Far Point Station
6/27/2007 -- Knife Lake, BWCAW, MN
We finally got on the water about 9:40 a.m. today after taking a long while to complete breakfast. There has been some discontent among the crew, not the least of which is between the crew leader and the adult leaders. We've been challenging Schyler to make our trek more than a lazy canoe trip around the lake, but he's not interested. Keith and I have suggested heading for the waterfalls between the south arm of Knife Lake and Eddy Lake, but Schyler is fighting us every step of the way.
When we mapped out our trek back at CBO's base camp, our intent was to complete a portage at the falls and make our way to Kekekabic Lake, then eventually portage our way back to Knife Lake and home. At this point, we won't even make it out of Knife Lake.
Schyler lacks a competitive spirit. When Keith asked him how he'll feel when we get back to base on Friday and learn the other two crews had longer treks with tough portages--but lots of true wilderness high adventure--Schyler simply said he didn't care.
I feel the guys on this crew are doing a disservice to themselves by not pushing harder. Every attempt to get them to do more, though, has been met with resistance. I want to let them make their decisions democratically, yet I'm inclined to overrule them. What a quandary!
At least I got them to push to the far end of what we call Thunder Point Island. Mid-morning we stopped for a short hike to the top of the point, then proceeded to the easternmost tip of the island for a trail lunch. We were probably at least three miles from the falls at Eddy Lake and a stiff wind was blowing, so I realized there was little chance I could convince the boys to push further. Our lunch spot would be the far point on our trek.
After lunch, we hugged the shore of Thunder Point Island, already fighting the wind. Once we reached Thunder Point, we had to cross open water, which was the toughest canoeing of the trip. I was quite nervous about the safety of our four little canoes, laden down with heavy packs, as waves buffeted us while we crossed the lake. As was becoming a typical pattern, Schyler's canoe was far ahead of the others, despite my coaching about the need to stick together and always travel with buddy boats. Had one of the canoes swamped in the middle of Knife Lake, we could have been in trouble.
Fortunately, we made it across safely and proceeded toward Robbins Island, where we looked for a vacant campsite. Both of the sites there were occupied, so we continued on until finding a site on the south shore. It was situated on a small peninsula and had a nice breeze, indicating the bugs would not be bad.
We finally got on the water about 9:40 a.m. today after taking a long while to complete breakfast. There has been some discontent among the crew, not the least of which is between the crew leader and the adult leaders. We've been challenging Schyler to make our trek more than a lazy canoe trip around the lake, but he's not interested. Keith and I have suggested heading for the waterfalls between the south arm of Knife Lake and Eddy Lake, but Schyler is fighting us every step of the way.
When we mapped out our trek back at CBO's base camp, our intent was to complete a portage at the falls and make our way to Kekekabic Lake, then eventually portage our way back to Knife Lake and home. At this point, we won't even make it out of Knife Lake.
Schyler lacks a competitive spirit. When Keith asked him how he'll feel when we get back to base on Friday and learn the other two crews had longer treks with tough portages--but lots of true wilderness high adventure--Schyler simply said he didn't care.
I feel the guys on this crew are doing a disservice to themselves by not pushing harder. Every attempt to get them to do more, though, has been met with resistance. I want to let them make their decisions democratically, yet I'm inclined to overrule them. What a quandary!
At least I got them to push to the far end of what we call Thunder Point Island. Mid-morning we stopped for a short hike to the top of the point, then proceeded to the easternmost tip of the island for a trail lunch. We were probably at least three miles from the falls at Eddy Lake and a stiff wind was blowing, so I realized there was little chance I could convince the boys to push further. Our lunch spot would be the far point on our trek.
After lunch, we hugged the shore of Thunder Point Island, already fighting the wind. Once we reached Thunder Point, we had to cross open water, which was the toughest canoeing of the trip. I was quite nervous about the safety of our four little canoes, laden down with heavy packs, as waves buffeted us while we crossed the lake. As was becoming a typical pattern, Schyler's canoe was far ahead of the others, despite my coaching about the need to stick together and always travel with buddy boats. Had one of the canoes swamped in the middle of Knife Lake, we could have been in trouble.
Fortunately, we made it across safely and proceeded toward Robbins Island, where we looked for a vacant campsite. Both of the sites there were occupied, so we continued on until finding a site on the south shore. It was situated on a small peninsula and had a nice breeze, indicating the bugs would not be bad.
posted by Joe Wollet at 11:52 AM
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