May 2022 found Kyle and I headed back east, towards Minnesota for a trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. For the first time in about 9 years it was just Kyle and I headed into the wilderness. Our entrance point was on Snowbank, a new lake for us. I navigated to our first portage (it took forever even though we only had 2 miles to go). After the first portage I told Kyle to continue with the navigation; it was far too stressful for me. We travelled over 12 miles that day to a beautiful open campsite on Lake Ima. That evening we tried bobber fishing from shore but nothing was biting.
Day 2
Day 2 we left Ima and travelled 9 miles to Insula. It took us a while to find an open site on Insula as the lake was fairly popular and a good many sites were flooded from all the rain/snow melt earlier in the year. Of the 9 miles we travelled, it included 6 portages, the longest being 180 rods and the shortest was 10 rods (one rod is a canoe length or 16.5 feet). As we paddled through lakes we tried our hand at fishing and trolled most of Thomas Lake. We were hoping a Lake Trout or two would bite. Although we snagged a few boulders and logs, nothing else was tempted by our lures.
Day 3
Day 3 was fishing day. There was a narrow channel near our site with a current and we were determined to fish it out. After exhausting our efforts up and down, all around the channel without a single bite, we cut our losses and moved on.
We paddled along the lake to the bottom of some rapids and threw out an anchor to do some casting. Still no bites. I was beginning to think we wouldn’t have any luck fishing at all this trip. Were there even any fish in these lakes?? For a change of scenery and a walk, we took the portage up the rapids, launched the canoe and tried fishing up top. After 20-30 minutes, I finally had a bite! Fish was on! Kyle and I had so much fun fishing all afternoon; catching walleye and releasing them. We did end up keeping 4 to eat. What a fun day!
Day 4
We had a leisurely morning and enjoyed the sunrise from our campsite on Insula. It was bittersweet leaving this wonderful campsite. The pull of the unexplored proved too much for us. Camp was packed and before we knew it, we were both paddling away. We had only planned to travel to the south end of the lake lake however, that portion had suffered badly from the affects of the Pagami Creek Fire in 2011 and many of the campsites were scrubby, overgrown, grassy and not inspiring in anyway.
Through the last 10 years of camping in the wilderness Kyle and I have become campsite snobs. There are features we love to see and those we loathe to see in a campsite. All the open campsites on this lake were filled with the features we loathe so on we paddled. The day quickly turned cold, windy and rainy. Campsites and portages alike were flooded and muddy. We kept hoping that the campsite around the corner would be acceptable for a night or two. Just one more mile, then one more portage and there were two decent (on the map) campsite options. These campsites were near running water too, a favorite fishing feature of ours. One muddy and slippery portage later we found the campsites, the one was acceptable and of course was occupied.
Paddling on and on and on
Our search continued. On we paddled. The day was getting longer, as we were getting hungrier. We decided to take a detour through the numbered lakes in the hopes of avoiding crowds and finding an open campsite. Our proposed route would take us by 4 potential campsites. Campsite 1 we almost missed it was so overgrown. Campsites 2 and 3 looked decent and were taken. Now we had one long portage into a lake with only one campsite, I told myself chances are it was a crappy site and it would be taken (lose, lose). We portaged 170 rods anyway; the only other option was to paddled back the way we came and back around the loop. We portaged right into an open campsite, and it was beautiful. 3 star (out of 4) rating by the Kelly and Kyle BWCAW offical rating system (yes we’ve perfected it). Kyle and I were absolutely exhausted when we arrived. We had not planned on spending the entire day paddling, portaging and passing so many 0 star campsites.
First Kyle helped me setup the tent, then he setoff to prepare dinner while I setup our home for the night complete with comfy down sleeping bags and sleeping pads. We didn’t even try to fish from shore even though we had a wonderful shoreline that evening. An early bedtime tucked into our tent was definitely in order.
Day 5
The next morning we woke up refreshed, I started boiling water for coffee and hot cocoa. When Kyle emerged from the tent I encouraged him to throw a bobber out on shore while we got breakfast going. I truly wasn’t expecting anything to come from it, but thought we might as well try!
Not even five minutes later, Kyle pulled this little beauty out of the lake! Breakfast was immediately put on hold while another rod was outfitted for me and we both fished the morning away.
After years and years fishing out here, I had never caught a sunfish (one of my favorite fish to catch). I was so excited! We caught sunny after sunny until we had our fill for a meal. Kyle quickly fileted them up and we had the most delicious brunch. Later we canoed around our lake trolling and casting searching for more delicious sunnies. Not a single bite was had. We returned back to our site, casted some more and what do you know, Kyle caught a bass and some more sunnies!
The fish frenzy was back on! What an evening we had trying to outfish each other, and catch fish at the sametime. We ended up at this site by sheer luck and had zero expectations. Truly funny how life works out sometimes.
Day 6
We made our way out of the BWCAW and back into civilization the next morning. It was a very pleasant and peaceful morning padding through the last of the wilderness. Once at the entrance/exit point, Kyle walked/ran back to our van (about 4 miles). Our loop in the wilderness brought us out at a different exit point than where we entered. I stayed with our gear while Kyle made the trek back to the Snowbank parking lot. While I waited another group was also leaving the wilderness (luckily their vehicle was at this parking lot). I chatted with them and helped them pack up some of their gear. They offerred me a beer and one for Kyle too (when he got back). They even offerred to pick him up if they ran across him on the road. I gave the strangers a physical description of Kyle and send them on their way.
Not even 10 minutes later Kyle returned to me with the van. We made our way into town and grabbed a meal at the Ely Steakhouse (another favorite tradition). After we were stuffed, we of course wanted ice cream, so we walked to the ice cream shop. At the shop, one of the strangers recognized Kyle (not me who he actually saw and talked to) by my description of him and stopped to chat and ask Kyle how his walk was. After exchanging pleasantries we bid our goodbyes (again). Kyle and I then decided to take the lovely drive to the North Shore and go rock climbing. On our way we called Jake and Kat who we knew would be up there that weekend. We met up with them in time for a few evening climbs on top of Palisade head.
Rock Climbing
Whilst at Palisade that evening, I was running to the van for a sweatshirt and some other layers when I heard my name yelled through the parking lot. Haley, Eric and Tanner had just arrived to climb and Haley was running over to hug me! I had no idea they were up north that weekend and Haley had no idea I was even back in MN. It was a series of so many fortunate happy events I couldn’t have dreamt up a better scenario if I tried. That evening Kyle and I spent hours reminscing with all of our friends.
The next morning brought rain which was fine with Kyle and I as we were on a mission to make it to a family gathering in Staples that afternoon/evening. Our cousins’ graduation party was happening and Kyle and I were excited to surprise his family with showing up. We bid our farewells to friends and hit the road south. It was SO fun surprising our family and catching up with so many that we haven’t seen for months!