Matthias and I grabbed a quick carb-laden breakfast at the Super 8 before climbing into Conrad to drive to the trailhead. We headed east out of Ely then north towards Angleworm Lake. With the canoe strapped to the top of the car, it took only a half-hour to get there. As we cruised, the road turned from beautiful new asphalt to leveled gravel. We parked the car at the trailhead lot, took the canoe off the car, pulled our large Duluth packs out of the backseat, and began packing. I suggested that we pack a heavy pack and a light pack; the man carrying the canoe would take the light pack. The other man would take the heavy pack and the paddles. Matthias agreed with my suggestion. When I originally told him about the 2-mile portage, he assumed that we would carry the canoe together. I hadn’t thought to tell him it’s a one-man job. During portages, one lifts the canoe upside-down over one’s head and rests the harness on one’s shoulders.
He carried the canoe and the light pack and I took the heavy pack. The two-mile trudge through the woods took us an hour and even though it was still fairly early in the day, it was hot, and by the time we set our gear down at the water’s edge we were both drenched with sweat. I felt for a while as if I had crushed about 3 discs in my lower back. But as we peered around the little entry inlet and on up into stringy Angleworm Lake, I was SO HAPPY TO BE HERE! It was a great day.
With the wind strongly at our backs, we paddled three (or so) miles to the north end of Angleworm Lake. We had talked the night before about just camping at Angleworm, but the day was still young and we both had a bit of energy left in us. We made two more portages, including one for almost a mile, and entered Gull Lake. We selected a campsite on the northeast end of the lake and erected the tent. Matthias filtered water and read while I hung the bear ropes. An evening paddle might have been appropriate, but we were both pretty tired. For dinner, I cooked the pasta while Matthias prepared his delicious Insalata Caprese. As the sun set, a group of loons (Minnesota's state bird) congregated on our lake. I was used to seeing one or two loons on a lake at a time, but I counted eight altogether. I was fun to watch and listen to their unique calls. We watched the moon and stars come out, read by the light of our headlamps, and called it a night.
Our intention was to keep the campsite for the next night and do a day-trip to the west the next day.
He carried the canoe and the light pack and I took the heavy pack. The two-mile trudge through the woods took us an hour and even though it was still fairly early in the day, it was hot, and by the time we set our gear down at the water’s edge we were both drenched with sweat. I felt for a while as if I had crushed about 3 discs in my lower back. But as we peered around the little entry inlet and on up into stringy Angleworm Lake, I was SO HAPPY TO BE HERE! It was a great day.With the wind strongly at our backs, we paddled three (or so) miles to the north end of Angleworm Lake. We had talked the night before about just camping at Angleworm, but the day was still young and we both had a bit of energy left in us. We made two more portages, including one for almost a mile, and entered Gull Lake. We selected a campsite on the northeast end of the lake and erected the tent. Matthias filtered water and read while I hung the bear ropes. An evening paddle might have been appropriate, but we were both pretty tired. For dinner, I cooked the pasta while Matthias prepared his delicious Insalata Caprese. As the sun set, a group of loons (Minnesota's state bird) congregated on our lake. I was used to seeing one or two loons on a lake at a time, but I counted eight altogether. I was fun to watch and listen to their unique calls. We watched the moon and stars come out, read by the light of our headlamps, and called it a night.
Our intention was to keep the campsite for the next night and do a day-trip to the west the next day.
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