Monday, September 08, 2025
With much more "normal" temperatures and aided by a slight breeze from the south, I wake and pack quickly this morning, knowing I have another lengthy journey ahead of me today. I pass through the northern sections of Thomas Lake quickly, landing at the first portage only to catch site of a small black bear. The bear moves from a small stream out of sight, but directly towards the short portage trail. I know if I don't see it cross the trail, it will likely be a bit too close for comfort, so I unload my boat loudly and watch. Nothing. Then I hear the bear moving directly towards me, close enough to see tree branches moving. I slap my paddle on the ground and that gets his attention. The bear bolts from the brush 10 yards from me, heading perpendicular to the portage trail and crosses in plan view not 15 yards away. It wasn't a big bear, but I'm glad it eventually dropped its curiosity and decided to clear out of my path. The rest of my travel that morning is much less exciting, although I do get to chat with people from 2 larger groups, one on Jitterbug and one on Ahsub. Hopefully you all had wonderful trips! By the time i get to Disappointment Lake, the light south breeze had become quite steady, around 10 mph with higher gusts, so travelling south is slow going. I pass a couple occupied sites and choose the first open one I find, site #1385, which is mid-lake on the north shore and completely exposed to the current wind conditions. Oh well, I don't want to push my luck and head to Parent Lake as I have already seen the other 2 sites in this area are full, so I call it mine for the night. I have the site set up by 1:00 PM and after eating lunch, I take a short nap. I wake up to see a big storm front setting up to the south and flip on the weather radio. Thunderstorms incoming! It rains heavily from around 3:30-7:00, with frequent lightning including one strike that was a bit too close for comfort, practically blowing out my ears in the process. Thankfully this is my last night in the BW, because the heavy rains created a mini-flood under my hammock and my ground tarp pooled much of that water among my gear (dumb mistake). With the winds now completely gone, I had enough time to get out of the tarp for a while, clean up my poor gear storage choices and eat dinner, all while prepping for an early morning exit. Rains returned about 9:00 PM, but just light and steady this time, helping to put me to sleep.

Lakes traveled- Thomas, Hatchet, Ima, Jordan, Cattyman, Adventure, Jitterbug, Ahsub, Disappointment