Shrew Lake - First Solo Trip - 2000

Having done a number of canoe trips with individuals, I decided it was time to try my first solo canoe trip in the summer of 2000. My route took me back to Crotch Lake but instead of heading into Booth Lake, I decided to head north into Shirley Lake, then into Ryan Lake, finally onto Shrew Lake. It was an ambitious route since it included a 1050 meter portage the first day. Given that I was a smoker at the time, I decided that during the 4 hour car drive on the way up that I would not have a cigarette. I figured this slight respite from the evils of smoking for nearly 40 years would clear my lungs thereby making a 1 kilometre portage a breeze. Ok - I wasn't that smart for a person in their 40's.

I arrived at Crotch Lake around 11 am and was in the water by noon. While travelling across Crotch Lake I decided to have just one cigarette to celebrate the start of my first solo trip. As I stated, I wasn't too bright. I arrived at the portage and was pleasantly surprised to discover that the portage was nothing more than a walking path along fairly level ground. This was going to be easy. Before beginning I had another cigarette to celebrate my good fortune.

I had never carried my canoe (old green) by myself and found myself almost in tears from the pain of the yoke on my neck before I had walked more than 100 meters - this wasn't going well. I dropped the canoe and went back to get my packs - yes - packs (plural). As I said, I wasn't too bright and had brought along enough gear to re-supply an Arctic expedition. Instead of a hatchet, I had brought an axe. Instead of a single burner stove I had brought a full Coleman stove along with an ample supply of fuel. With a pack on my back and one strapped to my front I barely made it to where I had dropped the canoe. As I got to the canoe I dropped both packs and sat down for a rest ... and another cigarette. A long story short, I huffed and puffed my way across this level pathway taking about 2 hours to accomplish a 1 km portage - pathetic!

As I entered Shirley Lake I was faced with a strong north wind and had to fight my way across the lake, nearly spent when I finally arrived at the far shore in preparation for a 515 meter portage. I met a couple who were camped along the shore and after some chit chat I picked up my canoe with the determination to walk the entire 515 metres without dropping the canoe. I was in pain by the time I had reached the end and was mumbling quite loudly to myself about how stupid this was and how I hated portages, the outdoors, people who didn't know what canoeing was all about, life itself - just about anything to take my mind off the pain of the yoke digging into my neck. When I finally dropped the canoe at the end I was surprised to find that the couple with whom I had chatted with on the beach had been following behind me carrying my two packs. I felt like an idiot getting caught talking to myself but managed to thank the couple for their generosity. I think they were just glad to see the crazy man paddle away from their campsite.

The first night I stayed on Ryan Lake. I must say it was a bit scary since I was all alone on the lake and to make matters worse there was a fire ban in the park. With no fire to alleviate my fears, I sat up most of the night with a flashlight in my hand waiting for the attack of the bears.

The next morning I was up early and off to Shrew Lake through Big Red Lake. The two portages were not easy but blissfully short in comparison to the previous day's. During the second portage I met up with two men and the son of one who were portaging in the opposite direction. They informed me that they had stayed in an old ranger cabin (located on another lake 5 km to the east) the night before and had awoken to a bear at their door in the morning. Their story did little to calm my nerves.

I arrived at Shrew Lake by early afternoon and set up camp. Because of the fire ban there was no need to collect wood and I was a bit bored - that is until the sun went down. As the darkness crept in so too did my imagination. Every sound was a bear waiting to pounce upon me. I recall that at one point I was sitting facing the lake when I heard loud thumping behind me. It sounded very much like a large bear walking around my tent. In front of me I had a knife, flashlight, lighter and the gas tank from the Coleman stove. My mind quickly flashed through all the possible ways to thwart a bear attack. After several moments I had decided that my best strategy was to simultaneously leap up from my sitting position while executing a 180 degree turn with the flashlight in my mouth, propane tank in one hand and my lighter in the other. The idea was to open the valve on the tank while lighting the gas stream with the lighter. The stream of flaming gas should deter the bear but my plan B was to turn and jump into my canoe which I had left partially in the water. Being the man of action that I am, I steeled my nerves and leapt up preparing myself for battle with the bear. As the flashlight played across the tent it became apparent that the bear was smaller than I had anticipated - in fact it wasn't a bear at all. Next to my tent were two huge rabbits thumping around on the ground. Fear is a funny thing.

The next morning I was up and on the water as I intended to make it back to the car in one day. Travelling back along the same route I was able to do all 4 portages (even the killer 1 km portage) without a problem and was back at my car by 4 p.m.. In one weekend I had mastered the art of solo canoeing. I couldn't wait for my next solo adventure.