We load the transports and head off to the Cross Bay River landing. I always imagine what the Seagull Staff is thinking as they help off-load our gear at the landing…”All this gear for three people?” “What ever happened to traveling light?” We manage to coordinate the pack locations in our Kevlar Bell Northwoods w/ 3rd Seat. Although it feels a bit cumbersome in deciding where it should all go, we know that by the end of the next couple of portages, this will become systematic – and it does.

We arrive quickly to our first portage. A 66 rod, “highway” of a portage. It is wide and well traveled. It even comes with a handy stair-step to help you make you way up the small inclined. Eagar to get the first portage behind us, we off-load and get started. Here is a map of the route for the day…

After a short 30 rod portage we set our canoe into Ham Lake. We are aware as we approach the campsite where the Ham Lake fore of 2007 started the dangers of an unmanaged campfire. It gives me an opportunity early in our trip to re-confirm with my kids the importance of campfire safety and show them the damage that can occur if not properly managed. The campsite was untouched, but the area to the west of the site – across a small narrowing of the lake - showed the ravages of a wildfire. It had almost an eerie feel as the individual who was held responsible for starting the fire had committed suicide recently. One more casualty of the fire and the only human life lost.

We past through Ham lake and arrive at the 24 rod portage which is miss-marked on my McKenzie Map. The actual portage is about 100 yards to the west of the marked portage on the map. While that does sound too far, it did create some delay in finding the landing. As we work our way through the portage we notice we are definately in early Spring in the northwoods! Ferns are just emerging and the flowers are yet to bloom.

We quickly make it through the portage and enter Cross Bay Lake. As we paddle, we are getting a foreshadowed taste of the Frost River. The lake looks to be a great habitat for Moose and Northerns with grassy shallows. We press on as we know we have a lot of ground to cover today. We portage into Rib Lake, Doe Lake and then into Long Island Lake. We also find it difficult to locate the 35 rod portage in Long Island Lake but eventually find it to the east of the marked map showing it at the campsite. It was definitely worth finding as the alternative was a long paddle around Long Island. The portage is a great walk – flat, wide with a sandy beach landing waiting for us at the end. Not only was it the best portage (by far) of our trip – it was probably one of the best portages in the BWCA. As we arrive at the landing, a short shower ensues creating a good opportunity for a portage trail lunch stop before pressing on.

By this time, we are beginning to feel the stress of the portages already passed. This coupled with being the first day in had us dreaming of our stop at Frost Lake for the evening. We had a campsite targeted based upon the suggestion of Deb Mark at Seagull Outfitters and were pushing to get it. We finally reached the 140 rod portage taking us into Unload Lake. This portage was to be the longest of our trip and was rather uneventful and easy. We get an added treat as we paddle through Unload Lake and approach the 40 rod portage – we never saw it!

We arrive at the campsite we hoped to secure to find it vacant. We set camp and have a great meal consisting of most of the fresh food we had packed in – Ribeyes, fresh green beans, corn-on-the-cob and garlic mashed potatoes. A feat fit for a king! We spent much of that evening walking along and enjoying the sand beach immediately adjacent to campsite. Signs of moose and other frequent visitors to the beach were easily seen.

We noticed that two of the sites on the west-end of the lake are occupied, so we agree to get an early start to the day in an effort to hit Bologna Lake before the others. We turn in on a clear night and cool temps.

The day’s totals: 11 portages, 488 rods and 8 miles of territory. Started the day at 7:30AM and arrived at Frost Lake at 2:30PM.