I did get to take an awesome trip, one that I hope to take many more times. My Stepfather and some friends and me went up to the Boundary Water's Canoe Area. (BWCA) The four of us all got to have a trip we will remember for many years. I hope we started a tradition we can continue for years to come.
The trip was planned while I was still in Kuwait so it was something I was really looking forward too for a very long time. I spent a lot of time and deployment money buying some gear of my own to use on the trip. I have plenty of gear issued to me but I wanted to use gear that was mine and that I would have long after my time in the Army comes to an end. At 23+ years in I am not quite sure when that day will come but I know it's in the near future.
I went with the plan of showing off a lot of the skills I have learned in the areas of field craft an bush craft but I was limited in what I was able to do. My stepdad booked a cabin for us through Log cabin Hideaways. I know, sleeping in a cabin? It was actually really nice. It was vary rustic, had to haul and filter our own water and the lights and stove and frig were all run on propane. There was also a sauna which was heaven on the nights we used it. More on that later.
Part of the planning was meals and we all divided up some dinners and breakfasts and we were on our own for lunches. I got away easy and all they wanted me to bring was some instant oatmeal, some bratwursts and the fixins, a big box of Oreos and jelly ( I brought my home made Black Raspberry Jam). Lunch is where I was hoping to try out a lot of meal ideas I picked up from the various forums I visit, several of which can be found in the side bar on this blog. I also wanted to have snacks and something to put in what my step father called our "Oh Shit Bag" which was my Finn gas mask bag. The Finn bag, called a "murse" by some but not me, is a handy shoulder bag that can be picked up from surplus stores for very reasonable prices. It is very easy to over pack this bag and that can be a problem as the snaps that hold it close tend to open when it is. I will do a review of the bag with photos and demonstrate this in another post.
Anyway, we arrived and met the owner of Log Cabin Hideaways, Steve. He looked exactly like you would expect a person who spends most of his time in Northern Minnesota in and around the BWCA. He was in his 60's, big smile, deeply tanned skin wearing a button up Colombia shirt, khaki pants and rubber knee high boots. Since we were still technically in Superior National Forest his canoe was fitted with a small outboard which he used to ferry our gear to the landing of our cabin. We all had kayaks and paddled our way.
We started at the public landing on Ojibway Lake had a good 15 minute paddle to our first portage between Ojibway and Triangle Lakes.
Another 10-15 minute addle across Triangle brought us to out landing which was little more than a small clearing you would pass by if you didn't know what you were looking for. One of those bays marked by a specific stump and log on the bank. We grabbed our packs and made ready for the march in to the cabin. We packed heavy for the most part. Thanks to 20+ years in the Infantry I was comfortable with the weight of my gear but I could see the others weren't expecting to have to carry all the gear they brought. Steve told us we had about a 3/4 mile hike to the cabin and we set off on the "trail" the way was super rocky and very steep, about halfway there was a steep ravine that was almost like going down a ladder. After a battle with flies and skeeters and a 15 minute trek we found the cabin on Lark Lake.
It was a neat little set up. I mentioned the water and propane situation earlier. There was a screened in porch that I quickly claimed as my hooch. One main room with a futon and a hand made log table and 5 chairs (4 at the table, one near the book shelf). A stove, sink and Frig completed the decor. The books on the shelf were journals from past guests, a couple Sig Olsen books and several field and tracking guides. In addition there were a couple maps, one showing the hot fishing spots, all of which were not on our lakes (Triangle or Lark).
We unpacked and got the run down from Steve. He left and we took a small hike to the "Glacial Pond" nearby for a swim. the pond was awesome. It was the same size as Lark lake but wasn't swampy at all like Lark. we hiked around until we found a gentle slope to swim from. I wasn't expecting the area to be as rocky as it was. We enjoyed the swim but not the leeches that came with it. we hiked back to the cabin for dinner and a fire.
Dinner and a fire immediately following became a nightly tradition for us during our stay. As did the games of trivia, cribbage and black jack that ensued after the bugs became intolerable. As beautiful as the area was and the fun and challenges we had during our days, it was these times at night that I will carry with me. When 4 men became good friends over drinks, music and games.
Day 2 we were setting out to explore Triangle lake. I brought the OSB and my medic bag, packing both away in my stern hold on my Kayak. I set up my fishing pole and Garrett (15 years old) and i set out to fish and explore while my stepfather and Dave (both 50) searched for the portage we would use to enter the BWCA later in the week. We met for lunch on an island in Triangle and ate, napped and swam. It felt good to not even bother looking at my watch, just taking our time and enjoying our selves. I used my crusader cup and cook set to make up my favorite Shin Raymun spicy noodle soup. I picked up some cans of sterno to use in the set but they were too tall and the cup and the wind I suspect kept putting out the sterno. I need to try the shorter variety cans with this set up.
Day 3, Dave ran out of beer and we realized we forgot to get brats and hamburger. In other words we went back in to Ely. On the way we stopped at the International Wolf Center. Very cool and informative place. Worth the stop if you are ever in the area.
In town we visited Piragis Outfitters as well as every other tourist trap looking for souvenirs for the folks at home. We ate a great meal at the Boathouse Brewpub, restocked at Beaver Liquors and Holiday before we headed back out. On the way back we took a stop at a scenic overlook.
Day 4 - we took our Kayaks on a 190 rod portage to entry point 29 from Triangle Lake to the Kawishiwi River in the BWCA. The river was much wider than expected but the water here was just as black, I suspect from iron in the water? The portage in was awful. we tried to two man 2 kayaks at a time, but quickly decided to each drag our own. When we got fishing on the river was a shut out so we paddled around. We found some rapids a short way upstream from the portage and went to look at them. This is where I made a mistake that could have turned out horribly. I got close to the rapids goofing around and they water turned me sideways and flipped me before I knew what happened. I popped right out of the yak and surfaced, got the boat back over and used it to assist me getting to shore. As you saw in the other photo I was always wearing my PFD on the waters here. Got to shore and found that my camera was in the drink. The photos here were provided by my stepfather. I wish I had more to share, if I get some more from him I will.
As rocky and quick as the water was I feel pretty lucky to not have been injured in any way other than scrapes and bruised from the rocky shore. The rapids have now become know as "Jason's Falls". After drying off and another few hours on the Kawishiwi we made the portage back, it was still awful.
Beaten and bruised we made it back to the cabin and relaxed.
Day 5 - we used this as a throw away day. Nothing planned other than to relax and do what ever each of us wanted. Originally I was going to use this as my bushcraft day so that is what I did.I practiced my fire building using PJCB tinder. I tied some knots for practice, worked on a ridgeline for my tarp which I set up. As stated no pics as my camera was in the bottom of the river and the other cameras went out with the other guys as hey went to Triangle lake for another paddle and swim.
Day 6 was going to be a fishing day. We paddled and portaged over to Ojibway lake and started to cast. Immediately my trout lures were being chased...by Bass. I pulled in a few and then our plans changed slightly. Dave realized he was out of beer again. Since we were on the lake where we were parked we decided to make a quick town run for lunch and beer. We were in and out pretty quickly and got back fishing. Got a good hour in and the weather turned bad fast. Thunderstorms coming in fast and we were on the middle of a lake. We paddled like mad to get to the portage and hopefully across Triangle before they weather hit. We didn't make it and we weren't the only ones. At the portage we made way for a man and teenager busting tail to Ojibway to find his other two sons who were also fishing and to get them all to safety. We wished him well and were almost across when the storm hit. waves on the lake would have made it impossible to cross, not to mention the lightning. we stepped of the trail and tried to find cover under the trees and wait it out. I stayed where I could watch the lake and give warning as soon as the conditions were OK for us to go.the others went deeper in and were soon laughing and joking. I shook my head and smiled, wondering what was so funny and went back to my watch. soon enough we were getting our brake. I told everyone it was now or never and we had to paddle like hell to make it. we started moving and hit the lake. I advised we tried to island hop so if it got bad again we could get on and island at least. We took off. I describe us paddling across the lake like the closing scene of the old Hawaii 5-0 when they are paddling the dug outs.
We made it and the 3/4 mile walk in that night was awful, although the bugs were non exhistent for once. I joked that this time I wasn't the only one walking back soaking wet. We had a good dinner and fire, the weather was done with us after the short storm. That night the laughs and games were a lot louder and seemed to be more fun. We had definitely bonded during that day.
Day 7 was our packing up day.We slowly gathered out belongings and packed our bags. The trek out that day seemed even longer than before. I tried to take it slow and absorb as much of the place as I could.
The weather apart from the one storm was beautiful. Mid 80's and plenty of sun and blue skies. The water, apart from no fish was great. Even our sort trip into the BWCA was enough to make me want to come back and do a voyage with portages and camping, even if for just a few days or a long weekend. We spent our nights listening to WELY, the end of the road radio and enjoyed it. It was a great backdrop to the evenings on Lark Lake.
I left there a little sad but hopeful for a quick return.
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