Monday, September 04, 2023 Today's plan was that after a pancake breakfast we would strike camp and start heading back south toward our entry point. After getting packed up we got underway about mid-morning and set off targeting a final-night campsite that we had spotted a couple of days ago on the way in and which had looked inviting. Once again, relatively calm waters meant we could make excellent time, though this was just a bit more work than coming in as our now southerly travel was into the direction of prevailing winds and the slight breeze that was blowing in our face. As long as the waves didn't grow too large, this was just fine since the breeze was helping to keep us cool on yet another hot day. While I did spot one or two small rollers toward the middle of the lake, we were able to maintain a route that did not put us into any kind of difficulty regarding the wind or waves.
This brought us close to our intended campsite after less than two hours of paddling. Unfortunately, the site was already taken so we then needed to check out other options before ending travel for the day. We first went to site 1608 which is tucked around a point toward the eastern side of Pipestone Bay, about a mile north of the Pipestone to Newton portage. This site was not bad, with a wonderful view out over the lake and an appealing kitchen area. It would have worked for the night. However, since it was still short of noon and we would have needed to get a bit creative with placement of one of our tents, we decided to move further south to see what else we might find. We next checked out the site on Weegens point. After encountering a decent landing here you next need to trek up about a 15-rod, steep goat path to get to the main site. The site itself was not inviting enough to justify that climb each time we wanted to go to or from the water so we noped out of that option to check out yet another. Some passing fisherman hinted that the site across the bay may be open so we went to see it--#1614--for ourselves. This site had a very nice landing and did have just a short climb up another rock wall to the main camping area. It had a bit of a slant and a lot of bare ground but we found "flat enough" spaces for both of our tents and the view was nice. Plus, it was only about a 5-minute paddle to the portage we'd take the next morning and we could hear Pipestone Falls from this site which provided for some nice wilderness white noise. We pronunced it good enough for the night and celebrated finding our new home by having lunch.
After next getting camp set up it was then time for another quick dip and to see if we could catch some fish. Jim and I went over to a promising-looking deadfall while Doug and Kirby decided to try the very south end of Pipestone Bay toward the falls. By afternoon, the breeze had intensified so we decided to use a rock-in-a-mesh-bag anchor to try and hold position in the waves. We were a bit surprised to learn that only about 30 feet out from shore, the water was almost that deep as well but, again, the fallen tree looked like good structure so that's where we put down anchor. Jim was able to get a decent-size northern to accept our invitation for dinner but when the fish got a good look at us he changed his mind and spit the hook. Other than that a tiny walleye by Jim and a rock bass by me that we each released was all we were able to bring into the canoe so we decided to move closer to the falls and try our luck there. As with Doug and Kirby, Jim and I were not able to manage even a nibble here so it was going to be a fish-less meal for supper. Good old Mountain House dehydrated beef stew--it hit the spot and along with some rehydrated green beans and more pudding for dessert, we did not lack for food.
Another evening fire and the last of the bourbon finished this trip's final full day in the BWCA before we turned into our tents for the evening--a night that would again be spent on top of our sleeping bags due to temps that remained in the 70's all the way to morning.