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Just
after setting out from camp headed south between the islands on Lake Agnes
and headed for Louisa Falls. The Coleman boat is left, picture taken
from the Weirich boat. |
Day 7 - Louisa
Falls
Up to a cool morning … finally some Canadian weather! The wind shift
might help us out some today. We took off after a yucky breakfast of
powdered eggs and hash browns that even Jerry couldn't salvage (lots of
Tabasco sauce and spices needed). Each canoe had at least one fishing pole
out and in the first hour Craig S. caught 3 smallmouth (1 keeper), Jerry
C. caught 5 (4 keepers) and Mark L. caught 3 (0 keepers), so it looks like
fish for dinner tonight. Made pretty good time south and only had two
short 'high-wind' experiences to deal with. Found a wonderful campsite
with a log table at the Southern tip of Agnes at 2pm and set up camp.
We've lost too much time because of the wind to do a layover, so we
stopped early today. We set up camp, hung the bear bags and paddled a
short distance to Louisa Falls. What an experience. Louisa Falls drops
about 60-70 feet in three cascades. The middle cascade ends in a pool
accessible from an adjacent, nearly vertical portage trail. The pool
formed at the middle is about four feet deep, 20 feet in diameter and
blocked by a natural rock wall so it truly forms a small swimming pool.
Surprisingly the water is warm coming down from Lake Louisa and feels
great. Most of us find a niche in the rocks where we can lean back into
the waterfall and get pounded: a wonderful massage on sore shoulder and
back muscles! Climbing out of the pool meant flicking off a whole load of
tiny leeches, but they were too small to attach well and were no problem
to remove, even though they did gross-out some of the Scouts at first.
After paddling back to camp, the "Blue Shirts" passed our
campsite to a round of "Hol-ry" and "Red Eye", the
traditional Sommers open-water greeting. Dinner was a delight. Jerry C.
cooked up a fish, rice, dried tomato and pea Cajun masterpiece, none of
which was leftover. Spirits are good tonight, partly because several of us
finally changed into clean underwear.
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At the Louisa Falls stop,
Mr. Luff's daily log entry was lots easier because of this campsite's log
picnic table. A little bit of luxury for dinner, too, at one of the
nicest campsites we stayed in |
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Looking north up
Lake Agnes from the top of a large rock at our campsite |
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This is another crew
portaging up Louisa Falls, a 65 degree up hill portage next to
Louisa Falls. This is same portagethat Mr Coleman's crew came down in 1997 |
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Lake
Louisa at the top of Louisa Falls |
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Louisa Falls was a
blessing for sore shoulders. Mr. Luff found 'the spot' where he
could brace himself with his feet and hold himself under the falls.
Talk about a pounding! |
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Phillip W. and Dr.
Weirich on the edge of the falls next to the wall. Great currents
here were just like a hot tub ... except for the leeches.. |
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Michael C. tucks into a
warm-water massage in Louisa Falls and even manages a smile in the process
(not an easy thing to do when getting pounded by a 30-foot drop).
You can almost hear him saying: "Ahhhhhhhhhh" |
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Steven E., just before
realizing he's got lots of real small leeches hanging all over him.
The leeches were about an eighth-inch long and brushed right off, but sure
surprised a bunch of Scouts at first. |
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Bryan L. spent long
minutes trying to conquer the wall at the edge of the falls. Just
about the time he'd almost get out of the water, a surge would grab hold
and pull him right back into the pool. |
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Clockwise from
top: Phillip W., Tom W., Mark L., Chase Mc., and Steven E. cool off in the
middle pool of Louisa Falls. |
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The Scout A Crew:
Craig S., Michael C., Steven E., Chase Mc., Phillip W. and Bryan L. around
the campfire drying out after Louisa Falls. Being resourceful Scouts,
their own creation, Tobasco and cayanne spiced peanuts, warmed 'em up
quick. |
