Appology not required (We still had fun), but accepted.

Thanks,
Hex

Wow!  What an effort.  While everyone was gone, I kept anticipating some exciting trip reports and tall tales upon your return.  This, however, is more exciting and interesting than I could have imagined.  It is wonderful to know that the Quetico is still wilderness country.  This is why we love it so much!

Keep the stories coming.  Everyone should feel proud!!!!

Reyn

Jimbo,
We did just what pghportager said in our decision making.

Stumpy (Ed),
Did you make the trek into Swartman lake?  If so, how are the pictos?

Hex

Pics of Stumpy Lake aka Sucker Lake-

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Towards the north shore from our south shore campsite.  Up to the end of the channel and to the left/west is a bog/tamarack area that leads out towards the northern arm of the creek to Cairn.  The treeline of the creek valley was visible from the tip of the lake.  I should have taken a picture of that, but we were looking for fish with our gear back at camp.

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Towards the east shore of the lake from the south shore.  all of the lakes we went through on our way from Kawnipi to Stumpy lake had low, rounded rock/boulder shorelines.

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Same view of the eastern shore near sunset.

Great pictures Pghportager,
That shoreline in the second photo is where I had hoped to have the gathering...my nephew exclaimed "You could fit a lodge there!".

Make no mistake about it folks, Hex and gang took the tougher and more adventurous way in. That's the way I had planned to go in this time...thinking no one else would "back door" it. I had planned to camp Tuesday night on that first lake 200 feet up off of Kawnipi. We actually got out of our canoe and stood next to Hex's canoes late Tuesday afternoon. The weather and hoped for surprise aproach made me decide to move on.

3 years ago I carried my grumman standard to the bushwhack lake from the Cairn lake creek, and made it in about 40 minutes. That was when I saw it was a good lake for the event.
So I thought "no problem" going in that way this time.
We had packed a heavey camp....all the ussual gear, depth finder, steaks, bacon & egg breakfasts...etc...  So I thought the short route would be smarter.
We started into the forked creek at 1:00 PM Wed. heading to the north fork...but water levels were lower than 3 years ago even with all the rain (there must have been a new beaver dam upstream).
While pulling the Grumman and three packs over log after log while my crew was walking the high ground, I had a paricularly high log to drag over. That's when my lower back went "PING"....getting old !
I tried to ignore it as I was hell bent, and at that point we headed east over the ridges.
We headed in slightly south of where I had crossed 3 years before and I after the bulk of the ridges were crossed I was surprised by a few more smaller ridges which I did'nt recall. This caused uneasiness in my party...plus me in pain the whole way.
I'm sure now, we were at least 3/4 the way there when one in our party did'nt want to go further. Our water was gone and I agreed to head back to the safety of Cairn. The group must stay together !

NOBODY on this board was more let down by this than I. I still can't get over being a no-show at the BWR 2005.

I had carried the food pack and Grumman standard weight, to that point...my nephew helped me out, carrying the food pack, back to Cairn.
Young children at home, weighed heavily on our minds when we accepted turning back.
The next day, my nephew Tim and I hiked in and saw how close we had come. We built 2 rock Cairns on the east shore, took a panaramic photo, yelled out for Jimbo, QP, K, WW, said a prayer that no one was "stuck" out there and headed back.

2 days later, on Cutty lake, Rangeline sunk 2 treble hooks (4 barbed hooks total) deep in his the back of his head. I cut the lure free and poured gin (which I had brought with for the Jamboree guys...I don't touch the stuff) over it.
We broke camp on Cutty that day (Saturday) at 12:20 PM and pulled up at Prairie Portage with all our gear at 11:10 PM....33 miles and 16 portages in 10 hours and 50 minutes, all against tough wind, which did'nt even let up in the dark. The moon helped us.
We had run across scouts on North Bay who radioed ahead for us for a tow from Williams & Hall. He was in the Ely hospital by 12:30 AM, and is doing fine.

I do so hope to meet you all at a plattyfest one day.

Congratulations again to Hex and gang...and a gutsy route out of Bushwhack lake also !

Thanks again to all of you....my friends......Ed