Moments - Vilas County, Wisconsin

The Great Canoe Fiasco

Maggie E.

About 7 years ago, my dad, sister and I noticed on the maps on the table at Headwaters in Boulder Junction that it would be relatively easy to canoe from Boulder Lake to White Sand Lake. We made plans to go in the morning, and figured we would be at our destination in 3 hours, tops. We packed some light snacks and made our way out, using a flimsy paper map as a guide. We started out on the Manitowish River, and it wasn’t long until we made our first mistake and canoed into and all the way across Little Rice Lake. After searching the entire perimeter of the lake, we discovered that the only way out was the way we came in. We went back out onto the Manitowish River, and continued canoeing all the way to the dam, when we realized we had reached a dead end. Still determined to make this trip work, we turned around, and found a creek which we figured must lead to our destination. We later discovered that this creek was in fact called White Sand Creek, but at the time we could not have been the wiser. Hours later, two hungry and tired little girls had given up on helping their dad paddle through what was basically mud (the creek was dried up in some places due to a very hot summer). We were all ready to give up. My dad pulled out his phone, hoping to get some service and reach our friends and family back at the lake. Unfortunately, the phone slipped right through his fingers and into the water, and any hope that we had of contacting our loved ones was lost. We just had to keep moving forward and hope for the best. About an hour or two later, we came to a road. The only hope that we had of returning to civilization was pulling out canoe out of the creek, standing on the road, and flagging down the next car that came through. It took about 20 minutes, but FINALLY a car came through. They stopped for us, asked us if we needed help (to which we, of course, said yes) and took us back to their home. After some talking, we discovered that their daughter knew our Aunt who lives in Alaska, and they knew each other from a similar encounter that we were experiencing in the moment (small crazy world, huh?) We discovered that we nearly made it to White Sand Lake, popped the canoe back in the water, and finished our journey (that took about 6 hours longer than we had planned.) Now, every summer, my father, sister, and I do the canoe trip the right way, in an appropriate amount of time. Even though 7 years ago I thought I was going to get eaten alive by a bear swimming along the creek, looking back, that is one of my favorite memories in Boulder Junction. The photo attached is of our most recent outing on the creek, but this time in a kayak.

The yearly guy trip up north

Sue N.

Just one more cast before the storm

Sue S.

Jumping off dock on Trout Lake

Amy M.

Why I love being up north in the winter

Cindy L.

Walking in a winter wonderland

Jessica G.

Picture Perfect

Musky fishing in Vilas County

Mike S.

Plum Lake Sunrise

Mike P.

Great car show

Steve L.

Sunset by the island on Catfish Lake

Tricia H.

The lake awaits

Laura

Swinging over Squaw Lake waiting for Spring

Lauren K.

Fishing fun

Shannon S.

Kayaking on Rest Lake

Britten L.

Biking the St. Germain Trail

Cindy N.

Fishing fun in Vilas County

Steven C.

Sunrise sweetness

Amanda

Fall turnover 2016 Boulder Junction

Michael G.

Spring has sprung

Bill K.

Opening Weekend

Timothy J.

Big bass

Timmy

The Girls

Jeanne B.

Winter fun in Manitowish Waters

Lori K.

Swans taking flight

Robert K.

October Afternoon at East Star Lake Campground

Mike D.

A Northwoods Sunset

Wayne

Musky fishing

Allen H.

Canoe Rides

Daniel H.

Hiking Anvil Lake Trail

Sheryl P.

Sleigh ride

Wendy N.

Double rainbow over Manitowish Lake

Phil H.

Hiking the Star Lake Nature Trail

Debbie D.

A beautiful fall afternoon over Moon Lake

Dan O.

Summer Stand Up Paddleboarding

Blatner Kids

Winter wonder land

Diane B.

Cozy Campfires

Darren W.

Hiking

Sara M.

Country Fair, Presque Isle

Carrie J.

Island Lake lazy days of summer

Steen T.

Swimming

Erin D.

Harvest Fest in Boulder Junction