Mid June and almost everyone had their Canadian entry permits but Chad dropped out so now we were down to 7. To late to have another person apply for a Canadian entry permit. So now we have 7 guys and 3 canoes. I'm eyeing that 'restfull' center spot!!!
Travel Day.
June 28 came quickly as did the 5 am departure time. We quickly loaded the suburban and headed North. By 11 am we were north of the cities, breakfast was digesting and the iron range was getting closer. We stopped in Virginia to look at the old iron pits and the large trucks. Check out the suburban next to the dump truck. Line the gang up and take a pic. Johnny thinks he can move a tire.
We leave Virginia and head for Soudan. The underground mine tour is great but we arrived at a poor time. The only tour available was about someone shooting neutrons at the equipment located at the bottom of the Soudan mine. We decided to try and make the mine tour after the canoe trip.
Check in at Cliff's, head downtown to 'shop around' then out to Cliff's bunkhouses to go over our equipment and pack the packs.
Day 1
A quick breakfast of cereal and muffin, load the van and head for Moose Lake landing. Spirits are high, packs are heavy, and the weather looks promising. Line up the gang for a final 'we look tough' shot and then put the canoes in the water heading North. Wow, the wind is with us (remember this great feeling).
Up the Moose, a quick left then a right and into New Foundland. Look, a bald eagle is feeding the baby eagle a snake. Still heading NorthEast, we do a quick right, then left into Sucker Lake. A very short portage into Birch Lake. So short that it is easier to just lift the canoes and haul them over the portage. (6.2mg viedo hauling canoe) (Wish they were all this easy - but that's what they get for insulting their fearless leader). 6.2 mg video showing portage.
Ah, now here is a problem. Think we can paddle up this one Johnny!! Should we portage or try haul the canoes up the stream. Walking the rapids seems easier. Just drag the canoe up the river - what could be hard about that? Some guys think they can just float down the river. All of this work is hard on the feet and a few other parts tho.
Camp on theUS side of the Knife River. Chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy for supper.
Day 2
Early to rise, we need to get up and across Cache Bay before the wind picks up. Only 3 portages and some easy paddling to Cache Bay so things should go well. Monument Portage requires carring the gear over a fairly smooth path ending on a long narrow dock. Check in at the Canadian Ranger station about noon. Wind is really picking up and not really in our favor. This makes for an interesting paddle across the Bay to Silver Falls. Looks like the wind is making this canoe slide against the shore - or are they just site-seeing. Up the river and watch for the sudden drop in the river. You can usually tell the falls by the mist hanging above it. Silver Falls, well worth the work. It drops about 40 feet straight down offering a great view and lots of mist. You can really get a great view of the falls from this point. This is a fairly long portage (160rods) and it takes us into Saganagons.
We find a nice spot to set camp. Set up the tents, cut wood, create a fireplace, soap the pots and start supper. Oh, did I mention that the flys are bad!!!! Time to try the fishing after supper. Also a time to just contemplate life. This is what it is all about. Johnny and Nick see a beaver swim under their canoe. A couple small bass are caught and released and Landon reels in his first Lake Trout. Cleaned and onto the fire. A little time left before dark to take care of little aches and pains (I wonder if Kevin has enough tape for this trip?).
Day 3
What a beautiful morning.Scrambled eggs and hash browns are on the fire for breakfast. Let's get dishes done . The lake is super smooth this morning. This is a good time to take a few pictures. Looking North from the campsite with griesly Nick on the left. (a better view) If we can figure out how to pack the gear we can load the canoes. Just up the lake from our camp, we turn west, make a portage and enter the west arm of the lake. It's tough navigating here. There seems to be more islands in the water than on the map and the distances do not seem to match. But, we find the entrance to the "Falls Chain" without a problem thanks to our two key map readers - Landon and Johnny.
Down the river to the first portage over a small waterfalls. Over to a rock landing and launch the canoe again. Not to far to the next portage. Looks like we will have to portage this one. Nick takes his turn portaging a canoe and Kevin grabs a light pack. Down the river a short way and another falls - Koko Falls. Major decision time. Keep heading Northwest to Kawnipi or turn Southwest. McEwen and Louisa are noted for fishing so let us turn South. After entering McEwen, we hit a strong headwind so we pulled up for the night on a small island. The wind let up long enough for us to have a comfortable supper, a swim, and even a little time to ponder life.. Ahhhh, life is good. But!!!! The wind came up again and blew hard all night. Did anyone get any sleep - Johhny!
Day 4
Oh man am I tired. The wind kept me awake all night, as did some growling sounds coming from somewhere in our tent. Ahhh, tho the wind is gone and the lake is smooth. Let's get going. Several small portages on the agenda today. Hope they are easy!!! First portage seems ok. Craig grabs a canoe, Johnny dons a couple packs and I grab a canoe and make it look easy. The next portage isn't as nice. I thought they said it was dry around here, right Nick. Looks like a couple obstacale in the path. Don't worry, I'll show you how - look out bystanders. Man were these portages killers. Finally, Lake Louisa. Find a place to camp.
What a nice island for a campsite. Each camper has a task for setting up camp. Johnny takes on the task of cutting wood. Some set up the tents, other start organizing the camp and start supper. Others take a time to clean up a bit. Fishing was ok. We had several bass to eat and the guys baked brownies.
Day 5
Nothing like a good breakfast of scrambled eggs, hash browns, and fresh fish. Break camp (but not to quickly), hit the water and paddle down Louisa and find the top of Louisa Falls. I took some good eyes to find the top of the falls but as always, the fearless leader spotted it right away. Louisa Falls portage is a very steep portage and needs to be taken carefully. BUT, once the canoes and packs are portaged, it's time to try out the whirlpool halfway down the falls. The guys thought the water felt fine. The water drops from a ways up so you get a lot of pressure. It looks like Johnny lost his ride.
Ok, enough fun. It's time to head down Lake Agnes, have a quick lunch and make the 2 long portages into Sunday Lake. Why do we do this!!! Guess the view may be worth it. An hours paddle to Singing Brook portage which leads into Burke Lake. Time to take a break, then find a campsite.
A casual supper of beaf stew - man does that stuff swell up or what!!. Then a little fishing. Cole shows off his bass. Some of the other guys try their luck also. They think they are pretty hot fisherman and can even walk on water. Time to watch the sun set and head for a much needed rest.
Day 6
Today should be an easy day. It's not that far back to the canoe landing and we have to be in around 1 pm. It's about a quarter mile paddle to North Portage and into a very nice sandy -Bailey Bay. We head Southeast looking for Inlet Bay where the Canadians have ranger station known as Pairie Portage. We stop at the ranger station to report the downed trees around Trent Lake and then head for Moose Lake. We have plenty of time so the paddle is easy and we take a couple nice breaks. We make the landing at Moose just as one of Cliff's guys show up. (Only a great leader could time something this close.). One last picture of the 'men' and then into Cliff's for a shower. (Let me tell you, a couple of them need it.)
After a good shower and some cold drinks, we head for Soudan to catch the underground mine tour. The head-end stand over the 'hole' where the miners car drops down into the earth. Once at the bottom, (they really clean up nicely don't they!!!) we catch a bench on the small train and head deep into the mine to learn about underground iron mining.
Trip Home
The old Fart Outdoes the young bucks. Click to view 1.4 mgs Downloads then plays.
Same movie but plays as it downloads (I hope).
Landon (The Fly) and Nick. Downloads and plays.
Same movie but plays as it downloads (not as clear tho).