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This is our basecamp on Zephyr Lake.
This is another picture of Base Camp on Zephyr lake.
When we set up base camp, we usually find 2 trees that are close together like these shown here. We then latch 2 branches to the bottom, and put 2 X 2 Plywood on top of this.....I know, I looks kind of funky, and carrying in 2 X 2 plywood.
Don't ask.............Actually, the boys wanted to perform their rendition of Lord of the Flys......
This is Chms on Ester portage. We carried all of our gear for 4 people in his Cabela's Boundary Waters bag. This is similar to a Sealline Propack 115hd. The only major difference that I could find is the Propack has a waist belt, and this one does not.
This is Chms with a pretty decent smallmouth caught on Zephyr lake......probably with the one and only Magic Bait..........
This is our small catch of smallmouth bass on Ester. Lucky for us, Mark, Dave, Alan, and Paul showed up with some additional fish, and other food, otherwise we would have been rather hungry that night.
This was my canoe partner Caleb. We got along pretty good. Although he did not like to fish too much, I managed to get enough fishing with Chms to make the trip a great success. Caleb and Nick spent much of their time around camp being teenage boys.
These cliffs are on the west side of Ester Lake. There is a trail on the right side of the picture that you can take to the top. The view from up here is pretty cool.
This is GeoFisher and Chms on top of the Cliffs of Ester. Didn't I tell you that the view was pretty cool. Only one thing. If you do plan on making this trip up the side of the cliff, be very careful. The trail is pretty good, but don't get brave and try to travel out too far on the "overlook".
Geo and Nick on Ester campsite.
This is me.....GeoFisher cleaning a mess of walleye. I brought a separate set of vinyl raingear to clean fish. I put the raingear over my clothes, then clean away. I find that this keeps my clothes cleaner. After cleaning the fish, I simply hang the gear up, and let it dry for the next time.
This is GeoFisher portaging a big ole Grumman canoe across monument portage......This is 80 rods of portage that I can safely say that I will never do again with an aluminum canoe. Man was that tough.........By the way, you will not see any other pictures of me portaging this canoe on this trip....
This fish is not what I would call huge, but it is one of my best and fondest memories of the BWCA. Chms and I decided to go fishing in the morning. It was around 5:30am, and absolutely freezing. On this morning we caught more fish using the magic bait that any other time on this trip.
This is the group that ended up on Ester for 2 nights. Alan, Chms, Mark, Dave, Paul, Nick, and Caleb. I'm also here, but taking the picture.............what else is new.
A pretty decent picture of a loon on First Bay on Saganaga.
Dave aka Gadgetman and Mark aka SmallieSaver..........packing up, getting ready for the long trip back to American Point for the pickup and trip back home.
This is another of those pictures that make me realize just how much I appreciate and love the BWCA. This picture was taken from our campsite the night before we were to leave the area. What a great ending to a wonderful trip.
This is yet another Zephyr campsite picture. Notice the bright blue patch in the trees. This is the raingear that I used to clean fish. It is hanging up to try. Hopefully it will be used to clean fish that are currently being caught.
This is another decent smallmouth caught by Chms. This smallmouth also was probably caught with the one and only Magic Bait..........
Superior North Outfitters.............A Great group of people...........
Packing up to leave for Home.........this is after a great shower at Superior North Outfitters.
Boundary Waters/Quetico Trip for 1999

June 9th-20th, 1999