New Trip Report posted by ECpizza

Trip Name: A .

Entry Point: 30

Click Here to View Trip Report

Wow, I LOVED this report! "A trip into the BWCA is NOT the time to quit smoking." I learned that one in '96 or '97. I decided I'd take just enough pipe tobacco for one pipe in the evening. The last few days of the trip, I was a "Bear." And after the trip I remember searching all over Grand Marais for a pouch of my "Captain Black Royal" to no avail. Then, Beaver Bay, and FINALLY found some in Two Harbors. That smoke looking over Lake Superior at Two Harbors was SO GOOD!

As for coming out before the blowdown, sounds like a little "Divine intervention." I had that same uneasiness during a solo trip years ago. Unexplainable, but came out early. Called home and all was well. Drove the 960+ miles back straight through without stopping to pull up in the drive as my wife was on the phone with news that her mother had died!

I think this is definitely one of my favorite trip reports; I'm looking forward to more contributions from you!

Great story. Teens can be a lot of fun in the BW.

Thanks for sharing. I'm a firm believer that adults that do their first BWCA trip come out with a forever new perspective on life. But young adults/teenagers...it changes their lives.

Exo, that is so true!

My oldest has been going on some sort of camping since birth and the BWCA since 5. It's sometimes hard to look at a teenager and see the adult he is becoming, but out there I see it. Since this trip, I have led 37 people on their first BWCA trip, and dozens of others on their first trip up the SHT. It's such a kick.

Ozarkpaddler, i'm so glad you understand. I am off again, on again. Even during the off times I still pack some cheap cigars or something. There is something special about bad tobacco and an evening in the wilderness. However, I do envy the non-smoker.

Thanks - very entertaining report.

That was truly a great trip report! Thanks for sharing. I really laughed while reading it. I liked the part about listening for running water to find the portages.

Excellent report, a very entertaining read.

That was an awesome report. Looking forward to more. I can't believe you tried to quit smoking in the BWCA. I quit cold turkey at home. I worked with my family at the time and my brother said I was like an ornery old bear to be around. I am very glad that I was able to quit though.

Mike

Well, i keep trying to quit. 9 months is my record non smoking stretch. (Not counting a couple campfire cigars).

I had no idea what I was doing on so much of that trip. I keep mementos of my most stupid moments. The paddle I used on that trip is part of that collection.

Just the getting wet part, I learned it was bad. It was still 5 more years until I learned enough that I am no longer worried about a repeat. A driving cold rain against the wind on knife put all my learning to the test. (Merino wool is forever my friend in the wilderness).

But I digress...

What I'm trying to say is, had I known then 1/10th of what I know now, I would have had 2 cartons, each pack individually vacuum packed. Would have made dealing with the rest of my stupidity a lot easier. :)

I do believe all the disaster had meaning. We were all motivated. It took a lot to finally push us to leave early. I can't imagine what it would have been like to be in the blowdown. Glad we didn't find out.