Clearwater to Fowl loop
by skywalker_128
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
07/21/2005
Entry & Exit Point:
Clearwater Lake (EP 62)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
2
Day 4 of 6
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Ally and I awoke to a strong wind out of the west this time (again blowing in our faces). We had eggs and pop- tarts for breakfast. Yummy! I love eggs. We knew we’d need all the strength we could muster for the day of travel against a headwind.
We were nearly blown back to shore when we pushed off at the campsite. It was a nasty paddle to the west end of John Lake. When we reached the portage to E. Pike Lake we found a water bottle, score!! There were only two water bottles for the two of us so the third was much appreciated especially for preparing food. When we got to the E. Pike side of the trail the wind was blowing even harder. Huge whitecaps were blowing across to the lake so tall we decided not to travel in it. Alicia and I were both so tiered that we used this opportunity to rest and weren’t too disappointed. Since we were all the way on the east end of the lake and the wind was hard out of the west I had a feeling there would be a Norton swimming around chasing the baitfish that were helplessly blown to the leeward side of the lake. After only a few casts with a red &white daredevil spoon I hooked up. The incredible ten-minute battle I landed a 34” Pike on a 6.5’ medium-spinning rig without a leader. This is what I call fun!! We then waited for the wind to die down, and ate lunch. Alicia took a nap and I went fishing a while longer without any more luck. Then I cleaned the pike and we decided to head for the nearest campsite.
Since there weren’t any downwind except the one we stayed at on John Lake the night before, we headed west on E. Pike Lake, and stayed close to shore, to nearest campsite. The wind was extreme as we paddle the mile around a point in the lake. With a little bit of sweat and some hard stroking we made it to the site. It had a nice harbor with a large rock on three sides that was helpful for securing the canoe and unloading the gear.
The site was absolutely beautiful. It was just far enough off the water to shield it from the strong winds, and there was a big ol’ pile of firewood. While we were setting up camp we saw two paddlers riding the wind eastward. The bow wasn’t even paddling. All that the stern had to do was throw down a post here or there to keep them tracking straight. I’d never seen a canoe moving so fast!!
When we started to make dinner Alicia made an odd, frightening discovery…a backbone. I believe it was the vertebrae of an elk or large deer, but understand how her mind could construe it as human. She asked me, in a very serious almost quivering tone, in there could possibly be cannibals up in the BW. I responded with a short nod. Before I realized how grave the situation was Alicia was pretty worked up. Everything turned out okay, and I assure you there are no cannibals in the BW. There is probably just a church group of boys who like to play around with skeletons and pulled the remains from the woods next to a portage and messed around with it. Nonetheless, we were up at 5:30 a.m., packed up at 5:40, and gone before the sun was over the now calm lake.
Ally and I awoke to a strong wind out of the west this time (again blowing in our faces). We had eggs and pop- tarts for breakfast. Yummy! I love eggs. We knew we’d need all the strength we could muster for the day of travel against a headwind.
We were nearly blown back to shore when we pushed off at the campsite. It was a nasty paddle to the west end of John Lake. When we reached the portage to E. Pike Lake we found a water bottle, score!! There were only two water bottles for the two of us so the third was much appreciated especially for preparing food. When we got to the E. Pike side of the trail the wind was blowing even harder. Huge whitecaps were blowing across to the lake so tall we decided not to travel in it. Alicia and I were both so tiered that we used this opportunity to rest and weren’t too disappointed. Since we were all the way on the east end of the lake and the wind was hard out of the west I had a feeling there would be a Norton swimming around chasing the baitfish that were helplessly blown to the leeward side of the lake. After only a few casts with a red &white daredevil spoon I hooked up. The incredible ten-minute battle I landed a 34” Pike on a 6.5’ medium-spinning rig without a leader. This is what I call fun!! We then waited for the wind to die down, and ate lunch. Alicia took a nap and I went fishing a while longer without any more luck. Then I cleaned the pike and we decided to head for the nearest campsite.
Since there weren’t any downwind except the one we stayed at on John Lake the night before, we headed west on E. Pike Lake, and stayed close to shore, to nearest campsite. The wind was extreme as we paddle the mile around a point in the lake. With a little bit of sweat and some hard stroking we made it to the site. It had a nice harbor with a large rock on three sides that was helpful for securing the canoe and unloading the gear.
The site was absolutely beautiful. It was just far enough off the water to shield it from the strong winds, and there was a big ol’ pile of firewood. While we were setting up camp we saw two paddlers riding the wind eastward. The bow wasn’t even paddling. All that the stern had to do was throw down a post here or there to keep them tracking straight. I’d never seen a canoe moving so fast!!
When we started to make dinner Alicia made an odd, frightening discovery…a backbone. I believe it was the vertebrae of an elk or large deer, but understand how her mind could construe it as human. She asked me, in a very serious almost quivering tone, in there could possibly be cannibals up in the BW. I responded with a short nod. Before I realized how grave the situation was Alicia was pretty worked up. Everything turned out okay, and I assure you there are no cannibals in the BW. There is probably just a church group of boys who like to play around with skeletons and pulled the remains from the woods next to a portage and messed around with it. Nonetheless, we were up at 5:30 a.m., packed up at 5:40, and gone before the sun was over the now calm lake.
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