Hi all-

After 27 years of trips, my pipeline of friends to go on my annual trip is getting smaller and smaller. I'm 46, but still love going- as do 2-3 others. For years we always went with 6, but the last few trips, we have done less fishing, portaging and exploring and that has bummed me out. Just curious if anyone has ever combined groups from people on here. Wouldn't mind the fun of a large (8) group to enjoy the great campsites on Tiger Bay and meet new people to continue the journey...

Hi Kots,

There is a group forum for finding trip partners. I would check in there as well.

Keep an eye out for wing nights to meet up with members in person

Trip Partner Forum

What Adam said. Also Canoecopia and especially the BWCA.com gathering there would be a good opportunity.

I appreciate the ideas, although I live in Wisconsin and am too far away to attend any functions. I'm more interested in hearing from people who have done it and their experiences...

I have gone on a trip with some people I sort of knew through someone else. It was a disaster. I've also gone on a few trips with people from this site that turned out to be fantastic trips, but not in groups of more than four.

Party size is a personal preference. I think if your focus is fishing, then be sure that is communicated with the people going. Same if you plan to make your trip portaging each day, moving camps, difficulty of trip you want to take. The more people on the trip, the more time it takes to do everything (or so it seems). For me, it's a trip of 2 people.

PS... it looks like you're only about 2.5 hours from Madison where Canoecopia is held each March. Lots of great speakers and gatherings at that event.

Kots: "I appreciate the ideas, although I live in Wisconsin and am too far away to attend any functions. I'm more interested in hearing from people who have done it and their experiences..."

Canoecopia is in Madison. Probably a dinner at Angelos Saturday nite. Often exceed 60 members for dinner, some members travel half way across the US to attend.

I paddle either solo or with folks met thru this site, often meeting or parting 1/2 way thru the trip. Always good times!

By the way another cheesehead here from Burlington.

butthead

Butthead:
I believe HansSolo has reserved the restaurant for Saturday night.

Kots:
I took a trip to Quetico with HansSolo from this site. Aside from day paddles, we had never tripped together. It was great. You will find most the people here are like minded in their camping styles.

Canoe42: "Butthead:
I believe HansSolo has reserved the restaurant for Saturday night.


Kots:
I took a trip to Quetico with HansSolo from this site. Aside from day paddles, we had never tripped together. It was great. You will find most the people here are like minded in their camping styles."

Yes indeed, we have confirmed reservations March 10, 6 pm Angelo's Resturant more to be posted by HanSolo (Mark).

butthead

Try to make it to Canoecopia. Although I have attended Canoecopia for about 35 years, in 2007 I met folks from the Wabakimi Project at the show. Through my involvement with this group I have met a number of people, both from the states and Canada, whom I now trip with on private trips. We paddle throughout the Midwest and Canada. Most of my tripping partners are in their 60’s with a few in their 50’s and 70’s. You also may want to check out the John Muir Chapter (Wisconsin) River Touring Section which organizes trips every weekend during the paddling season. Good luck.

deerfoot: "Try to make it to Canoecopia. Although I have attended Canoecopia for about 35 years, in 2007 I met folks from the Wabakimi Project at the show. Through my involvement with this group I have met a number of people, both from the states and Canada, whom I now trip with on private trips. We paddle throughout the Midwest and Canada. Most of my tripping partners are in their 60’s with a few in their 50’s and 70’s. You also may want to check out the John Muir Chapter (Wisconsin) River Touring Section which organizes trips every weekend during the paddling season. Good luck. "

Thanks. I will not be going to Canoecopia, but thanks for suggesting.

We take our trip every Labor Day week (Arrive Fri, hit the water Sat and come out the following Sat). Tiger Bay has some of the biggest and best 5* sites in the BWCA. And Curtain Falls is around the corner...

I have not done that yet but I'm afraid that I am going to turn to that option. Most of my group has turned into lounge and basecamp folks. I still like to explore and bushwhack into small lakes. Leaving me feeling a little blahhhh after my last few trips.

It's hard to find or trust strangers you have never met in person, but I will probably have to do this at some point. Copia sounds like a logical venue to meet such folks.

Some of my favorite trips have been with strangers from this site. They have all been a group solo type trip. This type of trip is good when traveling with people you don't know. ..if the guy turns out to nuts you just paddle off and do your own thing.

Thankfully none of the guys from here have turned out to be nuts;)

Beavers: "Some of my favorite trips have been with strangers from this site. They have all been a group solo type trip. This type of trip is good when traveling with people you don't know. ..if the guy turns out to nuts you just paddle off and do your own thing.


Thankfully none of the guys from here have turned out to be nuts;) "

I've never canoed solo. We did have to rent a Canak last year when one our 6 cancelled on THE MORNING OF THE TRIP. That was a real eye opener. His wife threatened to divorce him if he went...

Kots: "His wife threatened to divorce him if he went..."

If I had a wife willing to throw an ultimatum like that around, believe I'd give her her way!

Beavers: "Some of my favorite trips have been with strangers from this site. They have all been a group solo type trip. This type of trip is good when traveling with people you don't know. ..if the guy turns out to nuts you just paddle off and do your own thing.


Thankfully none of the guys from here have turned out to be nuts;) "

Andy, it's been awhile! Very good to hear from ya.

butthead

Hi Ken!

Here's one of the group solo pics. All strangers who met on the forum. All turned out to be great guys.

There's a good chance I might be looking for 2 or 4 canoe partners to join our group sometime. Maybe even a few solos to join up. Once again, this site always delivers the answers to any questions I have. After so many trips, I'm not ready to go down to 4 or 2 on a trip. Still love the bigger group to daytrip, play cards, go on a hike, etc. When some want to stay around camp, it's always nice to go out with others on an adventure and be social. You have given me hope to find some like-minded BWCA lovers to meet up with in 2018!

You might also keep an eye on the bulletin board for a wing night/weekend in Rockford, usually in May. Its always fun and will probably give you a chance to meet with several of the people who responded above. There is also, I think, a similar event in the Spring somewhere around Minneapolis.

I have gone on several trips now with people I met at either wing nights or at the Rockford weekend or at the saturday night dinner after canoecopia at Angelos. They have always worked out, and maybe you learn something new from how others do things.

Chicagored: "You might also keep an eye on the bulletin board for a wing night/weekend in Rockford, usually in May. Its always fun and will probably give you a chance to meet with several of the people who responded above. There is also, I think, a similar event in the Spring somewhere around Minneapolis.


I have gone on several trips now with people I met at either wing nights or at the Rockford weekend or at the saturday night dinner after canoecopia at Angelos. They have always worked out, and maybe you learn something new from how others do things."

I appreciate the thought, but I am not interested in traveling 5 hours (or 9 to Minneapolis) round trip to a social event. I trust this site more than any other way to meet fellow BWCA travelers. I'm extremely busy with work and trying to buy a house in 2018, so free time is limited. My trip is one of the only chances I can get away...