Ahhh… the fresh air, the sunshine, the sound of animals all around AND the absence of internet! We had a GREAT trip into the BWCA, more specifically into Big Moose Lake.
Bill, Dad, and I left home around 6:30 Tuesday morning and drove up the Echo trail until we reached the entry point for Big Moose. The drive takes about an hour from home on winding dirt roads. From there we hopped into our canoe to paddle the first of two rivers on our journey. We’d been worried about low water hindering our entry, but the first river went smoothly. We got over the first portage (160 rods) and found that the second river was not going to be as easy.
Dad and Bill had to get out of the canoe several times (often sinking deep into the muck) to get past rocks, logs, and beaver dams.
Eventually we arrived on to the beautiful lake.
And we got set up on a beautiful camp site.
We canoed to the bottom of the lake on Wednesday and walked the portage over to Cummings Lake. On the paddle back, we decided to try our luck fishing before reaching the sandy beach to take a swim. I did the paddling while the guys tried to catch dinner.
Here’s how they did:
(That’s Bill’s fish… not bait.) 🙂
The sun woke us up in the mornings and Dad cooked us muffins in the bake packer for breakfast. (Yum!)
I’ll leave more the story telling to Bill, but wrap up by noting we stopped in Ely at the Canoe Country Outfitters to see if Terrence (who taught in Golovin, AK) happened to be working. He wasn’t, but his buddy was and gave him a call for us. So, we got to catch up and learn that he’s going to be just a half hour or so away from us this year. How exciting to have an Alaska friend near by!
We had a great camping trip and already have plans to make another next year. The guys want to do more moving around, which will be fine by me as long as I can have the middle spot in the canoe again. 🙂
Hey- Looks like a fun trip~ brings back a few memories… fish corn, rock-hopping, duct-tape baseball.
Glad you enjoyed yourselves. See you soon.
xoxo
I’m jealous. I’ve always wanted to do a camping trip in the BWCAW, but Josh won’t take me… something about no wussy girls allowed. Now, of course, we’ll have to wait until Evan is older. Maybe then I’ll get the middle spot in the canoe while my guys do the heavy lifting!
Glad to hear you’re enjoying these fleeting moments of summer. When do you start workshops?
Later,
Melissa
oh that would be so fun to go canoeing with you guys…we would even bring our own canoe…but i want the middle spot too…sounds like a relaxing time…giggle:)
miss you like crazy…
hugs,
tiff:)
So. . . did Bill get all twitchy without the computer at his side! 🙂
It looked like a great trip. Barb & I are jealous! Glad you were able to do it while you had the down time. Looking forward to hearing about your next adventures.
Bill Sr.