On our way to Alpine travelling through the Islands of Seagull we saw something swimming in the water, and it didn't have antelers so we knew it wasn't a bull Moose. We paddled fast to get closer. It was swimming very fast towards an island. As it neared the shoreline and started walking through the water we were startled to see that it was a huge black bear. Because it was wet it's legs looked long and skinny plus it's fur was very shiny. We continued westward past the Palisade and found several young people jumping off a 45 foot cliff. They had to run and leap to clear a volkswagen size rock at the base of the cliff. It was a thrill to watch and the sound they made as they entered the water was unforgettable. The Seagull Hilton was taken and so was our second choice. We continued westward finding an island campsite and settled in for the evening. Cooper served spagetti and fulafull. The fulafull was different but good. We also swam and had a great evening campfire.
In the morning we packed up and headed for the portage into Alpine Lake. The portage was 105 rods, smooth but a little bit of a hill. It took me and Mark 3 trips to get our stuff over. Alpine looked like a moonscape with skeletal trees. This was from a fire several years ago. We ended up in the SW corner of the lake at a campsite the the forest service had saved from the fire. We spent the next 2 1/2 days swimming, playing cribbage, eatting good food including the Bass, Notherns, and Walleye that Mark and Marsha caught. The sky was sunny and the temperature neared 80. It was beautifully foggy in the mornings. There was an Eagle's nest and several Eagles. They watched us and we watched them. The Eagles followed us around the lake as we fished. Always perched in a nearby tree ready to pick up fish that we threw back or the remains we left on shore after cleaning.
On our way back we decided to run the river rather than do the 105 portage. The river was shallow so we had to walk our canoes through the channel. Coopers went first and then Mark helped me walk our canoe down. It was refreshing and fun. We fished the rapids below the channel and continued walking our canoes through shallow rock gardens. We found an island campsite to have lunch on and decided to spend the night there. The water was very cool but we swam for a long time and got used to it. We rounded out the afternoon by having snacks and coffee in the shade. It was an unusually warm September afternoon. Coopers furnished supper. Cribbage completed the evening with Mark and I coming from behind to win. The good weather held on for the paddle out. It was a wonderfull week made good by the excellent company and mild weather.
In the morning we packed up and headed for the portage into Alpine Lake. The portage was 105 rods, smooth but a little bit of a hill. It took me and Mark 3 trips to get our stuff over. Alpine looked like a moonscape with skeletal trees. This was from a fire several years ago. We ended up in the SW corner of the lake at a campsite the the forest service had saved from the fire. We spent the next 2 1/2 days swimming, playing cribbage, eatting good food including the Bass, Notherns, and Walleye that Mark and Marsha caught. The sky was sunny and the temperature neared 80. It was beautifully foggy in the mornings. There was an Eagle's nest and several Eagles. They watched us and we watched them. The Eagles followed us around the lake as we fished. Always perched in a nearby tree ready to pick up fish that we threw back or the remains we left on shore after cleaning.
On our way back we decided to run the river rather than do the 105 portage. The river was shallow so we had to walk our canoes through the channel. Coopers went first and then Mark helped me walk our canoe down. It was refreshing and fun. We fished the rapids below the channel and continued walking our canoes through shallow rock gardens. We found an island campsite to have lunch on and decided to spend the night there. The water was very cool but we swam for a long time and got used to it. We rounded out the afternoon by having snacks and coffee in the shade. It was an unusually warm September afternoon. Coopers furnished supper. Cribbage completed the evening with Mark and I coming from behind to win. The good weather held on for the paddle out. It was a wonderfull week made good by the excellent company and mild weather.
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