Boundary Waters

Jeff and René joined Jann, myself, and Jack, Adam, and Laura, on a fantastic trip to the BWCA. Forest Service wilderness area, with paddle-only access. 

We split the drive up into three days, camping at the Buffalo Gap campground, and staying in a hotel at Grand Rapids, MN, because the campsite at Pokegama Dam campground was a little dicey.

Here, we're at Grand Morais, MN, on the shores of Lake Superior.

Skipping rocks, and thinking about the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Jeff and René joined us for fish and chips.

At the Tuscorora outfitters cabins, for the night.

Jeff, showing us how to heft a 35 lb canoe.

Ready to take off

At our first portage, after a short paddle across Round Lake.

Looking for our second portage. It was supposed to be over a mile long, to get into Tuscarora Lake.

But, when it was only a very short portage, Jeff realized we had taken the wrong portage out of Round Lake. Instead, we were at Edith Lake. Essentially doing out route backwards. Rather than portage back twice, we decided to just keep going.

Jeff, enjoying the rock porch on our first campsite.

René made this huge rain fly, and it was very useful.

Getting going the second day.

Pulling into the second campsite.

I loved these rock prominences at each of our campsites. The wind was always gently blowing the mosquitos away.

Suppertime.

Teeny turtle.

Mom and Laura slept in her little REI tent, and the three boys slept in our Big Agnes tent. Jeff did his hammock, and René had her own tent.

Jeff's bifurcated wind sock.

Small tree growing on a small rock. I'd like to see this in a few years.

Good times sitting around the fire.

Finding portages was interesting sometimes. But other than our first mistake, we managed.

Jeff and René in the burn area. Lots of small trees.

Two-man 17 ft canoe.

Three-man 20 ft canoe.

Some of the portages were semi-hidden down small little waterways.

Swimming with...

and without undies.

Jack looking at wildlife. 

Common mergansers.

Only one is paying attention.

Jeff, setting his boat down...

with a splash.

Cute little seagull on a rock.

Phooey  head.

The loons were very fascinating.

On a day trip Sunday. No packs.

Bathing, and washing clothes.

Jeff decided wearing the life vest would be better. He was right. More relaxing.

Mom with Adam's steam punk goggles.

Adam, thinking about going back in.

And so..

Laura's pet spider at camp 2.

Jack, swimming at camp 3.

Mom too.

More spiders.

Ahh, massage. I needed it.

Jeff, filling water on our last day.

Almost back to the outfitters.

...

The end of the journey.

It was very cool. Beautiful. Peaceful. Not as strenuous as hiking, which is an exhaustion sport for me. Maybe we should do this again.