Early last week we toyed with the idea of taking a trip to the Boundary Waters for the long weekend. We checked on Monday or Tuesday and there were permits available for both Friday and Saturday put-ins (see below for an explanations) on South Lake an area that John really wanted to explore. John had a big project he was working on that would finish on Thursday, and was down to the wire getting it together, and had little time for trip logistics.
So Thursday morning, I figured the trip was a no go, and did all the usual things; playground with a friends, workout at the Y. As I was leaving the Y I got a call from John. He sounded very excited about the prospects of a trip and informed me that he was not going back to work... John came home about 1:30pm and we decided to go for it at 2:00 and were headed out of town by 5. Had to stop for maps, dinner, and in Duluth to drop the dog off (thanks Teresa!). South lake sits on the border of Canada and the States. So we had a long drive.
We had arrangements at a motel in Grand Marais, and called along the way to say we were going to arrive around 11:30pm, but yes we were coming. We roll in to the motel, and nobody was around. Drive around a bit more. Nobody around at the Super 8 across the street... Hmmm. We found a room at the Best Western, and were in it around midnight. It was a great room. Too bad we only stayed six hours!
Friday morning we drove to our put in on Gunflint lake. We had almost 10 miles to paddle before we actually got the the BWCA boundary and our permit was for Friday, so we had to make it. Paddling went well, we had the obligatory head wind for part of it, it was a long lake. A few mostly easy portages as we made our way to where we were going to camp. The last portage of the day was not too long, 78 rods (1 rod = 16.5 feet) but it was through very low wet ground. At least four rods were through the muck.. Boot swallowing muck. The kind of muck that kids dream about. I think if left unattended Odin would still be there. But we made it. For most of it there were rocks a foot or so apart to step on (not visible from the surface) or logs, I stepped on the vegetation at one point and almost lost my boot. Odin face planted in it, but otherwise managed to stay relatively clean and dry. John set the canoe down and we drug Odin through the worst parts in the boat.
Once we were in the BWCA we did not see any other people until the next day at the opposite end of the South lake where we camped. The water was clear and gently lapped on the rocky shore line. It got cold that night. My sleeping bag just doesn't cut it anymore. I had all my clothes on, fleece long underwear bottoms, a midweight top, sweater still cold. John offered to switch bags for the next night.. I took him up on it. Sunday night he slept in my bag with all of his clothes on. More later on my ideas for a new bag.
We got to do a pretty fun and challenging portage on Saturday, aptly named stairway portage. It has around 115 stairs. We were headed the uphill direction. We hiked a little ways after bringing all of our gear up to have a look at the waterfall that connects the two lakes. A rugged climb especially laden with canoe and gear. Now we have two great portage pack and the load carried very well. That was a good test.
Saturday night we had the obligatory campfire and made smores (with nutella!). Odin has encouraged us to have fires the past two summers and we really do enjoy them. Using the stove we hardly think about fires, but they do add an authenticness to it all.
Parenting in the woods was way easier than at home. He was happy with a stick or two, at times his binoculars, pretending to be a car. He was excited to use the little toilets in the woods. And fell asleep almost immediately after getting in the tent.
While we were paddling Odin played with his paddle, net, or pretended to be an octopus sleeping in his cave (we had been to the zoo on Thursday and saw an octopus in it's cave). The mileage on the water was a nice pace. Leaving in the morning around 10am and to a site around 4:30. John and I were both surprised at how good we felt after the first day, as this was the first time we were out this year.
We got off the water on Sunday mid day and I did our bike shuttle back to the Jeep while John and Odin had lunch and hiked a little bit. Sunday afternoon we made our way back to Duluth stayed with Teresa for the night. Yesterday we got to watch one of Adam's races near Duluth. Then it was back home for us. We almost stayed three nights on the water, but in the end really wanted to see Adam race. It also was a nice easy day before the end of the weekend.
It was a great weekend. The weather was right, the bugs were non existent, and there were not many people around. As far as last minute trips go, I think this one may (unfortunately) keep us not planning and doing these last minute trips!
Explanation
The BWCA works on a permit system to keep track and limit the number of groups entering each day. Each entry point has a quota depending on access to other areas and availability of campsites. Last minute permits are often available, but not always for the easiest entry points.
