Track of this day Track of this hike:

We hiked in with our gear in hiking backpacks. We switched to smaller packs to carry only lunch and water (and other essentials) for our day hikes

Someone has cut windfalls along the trail. However the trail is not brushed along the side. Gloves, long sleeves and long pants kept scratches to a minimum. Shell casings indicate people hunt here. The trails are used.

The trail has sunken in many of the swamps. At least this spring, we sometimes hiked in a trough of shallow water. Beaver have built damns on top on the trail in places. Some culverts are gone in other spots.

We spent time looking through the big quantities of trash left by the loggers in the area between Battle and Phantom Lakes. Perhaps after 30 years trash becomes artifacts? Some of the stuff surprised us: TV chassis (I doubt the area was electrified), a broken toilette (in a land of outhouses?) I kept thinking, "They took the trees and left the trash!" Traditional travelers in canoes see little if any of this, fortunately.

We discovered an old Core Craft Canoe. It appeared to be abandoned rather than stashed.

Originally we hoped to hike north to Western Lake. We realized we would not do that having just a base camp on Phantom. We also discovered that Schlamn Creek flowed across the trail (and the portage.) The stream flowed wide and full. (see the picture) We couldn't find an easy way to cross.

We retraced our steps to camp for a freeze dried meal.