Notoriously I love to plan things!
This trip we just have our main lake planned out and the rest is subject to happenstance. I've been so hands off on this trip I'm wondering if I've lost the spark! (no - I haven't)...

I'm just learning to have a general plan, and then take things as they come. Such an amazing metaphor for life. I'm excited to have some adventure this summer! Learning that we like to set up camp and RELAX... unwind... swing in those hammocks and drift to sleep on an afternoon napper...

I plan to this and so much more! Counting down to my trip! Super excited. Anyone else basecamp, and have "King of the lollygag plans"?

I base camp because I love to fish and moving camp every day cuts into our fishing time. I also like to relax so base camping allows me to do that too. I've seen a lot of Quetico in the past and admire those who do week-long loops covering as much ground as possible. But at this point in my life I like pushing as far as I can in a day and then planting myself.

However, I do make general plans for the week if I take a group of newbies into Quetico. And they seem much less apprehensive about their first trip if I continually feed them bits of information concerning previous trips, travel plans, meal planning, fishing strategies, detailed equipment lists and personal items plus send them links on Youtube to Quetico fishing and camping videos.

But even though we go up there to fish, my main point to everyone is to relax and enjoy the wilderness in whatever way suits them. If they want to spend time napping in a hammock, that's awesome. If bushwhacking to the top of an overlook is their desire, I say, "Go for it." Sometimes I'll find a tiny island at lunchtime and fall asleep listening to the wind blow through pine trees.

We all enjoy the Boundary Waters and Quetico in our own way and each way is just right. I rush too much during the rest of the year. To lollygag in Quetico seems to be the perfect synonym for peace.

Terry

Sounds like you have some good company! Thats really what makes for a good basecamp trip IMO...........or a good book!

I spent 3 days getting to Sunday bay from Moose lake once for a solo basecamp trip on Basswood and I blame the lack of mileage on the book "Wild" by Ms. Strayed. I rather enjoyed my impromptu lollygagging.

Have fun ;-)

Semi-based camped last year, just 11 year old son and myself. 3 nights in one spot, 2 in another, 2 in another.

Really enjoyed waking up and not having to break camp and pack up on some mornings, and doing more exploring at the lake we were on. Also allowed us to fish a little more. I'm a firm believer in having some flexibility in your schedule in case of weather/wind problems or other unforeseen circumstances.

Our groups have become hardened base campers. First few years we would push hard. . .sometimes 6 portages in. . .to get to where we would camp. We basically lost the first day and last day to just hard paddling and portaging.

Now we go to Seagull and paddle direct to one or our favorite basecamps. From there our groups (typically 3 groups) do whatever they want. Those that like to explore will portage into the smaller lakes. Those that like to fish will do that. Others just hang out in camp.

I long ago gave up pushing guys hard to get to a particular lake/camp site. Realizing we weren't really seeing the areas we were paddling through to get there.

Also, eating around the camp fire is a BIG part of what our groups enjoy. We cook big breakfasts and dinners (biscuits/gravy, breakfast casseroles, pancakes and sausage, breakfast burritos. . . .dinner casseroles, brats/burgers, and pizzas for the last night) On top of that we have muffins or cobbler every evening around the camp fire. This requires dutch ovens, reflector oven, two burner stove, and a table/work area to handle the preparation.

Its not for everyone. But I can tell you that the guys that went the "survival food" route the first few years insist on the current way now