1988
The reason the group picture is so dark is that our journey out of the Boundary Waters in 1988 took 15 hours and was one of the most adventurous ever.
A thunderstorm rocked the BWCA on this day, and we were literally in the middle of it. I'll never forget all of us holding half water-filled canoes together terrified that lightning would strike the lake. It didn't. But it did strike one lake away and severely burned several people on shore by traveling through the rocks and up their tent poles they were holding from inside.
Not that we escaped unscathed: for the first time in our travels a canoe tipped, and it was the one I was in. We were shooting the rapids when it was turned and jolted against a rock. Amazingly, all that was lost was a canteen. Not that it was too pleasant canoeing and hiking out freezing cold and having everything (including myself) weighing double.
The same guy who took the group picture told us that we wouldn't be able to get out of the BWCA, as the gravel road leading to civilization had many fallen trees across it, and his group was thwarted in their attempt.
Having just spent 16 hours getting to this point, and weathering the storm of storms, and almost tasting a real meal and feeling a real shower just around the corner, we were not about to be stopped. A chainsaw was whipped out of one of our vehicles, and as amazement appeared in the man's eyes we mowed our way out.
On to 1989 pictures
