Rewind is a series where I share about my past trips and experiences. Like watching an old video on a VHS tape, it gives the photos and memories stuck in limbo a chance to see the light of day once again.
I can’t believe that 2016 is already 3 years ago. My very first trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area was the summer of 2016, and I still think about it all the time. The following photos and memories are some of my favorites from this trip. If you’re not careful these lakes and islands will run away with your heart, and this wilderness certainly ran away with mine.
Old Yellow Truck
Somewhere off of Fernburg Road sits an old yellow truck. It blends in with its surroundings as the forest reclaims the metal and glass only to leave sticks and mud in their place. I ask my parents to pull over and I run out to snap a photo. What stories could this truck tell? Where has it been and how did it end up here at the end of the road?
Fog
I wake up early and rub the sleep from my eyes. I tap my watch to see that it is indeed 4:30am as I make my way out to load the canoes. The fog lifts off the lake like a soft spectral creature and embraces the little island out in the bay. The water, the fog, the sun coming up just over the horizon, it all seems to still be a dream. I rub my eyes again just to make sure I’m truly awake.
Fishing
We catch lunch while out on one of the islands in Lake One. It is mostly just panfish, the mayflies have hatched and the larger lake monsters aren’t biting, they have had their fill of insects. We paddle back to shore and cook up a delicious lunch of fresh fish and grilled potatoes. The thousands of islands that pepper the lakes in this wilderness provide endless opportunities for exploration, and even better fishing.
Trails
The secret of Secret Lake isn’t the water, it’s the trees. The Secret Lake/Blackstone Trail is located just outside of Ely, and tucked away on the edge of the Superior National Forest.The humidity is stifling, it also doesn’t help that I am congested from seasonal allergies. Still, I love every moment on this easy and scenic loop. The trail leads past towering white pines and the lake views don’t disappoint.
Portage
In hindsight, we probably shouldn’t have rented the aluminum canoes. The Grumman canoe or as my dad calls it, “The Gruntman” is heavy and we slowly make our way through the portages. When we finally make it to Lake Two we take our time, and enjoy lunch at an open campsite.
Root beer
Dorothy Molter is a local legend in Ely. There is a museum dedicated to her life as one of the last long-term residents of the Boundary Waters. She would offer paddlers homemade root beer and occasional first aid (she was a registered nurse.) She lived by herself out on the Isle of Pines and seldom left the woods. Other than her root beer, and hospitality, Dorothy was also known for her flowers. She would fill old boats with dirt and use them as planters. The planter boats that used to sit on the Isle of Pines have since been moved to the Dorothy Molter museum in Ely. I admire the way Dorothy made a life for herself, and I truly want the same.
Make your own memories:
Field Day 