We woke up at 5:30am, motivated to move quickly and get out quickly so we could make it all the way home that night. We packed up camp as quick as we could. Had bacon and a cliff bar for breakfast, chugged some water, and used our last liquid IV packet. I usually fish my way out on the last day, but we only had Stuart to fish and I knew Chris really wanted to move and get out, so I packed up all my fishing stuff so that we could move as quick as possible. The water was glass once again this morning, and we were on the water and paddling at 6:34am as we started paddling. I knew we were going to move, but Chris set the pace from the front of the canoe at an insane pace. I said to him, I guess this is the only lake we get to paddle today, the rest is winding through the river, so lets go I’m game. And we sprinted!! We reached the portage for the Stuart River at 6:47am!! I had to map it on paddleplanner.com when I got home to find it was 1.2 miles from our campsite to the portage, and paddling that distance in 15min would have been 7 MPH!!!!

Before we left Brian from CCO told us that he can do EP19 to Stuart lake in 3hrs, “but you guys aren’t going to do that”, and he guessed 4hrs for us at best. It took us a little over 4hrs to do the Stuart River on the way in with a little mishap, so we were thinking with a little lighter packs, knowing where the portages are, and a little more experienced on the portages and beaver dams that we were shooting for 3.5hrs, with the 3hr goal still in my sites.

We had a plan, I was going to take the lighter pack and the canoe, and Chris was going to take the heavier pack and front pack. Until I needed a switch.

We moved much more efficiently through the portages on the way back. We had 4 pull overs and had a system down at this point going over the beaver dams. We were still paddling pretty hard (not as hard as on Stuart), but really moving at a fine pace. Paddling was easy, navigating was easy, portaging felt easy, and keeping straight in the Stuart River was easy after our adventure in the PMA and Sterling Creek.

We moved fast through the river and got to the entrance of the 411rd portage (the landing we missed on the way out). It only took us 4min to portage the section of the trail that we took at least 30mins navigating around in the creek. I told Chris I’d go until my shoulders needed a break, and took the canoe nearly half way. I switched with Chris, but he didn’t want to switch packs, I told him I just needed a little break. It was a tough portage to end on your way out. It’s not the hardest portage but it is long and it is uphill on the way out. Chirs took the canoe maybe 75rd past the halfway point. I switched him back, I could tell he was really struggling after carrying the heavy pack and canoe. I told him we were almost there almost done, and we were on pace to do it in 3hrs. I was on a mission, and started moving. As I neared the EP we saw another group coming in, starting their adventure. I made it to the parking lot, dropped the canoe and let out a big “let’s go!”. I’m sure the guys loading their canoes thought I was an idiot, but I didn’t care. I looked at my watch and waited for Chris to make it to the parking lot. He crossed at exactly 9:34am!! We made it from our campsite to the EP in exactly 3hrs. Stuart to the EP in 2hr and 47min!!

We loaded the canoe, made it back to CCO at 10:40am for what is always the best shower ever!! Paid, bought a new leech locker, and headed to the Boathouse Brewpub for a beer and a burger.

It was a hell of an adventure! One that maybe would have been easier on our bodies in our 20s, but it was the best 40th birthday trip I could ask for, and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it with anyone other than Chris. Though at times he made comments that he didn’t know enough outdoors stuff, know how to tie knots, clean fish, etc…… he was the best tripping partner that I could ask for. I knew he would be a portage mule (even with his knees), but he was also a hell of a powerful paddler, he was always willing to help however he could around camp, the dude was a machine processing firewood, and he never complained. It was good vibes all the time and made for a memorable trip.

Idk, if Chris will ever make another BWCA trip with me, but whenever he is ready, I will be ready to go again.