{"id":3159,"date":"2011-12-01T12:08:05","date_gmt":"2011-12-01T16:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/?page_id=3159"},"modified":"2015-06-15T08:17:58","modified_gmt":"2015-06-15T13:17:58","slug":"boundary-waters-canoe-trip-2011","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/boundary-waters-canoe-trip-2011","title":{"rendered":"Boundary Waters Canoe Trip 2011"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just back from a challenging trip to the BWCA<\/a> with my friend Ross. [photo gallery 1<\/a>, photo gallery 2<\/a>] We had intended to start on the Sawbill Trail<\/strong>, but were told to evacuate just as we got there due to the rapidly expanding\u00a0Pagami Creek Fire<\/strong>. (Satellite photos show this plume forming in less than two hours!<\/a>)<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There was a very strong west wind and the fire had doubled in less than 24 hours. [video<\/a>] So we headed for the Gunflint Trail<\/strong> and the extreme NE corner of the park. The shore of Lake Superior<\/strong> was still smokey, but we found clear air as we drove north. We entered at East Bearskin<\/strong> and after two short portages we established a base camp on Canoe Lake<\/strong>. [map<\/a>] This turned out to be an excellent choice. Canoe is a smaller lake with great views and we had a pair of resident loons<\/strong> who were still wailing and laughing even though the breeding season was over.<\/p>\n

We had a chance to get setup before<\/strong> it started raining. Then the rain came in bands with sun shafts and rainbows<\/strong> in between. “Better than a big screen TV” I said to my friend.<\/p>\n

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Over the next two days we endured rain<\/strong>, sleet<\/strong>, freezing temps<\/strong>, and SNOW<\/strong>! But the lake water was warm and our gear held up well.<\/p>\n