This page was last updated on: December 23, 2022
This is the back view of our Trailblazer. I purchased a really cool hitch buddy and managed to carry most of our gear on it.
My trailblazer with my Winonah Boundary Waters canoe on top. I really liked they way my Trailblazer performed on this trip. I will be taking it in the future.
Our friends Russ and Shelly. I've known Shelly for over 30 years. Her and Susan were best friends growing up, and when they moved to Southern Indiana, that made it even better.
Me and Susan on the North Shore. We stopped at quite a few rest areas on the way north from Duluth to Grand Marais. This is one of my favorite areas.
The girls. From left to right. Elise, Ashley and Natalie. Elise and Natalie are my daughters, and Ashley is my god daughter.
Me, Susan, Elise and Natalie on the North Shore on our way to Grand Marais. The North Shore is always a little cool, and today was no different.
A cool little bronze plaque on a wall on the North Shore. I love this kind of stuff. We ended up being a few hours late getting to the outfitter. Mostly because I love to stop and read this stuff.
Shelly, Ashley and Russ on the North Shore.
Me and my family at Gooseberry Falls. This was a pretty cool place to stop and take a break. The falls were running pretty good, which is always a bonus.
Russ, Ashley and Shelly at Gooseberry Falls.
A cool shot of our cabin and the kitchen in the cabin. This was the first time I've rented cabins from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. I will Definitely rent these cabins in the future. They were fantastic.
Another shot of the cathedral ceilings in our cabin.
Here is a decent shot of the living area in our cabin. The fireplace is a gas fireplace. We never had to use it, since the weather was fantastic.
A shot out the windows, overlooking the deck.
From the deck, overlooking the lake. This cabin is tucked back in the woods on the Sag corridor. You could see the water, but you could not see the cabin from the water. This was a great, GREAT cabin location.
Another picture from the porch.
Susan and I enjoying the sunshine on the back deck. We sat out here quite a bit. This trip was the first week of August and there were no bugs, or very few bugs. I was amazed that the bugs were gone.
Russ on the dock at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. The canoes on the boat are how quick start tows into the Boundary Waters are performed. Basically, you can cut off nearly 1 day of paddling by taking a tow to Hook or American Point.
Russ and Ashley on the dock
Ashley and Shelly on the dock
Ashley, Natalie and Elise on the dock. I think the girls had a GREAT time. I hope to take them up there again sometime.
Ashley and Shelly relaxing on a swing overlookng the Sag Narrows at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters at the end of the Gunflint Trail.
Shelly in the Boat we rented from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. We were not too sure she would actually go out and fish with us, but these nice lund boats made that a possibility.
On the Sag Narrows, there is a point where you enter the Boundary Waters. This is the sign marking that entry. We took daytrips with the boat every day.
Me running the outboard. This sure was a different experience on Saganaga for me. Every other trip up to this point had been paddle only trips. I definitely plan on a boat trip again in the future. I LOVED being able to cover water with the outboard. It was pretty cool.
Russ and Shelly in the boat. We went out to Long and English Island, trying to find lakers. We didn't find any lakers, but it sure was fun. Fishing on this tri pwas pretty tough. We did manage some fish, but not many.
What a great early evening picture. Again, I LOVED using the boat on Saganaga. Making trips to Monker Island, or the Narrows, or other places was pretty easy with the 15 hp 4-stroke outboards provided by Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.
Me and Russ after a long, hard day of fishing. We had planned on having fish dinners 2 or 3 nights. Fortunately we managed enough fish for 1 night.
Ashley and Russ in the boat. We were way out, past Monker Island, trying to catch some lakers. None were to be found on this trip.
We about totalled the van when someone yelled out that they saw this moose and calf. We ended up parking on the Gunflint just outside of the turn for Voyageurs. We stayed here and took video and pictures for 20 or 30 minutes. It was way COOL.
Another picture of the cow and calf moose we saw on the Gunflint Trail. Again, WAY COOL.
Shelly, Ashley and Russ. We took quite a few pictures like this. I had not seen a moose up there in many years. This was a special bonus, since it included a cow and calf.
Susan and me in front of the moose and calf.
Natalie, Ashley and me in my boundary waters canoe. We went out to "test" the waters with this as a 3 man canoe. I had completely intended on using this canoe, but instead ended up renting a seneca from Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. That was a much better decision.
Meeting up with Russ and Shelly.
We finally caught some fish. These are the fish Natalie, Ashley and I caught while out on a long daytrip. We needed fish, and we caught fish. While I don't like cleaning smallies and northern , they were the only fish that wanted to EAT, and since I wanted to EAT, we harvested them for dinner.
Me and Russ cleaning the catch. I have only cleaned northern pike a few times. I used a new method to clean these, which turned out pretty good.
Susan and Elise the day before we left the park. While fishing was not great, we did manage to have a good time.
Monopoly in the cabin. There is something cool about NOT having TV for a week. We played games a few nights, had a birthday party, and looked for northern lights a few times. GREAT TIMES.
Boundary Waters/Quetico Summer Trip for 2012

August 9th, 2012 - August 12th, 2012

Ashley and Natalie getting ready to head into the Boundary Waters. The weather the week before was fantastic. Unfortunately it took a turn for the worse, and dropped 30 degrees overnight. Polar fleece would be a requirement the next 4 days.
Saganaga at American Point. On this trip the ride out to American Point was CRAZY. Lots of waves, and big, big wind. In fact, the tow boat nearly bit the dust after he dropped us off. He took a wave over the size and 100 gallons of water.
Ashley and Natalie in the canoe, on the way to our campsite on 3rd bay. We chose 3rd bay to keep the skeets in check. While there were not a lot of skeets, they were out and hungry.
Prepping the canoe at the west end of American Point. We chose to portage from the dropoff to the west side, instead of trying to paddle around the reef. The wind was crazy, but on the west side of the point, there was hardly no wind. GOOD CHOICE.
Setting up my camp tarp on 3rd bay. I started using a tarp about 10 trips ago, and if I plan on staying more than 2 days, I like to setup a tarp first. That way if we get weather, we at least have somewhere to wait it out.
Boundary waters pizza. These are tortilla shells browned on one side, and then flipped. Once flipped, add sauce, pepperoni, italian seasoning, bacon bits, and cheese. MM GOOD.
Ashley enjoying a boundary waters pizza.
Natalie and boundary waters pizza. Notice the aluminum talbe. I purchased this a few years ago at Cabelas. This is one of my favorite pieces of gear. I LOVE it. It will be on most of my trips in the future.
Ashley, Natalie and Me on top of the hill on 3rd bay, taking it easy. This was a great trip. A little short, but still pretty great.
This eagle was a visitor to our campsite every evening. We saw quite a few eagles on this trip.
Ashley and Natalie taking care of the fire. It rained a little on this trip so keeping wood and a fire going was a little tough. Not only that, but 3rd bay is a very USED campsite, and finding enough wood at the end of the season was a challenge.
Me and Natalie paddling on 3rd bay.
What a great sunset .
Natalie working on the fire after some more rain.
Red beans and rice and cornbread for dinner. YEA BABY. I baked the cornbread in my Omnia oven from Sweden. It was one of my best purchases ever. I regularly bake bread now in the boundary waters. Corn bread, banana nut bread, apple bread, blueberry muffins. whatever. It all works.
This is the landing to the Ester portage. It was a little messy, but not too bad.
Ashley and Natalie on the Ester portage.
Me and Natalie at the top of the cliffs of ester. I was pooped. This was the 1/2 point of a long, long daytrip. I love climbing to the top of the cliffs because it is way cool. There is a decent trail around the point,. which makes it a little easier.
Ashley taking a break at the top of the cliffs of ester.
A campsite shot from the top of the cliffs of Ester. Ester is a deep, clear lake. I love camping here. I've stayed on Ester lake about 4-5 times. It is always fun. I wish the fishing was a little better, but no matter.....
Ashley portaging the canoe at Monument portage. This is not an easy canoe to carry. She made it about 1/2 way. Not bad for a rookie.
Natalie and Ashley at a monument on Monument Portage. This is always a cool place to get some pictures.
Ashley, Natalie and Me at Monument Portage.
The boardwalk at Monument Portage. The forest service and portage crews create these boardwalks in places where it is dangerous or boggy. This set of boardwalks have been here for years.
Me, Natalie and Ashley in front of the fire. Fires in the Boundary Waters are always good. Iv'e only had a fireban a few times. They STINK.
Me, getting some well deserved rest after a hard day to Ester Lake.
Yes, we did actually catch some fish. Not many, but we did catch enough for dinner one night.
And we left some fish for the gulls. They seem to always be around when there is fish around. They are trained to clean up the mess.
Me cleaning some fish.
The gulls cleaning up the mess.
Downtime.....Reading in the Boundary waters is a great pasttime. I usually don't have time to read. The girls managed to find some time before dinner the last night of our trip.
Setting up for another great sunset.
The last night of our trip, we ran into a husband and wife, celebrating their 10th aniversary. All the campsites on the US side were occupied. I know, because we checked. We offered our campsite, since there was plenty room. They stayed with us that night, and shared some fish and dessert.
Paddling out. Man, I love this place. Natalie and Ashley both had a great time. We're already planning on a trip for next year. Hopefully it will happen.
Cabin:
Boundary Waters: