Weird LakeMaking Connections
MapsLinks |
Full image approximately 2 miles square |
Description
Weird is a very small and very shallow lake on the Temperance River, where both the Vern River and Clam Creek enter the river. Barely a half mile long and quite narrow, Weird is just 33 acres, with a maximum depth only 6'. Upriver to the north, an 80 rod portage connects with an open, S curve on the Temperance, ending in a 240 rod portage north into South Temperance Lake. A 12 rod portage to the south connects with the north end of Jack. Clam Creek enters Weird along the western shore, from Clam Lake to the northwest. On the eastern shore opposite is the mouth of the Vern River, originating a couple of miles to the east at Vern Lake.Campsites
Despite its small size and shallow waters, Weird does support one established campsite, in the southeast corner near the portage to Jack. Some of our party have heard wolf howls in the night while camped on Weird.Planning Considerations
Weird is a small link on the Temperance River route, running up from the Baker Lake entry through Peterson, Kelly, Jack, and Weird into South and North Temperance. This is a chain of smaller lakes and some more rugged portages, providing the most direct route into Cherokee. Like most of the other lakes on the Temperance, Weird provides what appear to be interesting bushwacking opportunities up the tributary streams which feed the river. The Vern River is one of the best of these, one we have incorporated into the route for a future trip to this region. We'd be very interested in hearing from anyone who has paddled the length of the Vern
That being said, we received this account of the conditions on the Vern River in the summer of 2000, from Reed Malvick:
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A few of my college buddies and I headed north towards the Sawbill and launched at Homer Lake last summer. We thought that we would take the Vern River as it would most likely serve as a waterway to the next lake and soon would find our campsite on South Temperance Lake. What we thought would be a nice little paddle down the Vern River, thinking it would be a place to throw a line in as we drifted or maybe catch some rays from the sun. Boy were we wrong! It took us 7.5 hours to navigate the length of the Vern River. Amongst us six guys, we had one Gerber saw and one Gerber hatchet. Because of the storm that ripped through the summer before, we swear that we were the first to head downstream on that river. We had to cut through swaths of trees, fighing off mosquitoes, often times wading in submerged pine trees. There is no way that anyone could go upstream, but maybe it is somewhat cleared out by now. I would suggest that if this route were to be taken, pack ultralight and make sure you have sufficient time left in the day...because there were no spots to camp, even in an emergency. There was just too much deadfall. As for the crew at the end of the voyage down the Vern, we were so wore out both physically and mentally, that we did not speak to one another. Today we all still plan our fishing trips while reminicing about the "Vern" as we all call it. Our quote that we came up with was: "When the going gets tough, think of the Vern." |
Wildlife
Weird's shallow waters support populations of Northern Pike (Esox lucius), Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), White Sucker (Catostomus commersoni), and Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens).Notes and Comments
Anyone know what's so weird about Weird? Enquiring minds want to know.....
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