Post by longtrail on Mar 9, 2008 22:18:59 GMT -5
Many moons ago I was invited to attend an amm rendezvous at Upper Priest Lake. It is a canoe or hike in only. The lower and much bigger lake is connected to the upper lake by a narrow canal, about 3/4 mile long.
I lived a couple of hours away and got a late start, I arrived just before dark at the location where I would canoe to the opposite side of the large lake and then take the canal to the upper, smaller lake.
By the time I got my canoe loaded, and half way across the lake, it was dark. The large lake has homes and cabins all along its shore and I navigated by paddling towards the lights.
Upon reaching the far shore, I asked a much startled man, how far I was from the canal. I had been to the upper lake many times, but it was just so dark I could not see the canal. He said I was almost there so I set out to find it.
Upon entering the canal I was able to navigate due to the lights at the cabins, but too soon, I passed the last one and paddled into total darkness. I could hardly see the front end of the canoe. No moon was out, just billions of bright vivid stars.
I had to ask myself if this was something I really wanted to undertake, but what were my choices? Turn around and go all the way back across the large lake or keep going to shinnin times at the rendezvous with good friends, duh, no brainer!
The going was slow, but the way I made it to my destination, was to paddle my canoe upon the stars on the water. As long as I avoided totally black areas, I was able to stay in the middle of the canal. It was truly a mystical experience with the stars above me as well as below. It was about the most exciting thing I have ever done on my own like that.
I guess it took me well over an hour to reach the point where I could hear laughter and see the faint glow of camp fires. My friends were happy to see me, but most of them not too shocked.
Next day a group of us headed to the opposite end of the upper lake to check out some beaver sign and watch some of the guys set traps. I opted to take a little siesta in the bottom of my canoe. I tied up to some cattails and lay down out of the cool breeze and in the warm sun. I must say that I think it was the best sleep I ever had, rocking gently on the small lapping waves.
The water of the upper lake is so clear that one can see the bottom,15 feet down by the light of a full moon. I dug wapato, a tiny potato type tuber, and made some fry bread, picked rose hips and made syrup. But mostly I just camp-dogged!
Surely Shinnin Times! Waugh!
I lived a couple of hours away and got a late start, I arrived just before dark at the location where I would canoe to the opposite side of the large lake and then take the canal to the upper, smaller lake.
By the time I got my canoe loaded, and half way across the lake, it was dark. The large lake has homes and cabins all along its shore and I navigated by paddling towards the lights.
Upon reaching the far shore, I asked a much startled man, how far I was from the canal. I had been to the upper lake many times, but it was just so dark I could not see the canal. He said I was almost there so I set out to find it.
Upon entering the canal I was able to navigate due to the lights at the cabins, but too soon, I passed the last one and paddled into total darkness. I could hardly see the front end of the canoe. No moon was out, just billions of bright vivid stars.
I had to ask myself if this was something I really wanted to undertake, but what were my choices? Turn around and go all the way back across the large lake or keep going to shinnin times at the rendezvous with good friends, duh, no brainer!
The going was slow, but the way I made it to my destination, was to paddle my canoe upon the stars on the water. As long as I avoided totally black areas, I was able to stay in the middle of the canal. It was truly a mystical experience with the stars above me as well as below. It was about the most exciting thing I have ever done on my own like that.
I guess it took me well over an hour to reach the point where I could hear laughter and see the faint glow of camp fires. My friends were happy to see me, but most of them not too shocked.
Next day a group of us headed to the opposite end of the upper lake to check out some beaver sign and watch some of the guys set traps. I opted to take a little siesta in the bottom of my canoe. I tied up to some cattails and lay down out of the cool breeze and in the warm sun. I must say that I think it was the best sleep I ever had, rocking gently on the small lapping waves.
The water of the upper lake is so clear that one can see the bottom,15 feet down by the light of a full moon. I dug wapato, a tiny potato type tuber, and made some fry bread, picked rose hips and made syrup. But mostly I just camp-dogged!
Surely Shinnin Times! Waugh!