11-AUG-2006
Day 6 - Friday, August 11
We get to Rum Lake and it is a very small, intimate lake. However, we discover that our campsite (#42) has been occupied by another group (we had seen this group on Day 1 as they were heading up the portage from Kibbee Lake to Indianpoint Lake) and they are not present when we arrive. Merlin says he saw them heading over to Cariboo Falls so they should be returning in a while. He tells us to go ahead and set up where possible--he would use the satellite phone to contact the registration desk and solve the conflict. He headed out to try to get reception and had to go all the way back to Unna Lake before connecting. Pathways always uses the same group campsites and basically has first dibs when the book opens in December so there is an obvious mixup. While we wait, we decide it's a good day to take a bath! Barry, Patty, Susan and I suit up and dive in to get cleaned up. I wash my body as much as I can in a lake and a bathing suit and wash my hair as well. It felt WONDERFUL! We get out, dry off, get dressed again and wait a bit more for the group to return. Since the falls is a highlight of the trip, we decide we can't miss it. Cheryl will take Barry, Patty, Susan and I as soon as the conflict is resolved. The other group returns and the two women who appear to be in charge are pissed. I can't really blame them as this is by far the nicest campsite we've seen and they are all set up. But we all sit back and let Merlin and Cheryl deal with it. He worked it out with them and in the meantime we left to go to the falls.
11-AUG-2006
Day 6 - Friday, August 11
By the time we leave, it is almost 7pm. We paddle across Rum Lake in two canoes and start through the channel leading to Unna Lake when we see a moose cow nonchalantly grazing at the Unna Lake end of the channel. She looks up and sees us but makes no move to go anywhere. Moose can be very dangerous and we can't see if she has a calf. After a couple minutes, we try to scare(?) her by tapping our paddles on the gunnels and waving our paddles in the air. Eventually she lets us pass within 20 feet of her and we paddle to the end of Unna Lake.
11-AUG-2006
Day 6 - Friday, August 11
Here's another shot of our close encounter with the wildlife. Sorry it's not very clear. We were trying to pass quickly and quietly so as not to disturb her further. Kind of hard to be multi-tasking in that situation.
11-AUG-2006
Day 6 - Friday, August 11
After our encounter, we paddled across to the other end of Unna Lake. We hiked 10-15 minutes to Cariboo Falls. It was getting late so the photos I took didn't do this waterfall justice. I don't know if there is another trail to the bottom which would have been the more ideal photo vantage. The falls did make me think about the crossing we'd be making first thing the next day--against the current, on the Cariboo River that leads to these falls--to get to our portage at Babcock Creek. I snapped a few pics and we were back on the trail headed back to our canoes, camp and dinner.
11-AUG-2006
Day 6 - Friday, August 11
Tonight it is quiet and warmer--maybe because we are by a smaller lake? Too bad nobody wants to stay up and do some stargazing. I'm sure they are spectacular. And, on a night we could have used it, the daylight fades fast and it gets dark earlier. HA! Once again I am writing these thoughts in my tent after everyone else has turned in. But this time my most prevalent thought is that I only have to sleep in this sleeping bag for one more night after this night! I am so thankful it has not been very cold for the duration of this trip as I have been tormented by the mummy bag. I will be so glad to sleep in my own bed again. It is 10:40pm when I turn my light off.
