Day 4

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=185 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="04ab9c00dduajq.jpg"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="70" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 WIDTH="66"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="76" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="66" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="More Crew B"><U><B><<<BACK</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>TROOP 433</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TROOP 433"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="More Crew B"><U>More Crew B</U></A>   |   <B>Day 4</B>   |   <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 6"><U>Day 6</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 7"><U>Day 7</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id156.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 8"><U>Day 8</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id157.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 9"><U>Day 9</U></A></div> <div> <B>Day 4</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="cabf6a70.jpg" border=0 width="1014" height="679" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The theme for today was portage, portage, portage. I didn't take too many notes today because I was exhausted! We executed 16 portages in 18 miles traveled during a stretch of 12 1/2 hours! We decided to get up much earlier today because we knew it was going to be a long day. We left our Jasper campsite at a little past 6:00 a.m. Almost immediately, we did a 25 rod and 38 rod portage to get into Ogishkemung Lake where we navigated around many small islands.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="cad90070.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="263" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0">We were headed in a southerly direction toward a rough 80 rod portage into Mueller Lake and then an equally difficult 100 rod portage into Agamok Lake. The portage trails are generally pretty rocky. Care needs to be taken with every step, especially when you are carrying a 75 pound canoe. We came to realize that, to complete all these portages, we would have to carry the same items each and every time so that we wouldn't lose time in deciding who would carry what at each stop. So, the usual assignments went like this: Mr. Vogeli carried a food box and a canoe (our superman!), Mr. McCarthy took the other food box. Mr. Bailey took Kelsey's backpack and a canoe. John carried the "kettle". Glen took John's daybag and a canoe. Adam took a graywhale and Kelsey took the other graywhale. The toes on her right foot were suffering from foot rot or fungus, so we tried to keep the pressure off her feet and out of the water as best possible. She had started the trek carrying a canoe on the portages; but, we put a stop to that. Besides, she was too short, which she also complained about.</div> <bR> <div> Next came another 15 rod portage into Gabimichigami Lake, a huge lake where we caught a little more wind than what we were used to.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="caf4df40.jpg" border=0 width="333" height="500" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="cb152f40.jpg" border=0 width="338" height="500" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="cb3f4480.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="328" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="cb5f4480.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="328" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Then came a 25 rod into Kettle Lake and, almost immediately, a 30 rod into the Little Saganaga Lake, another large body of water with a lot of islands which made for careful navigating. Whenever it was practical, we tried to pull the canoes through the shorter connections to save some time loading and unloading gear. Then came two 19 rod portages into Elton Lake. Some of the small lakes were swampy with lots of lily pads and tall grass. We were on Elton Lake for about 2 miles before coming to a 60 rod portage into Makwa Lake. Less than an hour later, we did a 65 rod portage into an un-named small lake, then an 89 rod into the small Panhandle Lake and then a 55 rod into Pan Lake.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="cb72cc50.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="197" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="cb92cc50.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="197" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="cbb2cc50.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="197" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="cbd8b0b0.jpg" border=0 width="395" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="cbf950a0.jpg" border=0 width="405" height="266" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> After Pan Lake came a fairly level 60 rod portage into Anit Lake, then a 20 rod into Kinaniva Lake, a 25 rod into the Kawishiwi River, and finally, a 48 rod portage into an extension of the Malberg Lake. Kelsey mentioned that she had not been to this lake for quite some time. Her first choice for a campsite was already occupied, but we found a good second choice. It was now 6:30 p.m. Everyone took a well deserved swim to wash the sweat off and cool down. Mr. Bailey made the chicken & corn in pasta dinner after the campsite was set up. We went to bed early that night!</div> <div> However, at 2 a.m. the lightning started flashing in the sky. Mr. McCarthy raced out of his tent to pull his clothes off the line. Normally, we did not leave anything on the clothesline overnight because the overnight condensation would get everything wet again; but, Mr. Jack was so tired from the previous day that he was the first one asleep and had not taken his clothes in. Soon, the rain was coming down by the bucket. Our base-issued tents were up to the challenge! We all slept past our self-imposed 6:00 a.m. wake-up alarms. It was so noisy with the rain and loud thunder claps, that I don't think anyone could hear them!</div> <div> <B>Day 5</B></div> <div> The rain let up at around 7:30 a.m. and the skies looked liked they were brightening. Mr. B. made the breakfast which was instant farina; lots of individual envelopes were ripped open and added to the hot water. To perk up this bland mixture, the crew could have some squeezable parkay butter. We had two bottles of the stuff! We also had, in our bag of spices, cinnamon. This, along with some fruity breakfast bars and coffee, was the perfect camp breakfast. Then it started to rain again. We packed up everything, which was getting wet, broke camp and headed for the canoes. We were not going to have the same number or portages today; however, we were a little concerned about the 240 rod portage that we would be crossing.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="cc190070.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="263" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="cc3900a0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="266" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> We zig-zagged through Malberg Lake to a 67 rod portage back into the Kawishiwi River. By now, the weather had gotten much better. It wasn't very sunny, but at least it wasn't raining anymore. We headed south down the river, through a 20 rod "pull the canoes through" inlet. We continued for another mile to a very shallow inlet marking the end to the river. We had to portage a very mucky trail to join up to Alice Lake. In order to get into the lake, we first had to push the canoes over a well made beaver dam!</div> <div> <IMG SRC="cc50ba70.jpg" border=0 width="1035" height="679" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> During the swampy start of the lake, our boots were slowly sinking into the mud. We had to carefully break the suction in order to free ourselves! After the dam, we pulled through another 20 rod inlet and were finally in Alice Lake. We found the first campsite on our right side and stopped for lunch. Today, we had sausage & crackers with an assortment of different spreadable cheeses in small tubs. We had made the decision earlier in the trip that John's daybag would be used to hold that day's lunch. This enabled us to get the lunch out quickly without disturbing the food boxes left in the canoes. He also carried the wide knife from the kettle, the first aid kit, the bottle of sunscreen which we re-applied at lunch time everyday, and the bottle of insect repellent, which we ended up not really needing  in the middle of the day.</div> <div> After lunch, we started off into the very large Alice Lake with a goal of getting to Thomas Lake by the end of the day; but, Mother Nature had other plans. We hit a very strong headwind, possibly 40 - 50 knots. The waves on the lake were becoming more defined and a little higher. We all struggled to keep the waves from hitting the sides of the canoe which might cause us to take on water and swamp. Mr. Bailey had Glen in their canoe for this crossing and no matter how they maneuvered, the wind was pushing them into a cove on the east side of the lake. The campsite there had a beautiful sandy beach! The rest of the crew arrived shortly after, while the wind was still howling. Our first thought was to re-group and push on, but it was decided that, since it was already 3 p.m. and the wind showed no sign of letting up, we would make this our campsite for the evening.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="cc70bb10.jpg" border=0 width="1035" height="689" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="cc9f44d0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="333" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="0">We all went swimming off the sandy shore, without our boots on. This was generally a "no-no", but it was clearly evident that this was not a rocky area at all. Glen and his Dad found lots of clams later on and we entertained thoughts of cooking them. We set up the clothesline and dried everything that we had put away wet that morning in the rain. The wind was still blowing, so everything dried up very quickly.</div> <div> After our swim, a female U.S. Forest Ranger and her male volunteer companion canoed onto the beach. They were very friendly, but they were there to check that our crew had a permit and that Kelsey had her Interpreter license. If she didn't, she would have been fined $150.00. Mr. Bailey carefully peeled apart the wet permit and layed it in the sun to dry. The ranger checked it and gave us the okay. We invited them to stay for clams but, after chatting with us for about 30 minutes, they left to check on some other campsites.</div> <div> Well, the clams didn't get eaten; so Glen returned them to the water. Our dinner was tuna, peas, and shell pasta with cheese sauce. Yum!</div> <div> Since we had stopped much earlier in the day then the first four, we had a little extra time on our hands, so Kelsey taught Mr. McCarthy, Adam and John a card game called "Uecker". She described it as a game combining the strategy of "Hearts" and "War". After several practice hands to learn the rules, they were hooked! All four of them ended up playing that game every night until the end of the trip!</div> <div> Also, since we stopped early, the 240 rod portage would have to wait one more day. Counting today's nine miles traveled, we now totaled 69 miles! We agreed to a 4 a.m. wake-up call suggested by our crew leader, Adam. Now, if they would only put those cards away...</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="ccbf0b10.jpg" border=0 width="1008" height="689" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  </div> <div> On to <A HREF="id154.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 6"><U>Day 6...</U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>