Brunch Lake
The word "brunch" has only been in use since 1896 according to dictionary sources so this lakes name does not date back too far.
A small (useless as far as getting you out of a bushwhack) creek connects Brunch Lake to Hudson Lake. Brunch Lake narrowly missed being torched by the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire. The little lake can probably thank the long north arm of Hudson Lake for helping to steer the fire just south of its shoreline. The fire came within a third of a mile.
The forest fires of 1885-1889 affected the area from Fire Lake up to Disappointment Lake.
A fire in 1910 burned a swath of forest from the Horseshoe/Wilder Lake area and move north, burning the forests around Parent Lake and Disappointment Lake.
Fire burned the region in 1916-1917 centered on the Drumstick Creek drainage and forest just to its east.
The 2011 Pagami Creek Fire burned the forests just south of here.
Approach to Brunch Lake
You begin the journey to Brunch Lake from the east side of a large bay about one-third of the way up the long north arm of Hudson Lake. The creek flowing into the bay here from Brunch Lake will be found right along the burn line terminator. The creek and Hudson Lake's north arm protected Brunch Lake and the forest surrounding it to the north and east from the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire.
Bushwhack to Brunch Lake
Brunch Lake is a haul and you will want to consume a hearty breakfast before starting out and a big lunch once you get there. From Hudson Lake, it is around 250 rods of fierce bushwhacking to Brunch Lake. You follow the creek the entire way. At the beginning, you head east along the creek. During this part, the south side of the creek is burned forest while the north side was untouched by the fire. After about 50 rods, the creek bends north and is surrounded on both sides by forest that was unaffected by the fire. From here the creek passes mostly through peat bog. No part of the creek is floatable so expect to bushwhack the entire route. Eventually you come to an inverted "T". The creek goes north here, but may be hard to follow. This is GPS point: 47.912849, -91.344498. The now (maybe) difficult to follow creek enters the forest soon on a north heading. You must pass through about 10 rods of forest before coming out at Brunch Lake near a prominent rocky point. This last section will probably be pretty rough.
Exploring Brunch Lake
The first view of Brunch Lake may be rather impressive. The lake has little tree cover near its shoreline except where you are standing when you first see the lake. A big island is right in front of you and a rocky point is to either side. This far shores of the lake will appear barren in comparison as they are covered by a large peat bog that extends up to the lakes edge. The whole scene a marriage of contrasting terrains.
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