Saturday, May 23, 2009 I tried some fishing today with no luck. Felt a little better after talking with a few other canoes who reported the same. The weather was getting warmer as the day progressed so I voted on a daytrip to Gabimichigami and back. The vote was unanimous so off I went.

The wind once again just started to pick up as I made to the bay leading to the Rattle portage. The portages to Gabi weren't too bad save for the fact they were wet. Once on Gabi the wind mercifully died down and I stopped at a beautiful site just east of the island. An immature bald eagle was overhead apparently fishing? Looked like he was having about as much success as me? The fire just ate up the entire north end of the lake. Fortunately this site was spared. A 5 star that I'd like to stay at a few nights some time.

Headed towards Peter. A nice overlook of Gabi from just off the portage trail. And man for woodticks! Would've liked to have spent more time on Peter but the wind was picking up again so I headed towards Virgin. Had a little trouble locating the portage, as it obviously doesn't get alot of use. There were a couple of trees blown across the trail that were just big enough aand at just the right height that I could neither go over or under them. Virgin, like Peter, was totally devastated by the fire. Looked like a bomb went off. I was getting hungry so I decided to pull off at the campsite on Virgin. WOW! Without a doubt the worst site I've ever seen in the BWCAW. It worked for cooking up my rice, but I don't see how anyone could stay here? No landing, no seating, & all bare rock with small trees and shrubs growing close enough together so as to provide no room for a tent. It did have the Cadillac of latrine boxes. The nicest, by far, I have ever seen. No doubt recently replaced after the fire melted the original.

As I made it back to Lil' Sag I tried some fishing again with the same result. Ran into a couple who said, "nobody's gettin 'em on Lil' Sag. Ya gotta go to Peter." Figures.

Little Saganaga Lake, Rattle Lake, Gabimichigami Lake, Peter Lake, Virgin Lake