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      Trip Report - Boy on Slim
 
  Last Visit: 10/31/2024 01:34PM

Entry Point 7 - From Big Lake

Big Lake entry point allows overnight paddle only. This entry point is supported by Kawishiwi Ranger Station near the city of Ely, MN. The distance from ranger station to entry point is 28 miles. Access La Pond Lake with a 160-rod portage from outside the BWCAW on Big Lake. This area was affected by blowdown in 1999.

Number of Permits per Day: 2
Elevation: 1161 feet
Latitude: 48.0651
Longitude: -92.0188
Author Message Text
BWPaddler
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02/08/2012 12:06PM
 
New Trip Report posted by BWPaddler

Trip Name: Boy on Slim.

Entry Point: 6

Click Here to View Trip Report

Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe. -Thoreau
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TuscaroraBorealis
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02/08/2012 12:55PM
 
What a great little trip!


Looks to me as if "DS" had an absolute hoot on this trip. Swimming, canoeing, hammock hanging, etc. What great memories you made! Hope you are able to enjoy more together before he grows up.


BTW I really liked this photo=
BWPaddler
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02/08/2012 01:10PM
 
Thanks TB. I believe it was his 10th BW trip overall, but often it's not warm enough for swimming or we don't take time for fishing. So, I think those things will stick in his mind.


I like that pic too - I get a real kick out of tossing kids in canoe (weather and water permitting) and seeing if they can figure out how to "make it go"... Inevitably they get where they are trying to go, and are often creative in doing it. Sometimes this kid paddles solo from the bow for example. He often jumps out of the canoe while it is still moving as it glides in to shore (never misses like I would) and his "shove-offs" are acrobatic in style. Fun to watch. Maybe I should actually give him some lessons? :)

Have you started teaching "A" to paddle yet? She's probably gonna paddle before she walks :)

Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe. -Thoreau
inspector13
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02/08/2012 05:19PM
 

Some of that windthrow can get huge. I have a picture at my desk with one from my property. Two of my nephews saw it and started climbing all over it. They were standing at the peak of the root ball when I got there. It sticks up over 10 feet, and there are large rocks in the pit it made. In order to get them down and not to climb around on it again, I promised to take the picture.


BWPaddler
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02/09/2012 11:07AM
 
I bet that's a cool picture inspector. Luckily, my kids haven't decided to try to climb them (yet), but they enjoy plucking rocks out of the exposed bottom and tossing them in the lake. USUALLY, I see these near the lakeshore, but this one was tucked inland on our hike and didn't seem overly exposed. Odd, but still way cool.


Here's another one from when he was about age 5 or so, 6yo sister in there too. Think that was on Pipe Lake.




Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe. -Thoreau
inspector13
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02/09/2012 11:43AM
 

Maybe by taking the photos you have already taught them that it’s not a jungle gym, but instead just a neat thing to stand next to. Although I’m not on a lake, I think the water table is high where the tree tipped over at my place.


BWPaddler
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02/09/2012 01:05PM
 
post your pic if you've got it online inspector - would be fun to see. Sometimes it's amazing to see the stuff woven into the fabric of the roots. They do make for cool pics.

Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe. -Thoreau
cowdoc
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02/09/2012 01:48PM
 
Nice little trip. One on one time can be special.

"What could happen?"
inspector13
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02/09/2012 04:13PM
 

Sorry BWPaddler. No pictures yet, but I’m calling my brother tonight to see if he can scan some next week. I finally got motivated after naming the lake correctly. I’ll have the windfall picture scanned too. It may take a while to get it posted here since there will be a learning curve involved. : )


luft
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02/09/2012 07:47PM
 
I love this tradition that you have BWP. The one-on-one time and the memories made during these trips are going to be the things that the kids remember when they grow up.


The last line you wrote brought a tear to my eye and it is still choking me up as I write this...
boonie
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02/10/2012 09:15AM
 
I love your tradition too, BWP - very cool idea. Soon he'll be interested in a million other things and start building his own life - his own circle of friends, activities, etc. I'm glad you got this trip in and some great memories.
PaddleAway
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02/10/2012 10:17AM
 
Nice report, always happy to see more kids in the BWCA.
BWPaddler
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02/10/2012 10:31AM
 
Thanks all... I make "trip report" albums digitally on kodakgallery and the last one came in the mail this week (for the 4 trips in 2011). I was so psyched - I couldn't show any to the kids until I had ALL of them, lest one kid feel left out, etc.


So, I'm like a kid in a candy store - can't stop looking at the hardbound books over and over. Right now, the kids don't really take time to read the writing, but I hope when they're older they will. I gave a scaled down version in paperback to the friend that accompanied dd and i (see "Girls on Slim" trip report) for Xmas. She told me this week that she finally sat down and read all the words and loved them - AND that she wants to come again with me this year. Woot!


It is so fun to have the memories captured in the albums with text to tell the stories. I have done MOST of the BW trips like that, but still have to find the pre-digital age photos and get them in there somehow.


I think the memories last longer when you can boost them by looking at them in a book ;)

Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe. -Thoreau
TomT
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02/10/2012 09:03PM
 
Very nice report. I regret not taking my son sooner than when he was 17. It's cool that you make time for these trips.

"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." --- George Bernard Shaw
BWPaddler
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02/21/2012 12:46PM
 
@TomT, enjoy the time you DO have... yes, I'm very glad we started early. I do miss the peace I imagine I would have with a solo trip - but I am hoping hoping hoping I have years for that when kids are busy with their own lives. I hope they look back and smile as wide as I do when they see these pictures as an adult!

Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe. -Thoreau
inspector13
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02/23/2012 05:28PM
 

My brother finally mailed some scans today. If this works it will be a picture of the windthrow.

BWPaddler
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02/26/2012 08:42PM
 
Wow, that's a doozy inspector! Not nearly as full of rocks - interesting. Those two kiddos look like they'd be great paddlers soon...! Thanks for posting.

Wherever there is a channel for water, there is a road for the canoe. -Thoreau
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