BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 2 of 3)

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area – BWCA located within the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota provides a truly unique vast wilderness experience. It’s huge expanse of lakes intertwined with random portages expedites an amazing opportunity like no other for a wilderness adventure! Follow along on our BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE!

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“Nature is one of the most underutilized treasures in life. It has the power to unburden hearts and reconnect to that inner place of peace.”

— Janice Anderson

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The Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) located within the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota offers adventure, wilderness, canoeing, portaging and camping opportunities. These wilderness adventures should NOT be entered into lightly. Careful planning alongside skilled guidance from others of experience or a professional outfitter’s preparation and route plan are essential to a successful outcome. Even the most skilled, prepared, experienced travelers can experience peril!

Our family has been traveling within the BWCA for 20+ years. This hiking (portaging) trip into the wilderness involves navigation of a series of lakes. We fish to eat, and move camp as we go. My first trip was the first summer after I married my husband in 1997. His family had already learned the “smart way” to experience this rugged wilderness through other’s expertise as well as through trial and error.

Each year a new way to be smarter or wiser evolves in the group of no more than 9 people and 4 canoes (permit restrictions). From lighter more efficient packed gear, to tastier and easier food ideas, each year we discover new ways of improving the ease of the trips. Greater enjoyment is found through ease of packing when portaging a lighter, smarter pack!

Another BWCA Adventure can be found here: CLICK HERE!

Here are other blog posts of similar adventures in the BWCA:

BWCA-PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE: (PART 1 OF 3 PART SERIES)

BWCA-PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE: (PART 2 OF 3 PART SERIES)

BWCA-PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE: (PART 3 of 3 PART SERIES)

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PROLOGUE:

If one has never ventured into the BWCA on a circuit of wilderness over the course of several days, you just really have no idea what you are in for…

Well, one must consider the perils of nature first and foremost. Horrific storms have been known to blow into the BWCA from out of nowhere and blow massive trees over on campers. Wind storms have been known to take canoes right up off land and hurl them into the lake stranding campers. Lightning strikes have sparked forest fires that have burned thousands of acres and trapped people in the wilderness. Bear, moose, wolves, and other wild animals are present and must be respected with proper care of your provisions.

Awareness of your surroundings and ALWAYS tying off your canoe when on shore are essential behaviors. So many things can go wrong when you are 3 days away from your vehicle that is parked 2 hours away from civilization and no cell signal! One miss-step can alter the entire “planned trip” if leaving to seek medical attention is required.

The BWCA can be a dangerous place for BOTH those that are unfamiliar with it AND for those that are experienced. Proper respect for the WILDERNESS is necessary at all times. A leave no trace mentality must be observed.

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If you have not read Part #1 of this series then click here to read: BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 1 of 3 part series)

If you have not read Part #3 of this series then click here to read: BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 3 of 3 part series)

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BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 2 of 3)

BWCA 2021 SETTLING INTO CAMP

Each trip into the wilderness has different dynamics based on who is in your exploration group for that week. This trip was no different. It is always so much fun to see the shenanigans that coincide with each experience! This group did not disappoint. We had so much fun watching BOYS be BOYS! They were very entertaining! The quantity of food that was consumed was staggering! These hungry boys burning all those wilderness excursion calories needed to be fueled up! Thank goodness for Chef Joe! We ate like KINGS! The way our camp evolved with our HAMMOCK CITY and nesting around the “KITCHEN” made us all SMILE!

Each activity and group discussion to make decisions was considered and voted on to determine our course of action! The whole process was very entertaining! I love studying how others make choices and what factors are considered that lead to the eventual outcomes. These young men were so much fun to be around and enjoy!

 

2021 BWCA WHOLE TRIP VIDEO

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PART 2:

BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 2 of 3)

Day 3 CHEROKEE LAKE to LONG ISLAND LAKE BEACH ADVENTURE

(Approximately 7.4 miles round trip) (82 rods through 4 portages hiking round trip)

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Today the camp decision was to head up to Long Island Lake to explore, fish for our dinner, and try to locate a beautiful sandy beach that Joe had previously researched prior to this trip. This would make a great swim stop during the heat of the day and provide a picnic spot for our traveling lunch!

We headed out traveling North towards the 13 rod portage into Gordon Lake. Paddling the length of Gordon and fishing its very long length we portaged another 28 rods again into Long Island River that feeds into Long Island Lake after another 5 rod portage.

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Long Island Lake is vast. Swimming and lunch were enjoyed and extensive fishing commenced. We explored only a minimal amount of it. Many peninsulas of land, coves, and islands can be found here in this big area of water. It was a fun adventure before we finally turned back and continued fishing and exploring our retraced path back to our camp!

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Protein for dinner!

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“God is discovered entirely through creation – the brilliance of a sunset, the powerful roar of a waterfall, the symphony of sounds you hear in the heart of the forest, or the vastness of space and its countless stars.”

— Benjamin Sullivan

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BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 2 of 3)

DAY 4 – CHEROKEE LAKE to TOWN LAKE

(4.4 miles round trip) (20 rods through 2 portages hiking round trip)

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The early morning fishermen fished in the fog of dawn. Others chose to sleep late and rest up before a BIG PANCAKE BREAKFAST with bacon was prepared. I love mornings in the wilderness enjoyed with a steaming cup of coffee to welcome the sounds of the wilderness awakening in surrounding chirps, splashes and loon calls! Beautiful natural music of life!

Today we are exploring a lake off to the East of Cherokee Lake. A 10 rod portage takes us over to Town Lake to fish and explore. The quiet majesty of this area is awe inspiring!

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Exploration of the map shows that Town Lake (through a series of sheer cliff portages of 110 rods, some paddling, 75 rods, some more paddling, and 45 rods and a bit more paddling) leads to Cam Lake. This followed by another 100 rod portage connects to the mighty BRULE LAKE. I dread BRULE. We had a harrowing experience on BRULE (REALLY BIG WATER with equally BIG WAVES in unexpected storms or weather that can blow in terrifyingly fast.) I’m not a fan of BRULE.

However….there is a really interesting lake located just off this portage on Brule called WENCH LAKE that Joe was interested in seeing. He really wanted to go explore there. The good news we discovered revealed that this lake was also accessible another way through the Temperance Lakes on our trip scheduled for tomorrow. So, this became Joe’s excursion for tomorrow from the other way around!

 

 

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“I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful an endless prospect of magic and wonder.“

Ansel Adams

The sunset was spectacular, the night peaceful, and the sunrise beautiful from my hammock!

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BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 2 of 3)

DAY 5 – CHEROKEE LAKE to SOUTH TEMPERANCE

(9.2 miles round trip) (600 rods through 6 portages hiking round trip)

WENCH LAKE EXCURSION

(5.6 additional miles) (120 additional rods through 4 portages hiking round trip)

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Early morning today! We have lots of exploring to do! Fishing for our supper is the plan too! We head out down the entire length of Cherokee Lake dodging in an around the many islands to find the 140 rod portage through (or around because of low water) Snub Lake into Sitka Lake. Paddling, this leads to the 105 rod portage into North Temperance. We fished this lake extensively. The fish were not really biting today. Odd. We moved down (55 rod portage) into South Temperance and began exploring.

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Joe and his son left for their excursion into Wench Lake. They would travel the length of South Temperance to the East through a channel and a 10 rod portage out into a bay from the body of BRULE then up and around a peninsula of land into Wench. A cascade of rocks uphill leads into this unchartered lake. Joe was so giddy with excitement to forage of on his own with his son to do this excursion.

Typically on these wilderness trips a group should never separate in the wilderness like this. Danger lurks at every turn or peril can befall someone where they find themselves in need of help. We had made pre-arrangements to meet back at a certain time, knew where they were headed, and had a plan in place of what we would do if they did not return to us on South Temperance by a certain time, so we proceeded with this plan in place.

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South Temperance was filled with many interesting places to explore! The campsite on the South end near the Temperance River portage was magnificent! The view from the campsite was one of the best I’ve seen! WOW! So much fun to explore these cool places and discover all that nature offers!

We fished South Temperance and explored all the camp sites and island areas with the boys in the other two canoes and had a great day of wilderness exploring and fishing until our 4th canoe returned at the appointed time.

The fishing on South Temperance was not successful. The lakes have changed since our last time in this location. No loons, eagles, minnows scattering when your canoe skims across towards shore. It was odd. Perhaps the impact from the low water, forest fires affecting the ph balance of the water? Not sure.

Never-the-less we ate lunch, enjoyed nature, played with an otter not happy to have us sitting on his “HOME ROCK” and enjoyed the day until it was time to retrace our chartered course. We headed back to Cherokee Lake following our path from earlier in the day.

 

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BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 2 of 3)

EVENINGS IN THE WILDERNESS

God travels with each of us daily! He is listening. Start your day talking to Him. Share your burdens, ask for His guidance, plead with Him for wisdom. Put on your protective “armor” each day. Earthly distractions overwhelm. Let God’s grace be a comfort daily. Seek an inner-stillness quest! Enjoy His gifts even through His creation, like a dragonfly!

Try to find beauty in ALL of His creation. Seek quiet for contemplation and introspection often. Others diminish us daily. Refill your cup with assurances of His promises. Don’t let others steal your joy! Don’t judge them. Love them right where they are at in their walk with HIM. Pray for them and forgive them even through their hurt of you. IT’S HARD!

Dig deep and try, even when you don’t want to…do it! It is God’s command that we Love our neighbors as we Love ourselves. Forgive them and move on. Their choice is behave how they choose to behave. Your choice is behave how you are instructed to behave! Try to focus on this!

Take God along with you throughout each day, don’t shut Him out by not including Him in your life. Especially in these crazy COVID days, seek His guidance, comfort, and peace. His grace IS ENOUGH!

We were truly blessed to have this experience again this summer. What a great respite from hand sanitizer and masks! It was such a blessing to get off the crazy COVID train for a short period and feel normal with a group of amazing people!

Are you able to figure out a way to keep your sanity amidst all the angst of COVID? Where have you been? What have you done to provide a respite from this ordeal for your family? How are you doing coping?

Leave me a reply below. I really would like to hear from you!

Inspirationally Yours,

Barbara

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BIO: https://www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com/about-us/

About Me

A 1993 graduate of Michigan State University, Barbara earned a BS in Social Science Pre-Law. She is a Business Manager/HR Director. Her passion is travel, discovering new places, experiences, cuisine, cultures while enjoying temperate climates. Barbara is a newly transitioning empty-nester who became a travel blogger. She’s a great photographer, talented writer, and has a great family to highlight in her high school/college athlete football sons.

WEBSITE: www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com

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BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 2 of 3)

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Pin it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures – #10

BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 1 of 3)

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BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 1 of 3)

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Pin it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures – #10

BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 1 of 3)

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BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 1 of 3)

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Pin it for later: Inspirational Travel Adventures – #10

BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 1 of 3)

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BWCA – CHEROKEE LAKE ADVENTURE : (Part 1 of 3)

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