Monday, August 06, 2007. Minn, McAree, Lac La Croix, Bottle, Iron Lake. 3 portages, 11 miles.

Up at 6:30 after sound sleep. Leisurely breakfast/coffee, and on the water at 8:40. We paddled to the short portage into McAree, where we were surprised to see a wheeled portage cradle, but realized that in some Quetico lakes First Nation guides are allowed to use motor canoes, etc. Paddling away from the portage, we spotted a moose cow swimming across McAree. Headed for Black Robe portage—any portage with a name intrigues us. Black Robe was easy to spot because there were four motor canoes at the landing. On Lac La Croix we expected to encounter lots of motor traffic, but didn't hear a motor all day. Lac La Croix's Warrior Hill area boasts the largest and best pictograph site in Quetico, and we spent lots of camera time there. Near Warrior Hill we found a nice lunch stop, then headed toward the Bottle Lake portage. On our way there, an otter surfaced in front of our canoe and chuffed at us a couple times, then on down the lake we spotted a small bear running along the shore. From Bottle we portaged into Iron Lake, where we found a nice campsite near Curtain Falls—we can hear the falls from the campsite. Incredible day--breeze and overcast skies kept temperatures very nice, and our wildlife watching included the moose, several eagles, the otter and the bear. Felt we'd earned tonight's dinner (unlike yesterday), and were again in bed around 9:00.