Lakes: Ima Lake, Jordan Lake, Cattyman Lake, Gibson Lake, Ashigan Lake, Ensign Lake Portages: 8 Rods: 180x2, 25x2, 10x2, 20x2, 10x2, 30x2 Total Rods: Total Distance: 10.5

As usual, I woke up. Breakfast was made in short order and I broke camp and paddled along the south shore of Ima Lake. It's a pretty lake. I'd like to see it again. On this day I was headed for Ensign. I knew that if I pushed it, I could get out on this day. I was going to make that decision once I got to Ensign, but was leaning for one more night in the woods. I also wanted to get to the west end of Ensign just in case there was some wind the next day.

Most of the trip doesn't stick out. I bumped into one other group going the opposite way. Sometime this day or the day prior I bumped into a father-son team who began at the top of the Quetico and were paddling to the bottom of the BWCAW.

Gibson falls was nice. Glad I was going downhill and not up. I portaged to Ashigan and was not paying much attention when a group of 8 startled me at the Ashigan side. It was shocking to see so many people in one spot. I did my second carry and they were walking the other way to get over to Gibson Falls. No canoes, but I think their guide service may have neglected to mention there is no trail along the shore and canoes were needed. I learned they were from Florida and we had the same professions.

I paddled ahead and they caught up to me at Ensign Lake. It was pretty warm out by now. I paddled west and did some trolling. While looking for a site I hooked into a decent northern. Lost him at the boat. Still, no fish dinner. The lake must have been real pretty before the blowdown. One group of canoeists had run out of sunscreen. I felt their pain. I had just run out that day. On the first day half my bottle sprayed out into my pack and I had rationed it daily. I nearly burned each day, but not quite.

A storm was looming so I did my best to find a site. I think I was picky on a few of the sites on the west side of the lake. The east side was populated, though I found one up on a point. On the map it was most eastern site on the north side. It wasnt' great, but it did have a nice view of the lake. I could hear outboard motors on Moose Lake.

By now the storm was bearing down and the weather radio was advising to take cover and stay away from windows. More fun times. I was a little concerned by one fair sized evergreen upwind from the tent, but figured it wouldn't kill me if it fell on me.

I took a few pictures of the storm once the initial blast came through. I'd guess 40+ gusts since branches and leaves were blown from the opposite shore and my tent bent low a few times. The lake looked something nasty. A few trees fell in the woods. The rain came soon enough and I was happy I was warm and dry inside the tent. I had dinner in the tent. The storm let up and a nice rainbow came out. Wood in the center of a nice wood pile was dry so I had a nice campfire that night.

The whippoorwills were something else this night. Four or five were sounding off at any one time. The loons fired up fairly often as well. It was a nice cap to a good trip. I finished the last of the whiskey.