Monday, June 28, 2021 – Checked out of motel and drove to Canoe Country to pick up gear. We transferred money, computers, etc. to their safe in unlikely event of break-in to vehicles at the put-in & take-out points. Picked up some breakfast at a convenience store and headed out of town to the take-out and put-in. Arrived at EP 16 (our take-out point) and dropped Monique’s vehicle. Continued on to EP 14.
Unloaded and started carrying gear down to the river (Little Indian Sioux River). The river entry is rocky and its awkward loading gear and getting in the boats, but nobody falls in so we’re off to a good start. We’re paddling by 9:30 AM.
The Little Indian Sioux River is flat and marshy. In places we have to paddle/push our way through marsh grass. Reach the 1st portage at 10:30 AM. The portage trail is 60 rods (0.18 mi.) that follows along the creek. The creek flows over several waterfalls. The water is brown with tannic acid.
Back in the boats, we continue on, eventually coming into Upper Pauness Lake. We find the portage trail that leads over to Lower Pauness Lake. The portage trails are dry, an indication that the area has seen limited rainfall in the last month. We take a break for lunch at the far end of the portage. Several other groups come through while we eat.
It’s a quick paddle across Lower Pauness Lake to the Devils Cascade Portage. The trail is 110 rods (1/3 of a mile) and it goes up and then down. The creek pours over a waterfall. A side trail leads to a nice campsite with a view of the cascade and the river below. It’s 2:30 PM by the time we’re ready to paddle again and we’re starting to feel sore muscles and the effect of the warm weather. A small beaver dam blocks the route requiring everyone to get out and unload to get the canoes across.
Our plan is to camp at Loon Lake. We start looking for campsites, heading into the East arm of the lake where we had marked some higher rated campsites. Unfortunately, they are already occupied. We end up paddling a big circle and finding our way back to a sight we had passed earlier. We’re tired, and there’s room for three tents, so it’s the one (Campsite 28). We unload and set up camp.
Kathy dons her white mosquito suit, but actually the bugs aren’t bad on the rocks overlooking the water. We get some sporadic rain, but nothing serious. By the time you get a raincoat on and start to sweat, the rain stops. A beaver swims by the campsite several times as to imply we have invaded his territory.
The warm weather has nicely thawed our steaks, and I gather firewood and get a fire going to cook steak and potatoes. It takes a while to get some coals, and it’s still hot – I’d rather be swimming in the lake than sitting next to a hot fire, but the steaks won’t keep another day. Finally, the food is ready and we are satisfied with the results.
There aren’t many good options for hanging food, but we eventually get the bags hung. Monique calls everyone down to the water for some nice cloud backlighting as the sun sets. As the light fades, the bugs come out and force us into our tents and the protection of mosquito screening. Rain starts a little after dark, but doesn’t last long.