Of Wind, Water, & Wilderness
Bill Kuntze
Discussing the canoe, John is willing to make a swim for it. There are three islands interspaced along the one half mile span. I am not concerned with his ability, but more so with the temperature of the water and time of exposure. I suggested an overland approach, crossing the channel from the island to the mainland and then the narrows into Jack Lake. The distance would be about two miles. The decision was made in the morning to make the hike. The channel to the mainland was nothing more than a mud flat covered by three feet of water and the narrows into Jack Lake could be stepped across on the scattered boulders. We were back to the campsite with the canoe in an hour and a half.
Bentpine Lake had been planned as a fishing destination. Having an interesting shoreline, many islands, exposed granite and large trees, it is a pleasant location to spend a layover. There had been enough adventure for one day however and we decide to take advantage of much improved weather conditions and push for Badwater Lake. Moving on without at least trying to catch a fish seemed unfitting to our brief stay. A rocky point at the entrance of the southern most bay looked to be as good a place as any to wet a line. John succeeded in landing the first of his several "travel day" walleyes.
The outbound route to Badwater Lake offers up a variety of scenery. Trail Creek flows through a wide bog between Trail and Little Pine Lakes. Beaver sign is very abundant, including the sweet scent of its castor glands. In addition to its use in attracting mates, the beaver leaves its scent on top of constructed mounds to mark territory. Also abundant throughout the bog are pitcher plants. Its leaves growing in a manner to catch and hold water, the plant attracts bugs which crawl in and are unable to escape. The body of the insect decomposes and provides nutrition to the plant.
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