Day 5: Out of the Winds followed by the Island Day

   The tent was so crowded last night that when I woke up early this morning to go to the bathroom, I knew it would be more comfortable to sleep on the ground than it would be to try and crawl back in that tent. Apparently, my co-guides and I had the same thought. At 8:00 a.m. we woke up to the breakfast bell from Basecamp and all three of the guides were sleeping outside.
   Using the bell as a good wake up call we took a slow start to the morning and began making tea and stir fry for breakfast. Sadly, it was still windy this morning.
   After breakfast we played on the beach until our genny raid and made our way back to Basecamp. After watching two groups before us go in, we knew it was going to be a difficult paddle. Sure enough, as we were pushing off the beach waves came over the fronts of our canoes, filling them with water.  After emptying canoes and trying again; and again, we were finally able to get a small enough break to push to Basecamp.
   Tonight we are still waiting on one group to make it back to Basecamp as we all head to bed.



   The final group made it last night. Pulling in after all the campers were tucked in bed they were able to make it back to Basecamp. Cheering loudly to wake everyone up, they were greeted at the dock by all of us dressed in our pajamas.
   Today, was our island day. Cabin cleaning contests; school presentations; games and of course, the closing campfire. Since it was a school group they had to give presentations on what they learned and experienced on trail to all the teachers. Following the presentations, the Teachers Assistants all handed our awards to everyone on their trip. My award this school session was “The Badass” award, due to my lifeguarding skills during the swamp.
   We ended the night with a closing campfire and hugs before campers leave tomorrow morning.

Day 4: The ATV Trail

   Again, when we woke up this morning the winds were going strong. Knowing that we would not be getting out on the water anytime soon we decided to make pita pizzas for breakfast. The rest of the morning was filled with naps until the wind died back down.
   Late afternoon we decided that we did not want to wait anymore. We grabbed our gear and portaged to the north side of the island where the water was a little calmer. We paddled on the north end of Birch Island until we got to the crossing before Oak.
With the wind coming from the southwest we battled the waves until we finally made it to the east side of Oak Island. Tired from the waves and worried about the possibility of another swamp we decided that it would be easier to go through Oak than around it.
   With the decision made, we paddled up to Sportsman’s Resort and asked if we could go through their property to get to the other side of the island. They kindly pointed us to an ATV trail that would take us to Sunset resort.
   Although the trail was clearly marked, the mud was deep and soft. It was a battle to make it to the other side. A final fork in the path lead my co-guide and I to scout opposite directions to see who would find Big Rock Beach first. With night approaching soon, we chose the shortest path to Sunset and had a night paddle to our final campsite.
   Arriving a little bit after 11:00 p.m. we set up one 6-man tent for all eleven of us to share and ended the night cramped and full on pancakes.

Day 3: The Illegal Site

   The morning started off slow as my two campers and I waited at Basecamp for storms to pass. We were excited to be back out on trail, but just as we loaded a new canoe on the Hewes a large bolt of lightning lit up the southern sky. We all sat on the deck of the lodge and watched as the storm went over us.
   When it finally passed we loaded up into the boat and Sue took us out to join our trip again. They had spent the night camped out on a little island just west of the one Sue picked us up at yesterday. It was a new site they created. Even though we were able to make it to our group again today, the winds were still too strong for us to paddle canoes in. We piled into our tents for some time sheltered from the wind. My co-guides and I sat and talked; recapping the events of yesterday and filling me in on what I missed on trail. Soon tent-time became nap-time.
   I woke up to one of my campers yelling for us. Informing us that the winds had died down. We quickly packed up all our gear and took advantage of the calm water.
   We didn’t make it far before the waves started up again. We tried to take shelter from the wind by paddling around an island and it was looking promising. That’s when a thunderstorm rolled over head. We pulled over on an island that was Indian Reservation land expecting to only be there to wait out the storm. The storm, however, continued until dark and we were forced to make camp on a no camping site. We set up the tents, pulled in the gear and started to make French toast for dinner.
   Following dinner, we enjoyed s’mores and scary stories before turning in for the night.

Day 2: When Things Don’t Go as Planned

   This morning my co-guides and I woke up early with one of our early rising campers and took our time to make tea and breakfast. While we were making our breakfast burritos Riley and Zara brought us their leftover sausage from breakfast burritos and their group headed out. While we ate we watched as their group struggled in the wind.
   After we finished breakfast and packed up we headed out in the same direction the previous group

Photo by Averi

before us had. The wind was not in our favor and we did not make it very far. After struggling with the wind for almost an hour we left it up to the campers if they wanted to continue on forward or if they wanted to turn around and just have a exploring/easy trip. They picked not battling the wind. So we turned around. With the wind behind us now, we pulled out the tarp and made a sail. We sailed past our campsite and into the biggest crossing of water in the south. The wind died down so we packed up the tarp again and returned to paddling.
   Halfway through the crossing, the wind picked up again and that’s when plans went south. Around 1:00 p.m. our all camper canoe was struggling to paddle in the waves and water was coming over the sides. Not being able to get to land to empty it, or to get to a safe location to hand off the sponge they fought hard to control the boat. Suddenly, I heard them all scream as I watched the canoe tip over and swamp in the middle of Little Traverse. Josie’s canoe, Cecilia’s canoe and mine paddled over to help. Since I had no duff in my canoe I paddled around and collected gear as Josie and Cecilia performed a T-rescue. At some point durning the T-rescue the waves took two of our campers far away from the rest of the group and I tried to paddle to them to help them out, but I was struggling to fight the waves.

Photo by Averi

 I heard them choking on water as waves rolled over them and I knew I had to react quickly. I took off all my clothes so I was just in my swim suit and dove in after them. When I got to them I pulled them back to the group and gave them my life jacket and another guides life jackets to help them float even more. We were struggling to get them back in the canoes and others were struggling to fight the waves so we sent as many campers as we could to the nearest island to get shelter from the water.
   Thinking too quickly we accidentally sent a canoe of campers with the med-kit. This also meant that they had the spot device used to send a help call to Sue. Josie, Cecelia and the rest of the campers went to the island with the first group to help call Sue while I stayed in the water with our last canoe and our two campers. I angled the canoe so that my back was to the waves and the canoe was blocking the waves from hitting our other two campers.
   While we were floating there, waiting there in the water we tried to flag down a fishemen’s ship, but it was too far away. Luckily, Josie had run into some fisherman and brought them over to help us. They took the two campers in their boat back to Laketrails and I hopped in the last canoe and paddled to the rest of our group.
   When Sue finally arrived, she brought us all towels, and took me back to Base Camp with the canoe that swamped. Finally, being 6:00 p.m. I was back at Base Camp, drinking warm water and warming back up with my two campers. Tomorrow she will take us back out to our group with a new canoe.

Day 1: Skiff

   It was a slow day of paddling today and unfortunately we did not make it to our original night one destination. I am not upset about it though because the campers got to have fun jumping in and out of the canoes. We also played a game of truth or dare while paddling. There were mostly truths being chosen, but every now and then someone would be brave enough to pick dare and we got creative with our dares. For example, paddling with the paddle upside-down, holding a spider as long as possible and Josie even dared me to put three drops of iodine on my tongue. It makes your tongue go numb and it tastes terrible.
   I have a camper this session who has decided that he does not want to call me Sammy and only refers to me as Miss Schmitz. Every time he would ask me a question he would start with “Miss Schmitz”. I felt a bit like a teacher.
   Knowing we were not going to be able to make it to our original campsite, we decided to head for the campsite on Skiff. On the way we passed a little island with benches on it. We stopped to check it our and although it had benches and a nice fire ring. There was nowhere to put any tents. So we named the island Fisherland and continued on.

 When we finally made it to Skiff Riley and Zara’s group were also there due to not being able to make it to their campsite. It was too late for us to continue on to the next campsite and there is two fire rings at Skiff so we shared the island. We had a group guide meeting with them and mapped out our game plans. We both wanted to go to Painted Rock and see the pictographs from the Native Americans but we did not want to be running into each other the whole trip. Tomorrow, my group will go to Painted Rock and they will go to Fadden’s island; and then the next night we will switch.

Session 4: Apple Valley

   I haven’t written anything for session three because I took last session off. I stayed on the island while others went out on trail due to there being a low number of campers. I mostly did jobs around the island and did not have any exciting adventures. 

   However, there was one night where John, Christina and I went out on the dock after midnight and laid down and stared up at the stars. There was no moon so we could see everything. Including a mysterious, bright, white, traveling light. It was too bright to be a satellite and too slow to be a shooting star. It also did not flash like a plane would. The most peculiar part about this white light was that it wobbled across the sky. 

   Overall, the time spent on the island was a well enjoyed break to renew for this session.

   Today my favorite session came on the island. This week we have the Apple Valley school group up here. I remember them being a small group last year and was very happy to see that they have grown enough to have their own session. Apple Valley has brought up some of the most interesting and nicest campers I think Laketrails has to host. They all are open to being friends with each other and there never appears to be any clicks within this group. I remember a few of the campers from last year and it is fun to see them again. 

   Additionally, I am very excited for this session because my co-guide, Josie and I, are planning to go to the southern part of the lake. The south is a bit of a gamble due to big water crossings and not very many islands to hide behind during wind; but I remember it being so beautiful when I went last year that I am excited to see it again. 

   After campers got all settled into the island we gathered for dinner and we created a new skit to teach campers our big four rules on the island. We came up with the idea of Brothers Nature. Four fraternity type boys that live in the wilderness. They came to dinner and taught our campers the “Bro Code” 1) Don’t leave the island without a guide. 2) Don’t litter or leave fishing hooks on your line—if you do, someone can call “Ships Ahoy” and you owe them a one-dollar item from the camp store. 3) If you kill it you eat it. And lastly, 4) Unplug yourself. 

   I also heard that the Brothers Nature made an appearance at the campfire, but I had to miss the campfire to figure out my housing in South Korea. 

   Tomorrow is getting ready for trips and also continuing to figure out my housing plans in South Korea. 

Paddle Whisperers

   This passage is from the book Paddle Whispers; written by Douglas Wood. I wanted to share it on here because it is a beautifully written way to describe the canoeing adventures we take up at Laketrails.

The Forecast:

   There is a 95% chance today’s weather will be either too hot, too cold, too sunny, too rainy, or too windy. -From a desktop sign, Quetico Park Visitor Center.

   In many ways a canoe trip is an endlessly repeated exercise in various modes of misery, each one a contrast — therefore, a relief, albeit temporary — to the misery preceding it. So there is always the illusion of looking forward to something that will most likely be... another misery.

   A canoe trip could in fact be described as paddling — paddling until arms ache, back hurts, skin is burned, legs are cramped, and butt falls asleep. Finally, a portage and a chance to stop paddling, stretch legs, and get out of the sun. Also a chance to deal with black flies, deer flies, and various other versions of evil incarnate; a chance to climb up and down hills with loads that would crush a burro, that strain neck, back, and hamstrings and threaten to drive shoulder blades through hips; a chance to wade through mud, muck, and other corruption, to climb over and under dead falls and trip over stuff and to figure that death will probably arrive — mercifully — before this infernal trail reaches a sight of blue, open, sunlit water. Where, of course, the cycle begins again.

   The great goal and end of this particular cycle is the evening camp, that blessed spot of rock and tree kissed by evening breezes and the last slanted rays of the sun. Having found the camp, at whatever stage of exhaustion seems appropriate to the lateness of the hour and rigors of the day, it is time to set up the tent, gather wood, gather water, start a fire, get out the food, cook the food, and... ahhh... eat. And drink. In a warm and happy trance of pure bliss and satisfaction. This lasts... some moments. With the arrival of the evening watch of mosquitoes, the cooking gear is up-gathered and washed, the food repacked; the pack hoisted and hung safe from bears, mini-bears (chipmunks), and micro-bears (mice); personal hygiene is attended to; the tent entered; tent-invading mosquitoes dispatched (except for three which are never found); the sleeping bag snuggled into and finally sleep. The sweet, dark, wonderful nothingness of... Rock. Root. Pinecone. These are nemeses that will be there, along with three renegade mosquitoes, all through the night. They will become intimate with back, sides, and stomach, with muscles, bones, and insides — and loom ever larger and sharper and more offensive in the imagination and the anatomy, until dawn cannot come too soon.

   And with the arrival of dawn — the pack is lowered (mini-bears found it anyways), breakfast cooked, dishes cleared, tent taken down, the canoe loaded, and — back to paddling once more.

The Backcast:

   So why... why go through it? Why even be here?

   The second answer is easy. Because “here” is where the beauty is. Here is where the sunsets are. Here is where the campsites and campfires are, and the clear, deep waters, and the loons, and the pines, and the islands. And yes, the storms and the big winds and the rapids. Here is where the journey is. 

   But why go through it? Why do I... Why do I go through it? I think because no one else can go through it for me. And because the modern city-world system uses people to get work done. Important work, supposedly. That’s the whole idea. That’s why we get paid. But here — here I’m using the work... to get myself done. What better work is there than that?

   Or maybe... maybe it’s enough to say that I am here, as another voyageur once put it, “to iron out the wrinkles in my soul.”

   And maybe it is only on the trail to nowhere-in-particular that you find the most important thing of all.

   Yourself.

   

Session 2: Camper Edition

   Our favorite parts of the trip were feeding that frog to the snapping turtle. “I started to cry though I was so upset.” Also the fishing was really good on that lake! Or when we went swimming off the canoe and flipped it. We had so much fun on this trip and sang so many random songs.
   Some fun moments for me was when we made the little Christmas tree or trying to catch crayfish. I didn’t really like all the food we had but it was fun to at least experiment with food in ways I never would at home.
   I thought it was really cool that when it was really 10 p.m. it looked like it was 4 p.m.; maybe that’s a bit of a stretch but it stayed bright our really long! Oh yeah! The water and the sunsets where so nice.

   A list of quotes from the campers:
- Must be nice to know more than just the chorus of a song.
- There was something funny that someone said once.
- You can’t take a picture with it unless you caught it.
- I caught a rock!

Island Day

   We made it back to Basecamp yesterday but I was so tired I forgot to write.

   To start we woke up and made trip donuts. Also because it was so close to Fourth of July, Christina and I brought American gear to wear into Basecamp. We set up an ‘American Apparel Store’ at our campsite and had our campers pay us in high fives, compliments, and firewood to choose their gear. 

   We arrived to Basecamp as the second to last group and we had made a “Death Canoe”. We put all the gear from one canoe into another and had both Christina and I duffing in the canoe without gear. We also were greeted by Bridget and Tenzin’s group who were dressed for Canada Day.

   The rest of the day was filled with cleaning up.

Day 4: Moonrise

   For our last full day on trail today we decided to do some more campsite exploring while we headed to our final site. Along the way we stopped at two campsites that are written in our big book of campsites to see if they were worth going to in the future. The first one we stopped at was called Onion Point. No one has been there in a long time and the fire ring is no longer there, along with no tent spots on grass. It was one large rock. Not ideal for a campsite. The second one was called Long and it would be a great campsite if the dead trees were moved out of the way. We asked our campers if the wanted to help clean up a campsite and they all said no.
   So we continued on to Moonrise. We made it there around 2:00 p.m. and all had an afternoon nap. When they all woke up they did a team building exercise while waiting for dinner. The goal of this was to get them to speak nicer to each other as well as about themselves. It didn’t really work.
   For dinner we made Mac-and-Cheese, and vegetables and taco mix. All in one pot. As we tell campers; “trail food is really only good on trail.” For dessert, one of our campers cooked some peaches and pineapple with sugar for us to eat on cheesecake.
   We followed dinner with a get-to-know-you activity. Each person goes around the circle and says something based off what finger the group is on. For example, your right thumb is something you are good at. Your right index finger is somewhere you are going in life. Your right middle finger is your pet peeve and so on.
   When we finished we went to bed early to get up early the next morning.
   About 10:00 at night Christina and I were awake in the tent talking when we heard the girls all scream. At first we thought it was just them being loud. Then one of them shouted, “I think someone is out there!”
   Christina and I stuck our heads out of the tent and saw no one. We thought maybe another group was coming to prank us so I got out and checked our food and canoes. But no one was there and there were no boats out on the water. At this point a brief thought of a supernatural creature crossed my mind. Was this an encounter with The W?
   “It was just my water bottle on the tree” finally says one of the boys sleeping in his hammock.
   Crisis adverted and no supernatural encounter.

Day 3: Monument Bay

   Today we also had a short day. We had a half layover day, filled with more swimming and more fishing. Then it was back through the portage.
   We attacked the portage a little differently today. We had everyone go with packs first, then come back and help take canoes. I think it added some time, but everyone felt more confident in themselves and their ability to take a canoe with others helping them.
   From the portage it was another quick paddle to our campsite.
   This campsite is my favorite one of this trip so far. The canoe parking was a little bit rough and we did have to carry our gear up a hill; but from the top of the hill there is such a beautiful view. Overlooking the bay we just paddled from with the sunset slowly dropping beneath the trees. It is a great campsite to just stop and look at all there is around you. All that is untouched.
   Additionally, this campsite had numerous cedar trees and we made tea from them. We also decorated a mini pine growing next to the fire pit. Since we did not bring any tree decorations we made due with pine cones, bark and crayfish claws.
   Tonight ended with peanut butter, marshmallow, popcorn balls made by Christina and a fun time playing with sparklers we brought on trail.

Day 2: Reid

   This morning we took our time getting ready and eating breakfast because we knew it would be a short day. We left our campsite around 11:00 a.m. and arrived at the portage around 2:00 p.m.

   As Christina and I scouted the portage we let our campers eat their lunch of bay bread. The portage is longer than my portage was last session and it felt a lot longer than I remember it being last year. When we reached the end of the portage we heard something large moving in the woods. Of course, both our minds immediately jumped to bear — even though it was more likely that it was just a dear. None-the-less we decided to sing a song while we walked back, just to scare it away. 

   With nine people total there was more gear than people so I went first with two campers and breezed through the portage. After getting our gear and canoe down, the two campers and I went back to help the rest. It was a good thing too, because when I got to Christina at the back of the group she had the heaviest canoe and a gear pack. By the end of that portage I had probably done it a good few times and the mosquitoes were starting to get to me and many of my campers.

   From the portage it was a quick paddle to our campsite. Being less than 15 minutes away from the portage it was the perfect opportunity for campers to try sterning. I was happy to see many of them take the initiative and try. 

   Still being early in the day we got to have a fun day at our campsite. Our group of girls went swimming off a canoe and had fun swamping it too. I took a camper out fishing and we went almost all the way around the entire inland lake of Reid. By the end he had caught several fish; including smallmouth, walleye, and bass. He kept two large walleye and cooked them up for dinner. 

   Along with our walleye, we also had pita pizzas for dinner, followed by super s’mores. 

   Following dinner was more free time. More fishing occurred and our designated fisher would catch a fish to let someone new reel it in. At one point Christina and I were talking when we heard our campers scream. Asking one what happened they all came running over to us.

   “We fed a snapping turtle a frog!”

    Sure enough, they had found a frog and threw it into the water right above a snapping turtle. The snapping turtle appreciated the help in catching his meal — and my campers have it all on video. The turtle also was fed some of our uncooked, leftover fish.

   Today I get to say that my campers got to influence natural selection.

Day 1: Hidden Gato

   We had a late start this morning. Knowing we were the trip that had the shortest distance to travel we waited to go last. We made it to North Twin for lunch where we made Peanut Butter and Jelly on bagels. While we were there we collected firewood for the group that would be staying there on their last night. We also left them a note in the fire pit written with charcoal on birch bark.

   Paddling away from North Twin we were now on the journey to find and create a new campsite location. As we paddled around an island that goes by many names — Pelican, Enterprise, Bird — we found a beach that appeared promising; until we got into the trees and it was only bushes, no clear spaces at all. As we pulled away from the beach a beaver came to great us; or rather warn us away from its lodge. 

   We continued around the shoreline of the island and saw lots of open spaces; on rock faces. Just as my co-guide and I were about to call it a day, two of our campers came shouting out of the woods. “We found it! A campsite!” Of course, Christina and I were skeptical. 

   “Does it have space for three tents?” — “Yes”

   “Does it have a place for a campfire?” — “Yes”

   “Does it have space to pull up four canoes?” — “Yes” 

   “Does it have places to go to the bathroom away from the tents?” — “Yes!”

   Both my co-guide and I looked at each other and decided to give it a look. There was a small place to unload canoes and a trail leading back into the woods to an open spot. A large rock face provided a place to make a fire ring and near by, long grass that can be laid down to set tents on comfortably. This was a good place to make a campsite; and bonus, the guide tent can be hidden away from the camper tents making guide tent talk perfectly distant.

   After putting up tents, unpacking gear and pulling up canoes, everyone got in for a quick swim and attempted crayfish catching. We followed our fun with dinner. The meal of choice tonight was noodles with the option of spaghetti sauce or Gato Gato sauce.

   Gato Gato is ‘Trail Thai”. The recipe is a jar of peanut butter, soy sauce, and mixed vegetables (chicken optional). 

   During dinner, our campsite name was born; Hidden Gato.

Second Session

   Today was the first day of session 2. For this session it is not a school session, which means that the campers are not connected, but rather individuals or siblings that wanted to come to the camp. The way this session worked just happened that most of the campers that came up were on the military scholarship. So in this case, many of the campers did know each other. 

   The cycle of campers arriving is always the same. For this session I got to help plan the rule skit and the opening campfire for the first time. Although, I did have John help me build the actual fire.

Guide pairing reveal photo

   For the second day on the island rotations went the same. I got to do the games rotation this time. I taught a few campers some South Korean games. 

   The only downside is that since last session I have been sick and feeling under-the-weather. Unfortunately, Quin, who was supposed to be my co-guide is also sick. With Christina stepping in to be my co-guide, we planned a trip to make new campsites. 

   The day ended with canoe practice; unfortunately one of the canoes swamped during the paddleing practice and one guide’s canoe got to practice and teach the campers a T- rescue.

Overall, today was very long for me and as excited as I am for trail tomorrow I am worried about my lack of energetic from being sick.

Happy 4th

   This morning I woke up to the smell of campfire. I thought the smell was lingering from yesterday, but as I stepped outside of my cabin, I realized that there must be a forest fire and the smoke has blown to the lake.

   Yesterday, my day started with work in the morning. After some island cleaning I lead a quick lifeguarding in-service adjusted to skills that could be utilized while on trail with limited tools. Afterwards we had pizza for lunch that was all uniquely created and named.
   After lunch we all hid away to make our gifts for our secret Santa exchange. Just before dinner we rang the bell to start Christmas in July. We gathered around our decorated cedar tree and placed our presents beneath it. The gift I received was a decorated mug and hand painted quote from the first person I ever guided with.
   Following gifts we all moved to the campfire ring for pineapple, watermelon, self roasted hotdogs and of course, marshmallow roasting. There is not a shortage of sugar on the island though. After marshmallows we moved to the lodge for ice cream sundaes.
   As we sat in front of the decorated fireplace in the lodge we ate our ice cream and sang “the Twelve Days of Laketrails”.  When the sun started to set we lit sparklers and played on the lawn. As the last bit of light left the sky fireworks around the lake went off and the staff all jumped off the dock into the lake. We lit up the sauna and 16 of us managed to squeeze into the sauna that normally only holds 12.
   I ended my Fourth of July with some alone time writing in my notebook, watching a few episodes of a new Korean show and falling asleep to the song Wasted Nights.

The Campers’ Songs

The Bog

I can almost smell it
That thing I’m dreading
There’s a voice inside my head saying
You’ll never make it
Every stoke I’m making
Every j I make feels
Lost with no connection
No cell reception
But I...
I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on
Cuz, there’s always gonna be another portage
It’s always gonna take my shoes
There’s always gonna be another sinkhole
Sometimes you’re gonna just fall through
It’s all about how fast we get there
I just fell over another log....
It’s the bog!!

Session 1: Camper Edition

   This next post was written by my campers. During our postcards and trip evaluations I asked the campers to tell me what to write for this post.

   Lake of the trails has given me lots of new memories. I especially remember the time David* ran through the portage and schmaking the rock. This trip to Helldivers was extraordinary because of the people I spent it with. It also surprised me by how much I’m capable of. The time Anne* went all the way into the water was by far one of the funniest moments. This trip made me realize you can’t take anything for granted. Being out in nature made me realize how unimportant technology is and how great nature is. I also had a great time getting to know everyone through lightning questions. Having this time with everyone has given me lots of new memories and showed me the best parts of life. When it’s really quiet I’ll still be able to hear the sound of the birds, the waves and the crackling of the fire.

*names changed for privacy