Dave's Knot Here! - Canoeing - 2003 BWCAW Trip Log

An eclectic mix of things that interest Dave.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday — The Middle of the Trip

2003 Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Trip Log — Part 2

This is the Trip Journal of David L. Largent

(Crew members: Dave, Jon, Brian, Zach, Brad and Dustin – one crew of three from the troop)

Tuesday, July 22, 2003

I got up in time to see the sunrise. Then went out and filled our water containers. I came back and started a fire for breakfast. Others were soon up and we had blueberry pancakes and sausages. After cleaning up breakfast, we got packed and headed out. Today held a lot of portages, but all very short. Even the short ones turned out to be pretty rough though. It’s surprising how challenging a fifteen rod portage can be! Once we left Ogiskemuncie Lake, it was all new portages and lakes for me. The last two portages into South Arm Knife Lake lost a lot of elevation and provided some great waterfalls. We found a great campsite on the South side of the lake – nice sand/gravel beach and the site was covered with grass. The only problem with the campsite was the absence of any good trees to sting a clothes line or hammock between. We made do, however.

Dinner was chicken and dumplings – not bad! The youth went out and fished for a couple of hours after dinner – no success yet. We finished the evening with our usual small campfire, reviewing the next day, reading a bit more about the Voyageurs, and reflecting on the day’s activities. Dustin led us in the discussion of the next three points of the Scout Law (friendly, courteous and kind) as they related to today.

All in all, we had another good day. It was fairly exhausting for everybody, but all seem to be in pretty good spirits. I fell asleep to the calls of some distant loons.

Wednesday, July 23, 2003

Hump day – the week’s half over. When I got up this morning it was very foggy; I could just barely make out the island to the North of us. There was a bright spot to the East, but nothing that resembled the sun. I sat down on the beach, leaned back on a canoe and caught up yesterday’s log entry. During the last thirty minutes to an hour, the fog has gotten a little thinner, then much thicker, then for a few minutes, the sun shown through, then went away and I think now has come out to stay. The lake is so still this morning that we have two suns showing through the fog. Breakfast was eggs, bacon and biscuits.

We left camp set up after breakfast and headed to the West end of the lake to the Thunder Point Trail. We climbed to the top (about a fifteen minute, moderately strenuous climb) and were rewarded with a spectacular view for miles into Canada – water and forest for as far as the eye could see. After climbing back down, we paddled across the lake and ate lunch in Canada. We started back towards our campsite by continuing our clockwise circle around what could either be called a two mile long island or peninsula, depending on how wide a strip of water you want to separate two pieces of land. This particular body of water was barely as wide as the canoe at come points. We had planned a longer, more northerly route, but many in the crew were pretty tired, so we took the shorter route back to our campsite.

Back at the campsite, everybody either waded/played in the water or swamped the canoes. The water was chilly, but refreshing. Dinner was beef stew – good enough for seconds! After dinner the youth again tried to lure a fish onto a hook with no success – same as all the rest of the week so far. While Jon, Brian and I were down on the beach talking and watching the sunset, the other three were up in the campsite making popcorn. When it was ready, we headed up and ultimately had our usual evening campfire like the other nights. Zach led the Scout Law discussion (obedient, cheerful, and thrifty). After that, everybody was pretty well exhausted and headed for bed.

The highlight of the day was seeing a pair of eagles soaring high above the lake, then suddenly spiral downward, only to pull out at the last moment and fly off their separate ways. Unfortunately, it all happened so fast I wasn’t able to get my camera out and get a picture.

The excitement for the day was provided by Brad and Dustin swamping their canoe – unintentionally. No more than five minutes after we left the campsite (where I had just reminded everyone that their canoes would handle differently without the weight of our gear in them), they decided they were going to try doing a “doughnut” (think teenagers and cars) with their canoe. Needless to say, it didn’t work well. Jon and I towed them into shore, dumped the water, and got everything back in. Nothing damaged, lost, or hurt, except their pride.

I think we had another good day. The crew members are pretty exhausted, but OK. Tomorrow, we start heading back to the outfitters.

Thursday, July 24, 2003

Once again, I awoke right at sunrise. After taking a picture, I started a fire to cook the pancakes on. Zach had picked a bunch of red raspberries yesterday and made “jam” by cooking them with some sugar and a little water. Some ate it on their pancakes instead of syrup. I woke those who weren’t yet up, got breakfast started, and started packing up camp. We got off in good time and traveled without any real problems or excitement.

Today we reversed our path and went back through the same lakes and portages. All three of our canoes went through a small stream between Jenny and Annie Lakes rather than portaging. Jon walked the portage because the canoe he was in was too weighted down. Today Jon and Zach Naylor traded canoes. Zach had been with his dad, Brian and Jon with me. Everyone seemed to do at least as good and maybe a little better with this arrangement. We got as far as the Eastern-most campsite on Jasper Lake before stopping for the day. Some of the crew wanted to push on a bit further, but I felt it best to stop, get a good night’s rest and complete the rest in the morning; some of the crew was pretty exhausted. Everyone is still in good spirits though.

I finally hung my hammock at this campsite and laid in it before dinner while I caught up Wednesday’s log entry and got started on today's. Dinner was Teriyaki chicken – one of the best we’ve had all week. None of the meals have really been bad, however.

After dinner, the youth got a campfire started and made popcorn while I again laid in my hammock and watched the sun set – the last one on the trail! It was nothing spectacular, but it was nice to watch from my hammock. I joined everyone else for popcorn. After popcorn cleanup, we started our usual evening campfire. Brad let a quick discussion of the last points of the Scout Law (brave, clean and reverent). I also read the last of the voyageur information. We reflected on the day – good and bad – and headed to bed. The mosquitoes were especially bad tonight. I haven’t used any repellant yet this week, but I came close tonight!

Tomorrow ends our trip – at least the water part of it. In some ways I’m glad; in other ways I’m not. I’ve really enjoyed my time out in God’s nature. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know Brian, the other adult with me in this crew. I’m also ready to be at home with Lois and Julia. Maybe it’s time to head home; today’s the first day I thought about the office and wondered if they’ve had any problems. I thank God for another safe, enjoyable day. The wind was with us all day. I pray that holds true on Friday as we travel back through Sea Gull Lake.

Last changed on 12/10/05.

Falls Between Eddy and South Arm Knife Lakes

Early Morning Lake Mist - South Arm Knife Lake

Canada as Seen from Thunder Point - South Arm Knife Lake