Despite the forecast of rain, the sky cleared and we were able to get in yet another hike. To Newton Lake. This was another wonderful walk through very green and growing woods, slippery logs and varied fungi that make you do double takes as to what you are actually stepping in. Up the hill we go, switchbacking past waterfalls, mosquito clouds and slugs 6 inches long, dotted with black and army green. We pushed our middleaged selves to our reward-Newton Lake. Not. More like a pond. Maybe a large sinkhole. But you just never know what lies around the bend. We have friends on another boat that have seen three black bears. Makes me rethink those snacks in the backpack. We are starting to head back to the US now, an anchorage at a time. We are meeting very colorful people along the way. One couple is heading to Alaska to gold pan. She wears a mosquito suit. He talks to bears. We also met a fellow who used to log in one of the more remote anchorages we were in. Told me those huge tracks I found were not bear but wolf. To emphasize that point, I've been hearing wolves howl as we hike and stepping over the furry remains of their appetites. This morning we were delighted to see a mink on the rocks onshore, mother duck and 4 ducklings (today's count), herons, eagles, no bears though. This is probably a good thing but I really don't want to leave Canada bearless.