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Jun 3, 2009 - Birchcliffe Lake to Biggar Lake - 1 portage totalling 580 m

Awoke to a nice warm sunny day. This time one that would stick. Ate breakfast, packed, and gave the cabin a sweep before leaving. As we paddled out onto the lake, we saw another moose, foraging along the south shore. We began the long trek down Birchcliffe Creek. The going was easier than expected. There was enough water that we could sail right over top of most of the beaver dams. We only had to unload the boat twice due to fallen trees in the water. The single portage was short, although very muddy. The current was swift, so for the most part we simply guided the canoe along, ducking under low hanging vegetation and making wild slalom style turns around the bend and dodging debris in the water. We stopped in a calm pool to have a snack as we were getting hungry, and then continued on reaching Biggar Lake about three hours after we had started. The wind here was pretty stiff, and we now paddled hard as we made our way slowly westward while bouncing in the waves. We checked out a couple campsites before choosing a nice large one with a south aspect so we could catch some sun. I forgot to mention, at one point while going down the creek, we came around a bend and found ourselves face to face with a bull moose standing in the water. We back paddled quickly to avoid crashing into him, and then he turned and wandered off into the woods. After setting up camp, we ate lunch and then I took a quick (very quick) swim in the cold water, mainly to clean the grime off of my body from the last five days. Relaxed the rest of the afternoon, most of the time in the tent because of the black flies and mosquitos. After supper we went for a short hike around the area. Lots of jagged boulders are strewn throughout the woods. The immediate area around our site and the next site about 200m away is very open, but after that the woods become a jumble of fallen trees. Some very healthy trees have split into spectacular shards, so I assume a good wind burst has passed through here recently. It was too buggy to remain outside, so we retired early to the tent.

Leaving our cabin.






Obstacles on Birchcliffe creek.




Mini portage around the debris.


A nice day!.


Burnt out hollow tree caused by lightning I presume.


Come on in. It's warm, I promise!


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