Tales From Your Trip and Trails

It was the trip of a lifetime. One you dream about, especially if you love the great outdoors. I had read about wilderness adventures in the likes of The Hatchet and Where the Red Fern Grows growing up, dreaming of the day I could live out my own adventure. Then I read about a wilderness that would actually allow it, The Boundary Waters of Minnesota. I did some research and found Kawishiwi Outfitters located on Lake One.
(www.elycanoerentals.com)

A couple years ago I was canoeing over a shallow bar next to an island. There were a few loons nearby (50 yards) I was watching. One of them dove down and about 10 seconds later I saw him swimming under me maybe 2 feet down.

I don't think they can see what is on the surface very well. It was sure very cool to see a loon swimming right next to my canoe, kind of a once in a lifetime experience.

Warning, a mama bear & 2 pesky cubs are traveling all over Ensign (& probably just outside of Ensign too).

They have been harassing people, tearing up food packs, leaving & coming back within an hour, traveling from the north side to south side all in one night.

One of the guys here has a bear hunting license & went up there. But he won't shoot a mom with this year's cubs, so she is still there.

Recommend not camping on Ensign for a while!

(figured I'd get this post in before I leave for Quetico tomorrow)

A short weekend trip into the BWCA with two guys and three teenagers. It was a learning experience through and through. With Edison, we will discover all the ways that something cannot be done.

Five guys set out for a four day trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in September of 2006. Here is a brief account of the happenings.

Wednesday September 6, 2006

We were paddling on the east side of Lake Four and encountered a shallow part in the river (Kawishiwi) that had suckers spawning. You could see their upper fins exposed out of the water. An eagle was perched in a tree above. He must have been full, waiting for his next meal. Quite a sight to see.

Most of my trips to the BWCA entail a very quiet sky, maybe a ranger plane flying by in the distance once a day. This last trip in May was different. There were planes flying over almost every hour during the day. They were also flying pretty low as well. We stayed in Insula and it looks like that was on the route from Ely to the Ham Lake Fire. Here is a picture of one that flew over.

Anyone else in the BWCA early May witness this?