Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Kawnipi Lake - Noname Lake (Nate Lake) - Noname Lake - Noname Lake - Noname Lake - "Sucker Lake"

Chad woke up early this morning for morning "relief" at 6:30. When I got out of the tent I was greeted with sunshine and clear skies. I wasn't quite awake yet so when I was finished with natures call I returned to the sleeping bag but found that Chad was getting up and starting to hang wet gear. After a little personal convincing I soon followed him and started the coffee before hanging my gear. We made sure to be a little extra noisy to roust the others who soon followed suit. By the time breakfast was finished most of the gear was dry so we started to pack and prepare for the long day ahead of us.
After paddling to the mouth of the stream, we followed Greg and Brian’s lead half way up the hill. Once here I gave Nate the canoe and led the charge the rest of the way to the first lake. The hill was rough with some thick forest, large rocks, and elevation change, but not impossible. The lake had fairly clear water and lots of rocky shoreline. We decided to call the lake "Nate Lake" because it was his first year and we drug him on this kind of an adventure. He never complained once. He seemed especially relaxed after we admitted that he wasn't the only one in pain over the portages that he had all ready endured. We didn't spend much time on the lake, just a quick paddle to the northern end and a short break there. 
I again led the charge, with compass in hand, due west toward the next lake. The travel through this section was tough at first, going through some marshland that tried to swallow a few of the crew, but it got easier after we gained some elevation and hit some open forest. Although I wasn't carrying a canoe, it seemed to me that we reached the next lake in no time.
The second lake was very much like the last one but with a few more cliffs along the shore. At the northern end of the lake we stopped and took our lunch break which was a quick meal of summer sausage, cheese, and a few handfuls of our "gorp". Once lunch was done I gave up the lead to Mike, who proved confident and dependable with his orienteering skills. 
We followed him through some open forest to the next lake, which we put the canoes in, paddled a few strokes to the other side, and again loaded the gear on our backs. Westward again under Mike's lead we finally reached the lake just northeast of "Sucker Lake". This lake seemed a bit shallower and clearer than the past few lakes but still had the rock shorelines. As we paddled down the lake a bit of anticipation grew for what we would find on "Sucker Lake". We made the short portage along the stream and put the canoes into "Sucker Lake".
As soon as all the canoes were in the water we began scanning the shoreline for evidence of other Jamboreers but none was to be seen. Sucker Lake was decent sized with rocky shores and inviting forests that stretched around the lake. Lots of openings in the forest and plenty of options for camping. The water seemed to have some good dept and was very clear. Since nobody was here yet, we had the pick of the place. We first glanced to the northwest corner of the lake to some flat open land but ruled it out because we figured everyone would be coming from that direction, so we headed south a bit. To the southwest was another open point facing south, which we almost ended up at, but no, our spot had to be perfect. A site that had an open view to the northern sky was a must and this site didn't seem to provide that. We headed due east to the point on the southeastern side of the lake and hiked up onto the rock hillside. The opening there seemed perfect for "main camp" and the rock ledges a few yards back in the forest, amongst the sweet ferns and pink lady slippers, had flat spots that screamed "Put the tent here!", so we set up camp. After camp was set and a fire ring was constructed our minds started drifting back to the lake and what those waters held. It wasn't long before we were back in the canoes dragging lures, drifting, jigging, casting, and honestly trying to put some fish on the plate. About an hour later, not having any luck, and not hearing the tell take sound of a fish flopping around in another boat, Nate and I headed back to camp and fished from shore. It was here that I managed to find a worm, which I fished off the bottom. As I was showing Nate how to rig up a floating jig, my strike indicator started to move. I picked up the rod, felt a tug at the other end, and set the hook. The fight was on. It wasn't a big fish, I could tell by its struggle, but my mind searched to figure what was on the other end. A little bit of disappointment hit me when I lifted those tell tale lips out of the water... A Sucker. Not being THAT hungry, I put it back into the lake. Shortly after that the others pulled up with their canoes all with the same story, no fish. We made our way back up to camp and began to cozy up the place. Some of us gathered firewood, others constructed a bench, but all of us kept busy to pass the time till the other bushwhackers arrived. Soon, dinner was started and a fire was made while we stared at the lake anxiously awaiting the jamborees arrival. It began getting dark and hope soon faded into disappointment. "Was this a joke that we fell for?" was a question that more than one of us considered. We stood there by the fire, one by one, retiring to the tents till all were down. No other people were seen this day.