Daily Log:

Day 1 (Sunday, 9/11): I got a late start, entering Stuart River EP19 at 10:00 am. It was a nice day. I actually enjoyed the long portage in the beginning. I double portaged, but need to learn how to better pack for single portaging. I encountered 4 beaver dams on Stuart River, two that were three to four feet high. I watched an otter play in the current on Stuart River--one of the nice trip highlights.

I was initially going to paddle the whole trip with a canoe paddle, but switched to my double-bladed kayak paddle around 3 pm, recognizing I needed to get moving, and as much as I hate to admit it, the kayak paddle is more efficient. I missed my portage into Stuart Lake because I was in a hurry and had to backtrack. I made it to Stuart Lake 45 min before sunset. I camped at the island campsite, only because it was the closest campsite from my portage--it was nice site but had been abused by the previous campers. I quickly pitched my tent, got water to filter, but my Sawyer filtration system didn’t work. I back flushed the filter, but still not working, (I tested it at home before I left, too). I was thirsty so paddled out to the middle of the lake and collected water. I used unfiltered water the rest of the trip, but always went out quite a way from shore to collect water. Dark descended and I grabbed a pack of jerky and ate in my tent--I know bad move, but the mosquitoes were bad and it was dark. I woke up at 2:00 am to the sound of wolves howling. This persisted for 15 to 20 minutes—that experience alone was worth the trip. I heard them again about 5:00 am.
Day 2 (Monday, 9/12): I awoke to partly cloudy skies and wind. I took a layover day because I was beat. I thought about moving later, but the winds were 15-20 mph in the afternoon. I set up my tarp, practiced knots and read. That night it rained incessantly. My old MSR Hubba Hubba leaked at three corners. The weather radio was predicting a 50% chance of rain for day 3, and wide spread rain with T-storms for days 4 and 5.
Day 3 (Tuesday, 9/13): I made the decision to shorten my trip. I paddled Dahlgren River to Agnes. Hadn’t seen anyone for two days, but Agnes was busy. Though 5 mph winds were predicted, my guess is 10-15 mph winds were experienced. I was glad I was on a river. I really enjoyed the portages from Stuart Lake to Agnes Lake, very scenic. I found a campsite at the SE corner of the lake. That night, the weather radio predicted an 80% chance of widespread rain with a chance of T-storms starting late Wed afternoon through Friday.


Day 4 (Wednesday, 9/14): I got an early start and made it to EP16 at about 2:30-3:00 pm. Unfortunately, I left my portage yoke at the south end of the 70-rod portage on Nina Moose River, the first portage north of Nina Moose Lake as you head north (I was heading south). I didn’t discover this until I was at the 25-rod portage south of Nina Moose Lake on Moose River. I decided not to go back for it, but was really angry at myself for leaving it behind. But then I saw two other trippers’ hand-written messages pinned to the EP16 kiosk--they had also left some valuable gear in the wilderness—I felt less alone and cut myself some slack.