2010 - Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

During my visit to Minnesota's north shore over the Memorial Day weekend, I hosted and attended Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event (GC23RM5).  Following the event, all of us event attendees day-tripped into the wilderness for a gruelling but adventurous ride.

The first leg of our adventure was to visit the virtual geocache Mystical Dolmen Rock (GC587F).  We departed Sawbill Landing at 8:05AM. We arrived at the dolmen rock at 10:00AM.  We spent about 30 minutes at the rock exploring, socializing, snacking and taking photographs.  We departed the rock at 10:30AM and arrived back at Sawbill Landing at 12:40PM.  Total distance paddled on this leg was 5 miles each direction for a total of 10 miles. Total time paddling was 4 hours and 10 minutes.  Our average paddling speed was a little over 2 mph.

The second leg of the journey was to visit the virtual geocache Kelly-Jack (GC2878).  We drove from the Sawbill Landing to the Baker Landing and arrived at 1:55PM.  After getting our gear unloaded and prepared, we started paddling about 2:15PM.  We arrived at the portage between Kelly and Jack lakes at 3:40PM, which is where the hike in to Kelly-Jack begins.  In all, we spent 40 minutes hiking to Kelly-Jack, exploring, taking pictures, and returning to our boats.  We departed the portage at 4:20PM.  We arrived back at Baker Landing at 6:15PM. Total distance paddled on this leg was 3.9 miles each direction for a total of 7.8 miles. Total paddling time was 3 hours and 20 minutes.  Paddling to Kelly-Jack our average speed was 3 mph and paddling back was a slower 2 mph as a headwind had picked up from the south.   The total distance paddled today was 17.8 miles.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Our boats parked at Sawbill Landing awaiting departure.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Group photograph of event attendees.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina smiling not realizing the gruelling paddle ahead.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view from Bart's boat.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Entering the actual BWCA Wilderness.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina coming down the first portage.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Aix sponsa at the first portage preparing her boat.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of the lilies on Kelso Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another view of Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The gorgeous view at Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event More Kelso Lake beauty.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Approaching the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The mystical dolmen rock balancing on all threes.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another angle of the dolmen rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A group picture at the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another angle of our group at the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Our boats parked on shore beside the dolmen rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina on the rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje and Norvina on the dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Closeup of Bflentje and Norvina on the rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje imitating but not replacing Doublemoose as the Thinker.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Glacial erratic on Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A closeup view of glacial erratic on Kelso Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Evidence of the 1999 straight line winds in the BWCA.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Damage from the 1999 blowdown in the wilderness.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Unbelievable damage from the 1999 storm.. that was 11 years ago.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event More damage from the July 4th, 1999 storm.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A sheet of ice inside of the Kelly-Jack mining cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event And another view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A group photograph at the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event We made it to our second destination.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina stretching or holding up the cave?	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje outside of the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The entrance to the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of Jack Lake from the portage.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of the portage from Kelly Lake to Jack Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The final group photograph after having completed the entire journey.