I can't seem to get by wanting to write about the last day first....so here goes.
We stayed on a big island in Birch Lake our last night out. We arrived early and were all set up when the skies darkened and a big storm blew in from the west (This was the night MN got so many tornadoes down south). Luckily we were on the lee side of the island and had it pretty comfortable. I watched a party across from us on a BWCA campsite get ready for the coming storm...they handily moved their tarp from the quiet side of the point to what would become the windy side of the point, and I think they were trying to cover their fire place as it was getting on to dinner time. When the wind came up their tarp was wild, then it poured rain and blew in under their tarp so they all abandoned the spot and went into their tents.
Mike (our friend along with us) had his tent and tarp set up further out on the point we were on. As it blew and rained his set up got closer and closer to the ground until it was flat and soon everything underneath was soaked. He ended up moving into Dan's tent and scrounging a couple small blankets/towels to use for a cover for the night.
The next morning was a beautiful sunny day but windy and getting windier as we had breakfast. We found a spot behind a patch of thick small Balsam trees to cook breakfast, then packed up to leave. The wind was blowing right into our site now, so we had to quickly put the loaded kayaks into the water and jump in before another wave dumped into the boat or tipped us. The wind was a little southwest so we went to the south shore and followed it up to Birch portage. The wind still hadn't got to peak velocity so although it was a hard paddle it wasn't impossible.
We found Birch portage busy with campers coming and going, and waiting for the tow boats which drop folks off and pick them up at the portage. We moved our stuff across and re-loaded. Here the wind was howling across Sucker Lake into the bay we were putting in at.
I was last off the shore. A fellow standing on shore watching us helped me by pushing me into the water off the ledge rock. It was a rather feeble push and I ended up grounded on part of the rock, waves crashing in around me, but finally got pushed off. Meanwhile three canoes of Boy Scouts and their leaders where up against shore, being bashed by the waves, and waiting patiently for me to get out of the way. Their eyes were pretty big when I got stuck momentarily, I think they thought I would go over and end up piled into shore with them. They took their minds off their own situation long enough for one canoe full of leaders to dump just as I got going.
It took forever to clear the little bay and point, the paddling was nearly impossible by now. We finally got out around the point and made our way to the south shore for a little relief from the wind. It was barely any relief but we were actually making headway; we had skirts on our kayak cockpits so even though the waves were regularly going over our decks, the water was shedding off and not into the boats. Later we wondered why more people do not use canoe covers in weather like that....it would have saved several who ended up swimming their canoes to shore that day.
So with supreme effort we made our way down Sucker Lake and down Newfound past Horseshoe island, after that there was NO relief from the wind which was funelling down the lakes at full throttle. Other canoes were trying hard to make their way back to Moose Lake. If it was hard for us, it had to be doubly so for them in high sided canoes catching the wind. It was so windy that you didn't dare allow yourself to go sideways to it or it would whip you around end to end instantly. As we continued, almost touching shore in hope of getting some relief from the gusts, we saw at least three canoes swamp or tip over, right out in the middle of the lake. It was dumb of them to be out there at all. Dan has had water rescue training to save overturned kayaks and was compelled to go help, but thought better of it, knowing there was little or nothing he could do. Apparently someone called on a cell phone to the outfitters on Moose, because in about 20 minutes there were several tow boats there to fish the swimmers out of the water.
As we approached the small islands and narrow channel leading into Moose Lake we found several large canoe parties hauled up onto shore and tow boats picking them up. We so wanted to join them and get a ride back, but now we had almost finished and we kept on. Coming around the point we got into the biggest waves yet, easily 4 feet between trough and top of wave. We would float over one wave, then bury the point of the kayak into the next and be hit by a bucket of water in the face and chest. It is the worst and hardest paddling I have ever done and obviously nearly impossible for anyone in a canoe. I tip my hat to the few guys who had managed to paddle that stretch in a canoe; and a couple men were paddling with youngsters as their partners and undoubtedly had to do the brunt of the work and one was solo in a kevlar canoe
We started at nine in the morning and finished at the public landing at four in the afternoon
It took me about four days to recover my energy after we were home. Both Dan and Mike (27 and 30) were exhausted too, so I was feeling good about my performance.
I'll continue with the whole Bushwacker trip report next....
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Bushwhackers Jamboree 2010...Location & dates... (Read 69427 times)
