We were all in agreement and hit the lake to outmaneu-
water and you can still move fairly quickly. I knew that
ver each other at any cost. There was a slight headwind
I was close to Amor Lake… and that meant there was
pushing down towards us, and I already knew, observ-
still a chance I could reach my Day 1 goal and camp on
ing the canoes the Three French Musketeers were occu-
Sterling Island that night.
pying, that is was going to be no contest. As it turns out, I lost them at the lower dogleg where the lake straightens out from the launch; pretty much smoked them – never to be seen again. No flowers ever arrived but I expect that they are probably still out there having the time of their lives.
It was time to really focus on the conditions around me as the moon appeared and stars started to twinkle in the sky and along the beautiful mountain tops. I was close to Amor and determined to at least get into the mouth of the lake and camp for the night. Once into Amor Lake it was dark, and I pulled my flashlight out
It was my goal to spend at least one night on Sterling
to scan the shoreline for a place to throw up my tiny
Island on Amor Lake; I had thought I could make it
tent and lay my head for the night. Ugh… nothing. As I
there in a day but with my late start and heavy portage,
focused across the body of the lake, I saw three camp-
this goal seemed to be slipping away with the daylight.
fires roaring on the other shoreline. I knew I wouldn’t
From the top of Mohun, I had to paddle through Goose
go there as the campfire ban was on and I would be con-
Lake and complete two larger portage sections from
troversial with whomever was burning. I had already
Goose to Twin Lake and then into Lak La More. It was
encountered a camper who had a fire going at the Twin
still gorgeous out but it was close to 6 pm when I started
Lake Campsite; I had some choice words for him but he
the first of these two grinds to reach my Day 1 goal.
carried on burning without caring about consequence.
Oddly enough, I popped out of Twin Lake feeling pret-
I was starting to panic a little; I wasn’t seeing any hard
ty good still. No tears of frustration or exhaustion; fairly
landings for my tent or boat along the shoreline as I
hydrated considering the heat wave temperatures, and
paddled in the dark, now deterred from crossing the
ready to tackle this next section of dirt and forest. It was
lake. I had to make a choice and it needed to be right
a true test of will for me. I had been in this portage sec-
then; it was well after 10 pm and exhaustion had set
tion, years ago, between Twin and Lak La More; I had
in, along with hunger and thirst. Only two ways to go,
a faint memory of my son and I in the forest and him
I told myself, right or left! Left it is, I thought, turning
running along the park-built boardwalks. Memory lane
my boat hard. A few minutes passed and still nothing
can be a beautiful thing and I think it was the only thing
opened up on the shoreline once I had committed to
that kept me going through this section because I was
the left. My arms were tingling and I was worried. It was
tired now, fatigue had set in and so had the sunset.
just then that it came into faint sight: Sterling Island.
When I got to the end of this portage, some brainiacs had parked their tent right in the small lakeside launch location. Note to reader: please don’t set your tent up and camp in pathways or boat launches; it just creates obstacles for the next guy! Even when you don’t think anyone is coming! They were surprised to see me as
My goal was only half a kilometre away. How glorious! What an accomplishment. I pulled onto the small sand beach and landed my kayak, threw up my tent and got my bed ready. I was in total shock that I had made it; the moon was up and stars were sparkling – it was 11 pm when my head hit my makeshift pillow.
it was around 8 pm at night; they were kind and told
I was pretty pleased with myself the next morning; I
me how impressed they were that I was doing this cir-
heard the other campers get up early and bug out back
cuit solo. I thanked them and kind of brushed off their
on the canoe route at about 7 am. I lulled myself back
words about me; nothing to celebrate yet, I thought, I
to sleep and popped out of my tent closer to 8:30. I had
haven’t even made it to today’s goal.
been video docu-ing along the trip, so took the op-
The sun was setting and Lak La More was stunning. I felt the freedom of being on the water and the back country, and glided along quickly enjoying every little scenic view that appeared along the way. What a lovely little lake; the wind crept up but being in a kayak gives you the advantage of floating close to the top of the 8 | C O M PA S S M A G A Z I N E | I s s u e 3 4
portunity to grab a few thoughts and then got up and explored this little lake treasure. It was closer to 10 am when I was all packed up and ready to hit the water again. This little island is truly special and I remembered visiting it before with my son, many years ago. Off I went to the next stop known as Mr. Canoehead, W W W. C O M PA S S M A G A Z I N E . C A
