We woke to a clear day and calm water. We had oatmeal for breakfast and got packed up. The packs were lighter with all the gear dry. The portage from Mesaba to Hug Lake was easy to find and not difficult to cross.

We crossed hub and came to the lift over to Duck Lake. This should have been a simple portage but when I was getting out of the canoe, I stepped on a slick rock and took a swim. I was lucky to not flip the canoe when I grabbed for it.

We crossed Duck, found the portage to Zenith Lake. We found the plane crash on Zenith. There was not much left of it, so we did not stop for pictures. We crossed Zenith to the landing for the 472 rod (approx. 1.5 mile) portage to Lujenida Lake.

We attached as many loose items as possible to the packs so our arms would be free. This portage is difficult because of the length. Overall, it is well maintained. It is uphill out of Zenith and then drops to a stream crossing at the midway point. I had seen pictures where this stream was flooded by a beaver dam but that was not this case this time. The portage climbed again before dropping down to the landing. There are a few stream crossings, some ups and downs, climbs over rock outcroppings, and walks through high grass. Without a pack or canoe, it would be a great hike.

We leap frogged the portage. I carried the gear pack the length of the portage. Ryan carried the food pack to the midpoint and went back for the canoe. I dropped the gear pack at the end and went back for the food pack. Ryan and I met up at the midpoint when I picked up the food pack and he carried the canoe. We both got to the end of the portage around the same time.

We took a short break and started paddling down Lujenida. There was a beaver dam to lift over at the end of the lake where the creek leads to the Kelso River. The Kelso River is a winding paddle through tall grass. The creek opened into Kelso Lake. We took the second campsite on the lake, on a peninsula. We were there by noon.

The campsite has a nice rock landing with larger rocks to sit on to look at the lake. There were a couple good tent pads and I easily found trees to hang my hammock. Lunch was Starkist packets of citrus lime quinoa, beans, and chicken with rehydrated cheese on tortillas. We also ate the banana pudding desert that was left over from earlier in the trip.

We relaxed around the campsite and read during the afternoon. Dinner was beef stroganoff from Camp Chow, and desert was strawberry cheesecake again. Ryan built a fire, and we relaxed in the evening. I thought I heard another group on the south part of the lake, but we did not see anyone. Clouds were starting to roll in, so we got our rain flys ready in case it rained. We were in bed at a reasonable hour.

We traveled around five miles today.

~Mesaba Lake, Hug Lake, Duck Lake, Zenith Lake, Lujenida Lake, Kelso Lake