07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
Today we will start with a 2km (1.24 mi) portage from Kibbee Lake to Indianpoint Lake. We will paddle for about 45 minutes the length of Indianpoint Lake to another 1.6km (1 mi) portage from Indianpoint Lake to Isaac Lake. After that we will paddle again for a while and then have lunch at campsite #12, then proceed to campsite #14 where we will spend the night at Wolverine Bay.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
We start off the day repacking all our gear and eating a breakfast of yogurt, granola, strawberries, coffee, tea, hot chocolate or any combo of the previous (I like coffee with hot chocolate mixed in for a "poor woman's mocha"). Then, we hit the portage trail. It starts out at a pretty good slope--this photo does not really do the incline justice--and is pretty good with few roots and rocks along the way.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
What goes up must come down. Keeping control of a loaded canoe headed downslope is not as easy as it might seem. But we are all thankful for any downward slope of any kind as the canoes kind of "walk themselves" during these brief stretches of trail.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
The water filter is readily available for refilling our thirst depleted water bottles. This is a very slick tool that saves us from the giardia lamblia intestinal parasite that is commonly found in lakes and streams in Western Canada. If infected, it can cause giardiasis (also known as beaver fever) which can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and weight loss, not something you want to have to worry about when you're canoeing from site to site (and outhouse to outhouse) each day.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
After our first portage, we paddle for about 45 minutes across Indianpoint Lake. It is good to be on the water--we KNOW there are no hills but another portage is up ahead.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
The end of our second portage of the day brings us to Isaac Lake. We will spend the next three nights on Isaac (NO portages!) and over the next 2.5 days paddle 38km (23.61 mi).
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
Biting butterfly? There were many butterflies all over the circuit, and when we stopped for lunch on this day, one decided to stop and light on my arm. Someone said that these were the biting kind of butterfly but as far as I know, it didn't bite me.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
Avalanche scars on the mountains were quite common. And yes, the water really was that color--the most incredible clear blue green you've ever seen.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
We arrived at campsite #14 and set up camp. My tent is the one in the center. Our campsites usually have 5-7 tent pads, and each campsite has a firepit, outhouse and bear-proof food cache. Wood is supposed to be supplied at specific places along the circuit, but at this site we had no real wood supply other than what we could scrounge from the surrounding forest. The outhouse was also VERY stinky.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
Found nearby my tent. Any guesses as to what it is? Moose poop! Saw the poop but not the moose.
07-AUG-2006
Day 2 - Monday, August 7
View of Wolverine Bay from over the top of my tent.
I didn't sleep very well the night before--many things adding to the sleeplessness--the sleeping bag I rented from Pathways was a mummy bag and it was so constricting, it drove me crazy; first night out--hearing scratching sounds outside my tent (wondering if it is a bear--or some other creature); the brightness of the night (it sure didn't get very dark); sleeping on the ground; I could go on...
Anyway, on this night I slept pretty good. Barry and Patty came and got me to make a run to the outhouse at 1:30am--Thank You! Afterwards, I laid awake listening to the wind in the trees above and the needles falling on my tent. Soon though, the gentle falling of the needles gave way to RAIN. By the time daybreak came, rain was falling steadily.
