Kenyon Wanamingo goes to Kawishiwi Lake, October 1, 2013

All of our eager participants helped pitch tents, tarps and tee pee.  Our next task was to gather firewood.  We walked down the road with my pick up following and the kids went into the woods and drug out many branches and logs.  We loaded them up in the truck box and drove back to camp.  We were now set for the week as far as campfires were concerned.  Next we hiked the shoreline and through the woods to a campsite on the Eastern edge of the lake.  It was good to be out in the woods again.  The kids enjoyed it greatly.  Back in camp, we started to prepare Hobo dinners.  All the vegetables were cut and meat prepared and all of this was wrapped in tin foil.  While we were doing this some of the kids used their free time to fish or hike.  Alex caught several Northerns and because they were small he threw them back in the lake.   The fire baked Hobo dinners were devoured by everyone.  Following clean up, with the help of several students, Rich told many stories around the campfire.  He told us about Timothy Treadwell, Glacier National Park, Alaska and the bears of Knife Lake.  We all listened with great interest.  The students went to bed early and the chaperones were left to visit and wonder at the most fantastic Aurora Borealis (northern lights) I've seen in fifteen years.  It was a fitting end to a great day with a group  of great people.  The next morning was pancakes and bacon for breakfast.  Then we all prepared for a paddling day trip.  We started with canoeing lessons.  We worked our way across Kawishiwi Lake learning our paddling strokes. We stopped at several campsites and had lunch at a nice one on Square Lake.  The fall colors were in full bloom and we enjoyed taking many photos as we traveled.  On the return trip most everyone was displaying competent paddling.  It was a beautiful, comfortable day to be in the woods.  We had spaghetti for supper and Priscilla and Alex did the clean up.  Our third day was the Brandenberg photography lesson.  We covered what Brandenberg was motivated by when he put together his book called "Chased by the Light"   We also reviewed basic camera use and composition.  We then headed out in the canoes to see if we could capture some beauty.  We did.  It was a great day of wandering around and seeking the unusual and missed compositions. It was a satisfying experience for all the students.  We had hot dogs and macaroni for supper.  Then everyone went down to the lake to observe its cool, calm and reflective surface.      

Lake Insula, 9-15-2013

Ruth, Norm, and I traveled efficiently through Lake One, Two, Three and Four.  We met some friends from school that had been out for the weekend on the portages between Lake One and Two.  We arrived at a very nice camp on Lake Four at 2:30.  It was good to be in the wilderness and we celebrated with a cup of coffee.   Norm fixed mac, cheese and ham for supper, it was very good.  We went to bed early.  For breakfast the next morning Norm prepared scrambled eggs with bacon and I made some pancakes.  Very filling and delicious.  We were motivated and did the little portages and crossed Hudson quickly but with a couple rest stops.  The last portage of the day was 100 rods and did it in less than an hour.  We paddled across Insula's 4 1/2 miles in an hour.  We wanted to get to camp.  Our favorite island was available and we were delighted that it was ours.  Norm said it was the best campsite he's ever been to.  After camp was pitched and a brief rest period I started supper.  Our meal consisted of chicken noodle delight.  It was filling and tasty.  We pitched the lean too tarp and watched the fabulous clear sky sunset before we called it a day.  In the morning Norm and I drank coffee and watched a full sunrise.  It was inspiring.  Good coffee, friendship and a wilderness phenomenon, it doesn't get any better than that.  Ruth crawled out of our tent later and we started breakfast.  More delicious bacon, eggs and pancakes.   We fished the hot spot from late morning through the afternoon.  Ruth caught a couple bass, one huge. It just about pulled her out of the boat.  I caught an 18" Walleye.  Our return to the island was horrific because of the wind and waves.  My Wenona Seneca at 19 1/2 feet and a wide beam used every inch of it's seaworthy design and our muscle and skill to successfully navigate the mile crossing to the island.  Back in camp I went for a cool swim followed by a refreshing coffee break.  We had a huge fish fry for supper.  Which was a true reward for a week in the woods.  Later that evening we admired a double natural display of beauty.  We watched the sunset on the West side of the island and then on the East side we watched the Moon rise.  Totally fantastic day all the way around.  It was now time to head back to Lake Four.  We covered the portages and mileage on the water in good fashion. It was a cloudy and misty day but no rain.  A good day for paddling and portaging.  Arrived at our new site at 1:15 and went right to work making camp.  We pitched the Lean Too tarp because we were sure it was going to rain.   Coffee, tea and fishing rounded out the afternoon. Ruth tried but had no luck.  Mashed potatoes for supper and Bakepacker muffins for an evening snack finished off the day.  It didn't rain and only sprinkled just before bedtime. While crossing Lake Three in the morning we were forced off the lake by eminent rain and storms.  We spent 1 1/2 hours huddled in a campsite waiting for it to let up.  It stopped raining but the rumbling clouds continued to sweep by.  Against my better judgment we  set out again.  It was cool and comfortable to paddle but the constant thunder from above made me very nervous.  Between the first and second portage we experienced a 5 minute downpour.  Then it let up and the thunder stopped and we paddled the remainder of our route to the Lake One landing.  Ruth's rain suit failed totally and she got a new one after returning to civilization. It was a wonderful week and I can't wait for ice out next spring.