Two part question: What's the number one quality of a paddling partner and the number one quality of a person in general?

1. A sense of equity. It took a partner with a sense of equity to realize what I'd been missing. He paid for all the gas and all my transit meals, noting the cost of my equipment and the wear and tear to my vehicle. If I cooked the meal, he whooshed in to do the dishes. If I pitched the tent, he was purifying water. And so on.

2. In general, I admire hard workers. You can say compassion is tops, but sans labor, compassion is limp.

i also like a partner who enjoys sharing in camp chores. no whiners!
really appreciate the quiet so less talk is good.

Quiet is a good one, Mocha. You can't witness with all due gratitude if someone is jabbering.

1. It is interesting that the first reply was the one I was going to say: "Quiet".

While I am, by nature, a talkative person, in the wilderness setting--and particularly in the canoe--I am very quiet. Spartan1 and I will often go for an hour or more without saying a word. Just the sound of the paddle. It is what I value about the canoe country most of all: the silence.

2. The quality of a person in general is more difficult to pin down. As I look at the persons I respect and admire most, I keep coming back to "integrity". That covers a great many different aspects, I suppose. Honesty, truthfulness, honoring one's word, dependability, self-sufficiency. Most of my close friends are people of deep faith, people who have lived lives of hard work, of taking care of their own, and of giving to others. To me, "integrity" encapsulates all of those qualities and more.

Someone who doesn't talk much.

Someone who doesn't complain, works hard, knows what to do, likes to fish, and staying quiet is a plus while you are fishing. Most of the people I have taken up there with me are like this.

Mostly the same type of person for both.
1. Someone who values the group as a whole, and carries their weight. Communication skills are a must. If I'm splitting firewood to cook dinner, they take it upon themselves to filter water. After dinner is done they have water warming up and all of the dishes collected to wash. When we hit the campsite for the night they help carry everything up to the site, help secure the canoe, and assist in formulating a plan before taking care of their own personal gear. When we get to a portage they help unload the canoe and get the gear out of the way before going to relax in the shade to take a water break. It seems like common sense but on a trip in recent times as soon as we hit a campsite the individual was setting up their tent before the community gear was even off the landing. While I was splitting firewood and filtering water, they were organizing their gear and setting up their sleeping gear for the night. While I was taking down the tarp, packing community gear and doing dishes, they already had their pack in the canoe. My tent was still set up but they "didn't know how I wanted it packed so they left it be". When we got to a portage this person would grab my pack and head across the portage, while I grabbed the canoe. On trip # 2 across they would hurry back to get the community pack and leave me to carry his pack which weighed 70 lbs. at least.

2. In general I value many of these same traits in a person. Someone who pitches in, or asks what they can do to help, instead of finding something else to do that is "busy work" to make it look like they are contributing.

Yeah, like everyone here it's great when without much said everything gets done. Kind of like going on a medical call... when everyone is doing what needs to be done little needs to be said and it all just flows. I've enjoyed my trips with fellow paddlers from this site. Good times and great adventure due to people all pitching in and just knowing what to do.

Just breaks in and starts doing some thing.doesnt need a lot of direction....



YOU GOTTA HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR.....IF YA DON'T LIFE WILL KICK YA IN THE AZZ

Re: the #1 trait of a good trip partner: No complaining. In my experience, nothing lessens everyone's enjoyment of a trip if one member of the group can't stop making negative comments, be they about the weather or the tough portage or the bugs or the heat or the rocky portage trail or the person in the other boat who didn't do his share.

A close second would be the person who doesn't do his/her fair share. I only rank this #2 because, in my experience, most people are willing to do more if asked. Seems like many times they just don't realize others are doing more work.

Genuine and Altruistic.

1. A sense of enjoyment and accomplishment about the whole paddling/tripping experience. Someone who appreciates the scenery, elements, camping, my company and the hardships of a canoe trip.

2. Kindness.

A lot of what people already said, someone who sees the experience was wonderful and shared, wants to pitch in, and enjoy themselves. I also value someone who sees nature in different ways. Some people know more about birds, others rocks, or fish. When we took one of our nephews who is a very observant engineer, he noticed little details like the tooth patterns beavers make. Basically, someone who is engaged and has an interesting mind.

I'll agree with the no complaining/whining and someone that is willing to pull their weight without being asked.

However, a lot can be overlooked if the partner knows all of the fishing honey holes.

Positivity and Endurance. If you can stay happy in the face of difficulties and persevere through said difficulties, you can come with me on a trip anytime.

Great attitude and willingness to jump into all aspects of wilderness tripping (both easy and hard). Many good comments mentioned that I agree with.

My favorite paddling partner is my husband....and I've had a lot of paddling partners and wouldn't feel badly about naming another. But we've been blessed with a mutual love of wilderness and many years of outdoor adventures. Paddling comes easy together, so much so that we hardly have to communicate. Camp time is easy too, and we fall into chores that we tend to prefer - but we're both willing to do anything. Plus I just like him as a person. :)

On a canoe trip, someone who has a positive attitude regardless of the weather or situation and is fun to be around, and one who's not afraid to dig in to do the job at hand.

In life, someone who has a positive attitude, is not a drama king or queen and has passion, whether it be work, play or love.

Quiet, no drama and not afraid of sharing the workload. A good partner or group can make or break any camping trip. Loud babbling is my #1 turnoff.

#1 Qualities of paddling partner - available to do my trip when I want to go, my way, and does what I tell them ;).

1 - Someone that can enjoy taking it all in, good bad and otherwise. It amazes me more every day just how few people can actually leave the phone behind, truly just let their minds go and enjoy a moment in time for what it is. The BW is such an awesome place that it just seems like a waste of time to be up there if you can't relax and take it all in.

2 - Being able to be a part of a team. No matter the size of the group, everyone has to pull their weight. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Learn what they are and figure out a way to capitalize on them.

Interesting thread. 30 years ago I overheard something that has stuck with me. Somebody asked "what do men really want?" in a woman and the quick reply was "competence and enthusiasm." I suppose that's what we all want in a paddling partner or a life partner. I am doubly blessed that my life and paddling partner (same gal) has both in spades.

I do enjoy good conversation, so "quiet" sometimes becomes "too quiet" for me personally. I also find myself liking folks who aren't afraid to be silly. Tough guys need not apply. Also, serious people bore me.

1 - Being unable to speak, or paddle, having a coat that dries quick, and being okay with eating kibble for 10 days... a dog, the best tripping partner is a dog.

2 - Awareness and Consideration - Ive thought about this one a lot and I firmly believe the combination or lack thereof of these two things is what makes good people good and bad people annoying as hell.

The number one quality for me is that my partner has a true appreciation of nature. The woods are very personal to me and I have to be with someone that loves being there also. The second one is a quiet person who likes to hear natures chorus, and can sit around a campfire and reflect without feeling like they have to fill every second with conversation.

quote Basspro69: "The number one quality for me is that my partner has a true appreciation of nature. The woods are very personal to me and I have to be with someone that loves being there also. The second one is a quiet person who likes to hear natures chorus, and can sit around a campfire and reflect without feeling like they have to fill every second with conversation."

My sentiments exactly! Except I don't want my paddling partner wearing Green Bay Packer apparel or mentioning Aaron Rogers or Titles around the campfire. I want to hear only silence and natural sounds like.........Barrrroooooooooooooooooo!

quote Basspro69: "The number one quality for me is that my partner has a true appreciation of nature. The woods are very personal to me and I have to be with someone that loves being there also. The second one is a quiet person who likes to hear natures chorus, and can sit around a campfire and reflect without feeling like they have to fill every second with conversation."

Well said BP.

1. Someone who keeps the boat pointed where we're supposed to go, if I'm not steering.

2. Someone who you meet for the first time and doesn't ask, "what do you do for a living." (I hate that question.)

A strong paddler and the ability to take secret walleye spots to the grave.

quote Zulu: "My sentiments exactly! Except I don't want my paddling partner wearing Green Bay Packer apparel or mentioning Aaron Rogers or Titles around the campfire. I want to hear only silence and natural sounds like.........Barrrroooooooooooooooooo!"

LMAO

Great insight into group dynamics!

I personally like a mix of silence and QUIET discussion. Loud talkers quickly wear on me. And if we are in a discussion time let me tell my stories, too.

And if you have a fear of mud or water either stay home or quietly, quickly, and discretely deal with it. I don't want to be 1/2 way down the portage to find that you're still back there trying to figure out how to not get dirty or wet.

Ditto on the appreciation of nature. Someone who appreciates seeing a orange salamander or a osprey catching a fish, a good sunset or just a nice big tree. Its not all about catching the biggest or the first fish. Life is too short.

A good sense of humor and no bitching. I can overlook a lot if someone is even tempered and doesn't complain about the mosquitos, the wind, the cold, the heat.

One of my favorite trip partners I jokingly referred to as "The great Perch hunter." He would hunt for a "Perch" to sit on and tell stories while everyone else worked. But you know what, he was worth it because he was always smiling, laughing, and telling funny stories. If you ASKED him to do something, he would. He just never offered UNLESS asked (LOL)! Heck, I carried his heavy old 18' Grumman up the Stairway Portage (he paid for my pizza and beer afterwards) and I'd do it again if I could just to listen to that laugh and those stories! In the 4 or 5 trips old Bill took with me to the BWCAW he endured a trip with almost a week of rain every day, mosquito and black flies at their peak, crazy waves on Gunflint and Seagull, muskeg to his crotch on Lizz and on the Height of Land Portage, but NO adversity ever elicited a complaint from my friend. I sure miss him; God bless you, Bill!

quote ozarkpaddler: "A good sense of humor and no bitching. I can overlook a lot if someone is even tempered and doesn't complain about the mosquitos, the wind, the cold, the heat.


One of my favorite trip partners I jokingly referred to as "The great Perch hunter." He would hunt for a "Perch" to sit on and tell stories while everyone else worked. But you know what, he was worth it because he was always smiling, laughing, and telling funny stories. If you ASKED him to do something, he would. He just never offered UNLESS asked (LOL)! Heck, I carried his heavy old 18' Grumman up the Stairway Portage (he paid for my pizza and beer afterwards) and I'd do it again if I could just to listen to that laugh and those stories! In the 4 or 5 trips old Bill took with me to the BWCAW he endured a trip with almost a week of rain every day, mosquito and black flies at their peak, crazy waves on Gunflint and Seagull, muskeg to his crotch on Lizz and on the Height of Land Portage, but NO adversity ever elicited a complaint from my friend. I sure miss him; God bless you, Bill!
"

Lovely epitaph, Oz.

Man, what a GREAT thread......I'm afraid most people here would never trip with me.

I love the social aspect of my trips, and as so, I generally put groups together that have a reasonable social aspect.

I believe only one person in our 20-30+ group of folks have ever solo'd. And in most cases, most of the guys like to go on group trips with 4 or greater members.

On most of our trips, we want to have guys just "do" work, and not be asked to do something. In almost all cases, this has not been an issue, but there are a few in our crew who have to be prodded. They are otherwise reasonably good people, so they get invites back, and will probably always get invites back.

Group dynamics are a very, very critical component, as our trips are usually long. Fortunately, like I said earlier, our planning meetings start in Jan, and we usually have 20-40 folks come to those meetings. We usually have 4-5 groups that get planned out of that, and those 4-5 groups have varying skills.

We NEVER take someone on a monster trip that has never gone to the BWCA/QUETICO before. If someone is new, they get "convinced" to go with one of the basecamp type groups. These groups are not always easy trippers, but they setup base camp, and usually one 0-5 portages into the BWCA. If they do good on that trip, they are invited to other trips......people don't always have the right "skills" and disposition to go on other trips though, and that is fine.

There are a few guys that will never go on deep or hard trips. Lots of reasons for that, but they won't go. Now, they can put their own trip together and get folks to go with them, but most of the trips are planned and organized by the same 5-10 group leaders. I've been a group leader since our 3rd trip.


If you've watched my website, you can tell that we have a core group of 4 guys, and 2 or 3 that are substitutes......and then we have 3 or 4 that have gone on these trips that have been members of other trips.

Bottom line. It is really important to have the right mix, because we all have expectations on what we want on these trips, and 1 person can destroy a trip . Everyone should keep that in mind when tripping with other people. If you're having a bad day or whatever, unless someone specifically wants to know about your bad day, they probably don't want to hear about it.

Fortunately, I've had very few "bad days" in the parks....

Later,

Geo