Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
August 31 - September 7

The plan was to meet at my house in St. Paul at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Kate was the first one to arrive, and Richard shortly thereafter. When Jeff arrived, we loaded his truck and Richard's car with gear and were on the road by 7:30 a.m.

We picked up Bonnie (a/k/a Devorah) in Forest Lake and ate breakfast at McDonald's.

We then headed north, stopping briefly in Hinkley and Two Harbors. We picked up our BWCAW permit at the Ranger's Station in Grand Marais. After lunch at the Dairy Queen, we started up Gunflint Trail.

Our two canoes and Jeff's kayak were loaded with gear and a week's supply of food and water. We started out with Richard behind me in a canoe, and Kate paddled behind Bonnie. We launched onto Seagull Lake at about 5:00 p.m.

Kate, Bonnie, Jeff, Walli, Richard
Seagull Lake, Entry Point 54

I remembered a lovely island campsite just a little further on and, gladly, it was open. However, since the blowdown of 1999, it had drastically changed. We pitched tents among fallen trees and walked the long, log-strewn path to the open-air latrine. Our evening fire sparked instantly and was further inflamed by the ever-increasing winds. We needed to douse the fire to a respectable flame.

Keeping a wary eye on our fire, we nonetheless enjoyed a delicious dinner of chicken tenders, mushrooms, and onions sauted in butter and baked potatos.

Despite being on an island, we opted to keep the fire small rather than risk the winds taking sparks to the ample supply of downed wood surrounding us. Not having a fire to mesmerize us, combined with our early start that morning, long drive, and sore limbs from the vigorous paddle, we gladly sought sleep.

The winds whipped our tents all night. I remember hearing Bonnie call to Kate in their tent. I remember sitting straight up in our tent at one point, startled by the howling wind in the trees, trying to keep the ghosts of the 1999 blowdown at bay.