don't mess with gunflint lake

i am back. back from where? you might ask. back from our four day boundary waters excursion.. our route was classified by cliff jacobson (self-proclaimed boundary waters 'expert') as an easy four-day route, with peaceful meanderings along the granite river, which opens to some beautiful lakes and lovely portage trails around scenic waterfalls.

our first day, we spent a lofty four hours just trying to get TO our entry point of magnetic lake by paddling across gunflint lake. paddling across gunflint in the waves that day proved to be quite eventful and unsafe. after a capsized canoe and a few verbal fist fights, we decided to take the more scenic shore route around the lake shore. longer, but safer. we finally entered magnetic lake expecting some peace on a smaller body of water, only to encounter more effing wind, and more effing waves. we finally made it across magnetic lake and entered the granite river. and yes, it was peaceful meandering for a good few hours. everything was going well until we got lost at a place where the river split into three channels. our effing map, which turned out to not be for "navigational use" did not tell us which of the three channels to take. after trying all three narrow and shallow channels, we finally found the hard-to-see 45 rod portage and did the portage only to discover at the end that every campsite on that lake was taken. my panic starts to set in, as the sun is setting and we're all getting increasingly tired and hungry and hot. so we paddle on, and we portage on, and we paddle on, and we portage on, 110 rods, to clove lake and find a campsite. all is well. we enjoy a dinner of chicken, stuffing and gravy, and a good nights rest.

friday was beautiful. we packed up camp and headed north on the granite river. that afternoon found us at the most beautiful campsite god ever made, on a portion of the river called 'devils elbow'. the site was up on the high rock bluff, with very deep water for marvelous jumping. the fire pit faced westward over the lake, perfect for sunset gazing. we stayed up late that night laughing, talking, smoldering, and injesting northern lights.

saturday, we were spoiled again with marvelous weather. we paddled north thru horsetail rapids to saganaga falls where we swam in the falls and ate a lunch of jerky, cheese, bread and peanut butter. thinking the rest of our 2nd to last day would be easy, we lazily paddled north. once we turned west onto big saganaga lake, we got slapped in the face with 25 mph winds and 2-foot white caps. needless to say, more verbal fist fights ensued, but all were triumphant. i had a brief stint of heat-induced confusion (where am i? and why am i holding this paddle?), followed by much hydration and a swim. our final campsite proved to be what one might call the 'mall of america' for squirrels. they were quite active that night! so active, that they t.p.'d our latrine. i didn't know squirrels were capable of such things.

oh, and one other thing. the wilderness caught on fire one lake west of us. yeah.

all in all, we enjoyed a marvelous backwoods kitchen, we had many laughs around the campfires, we marvelled at the northern lights. it was a glorious trip. thanks for tuning in.