Setting up camp at Cherokee Lake.
This photo immediately became my computer wallpaper.
Common Loons were on all the bigger lakes. It was thrilling to hear them calling in the middle of the night.
Common Mergansers.
Mergansers were often seen at creek inlets like this one.
...and this Osprey at Weird Lake.
Taking to the air.
We saw several beavers, and watched and heard them give their warning slaps with their tails. We also had to lift the canoe over or around a couple beaver dams. This is one of many beaver lodges we saw along the edges of the lakes.
Dave, here, enjoying the sights of the last evening out. Dave planned a rigorous trip that covered about 35 miles. A couple of the many portages were over a half mile long. Dave insisted on carrying the canoe on his head, and his portage pack, while I carried just my pack, the paddles, and PFD's. Thanks, Dave!
A word about mosquitos. They were worse during the portages, because you were on wet, muddy, wooded trails, making your presence known with body heat, sweat, CO2, and if you were Dave gripping the canoe, you couldn't even move your hands to swat them away, as futile as that was. Numerous times we inhaled mosquitos, they were so thick. When it was calm in the evening or morning you could hear what sounded like a distant moto-cross motorcycle race - it was the mosquitos. I won't even mention what it was like to bare your bottom over the latrine! That being said, we learned to cope by staying out in the water, staying on exposed rocky areas away from the trees, having an evening fire, or going to our tents. I also resorted to chemical warfare - DEET, and found it quite effective. However, the mosquitos sometimes poked right through gloves, pants, shirts, and socks. Dave preferred his eucalyptus/lemon oil repellent and even his head net. Dave says that after the first frost in September, the mosquitos are killed off, and it is not usually too cold yet. This might be a great time with fall colors to boot.
This was a trip to remember - the beauty and wildlife were everywhere. It is truly wonderful that this whole wilderness is for non-motorized boats only, or hikers, and daily quotas are in effect.