Troop 60 completed the 75 mile Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit!  This epic adventure took us to the Canadian Wilderness to a canoe circuit that ends where it starts.  We saw giant lakes, hauled canoes and gear over miles of portage trails, navigated marshy waterways, rode down rapids and rivers and had an adventure of a lifetime!

Not only was the drive to Bowron 2-days long, we had to drive around immense fires and through some really thick smoke.

They main highway to Bowron was closed, adding to the length of the drive.

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Day 1 started with an uphill portage to our first lake.  Pushing loaded canoes up a hill with a full backpack was harder than any of us anticipated.  After we finally completed our last portage, we encountered waves hitting the shore that would surely capsize our canoes if we continued on. 

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On Day 2 we navigated to and through a marshy waterway with shallow areas and deadheads that could easily stop your canoe.  We then portaged over a muddy and rocky trail known to destroy boats.  At the end of the portage was the beginning of 24 miles on Isaac Lake.

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Day 3 started and ended on Isaac Lake.  At the end of the day, we still could not see the end of the lake and stopped at Site 21 to camp.  On the beach at camp were fresh bear tracks!

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We finally made it to the end of Isaac Lake.  At the southern tip was our campsite and the entrance into "The Chute" and the "Rollercoaster".  We spent the first half of the afternoon watching 3 teams tackle the rapids and the second half practicing in empty canoes.  We went to sleep knowing that we would need to take our loaded canoes down the rapids in the morning.  And all night, we could hear the roar of the water smashing against rocks. 

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Day 5 was the Big Day!  We ran our boats down "The Chute" and through the "Rollercoaster".  After 2 portages, we tackled the Cariboo River while dodging deadheads, sweepers and the shallows.

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Lanezi Lake is known for its big afternoon waves, so we set out again early in the morning.  Our journey would take use through more of the Cariboo River, over the huge and sometimes shallow Sandy Lake, through more river and into 2 secret entrances into Unna and Rum Lakes.  We would have Rum Lake all to ourselves ... as long as the bear who frequents this area doesn't make an appearance. 

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The day started a bit foggy.  As we paddled, the fog became thicker and thicker.  It was difficult to see the other canoes and we could no longer navigate by landmarks.  It was an interesting start to a really lengthy day. 

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Day 8 started with a slow navigation through marshland where moose were known to forage in the morning.  This waterway would take us back to the Bowron Lake and to the end point of our epic adventure. 

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We had to decide if we were going to camp in the post apocalyptic smoky landscape or continue to drive on through it as night fell.  Neither were very appealing after 8 days on the Circuit and getting up at 3:30am this morning to get started.

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