Day 1 - Mudro Lake to Gun Lake (Wednesday, April 7)

8.7 miles, 7 portages

Taking advantage of the nice spring weather and early ice-out on the lakes, I packed up the canoe and headed out for a quick paddling trip. Heidi and I were originally going to do a backpacking trip along the Pow Wow Trail, but concern about a sore heel caused Heidi to rethink that. Instead, Heidi decided to camp up the Echo Trail while I canoed into the BWCA at Mudro Lake. The plan was to meet up at Angleworm Lake in a few days.

Starting off at the Mudro Lake entry point, BWCA #23. (click on any image for larger version)

On Wednesday morning I set out from the Mudro Lake entry point. I chose Mudro Lake because I had not yet traveled this area, and when the canoe season is in full swing it can get a little crowded here (crowded for the boundary waters, anyway). This morning there was only one truck in the parking lot.

Beginning the channel east into Mudro Lake.

Inuksuk on rock ledge along the channel heading east into Mudro Lake.

Canoeing the channel east into Mudro Lake.

View from point at north end of Mudro Lake.

This first day took me from Mudro Lake, across three portages to Fourtown Lake, and then over successive portages to Boot, Fairy and Gun Lakes. I setup camp on Gun Lake in the evening. My pace was leisurely, and I stopped often to take pictures. It's easy to forget the feeling of paddling in this paradise of quiet and solitude when you're away for any length of time.

Mudro Lake side of first 30 rod portage leading to Fourtown Lake.

Trail along southernmost 30 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Looking back (south) from the north landing of the southernmost 30 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Looking forward (north) from the north landing of the southernmost 30 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

The day's weather began cool and sunny and turned cloudy in the afternoon. The temperature reached the high forties, which is perfectly comfortable when doing the work of paddling and portaging. The steady north wind was in my face most of the way, making paddling a little tougher and the air feel a little cooler.

Looking forward (north) from the south landing of the middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Animal skull fragments found at the south landing of the middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Trail along middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Looking down at the stream along middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Pile of animal fur alongside middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Despite more than a year since my last overnight canoe trip, I quickly settled back into the rhythm of paddling and portaging. I was traveling with one CCS Pioneer Pack and a basic Kelty backpack. I double-portaged the gear, taking the canoe on the first carry, followed by the two packs on the second. I used the return trip across the portage to take pictures. I'm getting close to the point where I could single-portage the gear, but if I do that I wouldn't be able to take pictures and enjoy the surroundings. I'm conflicted as to whether single-portaging is a desirable goal for me.

Trail along middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Descending to the north landing of the middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Looking back (south) at the stream along middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

One of the few remaining patches of snow clings to a slope along middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Approaching the north landing of the middle 140 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Most of the day's portages were fairly easy, their beaten condition a benefit of a well traveled route. The middle portage (140 rods) between Mudro and Fourtown required the most effort, due mostly to its longer length, rocky trail and changes in elevation. The portage landing at the Fourtown end of the short (10 rod) portage that followed also required a little care, as its granite face drops steeply to the water.

View of stream along northernmost 10 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Looking south at stream along northernmost 10 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Descending to the north landing of the northernmost 10 rod portage connecting Mudro Lake to Fourtown Lake.

Looking back at Fourtown Lake from portage to Boot Lake.

Portage landing on the Fourtown Lake side of portage to Boot Lake.

Waterway just before Boot Lake side of portage from Fourtown Lake.

Portage landing on the Boot Lake side of portage from Fourtown Lake.

During the day's travel, I encountered a number of grouse, bald eagles, ducks, loons and beaver. There were many signs of wolves, but no large animals made themselves visible, not even a single human animal. On a number of occasions I heard the faint drumming of grouse. In the evening at camp, a loon, still decked out in its winter plumage, made an attempt at its signature call, but it sounded out of practice. Shortly after climbing into my sleeping bag for the night, a beaver thumped the water several times near the shore. Then the night went dark and silent.

Portage landing on the Fairy Lake side of portage to Gun Lake.

Another pile of animal fur along portage trail connecting Fairy Lake and Gun Lake.

Wolf or coyote scat on portage trail connecting Fairy Lake and Gun Lake.