March 12, 2016 at 07:26AM

Shards of ice scattered in the still morning air as I opened the water hole at sunrise. @StoneCreekCoffee was brewing early, we were anxious to hit the trail before the sun started baking the land. It was around freezing when we harnessed the dogs and headed up the north arm of Knife Lake. The conditions were fast, and the miles slid by. We stopped for lunch on Gijikiki Lake and the sun was already melting the lake’s surface. The dogs rested in the shade, investigating all the smells unveiled by spring.

We were heading into a remote chain of lakes, connected by steep, rugged portages. Rivalry, Lake of the Clouds, Lunar, Cherry, Topaz, and Amoeber Lakes are ringed by a rugged, cliff-dotted country. We rested often drinking in the vistas as the dogs lapped up water and slushy snow.

After 20 miles our loop brought us home. We relaxed in the afternoon, lounging in our @Helinox chairs in the tropical air. 55 degrees felt foreign, it is hard to comprehend that it may be warmer today. The lake ice has held up well so far; there is still snow along the shoreline. It will be interesting to watch the lakes and forest change over the next 4 days. It is not forecast to dip below freezing again until the 16th.

Today is the 172nd day of our #wildernessyear to @savetheBWCA. Everyday we see and learn something knew and our resolve to protect this national treasure grows.
#BoundaryWaters #BWCA #onlyinMN #sunrise #WeAreTheWild #ice #spring