Two
miles in P.M. brightened things up. By fire between logs we dry,
clothes now in evening. All tired out. Low new moon.
Wednesday, July 29th. - Temp. 6 A.M. 58 degrees. Worked 4 miles.
Small ponds alternating with rapids. Portage 1 mile in P.M. Very
tired. Tea, and finished fine.
Thursday, July 30th. - Temp. 6 A.M. 39 degrees. Paddled through a
succession of ponds about a quarter of a mile long each, tracking
or dragging over little falls or rapids between. Made portage of
100 rods in P.M. Need fish now. Grub not so heavy as it was.
Were starting to dry blankets at fire when rain started. All
crawled into tent. Need rain to raise river. Plenty caribou
signs - two old wigwams (winter) on rock. No fish but 6-7 inch
trout. Bully camp to-night.
Friday, July 3lst. - Temp. 6 A.M. 56 degrees. Rain all day. Two
rivers puzzled us. Came together just above our camp. One comes
over a fall from the south side; other rough, comes from northwest.
South branch comes from west, better, more level. Little ponds
between falls and short rapids. Scouted. Think south branch Low's
Northwest River. Wallace caught bully mess of trout while George
and I were scouting. George found old wigwam about a quarter of a
mile up south branch; also a winter blaze crossing stream north to
south, fresh. Trappers' line, think. Blake or M'Lean. Wigwam
old. Rain bad. River not very good, some ponds, some portage,
some dragging. Up south branch three-quarters of a mile stopped
for lunch. Stopped after a quarter of a mile portage for a scout.
Wallace and I made camp in rain while George scouted. George
reports 1 1/2 mile bad river,, then level, deep ponds, very good.
Caught trout. Rainy camp.
Saturday, August 1st. - Rained steadily all night and to-day.
Tired, chilled, ragged. Wallace not well and things damp. Stayed
in camp all day. Hoped to dry things out. Too much rain. Went
out in bare feet and drawers and caught ten trout.
Sunday, August 2nd. - Cleared this A.M. Boys dried camp while I
caught twenty-four trout, some half pounders. Getting bigger,
nearer Height of Land we hope reason. Water higher. Will help us.
Two cans baking powder spoiled. Good feed of trout. Not a bit
tired of trout yet. Observation shows 53 degrees 46 minutes 12
seconds lat. Went 3 miles in P.M. and camped.
Monday, August 3rd. - Temp. 6 A.M. 56 degrees. Big day. At foot of
a portage as we were getting ready to pack, I saw four wild geese
coming down stream. Grabbed rifle, four cartridges in it. George
got Wallace's rifle. All dropped waiting for them to come round
bend, 30 ft. away. George and I shot at once, both hitting leader.
All started flapping along on top of water, up stream.
