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Previous
weather data
| Posted:
10/17/2002 9 PM Lake of the Woods |
Temp
F
|
34 |
Barometric
Pressure
|
30.10 |
|
|
|
Duck
Hunters seen
|
6 |
%Humidity
|
41 |
Distance
Traveled (miles)
|
27 |
Hours
of travel
|
8.5 |
|
After only 2 1/2 hours of travel, the wind was creating waves
too large for safe paddling. We decided to pull over to shore
and set up camp even though it was only 10:30 AM. Other than
the windy conditions, it was a beautiful sunny day. We settled
in for a restful day.
With the computer's batteries charging, we each dove into
our books and the snack bag. Eventually we would both end
up napping in the sun. About four o'clock, Dave woke up and
looked across Lake of the Wood's largest body of water, Big
Traverse Bay.
|
Click image to enlarge
Our 6-mile open water crossing is nothing when compared
to the 20 to 30 mile crossings that the voyageurs would
often take while traversing Lake of the Woods. While we
are skirting around many of the 14,000 islands that make
up Lake of the Woods, the Voyageurs often choose the shortest
route, which often meant very long crossings!
|
Click image to enlarge
A mirror-smooth lake combined with pictureque shorelines
and a myriad of water fowl made today's paddle a real treat.
At lunch we both looked at our watchs and marveled at the
fact that it is the 17th of October! It is August-like weather
without the bugs! |
We had both been too invested in our books to notice that
the wind had died down enough to attempt the necessary 6-mile
crossing. Even though we were running out of daylight, we
were not sure when we would have the next opportunity for
safe passage.
We packed up camp carefully, but quickly. The routine morning
chores of breaking camp now seemed effortless. Even though
large waves were breaking close to shore, it seemed that if
we could get out 100 yards, the waves would still be big,
but at least they would not come crashing down on us.
We could hardly contain our nervous excitment. The satellite
phone and flares, which are usually safely stowed, were left
out of the packs in case we were to need them in an emergency.
We donned our headlamps, because we knew the sun would be
sinking fast.
|
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The waves held all the power of the lake, but at this moment
the lake was displaying its strength gracefully. The waves'
rhythmic pulsing quickly set the pace for our paddles. Even
though we were eager to make the crossing, we had to exercise
patience. We had to wait for the right moment to begin each
paddle stroke. If we were too early or too late, we would
upset the canoe's balance.
(Right)We found this large crayfish exoskeleton on the
beach along with a lot of otter scat filled with crayfish
remains. What do crayfish do in the winter? Post your answers
to the message
board.
|
|
Click image to enlarge
Last night a beaver
seemed mad that we were camping in his territory and repeatedly
slapped his tail on the water to show its disgust. |
The crossing took over two hours.
When we reached the far shore, we were treated to a red and
purple sunset. We took a moment to soak up the calm and paddled
toward the rising moon. The lake was so still, only our paddles
interrupted the night sky's refelction. It was far too perfect
to look for a campsite just yet. The moon lit our way, and it
was well past 9 PM by the time the tent was up. |
Previous
weather data
| Posted:
10/15/2002 9 PM Lake of the Woods |
Temp
F
|
34 |
Barometric
Pressure
|
30.30 |
|
|
|
Temperature
inside the tent at its hottest
|
106 |
%Humidity
|
46 |
Distance
Traveled (miles)
|
16 |
Hours
of travel
|
6 |
| We rounded a bend and the Rainy River opened into
a turbulent sea of wind and waves. For the last week we have
been hearing horror stories about Lake Of The Woods, and now
I can see why. |
Click To Enlarge
We had to hurry out of the canoe and set up camp. The waves
caused by the high winds left us stranded. |
Click To Enlarge
Not the most ideal campsite, but plenty of firewood. I think
it's a good place to see a moose though, what time of day do
you think we would have the best seeing a moose? Post your answers
on the message
board. |
The waves in the small bay where we are camped
were large enough to send us scurrying to shore in search of
shelter. We will spend the next week, or more, crossing this
great lake. Lake of the Woods' main body is over 20 miles wide
and 30 miles long. In this part of the lake there are no islands
and the waves often build to 6-8 feet on a day like today. |
| Our next major obstacle is a 4 mile open water
crossing, which will put us at the mercy of the main body of
the lake. As I write the wind is still howling and the waves
are pounding against the shore. However our tent is tucked back
in a stand of birch
and ash. |
Click To Enlarge
We found this little hole about 200 yards from shore. What
type of critter do you think lives here? Post your answers on
the message
board. |
Click To Enlarge
We found the remains of this magnificent bird. It looks as
though it died of natural causes. How long does the average
bald
eagle live? Post your answers on the message
board. |
With a belly full of Mac & Cheese and our
gear warming by the woodstove, it is easy to forget about the
waves and wind. For now we will rest and prepare for our crossing.
Hopefully we will arise at 5:00 AM to calm water, allowing us
to cross in the morning. |
| However, we are at the mercy at the lake and will
wait as long as we have to. I will busy myself making modifications
to the spray skirt of the canoe, which we hope will keep the
icy waves from filling our canoe with water. It is at times
like this that I feel most like a voyageur. |
Click To Enlarge
Only after sunset did we get a little break from the wind.
But not too long. Right now the tent is shaking and we're hoping
that the trees will provide enough shelter from the strong gusts! |
| Posted:
10/14/2002 8 AM Rainy River, Ontario |
Temp
F
|
30 |
Barometric
Pressure
|
30.0 |
|
|
|
Fishing
boats seen
|
21 |
%Humidity
|
64 |
Distance
Traveled (miles)
|
24 |
Hours
of travel
|
10 |
(Click on photos to learn more about each animal!)
| We didn't have very far to travel this weekend.
With the extra time we had, we stopped to visit places and people
along the route. Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung
is a very special place to the Ojibwa. Just after the Rainy
River's Long Sault Rapids, Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung
has been visited by native people for over 2,000 years. During
that time the Gathering Place, as it is known today, was the
summer village for many bands of Ojibwa and those that came
before them. They came to this place for the abundant game,
and huge sturgeon that were needed to last throughout the winter. |
Click on photo to enlarge
This is a small example of the burial mounds found at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung
. This mound was disturbed by the previous landowner and
has been reconstructed. It is the only mound in which the
number of people buried is known. There are 9 people buried
in this mound. The largest mound in park is over 2,000 years
old. It is 7.3 meters tall and 34.5 meters in diameter. Convert
these measurements into feet. |
Click on photo to enlarge
Tony and Dave have been coming the the Rainy River to fish
for 30 years. They use 80-pound test line and huge rods to
catch the giant lake sturgeon. We have been trying to find
out how long sturgeon live. Please research sturgeon and post
your answers to the message
board. |
The Gathering Place was also very important for
spiritual purposes. Large burial mounds have been found at this
site. In fact there are more burial known at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung
than anywhere else in Canada. Nobody is quite sure about who
was buried in the burial mounds-if it was everyone or just the
most important members of the tribe. Out of respect to the people
buried there and to the Ojibwa culture, no Archeological digs
have been conducted their since the 1970s. |
The Gathering place has been a prime fishing area
for over 2,000 years and today is still one of the most popular
spots to fish on the Rainy River. As we pulled up to the Nelson
Camp Ground, we were greeted by curious strangers, who by the
end of the weekend would be good friends. Although nobody could
quite understand why we would want to be in a canoe for so long,
that was quickly set aside to trade stories. Dave and I told
stories of the wilderness and listened to stories of monster
fish caught and even bigger ones that got away. We were treated
to one of the best fish fries ever and learned how to land the
big ones.
|
Click on photo to enlarge
Mr. Holte saw us paddling by and waved us over for a visit.
Before we knew it we were drinking coffee and stuffing our
selves with delicious food. The Holte's are another example
of the warm and friendly people that have gone out of their
way to help us and taken an interest in what we are doing. |
| Walleyes are the most sought-after fish on the
Rainy River. In the Fall, the walleyes follow schools of minnows
up the river from Lake of the Woods. Mark Stensaas says,"
Recently Scientists have discovered that the walleye harbors
the largest color sensitive cone cells of any animal in the
world. It would take 25 human cone cells laid side by side to
equal the width of a human hair, while only 5 walleye cone cells
would be required to span the same distance." |
Walleye's eyes are very
sensitive to light. What time of day do you think we should
try fishing for them? So far we have not been able to catch
any walleye. We need your help! |
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The Wilderness Classroom Organization
4605 Grand Ave.
Western Springs, IL 60558
(630) 204-0420
All content copyright (c) The Wilderness Classroom, 2002. All
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