Sunday, June 06, 2010 We arise prior to the alarms and do the proverbial morning shuffle. We are in our tow boat ready for our launch to American Point by 8 sharp. The young man whom drove us to Sag had turned 21 the day prior and had been at the Windigo doing a little libation celebration so kudos to him for being at work on time and coherent.
The last time I had been through this area was in 1995 when 2 seperate forest fires tore through this area. We were the very last group evacuated from this area and had fires a blazing on both sides of us as the forest service hustled us out of there. That is a story with in itself. It was nice to see the forest reclaiming what had been lost to the fire. It brought some closure to me to see this area at peace after the insanity of 95.
We are dropped off at American Point , saddle up and are off on our adventure. The morning is perfect crisp. clear with a gentle back breeze and barely a ripple on the water. A great way to be welcomed to the waters I have missed. Justin and I are in one canoe with Nick and Matt in the other. Justin and I are soon insynique and moving along at a steady easy pace. We rented the Souris River Quetico 17's roomy, comfy, and very stable but you ar not going to win a race with them. We see 2 parties in the vicinity of Spam Island seemingly going no where, we wonder out loud where they may be going, we are soon to find out. Nick and Matt are falling behind and we also wonder out loud what is there gig. We take a break enjoy the scenery and wait for them to catch up. They are both bewildered they state they are diggin hard and getting no where.. The curse of using the bent shaft paddles the wrong way has struck Newbie mistake #1 We spin the paddles around and things seem to be mucho better. We have the small bays of Sag insight and also have the two previously spotted groups in sight. The first group has broken off to the northern most shoreline they seem to be looking for the entry to the bays but are way off. The second group is having canoe controll issues or lack there of. They seem to huddle up then wander off in all direction rehuddle and repeat the process. The sandlot football approach to canoeing.
We all descend onto Swamp Portage as a group GREAT a bwca traffic jam after we have been preaching on the minimum chances of seeing folks to the newbies. The "sand lotters" a group of 6 fall back asap they are camped on Sag and just out for a cruise to see Monument Portage and then theres the dreaded other group. Can you hear the music do do doo dodot its Fred, Lemont, Grady and Ester Sanford and Son of the BWCA and there intent on going into the portage first. So we wait and watch as they unload 10 packs, a cooler, a tote and enough misc. gear and fishing rods to outfit a commercial fishing boat. This portage is about 30 ft and these guys are out of gas huffin and a puffin. Then they use the 4 man canoe carrying technique it goes over poorly and a few not so kind words are directed amongst the Sanfords. Its smoke time we see our opening we slip in we've done this many times prior we have 4 bags a fd bag and 2 canoes 7 trips for 4 folks. We talk to the Sanfords and to our amazement there only on a 4 day trip. We are trying to clear the poratge so the sandlotters behind us can move in. At Swap portage you have 2 places to launch as you face the lake the shallows to the right easily deep enough to water launch in sandals or the mini point to the left which has a gd drop off. The Sanfords finish their smokes quit quarreling and realize we are loading up and about to push off. They have been passed no red blooded nascar fan likes to be passed"all sporting nascar hats" so they are now in a rush to get there groove on. Diggity diggity lets get these canoes in some water and loaded asap. Well one should always look behind them first when carrying a canoe backwards in the BWCA beacause that drop off to the left is a gd one BLOOP!! down goes Grady the Sanfords are back to feudin and the pass is complete off to Monument Poratge and more adventure.
We pull into Monument Portage and have somehow caught up to a unknown 3rd party. Oh wel they seem to be on top of there game they unpack clear their gear from the dock and all is gd. They have been out for a few days and tell us if we like they would prefer to hold back and let us clear. This is a cake walk poratge and we are soon loading up for our second portage when we see a fella struggling with a canoe coming straight towards us down the dock. Matt steps off the dock in what appears to be solid ground in an attempt to give the fella clear passage. Newbie mistake #2 that dock is there for a reason. Matt is now up to his waist in beaver scwag we uncork him and are aff though Matt is a stinkin.[paragraph break] The weather is perfect the paddling symbiotic and we are soon pulling up to the poratge into Ester Lake. This poratge seems all gd until the calf burning hill at the end. We enjoy some spirits and are off to find a site to call home for a few days. Matt is rewarded for his efforts and catches the first and only Laker of the trip trolling towards the island on Ester. We check out the two island sites and find the far one occupied we paddle around the island and check out the two mainland sites. We choose the northern site, a gd landing, nice tent pads and gd trees for cover and tarps. We later took the time to look over all 4 sites the northern mainland site is hands down the best. This will be our base for the next 4 nights. We set up camp rig our polls and hit the water.It does not take long and we are on fish the smallies are hitting skitter pops and Justin and I look like the cats who ate the canary.After a great day on the water we head to camp to cook dinner and have a warmer upper or two or three and laugh about the beginning of our day. Steaks over an open fire TASTY! The stars are out in full force what more could one ask for.