Insight 

Canoeing is a way to sit still and pay attention.

Canoe Trips

Boundary Waters:

• Aug. 2008 (tandem)
  Lake Agnes-LLC
• May 2009 (solo)
  Numbered Lakes
• Sept. 2009 (solo)
  Lake One-Snowbank
• June 2010 (solo)
  Lac La Croix Loop
• Sept. 2010 (tandem)
  Snowbank-Lake One
• June 2011 (tandem)
  Mudro-Crooked Loop
• Sept. 2011 (solo)
  Isabella R.-Lake One
• Sept. 2011 (tandem)
  Fall-Basswood Lakes
• May 2012 (tandem)
  Moose Lake Loop
• Sept. 2012 (solo)
  SeaGull Lake Loop 1
• May 2013 (solo)
  SeaGull Lake Loop 2
• Sept. 2013 (solo)
  Moose R.-Tiger Bay
• June 2014 (groupsolo)
  Lake One-Moose Lake
• Sept. 2014 (solo)
  SeaGull-Alpine Lakes
• May 2016 (tandem)
  SeaGull-Gull Lakes
• Sept. 2024 (solo) Fall-Basswood Lakes

Boundary Waters Campsites

Bois Brule River

Flambeau River

Kickapoo and Mecan Rivers

Menonomee River

Sylvania Wilderness

Wisconsin's Flowages

Wolf and Peshtigo Rivers

Boats & Gear

Bell Wildfire (Royalex)

Blackhawk Ariel

Mad River Independence (sold)

Wenonah Prism (sold)
-cane seat installation
-thwart replacement

Custom portage pads

Seat-mounted portage yoke

Outside canoe shelter

Inside canoe storage

Knots

BWCA - September 2009

Page 6: Adieu

Day 10, Sept. 18: Disappointment Lake to Snowbank Lake

Map (opens in a new window)

I awaken to yet another beautiful day. I'm up at 6:00 and, with little if any wasted movement, somehow manage to leave shortly after 8:00. I may not be quick but I'm consistent.

Triple carrying, I make the five trips of the 140-rod portage to Snowbank in exactly one hour. Adding in the approach, unloading, reloading and heading back out, the total time is 1:15.

On one of the loaded trips I see a grouse strutting about, and as I get nearer he calmly walks into the woods. On the way back, he's there again. Maybe that part of the trail is his lek.

I get to the Snowbank Lake dock at 10:45. It's nice to have the car waiting for me there, but it looks strange and I half-wonder if I still know how to do civilized things. Mostly I do, but it's a weird world of roads and machines and buildings. I'm sort of wallowing around in my recent experience, knowing that I don't fully understand what I've been through but certain that I've grown in some way. I leave with mixed feelings of satisfaction for having had a good time, regret that it's over, and anticipation of the next trip.

I drive into Ely, park on the east end of town, and call home. While I'm on the phone I see an Army green jeep drive past several times. That doesn't seem unusual except that there's a .50-caliber machine gun mounted behind the front seats. The fact that the driver is not in uniform is somewhat less than reassuring. It sure is a strange world I've come back to.

Today's statistics:

Distance 3.5 miles
Total time 2:15
Paddling time one hour
Portaging time 1:15
One portage of 140 rods

Next stop: Madeline Island

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