9/22/2026 - Happy Equinox! Mid-morning launch heading NE up Harri island's east shore. Greeted by steady wind from SE with 15 mpg gusts, choppy water, 1 foot + waves with white caps. Retreated and circled around west to hide in the lee. Saw camp 1474 and decided to take a look, was so pleasant decided to spend the night. Sandy sloped landing, new fire ring and toilet. Trees somewhat blocked wind from a small grass meadow. Settled in and started iNatting plants, fungi and more. Wind constant, light fog/mist came overnight. Grouse on island, loons and mergansers fishing just off shore. Ubiquitous chipmunks and squirrels present. Heard something larger in brush in the night, in the morning found a new fish head with clean spine on rocks in morning, possibly an otter?

9/23/2026

Wind strong with blowing mist at sunrise. No sense hurrying so took time to dry tent and sleeping bags while warming selves in the morning sun. Another mid-morning start. Headed north and once out of lee ran into winds gusting to 20 mph, waves coming from two directions, combined whitecaps over 18 inches occasionally washing over deck. Spicy. Checked camp 1258 on Half Burnt island, good sheltered landing on north side. Nice vistas, plenty of flat spots, very exposed to winds so continued on. Camp 1260 next, nicely sheltered but rocky poor landing, camp had little flat ground, kept moving. Camp 1261 sheltered scenic cove with large rocky landing area, great vistas, many flat spots, decided to stay. Rocks warm in sun made comfortable lounging, felt like lizards basking. Rain in forecast for next day so going to stay two nights. After setting up camp took a short paddle exploring area.

9/24/2026

Winds lighter but still constant. Explored area and did more iNatting. Maples in areas starting to turn color but poplars still green. Light rain came just after noon, heavier showers at 2:00 pm caused us to retreat to tent. Cycles of showers and clearing continued the rest of day. Heavier showers after sunset until around midnight.

9/25/2026

Woken by loons, emerged from tent to clearing skies, calm water and light breezes. Watched three beavers foraging in the cove for a spell. Cold breakfast and quick pack put us on the water before 9:00 am. A leisurely paddle working the west shore turned a 3.3 mile paddle into over 6 miles. Glassy water and developing fall colors made us linger and appreciate as we skirted East and Burnt islands before reaching the landing at 11:00 am.

Birbs (migration evident in low count) Ruffed grouse, Common loon, Ring-billed gull, Common merganser, American crow, Raven, Black-capped chickadee, Double-crested cormorant , Belted kingfisher , Turkey vulture, Blue Jay, Owl sp. (heard nighttime hooting thinking Great Horned)

Furry Boys Vole, Least Chipmunk , Squirrel sp., American Beaver, Mink (by overflow parking), River Otter?

An amphibian Green frog

Pesca Walleye (Fish head, fish head, rolly poly fish head)