Wolverine Lake with canoe

GPS Coordinates are 49.811618, -83.772607. Link on Google Maps

We started our canoe trip from the boat launch between Hanlan Lake and Wolverine Lake. Both lakes are interconnected and extend to Fushimi Lake to the west and Pivabiska Lake & Lac Ste. Thérèse to the east. The connecting channel to Fushimi Lake may have a portage, but we were not able to verify it due to high winds.
You may ask why our first canoe trip was to Wolverine Lake and not to Fushimi Lake, which was right at our doorstep? Well, the name of the lake was the difference. Ever since Marvel made the name famous, it is just one of those things one has to do.

The five lakes build a canoe route of about 40 kilometers. This topo map shows all the three lakes. We didn't do the whole stretch, but from Hanlan Lake to Wolverine Lake is easy canoeing. The Wolverine Lake to Pivabiska Lake is likely to be tranquil as well. We didn't do any of the others. We visited Ste. Thérèse with the Jeep and found the lake fronts cluttered with cottages. Except maybe fishing, Lac Ste. Thérèse has little scenery to offer, except a boat launch at the southern end.

Wolverine Lake
Oh, look there, a loon! Actually, all the lakes up here are inhabited by loons. Their call is synonymous with the northern wilderness. Unlike loons on more southern lakes, these ones were shy and kept a good distance. We didn't chase them, but tried to float closer from the wind. Next time we outsmart them, maybe.
It was overcast, not the best time to go out in the canoe. There were no heavy winds, paddling was not a life or death race.

Once we found a sandy beach that was protected from the wind, we landed there. It was big enough for us and quiet. A sandwich, a drink and a chocolate bar were perfect for our journey back to the Jeep. When you are looking for the exit from a lake in the middle of nowhere, there are very few landmarks. Breadcrumbs won't help either. A compass always works, but the Gaia App on Samsung does a fine job too. Once we saw the bridge, the destination was clear.

Wolverine Lake has a few cottages, but we were alone on the lake. The shore is either big rocks, swampy bogs or forested down to the water. Only a few places are accessible by canoe, like our small sandy beach. Nevertheless, a stunning scenery.

Fushimi Lake
The day before we returned home, the forecast had no rain and a mostly sunny sky. We hadn't yet taken the canoe out on Fushimi Lake. It was already windy in the morning when we left, but the weather app showed 20 km wind and 40 km gusts. The picture was taken at 11:40, just a few minutes after we headed out.
As we found out later, there was no hiding from the wind, it blew in from the west. On the way back, some waves had white tips. The gusts were annoying and didn't allow any rest between the paddle strokes. We had to face the waves with the canoe front first and the splashes got Ursula good. In short, we paddled in a zig​-zag to prevent the canoe from lining up parallel with the waves. That could have spelled disaster. We still have the skills to handle a canoe, good to know. And maybe luck

We went to the backcountry camp site 55 near the Fire Tower and had lunch. These were the last pictures we took. We had our hands full with paddling and the waves. Looking at the pictures now, it is hard to imagine the waves.

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After returning to our campsite, we started packing up and loaded the canoe on the Jeep. We had to leave the next morning.
The next morning was sunny and no wind. The lake had a few ripples. It felt as if Fushimi Lake was calling "STAY HERE".