The Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

From June 18 through June 22, Dave (my son-in-law) and I were on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area of Northeastern Minnesota. Dave has been planning this trip for several months, and he did not disappoint. Our entry point was Sawbill Lake.

The drive from Duluth to Tofte was along Lake Superior, which reminded me of the Maine coast.
Putting in the canoe at Sawbill Lake, day one.
Some of the paddling was on creeks and small rivers. Dave was daringly baring his limbs early in the trip.

I'm covered up well, as we prepare to portage to the next waterway.

Setting up camp at Cherokee Lake.

The evenings were completely calm and glassy, with light in the sky almost until 11:00 pm.

Dave wishing Andria was here.

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.

Refreshing swims were in order after a long day's paddle. Dave showing impeccable form again this year.

Here I am, startling wildlife in my new board shorts.

We took an evening paddle up a stream hoping to spot a moose. No moose, but more mergansers resting on this log..

We usually had an evening fire to smoke off the mosquitos, with some success. For several hours on this evening, we heard the thumping displays of a Ruffed Grouse somewhere off in the bushes. It sounded just like a Harley starting up.

This was my view upon waking up - not too shabby!

We watched a pair of loons preening, during which time we could get fairly close in the canoe. Only once did I see one fly, and it was truly amazing. I was standing at the shore early one morning, the water was oily glassy, and this loon took off flapping its wings and running on the water. It took at least a hundred yards of running at high speed before taking to the air - you just had to be there!

The uncommonly beautiful Common Loon.

Going the other way.

We saw several Bald Eagles one afternoon on South Temperance Lake.

...and this Osprey at Weird Lake.

Ring-necked Ducks at Weird Lake.

Male Ring-necked Duck.

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.