Saturday, June 15, 2019 I was up at 5:30am I packed up camp and went to Hunting Shack Creek just to check it out. It looks like a nice creek to paddle back to Pauline/Astrid Lakes, but daylight was burning. I backtracked to EP14, got there shortly after 9am and on the water shortly thereafter. Had some minor issues getting into the river, rough rocks and no solid ground to step on, had to get into the canoe from the shore without tipping. It was an enjoyable paddle to the first portage and I worked the river with a small group that was heading in to check out Devils Cascade for a daytrip. The first portage was enjoyable as it went alongside the river and there were several areas of rapids (probably why there is a portage there). The rest of the paddle to Upper Pauness was less winding than the first part of the river, and once I got to Upper Pauness, I chose to check out the shorter portage to the right and the campsite next to the falls. As I explored this campsite, I realized it would be easier accessed from the Upper Pauness side, as there was difficult climbing to reach the fire grate. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of this pretty campsite, but it did not appear there were many good tent pads and it was a ways up to kitchen area, but it did give a pretty view of the lake and the portage. I fished the pool below the rapids and caught a couple of perch, one small and the other nice. After releasing both fish, I continued toward the north end of the lake, Campsite 43 on the Peninsula was occupied but looked nice, so I continued on to campsite 41 on the west shore of Lower Pauness. The firepit sits on a granite rock elevated off the water without real good access from the water. Decided to move on and check out the campsite by Devils Cascade, which also services the Sioux Hustler Hiking trail. At the portage I met a nice couple with six kids that were staying on Upper Pauness and daytriping to Devils Cascade. Tom, the father offered to carry one of my portage packs up to the campsite. I originally said “yes, I would greatly appreciate that”; but then told him he was up here to enjoy the trail with his family and I could manage! As I was getting ready to take my first load, he had not left and asked with pack was heavier and grabbed it. I did appreciate his help as I was pretty worn out from the trip in. Fortunately, the campsite was open, Tom and his family enjoyed the the cascade and then headed back to their camp. I got camp set up, got water and had a tuna sandwich at about 2:30pm, hung the food pack and took a nap. It was a long nap, as I woke about 7pm, and decided to fish the north end of the portage, I hauled the canoe and fishing gear down to the river. I caught a couple rock bass under the falls which would be my first fish dinner in the BWCA on a solo trip. As I kept fishing, a whitetail deer came down by the river and was not scared or bothered by the solo canoeist, so I worked my way back to camp to eat the fish with some instant potatoes. I also realized that I forgot the set-up for my sawyer gravity water filter, so I had to use the squeeze bag instead. This was rather slow at first, but got better with each bag I filtered. Bedtime came early, as I had grand plans to work my way North into Loon.