I was scanning photos from old albums recently, and I decided to make a trip log for them. After all, these were the trips that taught me most of what I know about the wilderness, and planted roots in my heart that will keep me forever connected to it. Kick back and enjoy!

Within the endless expanse of lakes and rivers forming the border between Minnesota and Ontario, there is a place called Voyageurs National Park. This was my first paddle trip into shield country, and I fell in love the instant my paddle touched the waters of Namakan Lake.

The water is clear and cold, and is home to a world-class fishery. As part of a High Adventure trip with the old Boy Scout troop, this was supposed to be a hard-n'-heavy paddle trip, but it turned into the most relaxing week of fishing I'd experienced thus far. The group was small and tight, and we had a great time despite the foul weather.

As we made our way out to Namakan Island on the first day, we passed a gentleman in a handmade kayak, who was on his second week of fishing the area by himself. What a nutcase, I thought, to be out here all alone! Little did I know that seven years later I would find myself alone in the wilderness for the first time, snowshoeing at 20 below zero and loving every minute of it.

We started at the Ash River landing and made our way to Namakan Island, where we base-camped and did our best to manage the weather. Most of the time we were fishing, exploring around the rocky Wolf Pack islands, or over in Junction Bay, where a twin waterfall spills into the lake from some unseen forest stream.

I wish I could say that I caught my fair share of fish, and that we ate like kings on the huge lunkers we towed back to camp on our stringers. But that was not the case. I don't remember specifics, but the only fish I remember catching at all were little snake pikes, no bass or walleyes.

This portion of the border country is open to motorboats, so it's not exactly a true wilderness, but it is so vast and remote that the occasional passing boat isn't a real bother. Our outfitter also dropped off supplies by boat every other day, which made life a little easier. All in all, Voyageurs is worth the trip.

There is nothing in the world like fishing from a kayak, and there's no place in the world quite like the border country between Minnesota and Ontario. Directly to the east lies two more million acres of protected wilderness, encircling the prime paddling destinations of the BWCA and Quetico Provincial Park.