We woke up at 0700 today and tore down camp with the intention of heading to Ester Lake. Yesterday my back held up while paddling, but I was anxious to see how I would manage on the 120 rod portage to Hanson Lake. Breakfast was pop tarts and breakfast bars that we ate while packing.

It was a another sunny day albeit breezy with several clouds looming in the west. The weather forecast before we left indicated rain today and tomorrow. We will find out soon enough if they were right.

The paddle to the portage to Hanson Lake takes a couple hours. Knife Lake is lined with steep cliffs along the north shore here which explains the lack of campsites in this area. Lauren is fascinated with the various colors on the cliffs and especially orange. I am glad that she is chatty today as it keeps my mind off my back.

Near the portage we paddle past a group that had left Ester Lake this morning. They had left the north island site which made me hopeful of getting that site. I had read it was one of the two nicer sites on Ester Lake with the south island site being nice as well. Arriving at the portage we meet another group that had just left the south island site on Ester. Now my hopes are really up as rain seems to be approaching. The group was led a young couple with a bunch of adolescents along. It turns out the leader is "Marshall Prime" from BWCA.com.

Lauren and I head across the portage. My back seemed to be OK aside a few spasms when lifting the pack on my back. The portage felt long as it is a gradual ascent the whole way. A stream and a neat waterfall greeted us about halfway across. About 100 yards after turning back for the second load I discover two of the teenagers carrying my canoe and one of them carrying my other pack. I thanked them as much as I could, but I am not sure they realized how grateful me and my back was to them. What a great bunch of kids! I thought is was very admirable that Matt (Marshall Prime) and his wife would do such a trip. They seemed to be having a great time. All I could offer them was some fishing and campsite tips as they were headed the direction I came.

Parting ways, Lauren and I headed across Hanson Lake. If rain had not been looming I would have liked to explore this pretty lake some more, but my mind was on finding a camp on Ester and getting the tent set up.

Hanson and Ester Lake are connected by a small weed filled stream. Once on Ester we find a group setting up camp on the south island site. RATS! Well, we continue around the island and find the north site open. YES! The site is very nice, but a tad overused. It has a nice elevated view of the lake and a huge fire pit and seating area. The only drawback was that all the grass had been worn down to dirt from overuse. We manage to set up the tarp just as the rain started to fall. It would be the first time we needed the tarp all trip. After a quick lunch we set up the tent in the rain.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the tent reading books, coloring and looking at maps. It rained hard all afternoon. I guess we were both tired from the trip as we both took a nap. Obviously my back could use the rest as well.

The rain stopped briefly for dinner. Spaghetti and bread were on the menu again. The rain started again as we did dishes and we ran back to the tent around 2000. Sleep did not come easy as my mind was racing about whether to stay here tomorrow or press on and get past the last of the portages. The two longer portages that lay ahead could be a challenge. On the satellite phone, the wife informed me that the forecast for the next several days was wind and rain. So much for enjoying the day tomorrow in camp. I made the decision to push on and get the stress of portaging with a bad back behind me.

Lakes Traveled: Knife, Hanson and Ester. 6 miles.

1 Portage: 120 rods.