March 25-27 2017 trip to Laniel

[600 miles north]

     This was my first trip to Kipawa in the winter season that I successfully made it to our cabin, and my brother in law Jim also came. We backpacked and pulled a sled to carry supplies to camp. temps were 14F. when we reached Laniel Saturday morning, but climbed to the freezing point with the sun out during the rest of the day.

     First night was spent putting wood in the wood burner all night long, while sitting in a chair directly in front of a fire. never got the cabin above 50 degrees F. Frosted toilet seats aren't any fun!

     We were truly blessed to be on the lake the same time a few of our neighbors were there. Richard and Catherine spoiled us. they entertained Jim and I, along with other kipawa lake friend Dave all three nights we were there. Cooking steaks, Walleye, Partridge, Poutine, blueberry pie made from kipawa foraged berries, and much more food and drink than you can imagine. We are truly appreciative. What a great time! We were prepared with freeze dried foods, but our neighbors didn't find it appropriate that we eat them for any dinner we had.























     By the second night I gave up on keeping the fire going all night and just zipped up in my zero degree sleeping bag, and guess what... I stayed warm. Those things are amazing!

     Monday morning rolled around and one heck of a freezing rain had hit us throughout the night. We were stuck there. No prayer of any way out of the bush until the roads cleared. luckily the temps warmed to above freezing and they stayed that way that night, so we were able to leave on Tuesday morning.

     We had a great adventure in the winter months up there. not sure it will be attempted again soon, but was a bucket list trip of mine, so scratch that one off...

[john c]

hi 600

Nice to see a trip report and with pictures.  Sounds like it was a trip for you.

john c

[RHYBAK]

Yes, what a relief after a boring winter here.
It was truly a blessing to see a report again and complete with pictures.

Let the games begin

[Jay Thomas]

Thanks for your report with pictures Brad. It must have been educational to be standing out in front of your dock with the ice level so low compared to the water level in summer. Thanks for sharing.

Jay

[Oarin]

Nice Brad, thanks! Is the picture with the tree stump showing the summer water level?

[600 miles north]

     Thanks all. yes oarin, the lake is down about 8 feet and that pic is the easiest to see how far it has dropped

[puckster_guy]

How cool lol

[SgtCrabby]

I though of dropping a report, or more.
But I figured most of y'all wouldn't like it when you're looking at deep ice and snow. I have full spring here.

[Riverrat]

Looking good Brad!  As you can see the store is for sale.  The sign was up all last year.  Its nice to see Dave was up again.  I saw him a couple of weeks ago.  Its nice to see the pictures.  I really no desire to travel there in the winter as my cottages aren't winterized.  Thanks for the pictures

[Goach15]

Great pictures !!!...we were at our new place at Dorval Bay near Laniel for the weekend March 31-today...Driveway was plugged with a few feet of snow so had to walk gear/tools into the cottage from the plowed road..about 400 feet...will be up there each weekend now for a while until reno's are done ...if i ever figure out how to post pictures I will post ice out progress...was surprised to see how low the lake level is...will take advantage of that to do dock work on Easter weekend....still lots of ice so walleye are safe for a while...

[T-Bone]

Nice report 600. That's a long way to go for a couple days of getting your fix 'on Kipawa in the snow. I know where you're coming from though...I'd do that in a second.

Wonder how much they're asking for that Gaz-n-Sip? Maybe get together a mix of business partners across us and find a way to create some revenue there. I'll get my nephew Mattie to manage it for us...he'd move up there in a second. 

Just dreamin'...just dreamin'....

opportuniTy-Bone

[Oarin]

Sgt Crabby, post a report, I'm sure a lot of us would like to see it.