New Trip Report posted by 30Smoke

Trip Name: 2013 - First Trip to BWCA.

Entry Point: 62

Click Here to View Trip Report

I really enjoyed this, thanks for writing it up. Reminds me I need to write up some of our early BW trips, or at least just go back and look at the pics.

I've forgotten the portage pads on at least one trip, made for some memorable (unpleasant) portaging of our 70+ lb royalex Prospector. Good on ya for sticking with it!

I really appreciate the honesty of the "was not aware..." comment. My first trip (Boy Scout crew advisor, 1978) EVERYTHING for me "was not aware". But I was hooked. Went back the next summer with my wife, and she, too, was hooked. We've been back many times, and hope to get a few more trips in while we're still moving under our own power. Thanks for sharing and taking us along.

TZ

What a neat report--and some nice photos, too. I enjoyed it. Your favorite photo is also mine--beautiful!

You may realize that I am now going "back in time" and doing some trip reports, too. A good way to keep the mind active when some other activities are limited.

Nothing wrong with being addicted to maple syrup. We have taken a bottle on almost every trip after I soon became disillusioned with the "maple flavoring and sugar" maple syrup mix that we took on our first couple of trips. Now it is our tradition to buy our year's supply of Wild Country Maple Syrup every time we are in northern Minnesota (including Christmas gifts for our kids and grandkids), and we have gone several times to their "store" (little cabin) out in the middle of the sugar maple woods, just a little ways from Lutsen. IMHO the best maple syrup you can buy--and no substitute will do. Going there to purchase our syrup supply is a really fun side trip as we travel up the North Shore.

Thanks for sharing the memories of your 2013 trip.

Yes, we learn a lot on our first trip. I remember the "rain gear" I took on my first trip. Oh my. If the weather would have been stuck in a wet pattern, I would have been miserable, and probably not returned.
In fact, we never stop learning and altering how we pack, travel, camp and such. At least for me, I am always looking for ways to improve the experience.

Thanks!

JW

Somehow I missed seeing this when you first published it. Glad I went to find it after reading about your 2nd trip. Maple syrup all the way! Wouldn't be a true canoe trip without pure maple syrup on the pancakes.