Saturday, September 18, 2021
Day 1 ‘Socks are Useful’ – Too excited to sleep well so we were up early. The coffee maker in the bunkhouse didn’t have any filters so I improvised a filter from an old (but clean) sock. It was in the upper 30’s that morning so it was nice to have a hot cup of coffee to start the day. The only radio station we could pick up that morning played nothing but Polka… it was perfect! I knew we would have some cold mornings, but I still didn’t think to bring some lightweight gloves! My hands were so cold getting our gear ready at the entry point, so I sacrificed another pair of socks and made some fingerless mittens.
Our goal for the day was Slim Lake and we were on the water by 8:00 so I felt good about our chances. The morning started out calm and foggy but quickly gave way to clear blue skies. We were a little worried about water levels because of how dry it was that summer but we never had to get out and walk the canoe. The first portage is fantastic! You can hear the rapids as you walk through the woods. It smells amazing and there are some old-growth trees that are pretty impressive.
After 4 miles of river paddling, the Pauness Lakes were a welcome sight. The sun was warming things up and I was able to shed my ‘sock-mittens’ as we took in the Devil’s Cascade campsite. The sound of the rapids below was pretty loud even with such low water levels. I can’t imagine staying there when the water is up! After a short break for a snack at the falls, we were back on the river. We met our first group at a beaver dam. 4 paddles all in their own solo canoes. We let them know the fire ban was lifted and could hear them talk excitedly about an evening fire as they paddled around the corner.
As we paddled into the southern arm of Loon Lake a south wind had picked up. We took the opportunity to rest our paddling muscles and wet our lines. No luck yet but we enjoyed the break and the chance to take in the beauty. Loon Lake was pretty choppy to the northwest as the wind continued to strengthen. We hugged the south shoreline before making a crossing north towards Little Loon Lake. The portage into Slim Lake is legit. You definitely notice the 120’ climb in your legs, shoulders and lungs. At this point we as sticking to our single portage plan but my resolve is breaking. We met a few more small groups that were also happy to hear the fire ban was lifted. They also confirmed that our goal campsite was available.
We picked the northern most site on Slim Lake based on reviews and the view did not disappoint. It’s perched high up on a rock with great views to the east and southeast. The view is enjoyable and in buggy months the breeze would be a welcome guest. The put-in is a little dicey with heavy gear and the climb from water to fire grate gets old quickly. I wouldn’t want to make this my basecamp but it’s worth a stop on a pass-through route.
Poured a little whiskey and set up our chairs to relax a bit. This is only my second trip with a chair and I will never go without one again. This is also my first trip with a Hammock and I’m really looking forward to a good night’s sleep. I have the ENO jungle nest and house fly rain tarp. My top quilt is the lightweight option from ENO but I upgraded my under quilt and went with the Zeppelin from UGQ. The forecast for the evening was mid 60’s and clear skies so I left off the fly so I could see the stars. Dinner that night was home-cooked penne pasta that I froze so it would keep.
~Lakes Visited: Upper Pauness Lake, Lower Pauness Lake, Loon Lake, Little Loon Lake, Slim Lake