Lake Winnipeg

The Three Musketeers (or Three Stooges, if you prefer) successfully completed their latest mission: to paddle from the US – Canadian border to the northern end of Lake Winnipeg. This involved roughly 120 final miles on the Red River, followed by about 260 miles on Lake Winnipeg, followed by about 40 miles across Playgreen Lake and down the Jack River to Norway House. This was the second leg in our three-year voyage from Minnesota to Hudson Bay.
The fabled violence of Lake Winnipeg never materialized. Even though it is a shallow lake with the potential for abrupt storms, it was kind to us. The prevailing northwest winds were more often than not southerly for us. The temperatures were pleasant at night and even sometimes hot during the day. We never saw the house-sized mosquitoes. The regular ones, along with gnats and horseflies (called “bulldogs” up there) chased us into our tents in the evening but were not otherwise problematic. The birds provided constant visual and aural accompaniment. We saw thousands of white pelicans, Canada geese, and seagulls; hundreds of bald eagles, arctic terns, and ducks; and scattered swans, sandhill cranes, and beaver; and one caribou.
We were all surprised by the beauty of Lake Winnipeg. The lake is characterized by long white sand beaches and rocky outcroppings. I do not hesitate to claim that it is the most beautiful lake I have ever paddled on in 50 years of paddling. Located elsewhere in the world, Lake Winnipeg would be a prime tourist attraction. As it was, we saw a few fishermen but no other recreational boaters and no canoe or kayaks.
We met many kind, helpful, generous, curious people who provided much-appreciated assistance of various kinds. Although we were worn down after 25 days of paddling, we feel mentally and physically able to tackle the final leg of our journey to Hudson Bay next June.