The First of Many
by Camp Cook
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
08/03/2009
Entry & Exit Point:
Little Indian Sioux River (north) (EP 14)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
4
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (13 messages)
Day 4 of 6
Thursday, August 06, 2009 
Gramps had the fire going and we were cooking up pancakes and bacon in no time. Somehow Butch and I convinced Ollie that we should both get at least one or two pieces of bacon… it may have been divine intervention.
A cup of strong black coffee for me, a cup of tea for Butch. It was another post card weather morning so after the breakfast dishes were cleaned, the kids put on their swim suits and we pushed off for a trip to the Devil’s Cascade.
I trolled a 3”, white, gulp minnow on a white jig head while we traveled with nary a nibble.
We landed at the portage around the cascade and stashed our canoe, paddles and PFD’s well out of the way, then started down the trail. There was a large group coming towards us from the north and the kids displayed excellent portage etiquette by stepping off of the trail and yielding to those carrying loads. We took several of the side trails leading to the cascade. Butch had his camera at full draw and was moving up and down river snapping pictures with Ollie never more than a half step behind; they are truly two peas in a pod.
I showed Emma what wild blueberry bushes look like and she proceeded to eat her weight in the perfectly ripened fruit.
At the bottom of the portage, the kids played in a little riffle and pool created by an offshoot of the river.
On our way back to the canoe we took the spur that leads to the Sioux Hustler Trail (I believe) and hiked it a little ways. Along the trail we found a sun splashed hill side where we stopped for a lunch of Cliff Bars and blueberries.
Back at the Pauness side of the portage, we spent a little time swimming (there was no traffic) and looking at rocks; Emma is quite the rock hound. Gramps found a couple pieces of green stone and gave Emma a little BWCA geology lesson; she caught on fast and soon found a piece on her own.
After leaving the Devil’s Cascade, we paddled/trolled the western shoreline with the same results as earlier. We decided to explore the south bay and get a closer look at the cliff on the south, east shore of Upper Pauness.
I continued to troll and finally picked up a walleye for the effort.
Back at camp, there was more swimming, Oliver picked up a few leaches (on his leg) from the grassy area to the north of our camp and decided to make one his pet. The kids and gramps lay out on the rocks, in the sun, discussing the sizes and shapes of the passing clouds. At one point in the afternoon, it was time for Ollie to exercise his “thunder pot” demons; all went well, he was very proud of himself.
Butch had uncles who were residents of the area pre BWCA; they were hunters and trappers and guides and were ultimately forced out by the wilderness act. Emma was very interested in learning about their way of life and the lives of the Indians of the region. We crafted bows and arrows out of green boughs and string and the kids sang and danced and “hunted beaver” for the remainder of the afternoon.
Dinner was ribeye’s and fresh, sautéed green beans and onions. After dinner we had a fire, Ollie was sad because I made him put his pet leach back in to the lake and because he missed his mom. Emma agreed that it was a long time to be away from mom. We all decided that we would discuss leaving in the morning and if they were still feeling home sick, we would head out a day early. They seemed to perk up following our talk, the kids worked the fire with sticks, Butch and I had cigars and a couple pulls off of the flask.
The beavers are very active on this part of the lake and our camp was passed by several times. A lone wolf sang a mournful song from some place to the south east. We all retired to our tents, tired to the bone and completely satisfied with the day.
Day 3; Thursday, August 6th ’09; Day trip to Devil’s Cascade
We woke when we were done sleeping; I have no idea what time it was and kind of prefer it that way.
Gramps had the fire going and we were cooking up pancakes and bacon in no time. Somehow Butch and I convinced Ollie that we should both get at least one or two pieces of bacon… it may have been divine intervention.
A cup of strong black coffee for me, a cup of tea for Butch. It was another post card weather morning so after the breakfast dishes were cleaned, the kids put on their swim suits and we pushed off for a trip to the Devil’s Cascade.
I trolled a 3”, white, gulp minnow on a white jig head while we traveled with nary a nibble.
We landed at the portage around the cascade and stashed our canoe, paddles and PFD’s well out of the way, then started down the trail. There was a large group coming towards us from the north and the kids displayed excellent portage etiquette by stepping off of the trail and yielding to those carrying loads. We took several of the side trails leading to the cascade. Butch had his camera at full draw and was moving up and down river snapping pictures with Ollie never more than a half step behind; they are truly two peas in a pod.
I showed Emma what wild blueberry bushes look like and she proceeded to eat her weight in the perfectly ripened fruit.
At the bottom of the portage, the kids played in a little riffle and pool created by an offshoot of the river.
On our way back to the canoe we took the spur that leads to the Sioux Hustler Trail (I believe) and hiked it a little ways. Along the trail we found a sun splashed hill side where we stopped for a lunch of Cliff Bars and blueberries.
Back at the Pauness side of the portage, we spent a little time swimming (there was no traffic) and looking at rocks; Emma is quite the rock hound. Gramps found a couple pieces of green stone and gave Emma a little BWCA geology lesson; she caught on fast and soon found a piece on her own.
After leaving the Devil’s Cascade, we paddled/trolled the western shoreline with the same results as earlier. We decided to explore the south bay and get a closer look at the cliff on the south, east shore of Upper Pauness.
I continued to troll and finally picked up a walleye for the effort.
Back at camp, there was more swimming, Oliver picked up a few leaches (on his leg) from the grassy area to the north of our camp and decided to make one his pet. The kids and gramps lay out on the rocks, in the sun, discussing the sizes and shapes of the passing clouds. At one point in the afternoon, it was time for Ollie to exercise his “thunder pot” demons; all went well, he was very proud of himself.
Butch had uncles who were residents of the area pre BWCA; they were hunters and trappers and guides and were ultimately forced out by the wilderness act. Emma was very interested in learning about their way of life and the lives of the Indians of the region. We crafted bows and arrows out of green boughs and string and the kids sang and danced and “hunted beaver” for the remainder of the afternoon.
Dinner was ribeye’s and fresh, sautéed green beans and onions. After dinner we had a fire, Ollie was sad because I made him put his pet leach back in to the lake and because he missed his mom. Emma agreed that it was a long time to be away from mom. We all decided that we would discuss leaving in the morning and if they were still feeling home sick, we would head out a day early. They seemed to perk up following our talk, the kids worked the fire with sticks, Butch and I had cigars and a couple pulls off of the flask.
The beavers are very active on this part of the lake and our camp was passed by several times. A lone wolf sang a mournful song from some place to the south east. We all retired to our tents, tired to the bone and completely satisfied with the day.
Donate - BWCA.com