Day 10: McKinley – Smoothrock Lake

18 km, 1 portages, 0 line

Route:

McKinlay Lake

P46 (west) into Lonebreast

Lonebreast

Smoothrock

Was windy from the moment we got up.  So windy we had a difficult time loading and launching the boat off our campsite – not a good sign!  Had one portage out into Lonebreast Bay and were instantly hit with the gale force winds!!!!

We fought the head winds for a bit (wind was funnelling up the narrow bay); once the waves started to breach the bow of our canoe we decided to pull over and wait it out.

WINDBOUND – from 10AM to 6PM……..longest – day – of – my – life!

Around 5PM we noticed the winds were starting to die off, so we made some dinner in the hopes we could get on the water and go until dark.  By 6PM the waves had calmed and we were on the water.  We paddled till dusk (~9:30) and were able to find a sandy beach on Smoothrock Lake to call home for the night.

Set up camp in the dark and called it a night.  Thankfully winds had totally calmed setting us up for an easier paddling day to come.