Day 10, Monday, September 7, 2026, Labor Day. Ensign L, Splash L, Newfound L, and Moose L. 2 portages, 9.2 miles (9.1 paddling, 0.1 portaging).

We were up around 6:00 AM, as usual. Breakfast was coffee and hash browns with bacon. The morning was back to gray skies, so we didn't have any sunrise color. We were on the water just before 8:00 AM, thinking that the light breeze might turn into real wind on Newfound and Moose later in the day. We had seen several groups of paddlers pass our site yesterday afternoon, and as we paddled the length of Ensign we noticed that many of the campsites we passed were occupied—we were very happy we stopped when and where we did yesterday. As we approached the west end of Ensign we began to hear the towboats bringing canoes and paddlers up Newfound. The portage between Ensign and Splash was a surprise, as we were off our NatGeo maps and the McKenzie didn't show it. We might have been able to walk the stream between lakes, but the portage was short and level. At the end of the stream into Splash three mergansers swimming in the rapids were alternating between eating something from the water, then plucking red osier dogwood berries from low-hanging limbs over the stream. We were quickly through Splash Lake, and portaged into Newfound, where a couple groups were unloading canoes and gear to begin their BWCAW trips.

Paddling Newfound and Moose Lakes was a pleasure Labor Day morning; we only had a light breeze and the towboat traffic made our return route to the Moose Lake landing very obvious, so we could ignore the maps and simply paddle. At the Moose Lake public landing we carried gear to the edge of the parking lot, retrieved the car, put on dry shoes (aah, the simple pleasure of dry feet!), and loaded gear and the canoe. Our menu planning was good this year—we just carried out a few electrolyte drink packets, a package of ramen, a dozen crackers, and 6 granola bars. Some of that disappeared on the drive back to Ely. We stopped to thank folks at Spirit of the Wilderness for their pre-trip advice and to check their sale items, then hit Dairy Queen for a chicken strip basket. Driving on through Ely we saw that the Frisky Otter was serving lunch and considered it for our after-trip dinner. We were able to check into our Canoe On Inn room early and were soon clean and ready for a walk through town. Each year we try to find a better (and lighter) plant guide than the 1978 edition of 'Plants of the Canoe Country' we bought in 1979, but so far it can't be beat! I drooled over a couple canoes, but we'll stick with our Northwind 17 for a few more trips.

We headed to the Frisky Otter for dinner, only to discover that they closed after lunch. The line at The Boathouse was out the door, so we shared a pizza from Domino's and retired early.