25 rod portage to Shepo. I walked the portage to see if it would be better to go out the 2 portages. It was rocky, rooty, boggy and hot. That end of Shepo was shallow and rocky and full of lily pads. We decided to take the longer higher portage we came in on the next day.

We went back to camp and had PB&J sandwiches, did camp chores, took showers with the Sun shower and did laundry. It was hot, but a little late. Most of the laundry didn't get dry, so we hung it up in the tent. We put paracord along the top of the tent at home, so there was room, but it still wasn't dry in the morning, so we had to pack some of it up damp. We got to bed at midnight. It was even hotter this night, which made it even harder to sleep. Not sleeping was getting to be a trend. We could hear lots of birds at this site. Also, lots of biting flies in the afternoons, but there were several butterflies, and several bunny sightings. We liked the site a lot. the main downsides were the steep hike to the lake and the latrine. We didn't see any other people for the 2 days there. Flowers on latrine trail

I didn't think much of Hatchet lake to stay on, but Hatchet river is really pretty. We're a little biased against it though since it is the area we got lost in the last time.

We got through the Ima portage without running into anyone else fortunately since it is a tight portage at the other end. The paddle across Ima and down the Jordan narrows is another long paddle with a short portage in the middle into Jordan. We saw a couple of groups headed to Ima after the portage so we were pretty worried about getting a site on Jordan, but the 1st 2 sites of the 3 sites were vacant. Dan asked which site I really wanted to try to get and I said the one on the far south end. There is not a portage in that area, so there wouldn't be much traffic, fortunately it was open too. We unloaded and started setting up camp at about 4pm. We got the damp laundry out and hung it up on the paracord in the tent since it was late.

Campsite 1201 on Jordan has a nice landing on a small beach, and an open area for the canoe storage. It is an open campsite with a few trees for shade behind the kitchen area. The kitchen area doesn't have close trees, but the trees behind it were ok for the hand washing station and utensil bag. We rigged the tarp at the back of the site since more rain was possible and we needed it for shade when we got there. The site has several long flat rock areas that serve as sidewalks to the place we put the tent. The best place for the tent is probably where we had the tarp, but it would be in the way. The tent area we picked wasn't too level and had some roots to work around. We hung the still damp and now slightly smelly laundry up. I put mine in the tent, because it felt pretty warm in there and there was some rain threatening. Dan hung his out on the point, but had to get it in when some light showers came through. The worst part of the site was a medium sized rodent of some sort had pooped all over the place. I was a little worried it was a skunk, because I could smell something skunky over near the bushes next to the fire grate. We never saw it fortunately. We scraped up the ones that were a danger to walking with some sticks and moved them out of the way. We had saved the MH Pad Thai for a travel day. We boiled some extra noodles and rehydrated some green beans since it is a little short on noodles. We got everything cleaned up and the Ursaks and bear bags up and got to bed a little earlier for once. A rain storm came through during the night that must have had some wind, because the back of the tarp came loose and the gear packs got wet that were under it. Sagus to Fraser-Thomas 57R, Thomas to Hatchet 7R, 44R, 14R, Hatchet to Ima 28 R, Ima to Jordan 13R, Total 10.7 miles, 9 miles paddling, 1.5 miles portaging.

Dinner was Tuna Noodle casserole made with a flour, butter and Nido milk with rehydrated celery and mushrooms and cheese on top. and a side of rehydrated Niblets canned corn. The site has an open rock area to eat on overlooking the lake, pretty slanted all the way down to the lake, but workable. We did dishes and started packing up for the next day's move.

We crossed the portage to Cattyman and paddled across. There were some pretty flowers along the portages to Ensign. First we noticed a couple of guys walking canoes through the water coming out from near the falls area. They had accidentally put in at the point where the trail turns and looks like the end of the portage. It's possible, but not easy, they said they didn't recommend it. Cattyman from portage to Gibson

There was a group of kids and a couple of adults eating lunch at the actual portage to work around. We chatted a bit, they were scouting type group from Fargo. They had carried the canoes across to see the falls from Ensign, not realizing that the falls could be seen mid portage. One of the kids was letting them know pretty endlessly he was not happy about it. When we got the second load over and were about to put in, another group was waiting for us to clear the portage. They were the same scout group as the other kids, but were staying at another campsite.They asked if we had seen them. They planned to leave their canoes at that end and walk over to see the falls. Cattyman Falls, I thought I got a better picture, apparently not. We loaded up and started off for the Gibson to Ashigan portage. On the portage to Ashigan, 1 of the groups started going back through while we were coming back for the 2nd carry. They pushed off first and started for the Ashigan to Ensign portage. We decided to pull out our PB&J sandwiches to eat in the canoe and wait for them to clear the portage. When we got back for the 2nd load there, the 2nd group started on that portage. We caught up with the last kid who was dragging all the paddles across the rocks behind him.

When we got to Ensign, both groups were there with all their gear spread out over the end of the portage and fishing. They were definitely over the limit for the number of people, at least 12. We were irritated, but we aren't the enforcement officers, so we went in at the far open side without saying anything. Fortunately it is shallow and wide there, so we could get in without too much trouble. It wasn't the best group dynamic we have seen.

We set off and floated a ways out to the middle of the lake while we got the Garmin set up to navigate by and started the long 4 mile or so paddle down Ensign. We were paddling into about a 10mph wind so we ducked behind the islands for a little break a couple of times, but we made it through pretty fast. We thought we would probably end up on Sucker since it was after 4, but decided to check if the Splash site was open, I wasn't holding out much hope since it was so late. It's hard to see until you get to the other end of the lake, but as we turned the corner there we could see it was unoccupied. I walked up to check it out and was initially not too impressed. It was somewhat trashed with firewood scattered around, the sun was slanting in and baking the kitchen area and the logs are not in great shape and the tent pad was not too level. I got Dan to come up to check it out and we decided it would do for the night. We found a trail over to a large open area later that has a lot of room for more tents that were better, but we'd already set up the tent. We liked the site a lot better after we got it cleaned up a little, and got the gear organized to cook dinner.

We were going to have grilled cheese sandwiches and make chicken vegetable soup like we had last time, but we realized the day before that real cheddar cheese gets moldy in 80 degree weather, so we switched to egg and bacon sandwiches. We pack a few extra packets of Ova Ezy eggs just in case. The soup is always appreciated on long travel days when we are feeling dehydrated. We could hear boats going by out on Sucker until dusk , but it would probably have been worse on the campsites out there.

We thought about putting the fishing poles together and going out fishing in the evening since we had scared off some nice sized fish on the way in, but decided to enjoy some down time instead. There were a lot of fish breaking the top of the water a little ways out near sundown. It would have been nice to see what was there, but it was a pretty intense trip, and relaxing was nice too. We got camp cleaned up and packed up for an early exit the next morning.

Jordan to Cattyman 44 Rods, Cattyman to Gibson 27R, Gibson to Ashigan 111R, Ashigan to Ensign 54 R, Ensign to Splash 5R 6.7 miles Paddling, 2.3 portaging Total: 9 miles

The trip went well enough. We achieved the goal of solitude, not seeing anyone while in any of the campsites. We also were able to stay at all the sites we had picked as our first choice, which was unusual. It seemed like the 3rd week of June was not too busy. The weather was a little warm, but rain didn't affect us much. It was probably a little harder trip than we would have liked, but I like going to a few different campsites and getting off the busier lakes, and Sagus and Jordan were neat little lakes that were worth the work to get there.

Splash to Sucker 23R .5 mile paddle to portage, .2 mile portaging