We chose to venture deep into Alpine Lake on our penultimate day in the wilderness. It is a short portage from Red Rock into Alpine, especially when you only have your fishing gear and a portable lunch. We brought detachable outriggers on the trip and used them while angling. While bulky, they allow one person to stand and cast accurately while the other moves the boat into position. What outriggers do not allow is for one person to stand and cast accurately and a 63 year old man with a bum knee to stand up simultaneously. Sure enough, with a week of paddling experience under our belts and a full plate of confidence, my dad decided to stand up while I was standing and had line in the water. I looked over to see him… his wet smiling face… wedged between the outrigger and the canoe covered in clear Alpine Lake water. I had asked him at least 10 times at that point if he wanted to give the fly rod a few throws. He kept declining, reiterating to me that he would have fallen in the lake at least dozen times had he tried to stand and throw a fly. He was right.

It was a perfect day for a full soak with shining sun and temperatures in the 70’s. We headed to the portage between Alpine and Sea Gull wanting to see if running water between the two lakes held any fish. We made it and stashed our canoe on the Alpine side of the portage, preferring to wade in the shallow water. Rocks in the Boundary Waters are two things – ubiquitous and slippery. I thoroughly embarrassed myself by unintentionally fully immersing myself (with PFD on) in water that was 18’ deep. Maybe none of us are as young as we were.

We packed all but our breakfast and tents on Friday night expecting a tow out the next morning at 11:00 a.m. I often spend the first two days of any trip very focused on whatever task is at hand not dwelling on the world I left to fend for itself without me. I spend the rest of the time missing my wife and two little boys. I had thought about asking my dad during our trip what the worst part about getting older was. Unprompted, that evening he declared in his matter-of-fact way, “You know, the worst thing about getting old – my mind tells me I can and should do all of these things - but my body says no. I have had an amazing time but honestly, I am a little depressed.” Upon reflection, that statement made the entire ordeal, Bradley Cooper included, worth the trip. I cannot recall ever hearing my dad express the complexity of pleasure mixed sadness in such a raw and human way.

Ready to return, our tow arrived at the portage at 11:00 a.m., exactly. An hour’s ride later, we were back in the vehicle sharing a stashed bag of pickle flavored potato chips my dad had knowingly left under the seat.

I do not typically give up my fishing spots. It takes investigative time, planning, execution, and risk to find places like this. I realize I may have given up some secrets to some extent. For anybody willing to put in the work to get to these lakes, I implore you, respect the resource. Angling takes on an entirely different and deeper meaning when you merely attempt to see things from the viewpoint of a fish.