We set off at sunrise from Fenske to EP 14. We got to the EP earlier than 7 am, but waited in the cars for about an hour because it was raining pretty good and we did not want to start off on a soggy note. Once we could wait no longer, we packed up and hit the portage even though the rain hadn't let up one bit. Luckily it only rained unil mid-morning and the sun was out by the time we got to Upper Pauness Lake.

This was our biggest travel day by design, we wanted to get as deep as possible the first day. Total distance for day 1 was 14.8 miles, but the portage from Little Loon Lake to Slim Lake made it feel more like a 20 mile day. I'm proud to say that I did the portage in one trip with a pack on my back and a canoe on my shoulders.

We made it from EP 14 to the 2nd campsite on Slim Lake with plenty of daylight left in the day to set up camp and fish from shore. This campsite is up high on a big rocky feature looking over the lake. It was a beautiful view, but was hard work going back and forth from the water to camp. Fishing was not great here, we caught only a couple mini smallies, a jumbo perch and I got broken off by what I am assuming was a pretty big pike.

~Upper Pauness Lake, Lower Pauness Lake, Loon Lake, Little Loon Lake, Slim Lake