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99a045.JPG (35774 bytes)  One of the more gentle waterfalls in the Falls Chain as we pull away from it. Day 5 - McVicar Bay

Slept late this morning, till 6am, and no one wanted to get up. Got on the water at 8:45am. We're all tired. Our next portage was troublesome because of several newly downed trees from last night's storm, but we cut through a most of them to make the way easier for ourselves, and those next on the trail. Some trees were just too large for our small saws, so we had to straddle them. Three more portages and we exited the Falls Chain after a short 4-rod portage onto Kawnipi Lake, where strong winds faced us. Waves had whitecaps at 2 feet and we worked into it for 5½ hours. The man in the middle of each canoe had to help paddle for most of that stretch (it is VERY hard and tiring to paddle a canoe from that position, especially hour after hour). Along the way, we passed a group of about 18 young women camped on an island and shortly after we passed the 'Blue Shirts' in their campsite (they were another Sommers crew that left base camp the same day). We stopped about a mile further at an island campsite for lunch (all the trees on this island were down) and then went back to paddling into the wind. After two short rests in protected coves, we finally turned into McVicar Bay and began searching for a campsite. Found one after a couple miles on an island and set camp. Passed the 50-mile mark today. We're having to substitute a lunch in place of a dinner tonight to help stretch our meals, but that's okay because we're all exhausted from the upwind paddle. No one wanted to cook and most weren't very hungry. We are all very aware of our need to catch fish so we can fill in a dinner. Before turning in, we talk about our hope that we can do all of Agnes Lake tomorrow so we can have a layover at its southern end, but are worried that the wind might slow us down too much to make it. Bear bags go up easily again tonight.

99a047.JPG (68030 bytes)  The crew, only missing our trusted Interpreter and Guide par excellance Jerry Coleman.  Chase Mc, Mr. Luff, Steven E., Michael C. Craig S., Phillip W. and Dr. Weirich.

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