The Hogans on Lac La Croix, July 10-15, 2012

On the first day we paddled to Agnes and camped.  We enjoyed fire grilled meat and potatoes for supper and prepared for another day of travelling.  Our second day took us through Boulder Bay past Warrior Hill and the Pictographs and then West into Fishstake Narrows.  The campsite we had hoped for was open.  We made camp and did a little fishing.   In the morning of the third day we fished some more and caught Smallies and a few Walleyes.  On our second layover day we we paddled to Kelsey Lake and trolled for Northerns.  Our luck continued to be good and we went back to camp with several.   After another big fish fry we took photos of the boys jumping in front of the sunset.  On our fifth day we paddled 3/4 of the return journey.  We camped on Nina Moose Lake.  On our last morning we paddled upstream on the Moose River and by early afternoon we were portaging the last leg of our trip into the parking lot. 

Sally and her friends, 6,14-15,12

The group was a foursome of adventurers from the west.  I took them on two back to back day trips into the BWCA.  Our first journey was to a lake with Pictographs, Pitcher Plants, Pink Showy Lady slippers and a floating bog.  They enjoyed all of this plus a stroll down a 200 rod portage just to spend some time in the woods.  The second day was to another chain of lakes to the east of town.  We traveled through portages, canyons, rivers and woods.  We continued our trip on the main part of the lake to a couple portages to the next lake.  While there we had lunch on a rock overlooking the rapids and hiked a nearby trail.  We wondered at the moss, ferns and plants along the trail.  We enjoyed a high overlook that gave us a view of  more rapids and a graceful curve in the river.  The paddle back was difficult for the first mile due to 25mph winds.  However, we soon found protection from the gales as we wove our way around islands and points.  Then the last two miles we were with the  wind and hardly had to paddle at all.  It was a good two days paddling in the Boundary Waters.  I hope they return.

KW to Lake Three, June, 2012

We covered paddling skills and water safety ideas at the Lake One landing.  We were paddling with RK and six of his advisees from school.  There were 4 boys and 3 girls.  They all adapted to the new skills required to move a canoe through the water.  We made it to Lake Three in a few hours. Our lunch spot turned into the campsite we would spend the whole time.   There was a main camp area where I camped and we did all the social and cooking things.  Then down a trail to the north were the other tentsites right next to the perfect jumping rock.    That evening the boys and I paddled to Lake Four to catch what ever we could get to bite our hooks.   It was a beautiful evening fishing and watching the sunset.  The boys totaled a northern and a smally.  We took them to the campsite, fried them in the morning and served them with Sturdiwheat pancakes.  At noon on our second day we paddled into Lake Four and up to the first portage on the way to Hudson.  We beached the boats and walked the portage to have lunch on the far side.  We marveled at the fire burned forest.  The south side of the portage was totally black and the north side was only spots of burn.  The portage had acted as a fire break.  We returned to camp for swimming and then supper.   Again the boys and I headed out for an evening of fishing.  The continued high pressure system over us had shut off the fish.  It was, however, a wonderful evening paddling around, enjoying fellowship and the awesome woods and lakes of northern Minnesota.   We spent the next half day hanging in camp, swimming and packing up to depart before severe weather arrived.  The kids paddled and portaged like pros on the way out.  It would be great to go on a longer trip with them.    It was very nice to camp with this group.

Robert and I headed through the first lake and across a short portage to the second lake.  While on the portage we prepared our tackle for a little bass and northern action.  As we toured the hotspot Robert latched onto 2 nice bass.  As we continued on towards the pictographs we trolled with no luck.  The pictographs were beautiful and after a short while we headed for the bog.  There we saw the remains of last years crop of picture plants and observed the floating land masses that they grew on.   We also had a few nibbles and one big strike that brought Robert out of his seat as the mighty northern powered away with his lure.  We continued fishing on the return trip but with no more luck.  We crossed the portage and headed to the landing while paddling through rippled blue water.  It was a good day.

A Quik Daytrip, 5,25,12

Six of us left the Lake One landing mid-morning.  There were 3 adults and 3 teenagers.  We zig zagged our way through channels and bays to the main part of the lake, and headed south right into a strong wind.  We put forth maximum effort and covered a mile of waves and whitecaps.   At the first campsite we stopped for lunch.  Bratts and an assortment of other goodies made our lunch.  We greatly enjoyed the breeze, sunshine, fresh air and company of each other.  The woods were beautiful with fresh green, blue sky and blue sparkling water.  Our return trip was easy at first because we were going with the wind.   The trip through the narrow channels into the winds  was difficult for some. We all made it to the landing eventually.   It was a wonderful day complete with the wind and into the wind paddling.  It was especially fun to watch the girl's canoe power ahead of us as if they had a 2 horse kicker.  

Opener, 5,10-14,2012....Seagull

It was a bright and sunny day as we paddled away from the landing. There were gentle breezes that didn't require a lot of effort to move through.  Our group included Norm in his new solo boat, and BB and I in my new Champlain. It took us one hour to get to our favorite spot and no one had taken it.  Camp was made and we all relaxed after several days of preparation, travel and logistics.  I fried a steak for supper and turned in early, it was supreme to be in the woods and lakes.   Slept for a luxurious 10 hours that night.   Most of the morning was spent under the tarp because of occasional showers.  Coop and Brian showed up around 1pm.  When I crawled out of the tent the next morning BB walked into camp from the east rock and was carrying two lake trout, nice ones.  Norm and I headed for the bay to the west of camp.  We trolled for 2 1/2 hours making 7-8 passes around the bay and were rewarded with  a nice lake trout and a good northern.  After lunch we paddled  to the east bay and worked the waters for an hour with no luck.  We returned to camp to find almost everyone there and they had fish also.  I took a 2 second swim, refreshing but shocking.  Most everyone lounged and napped.  Supper was French onion soup, salad, sweet corm and baked trout.  Very filling and delicious.  The remainder of the evening was spent around the fire with the 9 of us partaking in several conversations at once.  It was fun to listen and tell your stories too.  It was wonderfull to be a part of such a nice weekend.  After everyone turned in I watched the fire for a long time unable to give up on such a great day in the woods.  I awoke to a windy day, everyone fished off the rock to the east because the waves were too big to fish out of a canoe.  At 11 Bill P. and Todd took off into the malestrom.  They successfully made their way into the channel and were gone.  We then had a brunch of Sturdiwheat pancakes.  The afternoon was spent reading, writing, napping, relaxing and fishing.  We were trapped in paradise by the two foot waves racing down the lake.  We didn't mind being idle because the previous day was so busy.   Norm says:  This is  my second trip to the boundary waters. It has been a really great trip.  We have caught all the fish we can eat will probably take some back. It has been nice to see friends again and also meeting new people who love camping and being outdoors.  Seagull is a huge lake and we are having a very windy day which kind of scares me about going out tommorrow.  The temps have been unbelievably warm and comfortable.  It is truly an honor to be invited to the Bill Club and I am looking forward to coming again.   Brian says:  It has been great getting with new friends and old.  Fishing is good for some and so so for others. Typical.  Rain , wind, sun and glorious scenery.  Just isn't the northwoods if you don't get wet, cold and too hot.  It's always interesting to see the plants that grow precariously from the rock cliffs. A little pine in a 1 inch depression or a columbine 4 inches above the waves.  Also enjoyed seeing the local Fisher slink through camp.  Bill's for ever.  Mark C. says:  Changing the 4 F's is what has happened as I've aged,  They are now  "friends" "food" "fun" and "fishing"   There is no better way to experience the 4F's than the fishing opener.  Mark E. says:  That this annual trip keeps him grounded. The busy hectic world that we live in has a tendancy to change us. Even as we pack and prepare for the trip it can be hectic.   Things we wanted to do, to bring or repair before the trip don't always get done. We throw what we have into our backpacks and go anyway.   If I forget something, someone will have it. If I didn't do it someone else at the camp will help me get it done. We come from different locations with different backgrounds and the BWCA helps us all get together and have a fabulous outing.  Sitting around the fire or on a rock sunning ourselves I seem to get a better perspective of what life's all about. It is like I am visiting my roots.  This stays with me well into the year. By next May I'm going to need another dose. My body has gotten older and scarred with parts functioning but compromised.  My mind is always revitalized by the trip. My outings with the "Bill Club"  are theraputic and keep me balanced.  I always look forward to the trip and my wife and family see and know how important this is for me.  Bill B says:  NW 73.8 x SE 73.8, that folks is where the trout are. That and several  other locations on the lake.  The trick (luck) is how to catch and land them.  Seems like I've had that luck the past few trips up to the lakes with the "Bill Club" over the years.  No skill or expensive gear is needed, just a  lot of effort.  Griffy says you can't catch fish sitting in camp. I suspect that is why Griffy doesn't seem to catch many. Although someone seems to feed and care for the crew, and Griffy does a good job of that.  Feeding us from dawn to dusk.  Always there is a special entree on the menu.  This year it was Onion soup, very filling and delicious.  There was also salads and sweet corn to add to the baked trout.  Warm weather, wind and plenty of sunshine has kept us all in good spirits.  One more bag night and it's back to our separate homes and loves. Always enjoyable and relaxing to be with the "Club", the Bill Club, a good mix of fellowship that continues to excite and make me want to return year after year.  Thanks to my friends for their entries in my blog.  The trip continues the next morning, our last breakfast.  We started early so we could beat the mid-day winds.  We succeeded.  The sun was bright in the eastern sky and we all wished we were headed deeper into the woods rather than heading for the take-out.   It was a beautiful day and we were all glad to be paddling after our wind bound camp yesterday.

Lake Four, April, 26-30,2012

We departed the Lake One landing amongst a dozen Forest Service workers.  Most left before we did.  The paddle through Lake One was glorious.  The sky was clear and the breezes were gentle.  We crossed the portages smoothly and were in the middle of Lake Two in an hour and a half.  We stopped at the first campsite as we entered Lake Three.  While there a research crew from the Forest Service arrived and began to make camp there.  We visited for a while.  We met Kevin, one of the leaders and a couple named Burt and Johnnie.  They were researching and mapping the burn area.  We then continued our journey to Lake Four.  One of my favorite campsites was available and unburned.  Camp was pitched and coffee made.  Everyone enjoyed the break and Terry joined in the conversation and camaraderie even though he didn't drink coffee.  It was a pleasant but chilly evening and we all went to bed early.  I had gotten cold and it took an hour and a half to warm and go to sleep.  We had pancakes and bacon provided by Joe for breakfast the next morning.  It was a very cool morning and when it warmed up at mid day we headed for Fire Lake.  We struggled through several windfalls near the second portage as we traveled.  We paddled nearly to the end of Fire before we got to a sunlit campsite.  We enjoyed a great lunch hour while basking in full sunshine. On the return trip the windfalls were navigated efficiently having negotiated them previously.  We enjoyed another evening of food and conversation.  Awoke early the next morning and had pleasant and long morning of talking and laughing.  After a tortilla and tuna lunch we  headed for Bridge Lake.  The route was beautiful as we paddled and portaged our way west.  The lakes were narrow and lined with mother nature's rock sculptures.  It was constant visual delight.  When we got back to camp we had coffee and treats, scrumptious.  It was much warmer that evening and we really enjoyed our conversations.  I went to my tent before dark.  The morning was warm as we devoured our pancakes.  Terry and Joe had to leave and watching them paddle away was like watching the end of a good movie.  They were very mellow and capable wilderness canoeists and it was great traveling with them.  During the afternoon Norm and I read and journaled.  We also paddled around our part of Lake Four and got a close-up view of the campsites that were burned. Two Forest Service workers were cutting trees and rehabilitating one of the campsites we visited.   In the morning we had a leisurely breakfast and packed up.  We paddled out knowing we had responsibilities to fulfill but enjoyed the wilderness views along the way.