I go to the the BWCA every year to recharge myself and some years life slaps you in the face hard and you look even more forward to your time in the BWCA. This year more than ever I have been looking forward to a 9 day solo to reset my mind starting October 1. The weather looks cold and wet and has me reconsidering something I have been looking forward to for a while.

How many of you enjoy your time recharging in the BWCA but end up feeling worse when the trip is over? Getting back to reality makes me realize how much we all just seem to chase our tails for no reason and when you are in the BWCA, you realize how simple and enjoyable life can be.

Already dreading the end of my BWCA trip and it hasn't even begun. Ahrg.

I feel ya; maybe not to the same extent, but I battle with these feelings after exiting the BWCA as well. Ive struggled with my job and its' significance/insignificance lately, and I am absolutely TERRIFIED to get back to town and read all of the work emails piling up. My last trip in early September I was nearly shaking as I made my way back down the echo trail and began gaining cell reception. I always have existential crisis-like thoughts running through my head once I've exited and these can last for a few days... why do I live where I live, why do I choose to work this job, I'd be happier if I gave it all up etc.

However this feeling in no way inhibits my BWCA travels or keeps me from visiting. There is initial depression for a few days back in the city/cubicle, but I try to keep myself focused on the next trip. There's always a future trip to look forward to and that definitely helps. Ive also found that a couple evenings of organizing and cleaning the gear in the garage after a trip is therapeutic for me. My wife laughs at me because I'll drag those tasks out for weeks.

I find the longer I'm in the backcountry - the harder it is to re-enter.

I remember when my phone stars getting cell coverage, and ALL those texts/emails start dinging - I'm like, AHHH! and want to throw the phone out the window.

Part of its like planning a wedding. All this planning, hoping and dreaming for the trip and it finally comes and is over before you know it. Definitely a letdown period. The good news, is that you can plan another trip right when you get home and start the merry process all over again.

"I am absolutely TERRIFIED to get back to town and read all of the work emails piling up."

I totally understand this feeling.

This site keeps me in the bwca everyday. I thank all of you.

I did a late trip 2 years ago from Moose Lake. Had a tow into Ensign. At 3 am it was windy, rainy, and cold. I was up and decided not to take my son on a nightmare trip. Got up in the morning for breakfast and all the gear and canoe was on the boat ready to take off at 8 am. We ate and took off. I had a feeling of dread and regret on the tow into Ensign. We were the last people to stay at the bunk house that weekend. We got the first site on the West end of Ensign. Wind and rain still howling! We had a tail wind in, so easy paddling. Set up camp and I had 3 tarps. Covered the tent with a tarp and made an area for the 3 days of cribbage! We played well over 40 games of cribbage. The camp site right next to us had a huge pile of stacked, split wood covered with bark! We ate for 3 days and played cribbage! One of the best trips we ever had. Setting up camp I was very worried about staying dry in that wind and rain. And it rained all 3 days! Be prepared! I have always brought 3 tarps on my trips!

I often find my struggle in this is related to being "present" in the moments of a trip. When the trip was over I used to feel more regret because I felt like I spent the whole trip rushing around focused on tasks (firewood, setting up camp, securing a site, cleaning fish, cooking, etc.) and didn't "fully" enjoy my time in the wilderness. Now, I constantly remind myself while I'm doing those tasks to slow down, be present in the moment, and take in the beauty, silence, sounds, and nature around me while I'm doing those things. When I started being more intentional about that, I found my total satisfaction of a trip increasing and post trip letdown decreasing.

djwillco: "I often find my struggle in this is related to being "present" in the moments of a trip. When the trip was over I used to feel more regret because I felt like I spent the whole trip rushing around focused on tasks (firewood, setting up camp, securing a site, cleaning fish, cooking, etc.) and didn't "fully" enjoy my time in the wilderness. Now, I constantly remind myself while I'm doing those tasks to slow down, be present in the moment, and take in the beauty, silence, sounds, and nature around me while I'm doing those things. When I started being more intentional about that, I found my total satisfaction of a trip increasing and post trip letdown decreasing. "

Exactly.

Good advise.

I've read that if you seek happiness you should invest your time and money into travel, adventures, and activities as you don't just get the value out of the time spent doing them you also get a lot of value out of the time you spend looking forward to them and planning them.

This can be a double edged sword though at times because once the trip/adventure is over you can get hit with a dose or reality when you have to go back to the rat race and now this time your trip is over and you've got nothing left to look forward to, at least until you start planning the next one.

Sometimes I definitely find it hard to come back to reality. It usually hits me when i sit back down in my office at work and look at my work calendar full of meetings, deadlines, various other obligations, and being completely void of any days off for an adventure. The worst time of the year for me is generally March - May. In the summer I've got cabin trips, camping trips, maybe a BWCA trip, and various other things to look forward to. In the fall I've got several hunting trips that keep me excited, in the winter I've got the holiday season, usually an ice fishing trip or two and then possibly a weeks vacation somewhere warm. However, when I get back from that week off I've got nothing left of my calendar until May. The weather is usually miserable and that time of year work is not real stimulating as its the slow season for me so I basically grind through the daily routine week after week. I need to find something to schedule in that stretch to look forward to.

djwillco: "I often find my struggle in this is related to being "present" in the moments of a trip. When the trip was over I used to feel more regret because I felt like I spent the whole trip rushing around focused on tasks (firewood, setting up camp, securing a site, cleaning fish, cooking, etc.) and didn't "fully" enjoy my time in the wilderness. Now, I constantly remind myself while I'm doing those tasks to slow down, be present in the moment, and take in the beauty, silence, sounds, and nature around me while I'm doing those things. When I started being more intentional about that, I found my total satisfaction of a trip increasing and post trip letdown decreasing. "

My nomination for the best post ever on this board. Exactly how I feel but never could put into words as well as this.

Feeling worse after the trip is over? I have had a few of those but only when expectations weren't met or have to leave early. I have found that 7 days is just long enough to get me aggravated. I'm usually just starting to get into rhythm and its time to go. Blah! Longer is better but then you run into issues with tripping partners. Who can go for a long time? Not so many.

But usually I come out with a zing in my step and a smile on my face and look forward to my life apart from wilderness tripping.

My latest August debacle however did cause me considerable disappointment as my performance expectations were galaxies apart from what I could do and what actually happened (crash and burn). On the plus side I have gotten serious about rehabbing my wheels and its going well. Down over 20lbs and working out close to 2 hours per day. Still have a long way to go but its getting there, little by little. If I had put in a variety of physical conditioning for 2 or 3 months previous to going I could of likely pulled it off. Right now I feel like I could go if I scaled down my loads a bit.

We're just over 1,000 miles away, (Ohio), and due to time, distance, etc., can only trip once per year.

To beat the blues, we start planning next year's route about a week after we get back. It's not perfect, but it helps.

OneMatch: "

djwillco: "I often find my struggle in this is related to being "present" in the moments of a trip. When the trip was over I used to feel more regret because I felt like I spent the whole trip rushing around focused on tasks (firewood, setting up camp, securing a site, cleaning fish, cooking, etc.) and didn't "fully" enjoy my time in the wilderness. Now, I constantly remind myself while I'm doing those tasks to slow down, be present in the moment, and take in the beauty, silence, sounds, and nature around me while I'm doing those things. When I started being more intentional about that, I found my total satisfaction of a trip increasing and post trip letdown decreasing. "

My nomination for the best post ever on this board. Exactly how I feel but never could put into words as well as this.
"

I would agree I’m going up Sunday and will keep this in the back of my head

Strangely, I've learned from advertisements on my computer that I have a tendency to romanticize escape. (Man internet marketing people are annoying!) The last two years I've spent 4-5 months 'preparing' for my trips to the BWCA (the late ice this spring was a real cliffhanger). That preparation is a big part of the trip experience for me and satisfies my escapist tendencies. I can understand the let down of no more fantasy to carry you through your day.

I find it easy to immerse myself in the daily experience of the BWCA and often repeatedly announce 'how beautiful it all is' and feel excited for the next task or the next portage. That said, my last two trips were a source of challenging interpersonal struggle with a trip mate that left a rusty finish on the whole experience. I found myself disappointed and consumed by that frustration as I drove away from the outfitter, but I've never really felt that sense of dread about returning to normal life (but I have read about this post-trip depression in other threads here). I suppose I've tried to make a point of not being let down by reality. Maybe I just like my job. I dunno, I guess I understand this feeling, but I am also tempted to say that we should strive to be present and embrace our world in all its forms. At work too.

djwillco: "I often find my struggle in this is related to being "present" in the moments of a trip. When the trip was over I used to feel more regret because I felt like I spent the whole trip rushing around focused on tasks (firewood, setting up camp, securing a site, cleaning fish, cooking, etc.) and didn't "fully" enjoy my time in the wilderness. Now, I constantly remind myself while I'm doing those tasks to slow down, be present in the moment, and take in the beauty, silence, sounds, and nature around me while I'm doing those things. When I started being more intentional about that, I found my total satisfaction of a trip increasing and post trip letdown decreasing. "

I'm sure people have different feelings, I've often heard that if you aren't single portaging, you are doing it wrong. The double portage slows you down, makes you appreciate the boundary waters (which is more forest than water). I compare your post to "simple" living off the grid- which is anything but simple. It takes all summer to prep for winter. It is a balance. I stress about finding campsites before I even get my gear packed. I don't have an answer though, to the initial question.

I was on a bachelor party weekend at a resort and the bachelor had to log in to his work Saturday night at 8 pm.... the bachelor!!! at his own stag party!!! (unfortunately, this friend will never be able to do a backcountry canoe trip) Some jobs are harder to get away than others.

My personal solution- I try to put in extra time the weeks leading up, make it very clear that you are gone and unreachable, and plan on working a couple longer days when I return. I also need to avoid government imposed deadlines (I'm a tax accountant)- essentially blackout dates for me.

An idea that might help with some of the anxiety upon exiting: Consider leaving your phone on airplane mode until you get to a comfortable spot. Maybe somewhere you would look forward to going like a favorite restaurant or coffee shop, etc. Then have a coordinated "reconnect" moment that you are prepared for.

Might make the exit a little less scary this way. I know I've done it this way before and it helps even with just what did family/friends have to say while I was out. Getting tons of messages at a random moment when signal is back in range can be unnerving after being in the wilderness for a length of time.

It warms my heart to know I have so many kindred spirits out there that get it… The recharge.

You guys rock!

Being completely isolated from the rest of the world (read:noise) is a big factor that I choose these areas as a destination. Sometimes the trip doesn’t fully recharge me for varying reasons and that is a letdown but at least I was able to get out. Coming out, every trip is different; sometimes I’m ready to talk to other people and have a carbonated beverage, other times I wish I had another week. It all depends on what a whooping Mother Nature has given me. Even if I do get a full charge that only last a couple days to weeks before I feel it trickle away.

I suppose it depends on how you travel and feel about the “chores” to be completed but for me that is all part of the trip. We push, fish, and push every day so a lot of those chores are done many times over. My crew is the type that wants to see what’s around the next bend and is prone to get stir crazy if we aren’t. There is so much I take for granted that is required for basic survival.

Peace!
Hex

dicecupmaker: "I did a late trip 2 years ago from Moose Lake. Had a tow into Ensign. At 3 am it was windy, rainy, and cold. I was up and decided not to take my son on a nightmare trip. Got up in the morning for breakfast and all the gear and canoe was on the boat ready to take off at 8 am. We ate and took off. I had a feeling of dread and regret on the tow into Ensign. We were the last people to stay at the bunk house that weekend. We got the first site on the West end of Ensign. Wind and rain still howling! We had a tail wind in, so easy paddling. Set up camp and I had 3 tarps. Covered the tent with a tarp and made an area for the 3 days of cribbage! We played well over 40 games of cribbage. The camp site right next to us had a huge pile of stacked, split wood covered with bark! We ate for 3 days and played cribbage! One of the best trips we ever had. Setting up camp I was very worried about staying dry in that wind and rain. And it rained all 3 days! Be prepared! I have always brought 3 tarps on my trips!"

Some of the best trips I have ever taken were like this.
A friend and I spent 2 days in Maine while it rained and rained and rained and then another 2 days waiting for the river flooding to run down so we could finish the trip. From first glance it appears the trip was a write off we both remarked weeks later that it was the most peaceful recharging trip we had ever taken. We finally agreed that it was the fact that we were forced to slow down and just relax enjoying being stuck in camp.

I find that people need something to look forward to. For me it is camping trips, hunting trips, holidays, then some projects to keep myself busy until camping season starts to come around again. The anticipation and preparation is often more fun than the trip itself, not in how much I enjoy it at any particular moment, but in how I enjoy it for so much longer when looking forward to the trip. It is always important to have something to look forward to.

yogi59weedr: "This site keeps me in the bwca everyday. I thank all of you.


"

+1. Well said! :)

djwillco put it well, the being present when you are out there; taking the miles as a gift, not a goal only. Takes me a couple days, sometimes, but that is what I go for...
Doesn't hurt to have a few pics and/or journal to revisit with...

This makes me laugh, because on our annual guys trip this past July we got just slightly too drunk at the Rockwood and my buddy Muhamed called his wife to say how depressed he was. She said what do you mean you're about to go on your trip that you talk about for 12 months. He said I know but this trip is going to end and then I won't be back for another year.

We all laughed at how ridiculous it sounded to be depressed BEFORE you enter the BWCA, but it made sense to us. This place is so perfect that it is somewhat sad heading into a trip knowing how fast it will go and then you wait another year.

That doesn't matter though, and neither does the weather. BWCA is necessary for my spirit. I am in corporate management which leaves me insanely stressed many days and BWCA always makes me remember that I'm not saving lives and everything will be OK no matter what our CEO thinks. And if the worst happens and I lose my job, life will go on.

I fully sympathize with the post-trip letdown of a return to "reality". It is there every year to varying degrees. For some reason, this was the toughest year for me in recent memory. I was fighting back tears on the trip back down the Sawbill Trail. Not because I was unhappy with the life that I was going back to, but because the trip we had completed was just *that good*! Realizing the cause of the sadness, I determined to change the sadness to a celebration of what had been, and my husband and I spent the remainder of the journey home discussing the trip we had just taken: what we liked most, what had been unexpected, what portages we loved and which had taken us by surprise, and most importantly, what we had learned.

Before we even hit our driveway, next year's trip was already in the planning stages (a process that will take us through the long winter months and revise itself countless times before we return to the BWCA next year). This site allows me to transition smoothly from post-trip blues into reminiscence and planning to a great degree, and for that I thank everyone here!

I have also learned, over the course of many years, that I am one of those people who likes to take trips that involve ongoing, mindful travel while I am up there. I am a melancholy base camper who, about half way through every sedentary trip, begins to ponder its inevitable end. Daily travel functions as a sort of kinetic meditation for me, and I conclude those kind of trips far more mentally (if certainly not physically) rested than I do those with fewer miles put on. I realize that it isn't possible for everyone, and certainly won't be for me forever, but until that day comes, I prefer to keep myself moving steadily and seeing the sights.

caribouluvr: "An idea that might help with some of the anxiety upon exiting: Consider leaving your phone on airplane mode until you get to a comfortable spot. Maybe somewhere you would look forward to going like a favorite restaurant or coffee shop, etc. Then have a coordinated "reconnect" moment that you are prepared for.


Might make the exit a little less scary this way. I know I've done it this way before and it helps even with just what did family/friends have to say while I was out. Getting tons of messages at a random moment when signal is back in range can be unnerving after being in the wilderness for a length of time."

This is exactly what I do. It takes me a little while to hype myself up for the reconnect... I usually wait till I make it to Duluth and have a big burger and ice cold beer in front of me. YMMV.

My big takeaway every year is just how much stuff we just don’t need in our life.

Whether it’s material possessions, celebrity infatuations, stupid tv shows, ridiculous foods, etc. The trip and the fact that you get along quite fine (and quite nicely I might add) without American idol helps me “reset” my innundated American consumerism and simplify things, which make me happier. I find though that after a number of months, society wears you down and I start caring again about this or that.

I’ve also found the professionally, resetting your mindset helps you not to sweat all the little stupid things we have to deal with every day, and focus on the important things. I feel like I am professionally better after a trip as well.

Long story short, yes I don’t always love coming back, but feel I am a better person every time.

A1t2o: "I find that people need something to look forward to. For me it is camping trips, hunting trips, holidays, then some projects to keep myself busy until camping season starts to come around again. The anticipation and preparation is often more fun than the trip itself, not in how much I enjoy it at any particular moment, but in how I enjoy it for so much longer when looking forward to the trip. It is always important to have something to look forward to."

This!

great thread.

I usually have two or three trips in the planning stage, this keeps me from losing my mind or slipping into depression. A spring turkey hunt/float this May on the Eleven Point in Missouri, a BWCA trip in July with some first timers, an elk hunt in Idaho the fall of 2019, a trip down the Noatak in 2020.....all of these take some planning and after a rough day at work a couple hours looking at maps, making lists, researching the trips on sites like this one....it keeps me sane.

Glad to know I am not alone in these feelings.

In the last few years, I've had some solos planned where I've had similar thoughts after looking at the weather report. I thought it was just me getting older but now I see others feel the same way sometimes. Makes me feel better.

The two times I was serious about whether or not to go, I ended up taking my camper to Sawbill Lake national forest campground. Several nights, I was the only one there. Plenty of good day trip fishing, no heavy weight to portage, and at the end of the day, I knew I would be warm and dry.