It was a sunny day in June when our group of five embarked on our 14-day journey. It was a beautiful day with a light wind as we paddled away from civilization with light hearts and calm minds. As the trip went on, we bonded over scary stories and stupid games. We joked about our eternal hunger and sore muscles. The time we spent on the water was time for singing songs and listening to Sally, our trip leader, read Harry Potter. Sometimes we would paddle quietly and simply observe our beautiful surroundings.
One of my favorite memories was on our first night when there was a beautiful sunset. We all stopped what we were doing and watched it. We were all yelling how beautiful it was and we had a group hug under the amazing sky. Sally wrote in our journal that night: “Our crew of five just spontaneously viewed and hugged through a mad gorgeous sunset on Ensign. Crayfish danced and the sky smoldered with pinks, purples, and oranges that were equally beautiful as they reflected on the water below. I’ve never been so stoked to be here.” It was an incredible first night.
As time went on, and we got further and further east, the beautiful trees and rocks gradually turned into plateaus and cliffs. We were getting closer to our final destination of the Grand Portage to Lake Superior, which we would complete on our last day. Our last full day we spent traveling up the Pigeon River to the mouth of the Grand Portage. We saw two moose in the span of a couple hours. At the time, the canoe in front of us slowed down to a stop and before I could ask why, I stopped in my tracks too. There was a huge animal crossing in front of us and it slightly scared me because of how close it was. The moose started trotting across the river, becoming more nervous as it went. It was incredible.
We got to the Grand Portage on our last day and completed the 8.5 miles in six hours. It was a grueling journey, but I’m so glad I could do it with some of my best friends. We made it to Lake Superior and hugged and cried after we set our canoes down. We were so happy. I’m extremely grateful I could spend two weeks in the place I love the most with some of the most amazing people I know.
Mackenzie Johnson is a junior at Minnetonka High School. Johnson made her first five-day trip to the Boundary Waters in the summer of 2014. She fell in love and could not wait to get back. In the summer of 2015 she went on a 10-day trip, and in July 2016 she completed a 14-day trip that ended with the 8.5 mile Grand Portgage to Lake Superior. Johnson loves everything about the Boundary Waters and supports the area in any way she can to make sure herself and others can continue to enjoy it for many years to come.
