Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Summer Shakedown
by MN_Lindsey

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 06/17/2020
Entry & Exit Point: East Bearskin Lake (EP 64)
Number of Days: 4
Group Size: 3
Day 3 of 4
Friday, June 19, 2020

After a leisurely wakeup, we decided to leave on Saturday instead of Sunday. MNy was staying with a friend way over in Walker for a few days and we felt it was going to be too much traveling, in one day. We had friends with a cabin in Longville, so that was the plan.

We decided today was going to be the daytrip over to Johnson Falls.

We paddled over to Canoe, and did the very easy portage, and then dropped the canoe off at the portage. There was loads of room to leave a canoe well out of the way for other paddlers passing through. We did notice someone left all their gear right in the middle of the portage which was kind of odd concidering there was so much room on the sides, but whatever...

The path over to Pine was very remenicent of my time on the Superior Hiking Trail. MNy kept saying she was pro-portage, and wanted to do a hiking trip with me, but after the Canoe/Pine portage she recinded her offer.

Once we finally made it to Pine we saw several more canoes stashed out of the way. I thought the path to Johnson Falls was going to be more on the portage between Canoe/Pine, but it was right at the waters edge to take a hard western turn, but it was also super obvious where the trail was.

We traversed the sometimes mucky trail, but again, easy to follow along. We came across two guys, and as they got closer, I yelled out, "Hey... I know you!" It was Frenchy19! We exchanged pleasantries, and acknowledged that the BWCA was SOOO busy! It was nice to see a familiar face, but also strange as well out in the "wilderness".

We passed another family coming away from Johnson Falls, and at last, had the falls to ourselves. Mr. MN and MNy switched into swimsuits (I forgot mine at home) and enjoyed the falls, while I took off my boots, and enjoyed a foot bath!

We had probably a good 30+ minutes of the falls to ourselves and enjoyed a little trail snack of various kinds of trail mix from Target (Archer Farms, cos its the best) and Lorissa's Jerky.

MNy wanted to do a little swimming from shore at our campsite, so we headed back and relaxed for a while. Tonight on the menu was one of Cowdoc, Kiporby and Kanoes favorite of Tuna, Knorrs Parmesean, and frenches fried onions. After dinner we paddled over to the bay near campsite 706 again for fishing, and then headed over to Pirez after recommendation by Andy from Tuscarora Lodge.

Pirez was a very cool little lake. It was very quiet, and looked just about perfect for fishing. We had ZERO luck and were throwing out topwater lures, Johnson spoons, and flicker shads with no luck. I was glad I got to see the little lake though, and we were treated to a serene paddle back to our campsite.

Along the way, we stopped on desolate shorelines and collected some wood for a nice fire, and were treated with a gorgeous sunset worthy of a photo.

Once back at camp, we enjoyed some wine (us adults) and smores (kiddo), and retired pretty late to the hammocks after reading some BWJ, and drifting to sleep. I woke up to a barred owl, and though I heard wolves very far out to the distance, maybe towards Clearwater Lake, but wasn't sure. Went back to bed until 9 a.m.