Posts Tagged ‘Canoeing’
Serenity in the Wilderness
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Last week I went on my first canoe trip into the BWCA and the Quetico in Canada. It was the experience of a lifetime. We started at Lake Saganaga at the end of the Gunflint trail and paddled our way north into Canada to do what is call the “man chain.” The winds were whipping the first day as we battled Sag! I have never worked my arms so hard in my life! There were white caps over the open areas which were pretty intimidating. That night we checked into the ranger station in Canada at Cache Bay with a wonderful woman named Janice who has lived on an island 4 months out of the year working for Canada Parks for over 20 years. She had so much knowledge and insight. After watching the moon rise over the lake we got a great night sleep listening to the calls of the loons.
The rest of the days were filled with sun, huge trees, beautiful water and so many loons-sometimes in large groups. We did not see many other animals or birds which was kind of a bummer. I take that back, my friend Matt saw a beaver who smacked its tail about 5 feet away, but no one else saw it!
I am not sure I can accurately describe the quietness and serenity in those woods and on those lakes. It is something we could all use in our lives once in a while. I think we only saw 5 other people while in Canada which was pretty amazing, especially when I think about how busy we are here at Cascade Vacation Rentals.
The best part of the trip was probably when we decided to sail our way across Knife Lake - attaching the footprint of our tent to our canoe paddles to make the sail! Boy did we cover some water then! The miles flew by. Sunday after departing from Saganaga we stopped for breakfast at Trail Center. Boy can those people cook a great meal. Be sure to try the fruits of the forest pie no matter what time it is! A trip like that is definitely something I would love to do again if I have the chance. Such fond memories of my first canoe trip. - Kris
Here is a picture of one of the many loons we saw on the trip. This one is a baby.
Tags: Canada, Canoeing, Cascade Vacation Rentals, Minnesota, Quetico, Saganaga
Posted in Uncategorized |
A Weekend in Lutsen
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
It is beautiful weekends like last weekend that make me treasure living up here. The weather was great for a hike to Lake Agnes on Saturday and a family canoe trip on White Pine Lake on Sunday. Both are located up the Caribou Trail in the Lutsen area. The hike to Lake Agnes is a beautiful way to see some major changes in the forest. There are some areas of thick moss, large rock, and of course the lake. The lake itself is quiet as there is no access via motorized vehicles. It is the perfect area for an afternoon lunch or swim.
There are 2 routes to get to Lake Agnes – one is via the Caribou Lake Boat landing which involves a steep climb up at the beginning and some wood log stairs midway through and the other is via County Rd 39 which is pretty flat the whole way. Drive about 1/4 mile or less down Cty Rd 39 and you will see the trail head on your left.
Hiking to Lake Agnes
Our adventure on Sunday to White Pine Lake was a real treat. It was our first time bringing our son out in the canoe and he loved it (minus the part where he threw a golf ball in the water and then wanted us to jump in and get it). We watched 5 ducks enjoy the day too - a mom and 4 babies. White Pine Lake is a larger lake, great for fishing and recreational sports like canoeing and kayaking. There is a nice boat landing with bathroom and a fishing pier if you don’t have a boat. Our friends have caught good sized walleyes on this lake, but be aware that there are some pretty large rocks to watch out for. To get to White Pine Lake, take the Caribou Trail to the Honeymoon Trail. You will see signs for White Pine a couple miles in. – Kris
Tags: Canoeing, Caribou Trail, Lake Agnes, Lutsen, White Pine Lake
Posted in Outdoor Activities, Stories and Pictures, Views and Scenery |
