Part 1
The topo map of our area shows dozens of small lakes with no roads or portage trails leading to them. Our curiosity made us decide to do an exploration weekend so we loaded up the truck and drove to the end of one of the bush roads to a boat launch. From there we paddled an
hour or more through two lakes to a site where we set up a base camp. From here we could do day trips and since there was no portaging
involved in getting here we could a) bring the cedar strip canoe (a joy to paddle, less than a joy to carry), and b)bring a cooler with fresh foods,
beer, etc., rather than living on dehydrated stuff and gorp.
We spent the first day getting settled in at camp, then the next morning we set off paddling down a nearby creek which leads into the next lake.
We never got to that lake, though, thanks to me not bothering to look at the map and taking us on a wrong fork in the creek. We paddled up a winding tributary that got increasingly narrow and shallow. After lifting over half a dozen beaver dams, seeing lots of waterfowl, eagles, etc.,
along the way, we finally came to a dead end.
The source of this creek seemed to be an enigma; underground water pouring out from every which direction. The result was a series of swirling
pools under the tree canopy- a truly beautiful spot. We scouted the area and found some moose sign which is pretty exciting for us because we are near the southern end of the mooses range and a sighting is a fairly rare thing. We also came across plenty of fresh bear sign which left us
wondering if our cooler would be in one piece when we got back to camp. We might be left eating whatever happened to be in the barrel while
the bears get drunk on our beer!
Luckily we had no unwanted visitors and we got to enjoy one of Sharon's spicy jambalaya inventions..
The topo map of our area shows dozens of small lakes with no roads or portage trails leading to them. Our curiosity made us decide to do an exploration weekend so we loaded up the truck and drove to the end of one of the bush roads to a boat launch. From there we paddled an
hour or more through two lakes to a site where we set up a base camp. From here we could do day trips and since there was no portaging
involved in getting here we could a) bring the cedar strip canoe (a joy to paddle, less than a joy to carry), and b)bring a cooler with fresh foods,
beer, etc., rather than living on dehydrated stuff and gorp.
We spent the first day getting settled in at camp, then the next morning we set off paddling down a nearby creek which leads into the next lake.
We never got to that lake, though, thanks to me not bothering to look at the map and taking us on a wrong fork in the creek. We paddled up a winding tributary that got increasingly narrow and shallow. After lifting over half a dozen beaver dams, seeing lots of waterfowl, eagles, etc.,
along the way, we finally came to a dead end.
The source of this creek seemed to be an enigma; underground water pouring out from every which direction. The result was a series of swirling
pools under the tree canopy- a truly beautiful spot. We scouted the area and found some moose sign which is pretty exciting for us because we are near the southern end of the mooses range and a sighting is a fairly rare thing. We also came across plenty of fresh bear sign which left us
wondering if our cooler would be in one piece when we got back to camp. We might be left eating whatever happened to be in the barrel while
the bears get drunk on our beer!
Luckily we had no unwanted visitors and we got to enjoy one of Sharon's spicy jambalaya inventions..
