Sunday, August 02, 2026 Day 2 started with rain drops falling onto the tent. I had woken up early about 4 am to set off on my Voyage. I had set up with the resort to have to the canoe ready at 5 a.m. After hearing the rain and the nerves in my stomach, I headed back to bed. I woke up at 6 a.m. and still hearing rain I headed out of tent unhappy with hearing the rain. Getting out of the tent to my pleasant surprise that wasn't rain falling that was dew dropping from the trees! Learning my 1st lesson on this trip when you wake up, get up. The weather outside was always nicer than what was perceived in the tent. I packed my tent, sleeping gear and my pack into the car and headed to East Bearskin resort a quick check in at the desk along with dropping my keys off. I was told "good luck! It's down at the beach waiting for you!"
I headed down to the where I meet a younger gentleman who helped explain the yoke and simple trimming adjustments with the canoe. The canoe I was rented was a Northwind 16' solo magic.
I kept on hearing on how hard it was to get in and out of a solo canoe. I watched a video or 2 on YouTube before I headed up the prior week. I simply just flopped my butt in the seat and let my feet drip off before swinging them into the canoe. I was using a double bladed paddle and I pretty much just pushed off and headed towards the 1st portage.
It took about 3/4 of a mile to kind of figure out a stride or stroke. But the canoe was stable fast and traveled straight like a arrow. After about a 4 mile paddle I was at my 1st portage.
1st a group of 3 canoes leaving. I waited my turn I then pulled in, another 2 canoes are coming my way. I back up and wait my turn. After they leave I head in for my 1st true portage in the BWCA. I get to the end and there is another group! Wow a lot of people leaving today. As I set off from the East Bearskin Lake portage into Alder Lake there is another group leaving.
I paddled from that portage to the north shore following it until the 4th campsite on the north shore of Alder Lake. Wow what a campsite to see! This campsite had it all, truly it did. One of the best campsite I've ever seen. I ate a quick lunch and continued on to the portage to Canoe Lake. Simple easy portage and I was on to Canoe Lake. Looking around I see all 3 sites are taken my goal was to make a loop but heading up to Johnson falls and staying on pine sounded like a bit more work then I wanted or knew if could do.
I chose to head to Crystal Lake. Crystal lake was long and narrow. I forgot to mention I had been fighting a 5 mph head wind from the east the entire way so far. I continued into crystal lake the waves aren't bad but they are bigger then I would like for my 1st trip very small white caps. I stick close to the shore and keep a eye out for the 1st campsite. I looked and looked but couldn't locate it I continued on to the next campsite it was a gamble. I'm not sure if it was the right play I was tired it was about 2 P.M. Crystal lake is a dead end lake if anyone was at that last campsite im not sure what I would have done. I guess attempt to locate the 1st campsite I couldn't find. By the grace of God the campsite was empty.

When I got to the campsite (campsite 738) I immediately felt very alone and homesick. I sent a Garmin reach message, set up camp, filtered water, set the bear hang, ate dinner in the dark and headed to bed.

Day 2 travel - bearskin resort, Alder Lake, Canoe Lake, Crystal lake - campsite 738

~East Bearskin Lake, Alder Lake, Canoe Lake, Crystal Lake