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Sept. 25th - 6:51pm
| The last rays of light on the shoreline of Lake One. |
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Day 1
I left Mankato, MN at midnight and
headed north to Ely. The drive went
fast with no traffic and little road
construction and I arrived in Ely
around 6:00am. I stopped at a diner
and had a large breakfast, my last
good meal for eight days, and then to
Voyageur North Outfitters to buy my
permit. It was a beautiful morning.
The sun was shinning and the winds
were calm, a perfect way to start a
canoe trip.
I was on the water at 10:00am and
already feeling the affects of being up
all night. I stopped at the last campsite
on Lake 1 before the portage and
set-up camp. Nap time. I woke in time
to gather some fire wood and take
some photos.
I sat by the fire that night looking over
the maps and day dreaming until
11:00pm, excited at what may lay
ahead the next seven days of my
journey.
I left Mankato, MN at midnight and
headed north to Ely. The drive went
fast with no traffic and little road
construction and I arrived in Ely
around 6:00am. I stopped at a diner
and had a large breakfast, my last
good meal for eight days, and then to
Voyageur North Outfitters to buy my
permit. It was a beautiful morning.
The sun was shinning and the winds
were calm, a perfect way to start a
canoe trip.
I was on the water at 10:00am and
already feeling the affects of being up
all night. I stopped at the last campsite
on Lake 1 before the portage and
set-up camp. Nap time. I woke in time
to gather some fire wood and take
some photos.
I sat by the fire that night looking over
the maps and day dreaming until
11:00pm, excited at what may lay
ahead the next seven days of my
journey.
Day 2
The alarm was set for 5:30am. I was awake and dressed
by 5:00am. Funny how quickly my schedule changes when
in the wilderness. From a lousy overnight work shift, to up
and about before the birds. My favorite time in the woods
has always been the mornings.
With a slight breeze at my back and the sun in my eyes I
paddled east to Hudson Lake. I found a nice campsite next
to a sandy beach. I had the lake to myself today.
The alarm was set for 5:30am. I was awake and dressed
by 5:00am. Funny how quickly my schedule changes when
in the wilderness. From a lousy overnight work shift, to up
and about before the birds. My favorite time in the woods
has always been the mornings.
With a slight breeze at my back and the sun in my eyes I
paddled east to Hudson Lake. I found a nice campsite next
to a sandy beach. I had the lake to myself today.
Day 3
One portage and a short paddle and I'm
on the Lake Insula camp I read about. It
had a large sand beach with rocky points
on either side. The large site had many
excellent tent pads and trails to explore.
I took my time setting up camp, looking
for a sheltered area to set-up the tent
out of the wind. Before I left for the trip
the weather man predicted wind and rain
for today and tomorrow. He actually
turned out to be right. For the most part
anyway.
One portage and a short paddle and I'm
on the Lake Insula camp I read about. It
had a large sand beach with rocky points
on either side. The large site had many
excellent tent pads and trails to explore.
I took my time setting up camp, looking
for a sheltered area to set-up the tent
out of the wind. Before I left for the trip
the weather man predicted wind and rain
for today and tomorrow. He actually
turned out to be right. For the most part
anyway.
Day 4
The day started dreary with a light but steady mist. I spent
most of the afternoon exploring the trails and shoreline around
camp and collecting firewood.
A group of four paddled by around lunch time and were the
only people I saw today. While they quietly paddled into the
distance I couldn't help but imagine what they may have seen
on their travels.
When I noticed the clouds start to clear I hopped in the canoe
to try my luck fishing. I had yet to catch anything and hoped
fish would be on the menu tonight. I caught a northern and
two small walleyes. The skies cleared as the sun set and I
cooked the walleyes over the fire on a starry night. It was the
perfect end to a day in the wilderness.
The day started dreary with a light but steady mist. I spent
most of the afternoon exploring the trails and shoreline around
camp and collecting firewood.
A group of four paddled by around lunch time and were the
only people I saw today. While they quietly paddled into the
distance I couldn't help but imagine what they may have seen
on their travels.
When I noticed the clouds start to clear I hopped in the canoe
to try my luck fishing. I had yet to catch anything and hoped
fish would be on the menu tonight. I caught a northern and
two small walleyes. The skies cleared as the sun set and I
cooked the walleyes over the fire on a starry night. It was the
perfect end to a day in the wilderness.
The trip was half over and still many things I wanted to see. Where are all the
moose, bear, and loons? The forest had been so quiet it was almost creepy. A
squirrel had been keeping me company at camp, but I had a feeling he was only
interested in my food.
moose, bear, and loons? The forest had been so quiet it was almost creepy. A
squirrel had been keeping me company at camp, but I had a feeling he was only
interested in my food.
| Boundary Waters Canoe Area September 2010 |
| All images copyright 2010 - Todd Palmquist Photography |
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| The " Numbered Lakes", a nickname given to a chain of four lakes. Lake 1, Lake 2, Lake 3, and Lake 4. All are in the Kawishiwi river flowage and connected by channels, rapids, and short portages. The ease of travel and the beautiful shorelines makes this one of the most visited areas in the BWCA during the summer camping season. So I visit in autumn when the crowds are gone and the forest is full of color. |
| PART 1 |
| Landscape and wildlife photography by Todd Palmquist |
| Days 1 - 4 |
| Days 5 - 8 |
A little bit about the route:
Miles traveled: approx. 30 miles
Number of portages: 14
Total length of portages: approx. 2 miles
Lakes traveled: 9 (1 river)
Number of camps: 4
Miles traveled: approx. 30 miles
Number of portages: 14
Total length of portages: approx. 2 miles
Lakes traveled: 9 (1 river)
Number of camps: 4
Sept. 25, 6:48 pm
Sept. 25, 4:57 pm
Sept. 25, 6:50 pm
Sept. 26, 9:10am
Sept. 26, 7:37am
Sept. 26, 5:38pm
Sept. 26, 2:19pm
Sept. 26, 5:51pm
Sept. 26, 5:57pm
Sept. 27, 5:18pm
Sept. 27, 5:44pm
Sept. 27, 12:38pm
Sept. 27, 5:29pm
Sept. 27, 8:36am
Sept. 27, 3:55pm
Sept. 28, 1:22pm
Sept. 28, 5:04pm
Sept. 28, 6:25pm
Sept. 28, 6:27pm
Sept. 28, 6:28pm
Sept. 28, 6:38pm
Sept. 28, 8:51pm
Sept. 28, 9:18pm
Sept. 28, 9:21pm
Sept. 28, 5:39pm
Sept. 28, 11:31am
Sept. 28, 12:23pm
| The glow of the fire reveals the trees on a starry night at a Lake Insula camp. |
| Calm waters on Lake Insula. |
| Campsite on Lake Insula. |
| I wanted to take some long exposures with my film camera, but with the random passing of clouds , I settled for some digital snapshots. |