A panorama shot from the site of Chad's final resting spot high above Rose Lake.

October 6-8, 2006 were significant dates on Chad Shellabarger's social calendar.

He had planned to take his third "Fall Trip" to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness with 5 of his friends. Three regulars, and two newbies from his soccer team.

Although he may not have paddled a canoe that weekend, he didn't miss the trip.

A 14-person group of Chad's favorite camping companions and his mother Connie convened on the Gunflint Trail near Grand Marais, MN to paddle across 3 lakes to one of Chad's favorite spots, Rose Lake.

At Rose Lake, a portion of Chad's ashes were both buried and scattered in a way that paid tribute to Chad's love of BWCA Camping and to his unique and balanced way of life.

These pages tell the story of that weekend.

Thursday October 5, 2006

We started out Thursday night at one of Chad's favorite places, the Municipal Campground in Grand Marais.

The four of us drove up from Minneapolis a day ahead of everyone else, so we could get into the woods and scout out the burial location.

Friday October 6, 2006.

The plan was to find an appropriate spot where we could bury Chad's ashes and to scatter some into the water and wind.

We also wanted to secure two campsites on Rose Lake, so that our party of 14 would have a couple places to sleep Saturday night.

Here's Sean Whalen and Jacob Sinn heading out across Hungry Jack Lake.

Tom Martell and Rocco Bonello follow.

Paddling across Bearksin Lake.

The portage to Duncan Lake.

One more lake to go.

Whalen's got Chad in his arm.