November 7, 1972
My initial pilgrimage to the Boundary Waters was with Darrell Pope in November of 1972. We were both juniors at Minneapolis Vocational High School taking Radio TV Repair and volunteering at KBEM FM radio station the year after it first broadcast. Darryl talked me into going with him to Seagull Lake at the top of the Gunflint Trail just before the ice shield returned to cover Minnesota. We got to stay in one of the cabins at the Outward Bound camp on an island that he had attended as long as we helped prepare the camp for winter. At 155 pounds and no muscles, I could barely lift a 75 pound canoe and thought my shoulder bones were going to break. Darrell seemed like a super human being and was able to carry them for blocks without stopping. After dark, we canoed out to a small rock island with only a sauna building and a dock.
My first sauna was hotter than anything I had ever experienced. Unable to breath because of the choking smoke from a crack in the cherry-red rusty stove, we huddled near the floor until the wooden walls nearly started to smolder. Trying to show Darrell that I could do anything he could do, I stayed in with him until he realized that I was about to pass out. Taking pity on me, he yelled "Let's go!" and ran out into the frigid night and dove off the dock. Trying to foolishly outdo him, I ran and dove as far as I could off the dock. Shocked immobile by the unbelievably cold water, I don't know how I made it back to the surface. I was unable to pull any air into my lungs and could barely move my arms. Finally able to scream at the brilliant stars above I splashed back to scramble naked onto the wooden dock. Now completely numb to the cold, steam rising like smoke off our wet skin, we laughed with sheer joy.
That's when I realized I had to have a canoe. Next year, my parents bought me a 17 foot Alumacraft canoe graduation gift for $275. No one has ever been given a more valued gift. Thanks again Dad and Mom!
11:26:40 PM 
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