During my visit to Minnesota's north shore over the Memorial Day weekend, I hosted and attended Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event (GC23RM5).  Following the event, all of us event attendees day-tripped into the wilderness for a gruelling but adventurous ride.

The first leg of our adventure was to visit the virtual geocache Mystical Dolmen Rock (GC587F).  We departed Sawbill Landing at 8:05AM. We arrived at the dolmen rock at 10:00AM.  We spent about 30 minutes at the rock exploring, socializing, snacking and taking photographs.  We departed the rock at 10:30AM and arrived back at Sawbill Landing at 12:40PM.  Total distance paddled on this leg was 5 miles each direction for a total of 10 miles. Total time paddling was 4 hours and 10 minutes.  Our average paddling speed was a little over 2 mph.

The second leg of the journey was to visit the virtual geocache Kelly-Jack (GC2878).  We drove from the Sawbill Landing to the Baker Landing and arrived at 1:55PM.  After getting our gear unloaded and prepared, we started paddling about 2:15PM.  We arrived at the portage between Kelly and Jack lakes at 3:40PM, which is where the hike in to Kelly-Jack begins.  In all, we spent 40 minutes hiking to Kelly-Jack, exploring, taking pictures, and returning to our boats.  We departed the portage at 4:20PM.  We arrived back at Baker Landing at 6:15PM. Total distance paddled on this leg was 3.9 miles each direction for a total of 7.8 miles. Total paddling time was 3 hours and 20 minutes.  Paddling to Kelly-Jack our average speed was 3 mph and paddling back was a slower 2 mph as a headwind had picked up from the south.

The total distance paddled today was 17.8 miles.  Visit this post at www.tftc.us for additional information and pictures about the event.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Our boats parked at Sawbill Landing awaiting departure.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Group photograph of event attendees.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina smiling not realizing the gruelling paddle ahead.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view from Bart's boat.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Entering the actual BWCA Wilderness.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina coming down the first portage.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Aix sponsa at the first portage preparing her boat.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of the lilies on Kelso Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another view of Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The gorgeous view at Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event More Kelso Lake beauty.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Approaching the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The mystical dolmen rock balancing on all threes.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another angle of the dolmen rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A group picture at the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another angle of our group at the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Our boats parked on shore beside the dolmen rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina on the rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje and Norvina on the dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Closeup of Bflentje and Norvina on the rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje imitating but not replacing Doublemoose as the Thinker.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Glacial erratic on Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A closeup view of glacial erratic on Kelso Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Evidence of the 1999 straight line winds in the BWCA.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Damage from the 1999 blowdown in the wilderness.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Unbelievable damage from the 1999 storm.. that was 11 years ago.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event More damage from the July 4th, 1999 storm.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A sheet of ice inside of the Kelly-Jack mining cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event And another view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A group photograph at the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event We made it to our second destination.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina stretching or holding up the cave?	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje outside of the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The entrance to the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of Jack Lake from the portage.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of the portage from Kelly Lake to Jack Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The final group photograph after having completed the entire journey.