march 08... last trip to duncan for the winter.

Rich, Sadie and I crossed Bearskin Lake at 4:30 pm. We traversed the portage to Duncan and made it to camp by 5:15. The snow was packed and crusted which made for very easy travel. Our first camp duty was putting up the giant tee pee. It took an hour to complete the task. It had been a long first day and we didn't start a fire to grill the steaks on. All the wood we left here 10 weeks ago was gone. This is a popular winter camping destination. Especially with the good ice fishing. We pan fried the porterhouse steaks on our backpacker stoves. After dishes we went to bed. The temps have been in the upper 20's and very pleasant to be outside. March is perfect winter camping month. At midnight i went outside and saw a fox in the moonlight. I yelled at it and it ran away not to return. I think it had been trying to get Sadie's dog food. Sadie never barked at it.
Slept late and had an excellent breakfast of fried donuts. Rich's recipe took Pillsbury biscuits and fried them in oil after poking a donut hole in them. When they were done we sprinkled Cinnamon and sugar on them. They tasted just like real donuts. They were especially good with Kenya AA coffee.
We fished for 2 hours without a fish. We did lose some bait to something swimming around down there. Which was encouraging but didn't stop us from going back to camp for snacks and coffee. Both of us had taken little naps while fishing and needed something to wake us up. At 4:30 Rich went back out to fish some more. I stayed in camp and wrote in my journal and read my book. For supper we made potatoe soup with onions and sausage. It was great and it was good we made a lot because Rich spilled 1/2 of it on the ground. I spent the evening reading my book. William Kent Kruger's " Thunder Bay" It is a murder mystery that takes place in northern Minnesota and Canada. At 10pm i went into the tee pee and read till midnight.
I continued reading in the morning and finished about 11am. We had lunch and packed up. It took almost an hour to take the tee pee down. The walk out was smooth and easy. We arrived at the trailhead at 3pm.

Basswood Weekend

After a 6 1/2 mile motor shuttle and doing the Prairie Portage we were on Basswood at 10:30 am. It was my first time across this portage and on this part of Basswood. It took an hour and a half to get to an unnamed island SE of Beaver Island. Doug and Mark were waiting there for me. Because of the strong winds their tandem moved much faster that my solo. They had been to campsite choice number one and it was taken, so they waited for me at this island. They had found a campsite on the south side of the island and to there we paddled. It was a good site with lots of room.
After making camp and coffee the guys took a nap. I drank more coffee, pitched my tarp and put together my fishing pole. I really enjoyed the 2 hours of peace and quiet.
Next we went on a wood hunt that went all wrong. We wandered way across the island using several animal trails. We found nice collection of wood. Soon we were headed back. However, we couldn't find the series of trails and opening that lead back to camp. Our salvation was that we were on an island and we knew if we headed toward the water we could follow the shoreline around to camp. I made it back to camp but couldn't believe how far we had wandered.
Supper was ribeyes grilled to perfection. The side dish was broccoli and rice. The evening was spent watching the fire and contemplating the wonderfullness of a wilderness weekend.
I slept well that night awaking at 6am and then going back to sleep till 10. We had scrambled eggs and spam for breakfast. It was delicious. The morning was filled with conversation. At 12:30 we took a canoe trip to the other side of the island to get fire wood. I found an 8 inch diameter balsam and Doug found a several super pieces of ash. We took it back to camp and sawed it up. An afternoon swim proved that the water wasn't that cold. We were exhilarated and rejuvinated by the experience. We felt we were totally emersed in a wilderness experience. Doug, feeling inspired by the oneness of creation decided to embark on a two hour silent meditation respite in his tent. Mark and I went fishing with the aqua thrashers. The wind had died down and we fished near several motor boaters. We drowned 7-8 minnowswhile weaving between the motorheads. Eventually they all left and we fished their spots with success proven by one 3 pound northern. We headed back to camp after fishing for only a little while longer. I should have marked this spot with my gps but i didn't have it along.
Doug had been up for an hour contemplating the mormon treatise. He had been reading " Under the Banner of Heaven" I haven't read anything but the Mesabi Daily News. Supper was jumbolia and northern. Mark taught me how to fillet so that it had no bones. It was fabulous. Fried with canola oil and Shore Lunch fish coating. Spiced to personal preferences. Dish washing made the meal experience complete. We all shared in the work and it was very satisfying. We enjoyed the dense molecular composition of the ash doug found in the woods as it burned in the fire that night. At one point we watched 6-7 ants evacuate a log and succum to the flames. We sympathized with their fight to survive. Mark says that some people feel that life is a bitch and then you die. The reality of it is attitude is everything. Weekends like this help me adjust my attitude to keep a positive perspective about people, the planet and life in general.

Trip to Lake Two October 3-6, 2007

9am Wednesday October 3rd found us at the Lake One landing. I showed Rich's group the basics of canoeing and they took off. Next my group got a review of the paddle strokes and safety items. As we headed for the first portage the kids were learning how the strokes i showed them actually made the canoe go where you wanted it to. For some it was a struggle and a slow process to figure this out. Kincaid took the lady boot campsite so we took the same camp we had last year on the NW corner of the lake. We got camp made with out a problem, but had lunch first. Cheese, sausage, crackers, gorp and crystalite. The Canadian jays visited our camp while we were eating. They would land on the kids hands to eat peanuts and raisins from the gorp mixture. It was a wilderness wonder. We felt as if the woods had sent their welcoming committee to greet us. Now it was time for journaling and meditation. I drank coffee and relaxed for a while.
For supper we started with gathering fire wood for the fire. Caleb and Sam were the cooks helpers... but they did 90% of the work. First they made a salad buffet, which was perfect. Next they grilled the steaks over the open fire. Baked potatoes were placed in the coals of the fire. Needless to say supper was fantastic, delicious and totally satisfying. The boys then did the dishes and were done about 8pm. For the evening treat we made smores with Keebler chocolate covered grams and marshmallows. We finished off the keeblers but had a 1/2 bag of marshmallows left. We watched the fire and visited for a while and then everyone went to bed by 10pm. I read the ely newspaper in my tent until i finally conked out.
October 4th. Woke up before dawn but waited till first light before i crawled out of the tent. I drank coffee, journalled and visited with Michele. I got the kids up at 8:30. They were very efficient getting breakfast and preparing for the days adventures. We had a camera session with my Pentax. We took pictures of each other. Our day trip was to a southwest bay of Lake Two. We walked a portage to Rock Island Lake. It was a nice walk although there were no "rods" marked on the map I'd say it was about a 1/2 mile. We hung out for about 15 minutes and then went back to the canoes. We all changed canoeing buddies. On our way to our next destination we had to go through a shallow area, it was tough but we all made it. We also had some navigation problems but those were solved by me leading the way. When we got to the Lake Two dam area we had lunch on a rock overlooking the current. They all explored this area looking for images for their story boards. Several of them took turns taking pictures with my Pentax.
We headed back to camp with a "no talking " rule. On the way we met a solo canoeist in a cedar stripper. He asked if he could make it through the dam area. I told him there was a trail but it was rough and brushy. He continued onward but it occurred to me later that he could have run it. We were back in camp at 3pm. I took a bucket bath and the kids went for a paddle and a swim. They tipped a canoe over, swam, jumped from a rock and had a great time. They returned to hot chocolate and lots of stories for me about their adventures. We had spaghetti for supper but they didn't eat it all up. I suspect this is because I used an economy brand sauce. Tori and Nikki washed dishes and did a good job. For campfire treats we had oreos with peanut butter on them. We were all in our tents by 9:30. tomorrows forecast is for a slight chance of severe thunderstorms. Talked to Kincaid on the phone and he re-injured his heel while hiking the Pow Wow trail. My group is going to stay in his camp for the presentation and I will take his group on the same photo tour i took my group on.
October 5. Slept till 7:30, felt very rested. I got everyone up at 8:15. Breakfast and prep for trading groups went fast. Kincaid's kids waited out in the middle of the lake while i dropped off Michele in Kincaid's camp. I took Kincaid's group on the same route as i did the day before. It took about 5 hours and they did very well. Some used my camera a lot. While Kincaid had my group he tipped Kirsten into the water and they had to rush back to my camp to change clothes. They waited there for me. We sent the groups back around the corner to talk and the adults stayed in camp to have coffee. We started supper as soon as they left. tonight it was Griffy's chicken delight. It was well liked. Here's the recipe. 4 packs of chicken, 4 packages of Pioneer gravy mix and 2 huge bags of noodles. Kirsten and Leah washed dishes. Evening treats were mini cini buns. Take soft tortilla shells, squeeze margarine, sugar and cinnamon. Roll them and slice them up. Then fry them sideways. They were a hit. We finished off the evening cleaning camp and getting ready for departure in the morning. I listened to Wely in my tent , it was great.
October 6th. Overslept, didn't get up till 5:45 but it was thundering so i knew we wouldn't be in a rush. Just as i was going to drop my tent the sprinkles turned into a down pour. So i went to the tarp and started coffee and hot water. I got everyone up at 6:15 , it was first light. We had a leisurely breakfast. WE packed and loaded and were on the water at 8:30. At the first portage we met some moose hunters, they offered us some moose meat if we would help them get their moose across the portages. I couldn't take the time with 9 kids, Kincaids group way ahead of me and the bus waiting for us. The whole trip out was misty, cool and rainy. It was beautiful shades of green, blue and gray. The kids didn't hurry and we all enjoyed the paddle out immensely. We arrived at the take out at 11am.

First Winter Camping Trip of the 07-08 Winter.

December 7th, 2007. We left the trail head at 10pm after a long and difficult drive. The fresh air felt great. It was 6 below zero. We were surprised to find the snow 12" deep. It was a great effort to pull the sleds. We went 1/4 mile to a meadow with a view of the lake. We shoveled out our tent spaces and put up our tents. We talked for a while but it was getting much colder so we went to our tents. I did get up once during the night but slept soundly till 9:15am... I crawled out of my tent feeling great and to view a wondrous scene. The sun rise shown on the white snow and our camp. Over the lake were falling sparkling diamonds, not snow, but little frost flakes that were falling from an unseen cloud in a blue sky. As these flakes fell to earth they tumbled and reflected light from the low angle of the sunrise. It was a joyous welcome back to the wilderness. Breakfast was the usual coffee and bagel. However because it was 20 below the center of my bagels didn't thaw as I roasted them over my little camp stove.
Our minimum registering thermometer said that the over night low was minus 22.2. It was cold but there was practically no wind so it was easily bearable. Our day hike took us to a small lake. We stayed warm while hiking but the whole trip was very refreshing. The afternoon high was 6 above zero.
Back in camp, we enjoyed coffee and started supper. Mine was beans, rice, and hamburger - very good. We went for an evening walk and explored a nearby car camping campground. Back in camp we talked for a while and went to bed at 9pm. I slept good but woke-up often. At 8am it was rise and shine to a snowy landscape, blue sky, and a bright sun. The purity of the light in the minus 10 air was awesome. However, this morning there were no diamonds drifting down from the heavens. A quick check of the min registering thermometer showed that it was 20 below some time before dawn. We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and the view of our snow covered icy lake from our hill above the lake. At 11am we were back to the truck and headed home.