The Long Way Around-First Solo on the Louse River
by YardstickAngler
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
05/21/2023
Entry & Exit Point:
Sawbill Lake (EP 38)
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
1
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (18 messages)
Part 7 of 11
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Zero Day
I’m up fairly early this morning and enjoy some pizza grits for breakfast by the fire. It is still cool and windy, so I don’t linger long. The weather, combined with yesterday’s scare out on the lake, both have me feeling a bit low. Initially I had planned to complete a day trip today, fishing on Fisher, Beaver, and Smite Lakes, which all hold much intrigue for me. But I can tell that today is not the day for that, due to the wind, cold, and moisture.
Instead, I turn to my other favorite pastime of gathering and processing firewood. Since this campsite isn’t frequently visited, I find more than enough cedar and jack pine to keep me busy for a couple hours. While processing firewood, I again attempt to hear a report on my weather radio, but have zero luck. To keep my mind company as I split, I tune in an FM station or two, hoping to hear a forecast, but to no avail. After splitting, I have a gorgeous pile of firewood ready to counteract the freshet of wind still blowing into camp. I take my time cooking a pot of garlic couscous with ground beef and tomatoes, and surprise myself by eating the whole pot. While the food has been adequate, delicious, and convenient, I’ve rarely felt full on this trip. After lunch, I spend over an hour catching up my journal and tending to the fire, accompanied by the cheerful songs of vireos, song sparrows, a northern waterthrush, and a black-throated green warbler. For the first time in nearly 24 hours, I feel warm, comfortable, and at peace.
The wind mysteriously dies down about 1 pm, and I begin to get antsy to leave. I stick with my decision to stay put, but the wind continues to be light, and when I look at the map, I realize I have a very long travel day planned tomorrow. I text a friend on my InReach device and he relays to me the forecast, including the all-important wind data. The remaining days of my trip will have less wind than today, as well as warming temperatures. Freezing temps are forecast for tonight. But, my restlessness wins out, and I hastily break camp, figuring I can pull over if it gets too nasty and still be “ahead” for tomorrow’s travel. Just as I’m carrying the last few items down to the water, the gusts begin. Most of the time, the wind is docile. But about every five minutes, a gust angrily blows for a bit. I know for certain that River, Malberg, and Koma will all be roiled with chop and maybe even whitecaps in such gusts, even though Fisher doesn’t look too bad. Also, the wind is now coming from the south, so it will be a direct headwind. Finally I decide that leaving today is simply unwise. Yes, tomorrow will be a long journey to reach Hazel Lake on the lady chain, but I have zero appetite for repeating the mistakes of yesterday. I set my hammock once again and spend the evening by the fire in relatively calm winds, journaling. Tomorrow will be a high mileage day, so I bundle up and turn in early.
~Fisher Lake
Zero Day
I’m up fairly early this morning and enjoy some pizza grits for breakfast by the fire. It is still cool and windy, so I don’t linger long. The weather, combined with yesterday’s scare out on the lake, both have me feeling a bit low. Initially I had planned to complete a day trip today, fishing on Fisher, Beaver, and Smite Lakes, which all hold much intrigue for me. But I can tell that today is not the day for that, due to the wind, cold, and moisture.
Instead, I turn to my other favorite pastime of gathering and processing firewood. Since this campsite isn’t frequently visited, I find more than enough cedar and jack pine to keep me busy for a couple hours. While processing firewood, I again attempt to hear a report on my weather radio, but have zero luck. To keep my mind company as I split, I tune in an FM station or two, hoping to hear a forecast, but to no avail. After splitting, I have a gorgeous pile of firewood ready to counteract the freshet of wind still blowing into camp. I take my time cooking a pot of garlic couscous with ground beef and tomatoes, and surprise myself by eating the whole pot. While the food has been adequate, delicious, and convenient, I’ve rarely felt full on this trip. After lunch, I spend over an hour catching up my journal and tending to the fire, accompanied by the cheerful songs of vireos, song sparrows, a northern waterthrush, and a black-throated green warbler. For the first time in nearly 24 hours, I feel warm, comfortable, and at peace.
The wind mysteriously dies down about 1 pm, and I begin to get antsy to leave. I stick with my decision to stay put, but the wind continues to be light, and when I look at the map, I realize I have a very long travel day planned tomorrow. I text a friend on my InReach device and he relays to me the forecast, including the all-important wind data. The remaining days of my trip will have less wind than today, as well as warming temperatures. Freezing temps are forecast for tonight. But, my restlessness wins out, and I hastily break camp, figuring I can pull over if it gets too nasty and still be “ahead” for tomorrow’s travel. Just as I’m carrying the last few items down to the water, the gusts begin. Most of the time, the wind is docile. But about every five minutes, a gust angrily blows for a bit. I know for certain that River, Malberg, and Koma will all be roiled with chop and maybe even whitecaps in such gusts, even though Fisher doesn’t look too bad. Also, the wind is now coming from the south, so it will be a direct headwind. Finally I decide that leaving today is simply unwise. Yes, tomorrow will be a long journey to reach Hazel Lake on the lady chain, but I have zero appetite for repeating the mistakes of yesterday. I set my hammock once again and spend the evening by the fire in relatively calm winds, journaling. Tomorrow will be a high mileage day, so I bundle up and turn in early.
Paddle strokes: 0|Pen strokes: Countless|Axe strokes: Many|Bird songs: Innumerable
~Fisher Lake
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