New Trip Report posted by dixiepaddler

Trip Name: My first trip to the BWCA.

Entry Point: 22

Click Here to View Trip Report

Sorry about the experience you had with old worn gear. Just having a faulty Thermarest the first night with no repair kit would have really made me disappointed with my outfitter. The boreal forest is less diverse species wise than other biomes.

Great report and thanks for sharing. I really liked the "what I would do differently" part of the report.

On Sat. June 13 I entered at Sawbill for my 2nd daddy/daughter trip with my 7yo and have done 3 daddy/daughter trips with my 9yo. I sure hope I am as blessed as you and still tripping with them when I'm 72 and my younger one is 35.

I hope your next BWCA trip is longer and better.

Enjoyed reading your briefing. Nice to spend time that way with your daughter.
Nice fish!
Shug

I grew up in Germantown Maryland and now live in Seattle.

My first trip was also a complete outfitting. I know exactly what you are talking about here and in your other post, although I am overall very, very pleased with my experience. It pays to buy your own stuff and rent the canoe, paddles, and PFDs from the outfitter. I am now at the point where I can rent the canoe and bear barrel only. It helps that my grandparents live in Minneapolis and I can store all my stuff at their house, as well as use their car for transportation.

Now that you have taken your first trip you hopefully know you'll be coming back, so bring your own stuff and only rent what you need to. I do have to say that the complete outfittings sure are useful when you live far away and only trip once a year, especially if you are flying in from significantly out of state.

Enjoyed reading your report! Have met other groups with complete outfitting who remarked that they had way too much food... I guess outfitters want their clients to be able to eat really well:)

rtallent:

I really didn't take a lot of the food the outfitter supplied. I took my own and/or bought it locally the evening before we left. But I think you are right in that the snacks and "lunches" provided were overly plentiful. No way we could eat all of it.But I always take too much food anyway. I like to catch and eat fish, but sometimes the fish won't cooperate! So I take backup, especially if I have someone with me. I do a lot of one night solo trips, and quite often I will play "survivor-man", and not take any food at all. This will really focus you on your fishing! And in all honesty, it really doesn't hurt most of us to miss a meal or two. Makes coming back home more fun.

quote rtallent: "Enjoyed reading your report! Have met other groups with complete outfitting who remarked that they had way too much food... I guess outfitters want their clients to be able to eat really well:)"

Oh my goodness yes...we had no lack of food on our complete outfitting, but hey, I'd far rather have the outfitters err on that side than the alternative.

Great read, thanks for sharing. Loved your ending sentences. I've been roughly 25 times and I think every single trip we talk about adding time the next trip. What a place.

Sounds like a decent trip.

Ditto on the longer trip and plans. This growing up and responsibility thing? Who needs it.

Enjoyed the report.

Nothing like falling asleep to a loon lullaby.

Recommendation. Bourbon requires no ice. :)