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Timberrrgirl
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Only 4 trips this summer...Numbers lakes on June 1, LIS at the end of June, Lake 3 in August, Kawasachong/Polly in September.
But we are blessed in that we are able to daytrip almost anytime. And, when the moon and stars align just right, (as in we both have a night or two off at the same time), we can pop up to the ranger station, find an open entry point and get a permit.
Life is good in the northland.... TG
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Ozarker
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Now that most of the canoeing season is over in the B-Dub, how would you rate your trip(s) this year? Was it a thumbs up or thumbs down?
Mine would be a thumbs down as I didn't get to go. Had a chance but broke a couple of ribs and hurt my shoulder about a week before leaving.
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Boppa
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Wow Ozarker,
That was tough break, hope you can make up for it next season.
Ours was thumbs up, saw some nice wildlife and just had a great trip. I hope to finish the trip report by this weekend.
Boppa
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airmorse
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Not one but two thumbs up for this years trip.
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silentbeard
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Two thumbs waaaaayyy up! also two big toes up!
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ultralight
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Both trips-Thumbs Up!
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perseidwatcher
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Thumbs up! It was a great trip this year.
I treated my brother-in-law and his 10 and 15 yeard old boys to the trip this year in August. It was the first time either of the boys had ever been camping. By the end of the week they were taking the canoe out to go fishing without any help.
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Longpaddler
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TWO Big thumbs Up!! Took a new paddling partner on a 10-day July trip on the northern edge of Quetico this year along w/ the usual riff raff I paddle with....the idea being...if she could enjoy that trip w/ that group she might be a keeper!! Bottom line?: She drove up to Ely in October and bought "us" a new tandem Bell Northwoods for lots of future trips. What's more, she caught more fish than the rest of us combined....and SHE had never had a fishing pole or a paddle in her hand before that trip. SHE'S A KEEPER!!!
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Voyageur
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May trip. It snowed once. It rained daily. We took the wrong trail at a portage. Wet footed it in 38 degree weather and cold water. All the fire wood was soaked from the rain. Two thumbs up it was a great time.
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L.T.sully
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I had a good 4 day short trip to meeds lake, least people you'll ever see on an entry lake after the mile portage, we only saw 3 other groups the whole trip, had a nice island site, and the lake to ourselves.
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Parnell
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Thumbs up for me. My first solo in Sept. It went well...
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mongo65
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My trip was a thumbs up. In my own canoe and took two friends on their first trip.
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kanoes
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may? HUGE thumbs up.
september? thumbs down, but a trip ill never forget...a good thing.
october? ill post on sunday.....
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motdur
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As always...Two big thumbs up!
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Spartan2
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In spite of the fact that we didn't get a trip in the "real" sense, still a "thumbs up". We stayed in a great place, thanks to some amazing friends, took day trips into the BWCA, and were able to be there. Until Spartan1 gets a new kidney, that is the best we can do. We took our five-year-old granddaughter on her first BWCA day trip. We spent time with TGO and Arkansasman, as well as some friends from Quiet Journey, and some other good Minnesota friends we have developed over decades of travel to the canoe country. We heard loons and saw the mist on the lake. Life is good.
Next year may be even better. We are hoping.
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Bill Tea
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August trip a double thumbs up. Hope to make two next year.
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Kiporby
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Thumbs up for me as well. Great time taking my daughter on her first canoe trip in July and a great time exposing the wife to the BW on a cabin trip in September.
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Jackfish
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Our annual Quetico trip in June was a bit of a bust. While it's always fun to be in Canoe Country, especially with my son and our friends with whom we've been paddling for years, this particular trip was cold, windy, rainy and the fishing was tough. First time I've ever worn my rain gear for warmth practically the entire trip.
I never like to use the words "worst trip", but relatively speaking, it was pretty close.
Considering we've been going for 20+ years, we were due for a cold, windy and rainy trip. Now, maybe we're good for another 20 years.
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mr.barley
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After missing my annual spring trip, I was lucky enough to get a September trip in instead. It was a 3 man trip and I finally got to go in my solo canoe. It was great, but a few days too short. We were only in 5 days. But I still give it the thumbs up. 
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Franzenrp
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Five Trips :
Two trips with wife for seven days each were something always two cherish.
Threee solo trips, the last one just returning from were all great.
Plan on taking a late season weekend hike on one of the hiking trails, inside the next two weeks.
After that will wait for the deep freeze to winter camp.
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Jeriatric
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My first solo was in early June. Wet, windy and cold except for one of the eight days. Even so, it was my favorite trip because the satisfaction I got from my handling of the adverse conditions. I saw a moose in the BW, two groups of wild horses in Nevada and hundreds of antelope during my drives across the country. I also stopped and made a surprise visit, in Montana, to someone I hadn't seen in 46 years.
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moose plums
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I don't think I've ever had a thumbs down trip. When you're away from work, with good people, in the woods, and on the water...it's all good! 
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rogerson
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two thumbs way up. Made it from Mudro to Beartrap in good time and it wasn't taken. Had fish supper every night. Saw lots of deer and a moose, and I believe we heard a bear "huffing and puffing" not very far behind our camp. 15-30 yards not very far. Real loud, real close, and definitely not a deer. Wouldn't trade this trip for anything. Hope to get more friends along for the trip next year. Maybe even get them hooked on this site.
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izzy
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I would say 2 thumbs up but seeing that I filleted one thumb cleaning a fish on the trip I will give it a 1.5 thumb(s) up. Izzy
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Soledad
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One trip was not fun at all, but the rest were most enjoyable. Gotta take the good with the bad I guess.
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ILikePike
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thumbs up! introduced 4 people to BW and caught many smallies in our early august trip to Caribou.
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Kawashaway2
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I didn't get quite to the BWCA unfortunately, but I'm working on it for next year. I did get to the Quetico, and that was definitely a thumbs up! I got to lead a group of high schoolers on their first major canoe trip.
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tg
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moose plums-couldn't agree more!
i was lucky enough to take 4 trips with a bunch of different folks-it was a great soft water season...
i started the year with an ice breaking trip for the fishing opener up Nina Moose to Oyster (with my buddy clayton)-trip report filed
then in early june i got to take my dad, sister and girlfriend into Lil Gabbro for a few gusty days-got to practice my open water rescue techniques (dad and sister capsized)-trip report overdue
then in august shadypaddler and i made a great circuit entering at Ram and exiting Bower Trout-again trip report in progress
and a couple weeks ago I took a couple good friends/former classmates/colleagues Gary and Tom up through Slim lake. It was my first trip in a solo canoe and we had a great time-in spite of some issues early on-interesting trip report pending
we (my girlfriend, myself and the pooch) also spent a couple nights on the edge of the bwca in September at a wonderful B&B called the Blue Heron (on Farm Lake near Ely). I would highly recommend it to anyone! Got to take a day paddling trip from there.
unfortunately had to abort a September hiking trip with my dog when she apparently hurt herself while riding in the car. got out to water the trees/grass at a rest stop near Cloquet and she was limping and not putting any weight on her passenger side rear wheel. that was too bad but there's always next year!
hopefully now i can get around to some trip reports-i'll have to dust off some cobwebs!
tg
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highplainsdrifter
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To the tune of an old song........ "it was a very good year".
Set my sights on 3 trips and at 3 different times of the year. One in the far NW corner (May 31 entry at LIS north), one in the middle (Aug 17 at Island River), and one on the east corner (Sept 13 at Bower-Trout). This winter I will try and write a report(s).
Summary:
I like the daylight and wildlife activity of early Spring
I do not like summer
I like fall the best........ the color and the feel of the air. A few lines of "Urge for Going" dance in my head "ya see the geese in chevron flight flapping and a winging on before the snow, they got the urge for going, they got the wings to go, and I get the urge for going......" (Tom Rush)
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marc bates
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This year was a toss-up. Weather was bad, strong winds and rain. Fishing was awful. Company was ok, but to much complaining. But it was still better than being at work.
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ducks
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I guess I have 2 more trips on the edge of the BWCA that I should add. Both were a big thumbs up.
4 day trip in June to Kawishiwi Lake campground. Because of many health reasons my father in law can't do a trip into the BWCA so I took him and my brother in law for the next best thing. It was very quiet and relaxing with only the 5 campsites. Also had the peace of mind with the car right there. Just filled out the day trip permits and toured and fished the lake. Besides seeing his grandkids this was the best medicine for him.
3 day trip in Oct. to Bearskin Lodge on East Bearskin Lake with my wife and our 2 daughters (3 and 1). Did a lot of hiking and took some nature drives. It's amazing how happy the 2 little ones are whenever we're in the woods. My 3 year old fell in love with fishing. We didn't catch anything but she absolutely loved it. Both mornings we were there she was up at 6:00 (still pitch black out) and the first thing she did was wake me up and say "let's go fish Dad".
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Arkansas Man
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Thumbs up for my trip for many reasons... introduced three new guys to the BWCA. And I found something there I was needing at the time!
Bruce
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jamotrade
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May/June - 2 thumbs up
September - 1 thumb up
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hiawatha
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My first two solo trips in late May and early Sept. were double thumbs up, my early Oct. trip, thumbs down (got cancelled by the PIC in Hiawatha's Tee Pee). 
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Bannock
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Thumbs up! Three trips. No swamping.
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billsta
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One trip in early September with my daughter...big thumbs up!
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Minnesotian
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Thumbs up here too. Saw my first moose this year.
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benr0
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Way thumbs up!
Got to spend time with my son, and enjoy B-Dub again.
Next trip in planning mode..
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ducks
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Thumbs up!!!! Early Aug. basecamp on Bald Eagle. My wife and I had our first trip together and both said it was our favorite vacation in our 11 years of marriage. Looking forward to another trip next year and anxious to start bringing our little ones in a few years.
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moose plums
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This year I thought I wouldn't get to go. The surgery I had in March caused me to miss my spring trip. That would have been the first time in 23 years, that I missed a trip. So, the trip I took in September, although a mere 5 days...was 2 thumbs up, Waaaay up!
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aebrooks
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all four trips were awesome.
anything beats traveling and being on the road!!
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bdavid1157
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I would say 2 thumbs up. Our mid May trip was dry this year and fishing was good. My brother inlaw would say it was 3 thumbs up, he caught two 29" walleyes. One went 9 and the other was 9 1/2.
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thlipsis29
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Two thumbs up despite the weather in May. Did a new trip after doing the same Moose River trip for seven years. Gabbro did not disappoint. Will do it again in '09.
thlipsis29
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cowdoc
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First time tripping off the Gunflint side. Total thumbs up.
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trix
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Both June & August trips definately a Thumbs Up! Had great weather both trips & saw a Moose on both trips. Only negative for our June trip was not catching any fish. Caught fish on our August trip. The only negative on our August trip was finding one leg thigh high in mud! I was trying to get back in my canoe after we had to get out to drag the canoe over rocks & beaver dams, etc., etc. on Moose River South. Very low water level! After this trip my Husband says No More River Routes when the water level is down! Don't tell my husband but I have another River route planned for 2009 or 2010. Hopefully the water level will be up or he may just get out of the canoe & leave me stranded.
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fishnfreak
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Early May trip diferent but good! First time entering only a few days after ice out, fishing not great but it could have been me! Comradarie was great as always and introduced two newbies this year.
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TN Man
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Thumbs up! Any opportunity to get away from the hustle is greatly appreciated. To be able to spend the week with my Dad in BWCA was "priceless". Not sure how many more years we have left but definitley want my son to be able to do a three generation trip in a few years.
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ceresota
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Thumbs way up- time spent with my daughter- "priceless" 
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overthehill
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Like Moose Plums; they're ALL thumbs up, and this one was a double! Decent weather (one drzzle/mist day,one pour-down day, onw WINDY day, the rest calm and a bit overcast, and the morning to paddle out, the lake was like a sheet of glass! The fishing was good, and found a nice campsite on iron! (on the fourth stop, but nonetheless a good one) Two thumbs up! It's either 16 or 24 hr. driving time (I drive because of our gear). Only wished I lived within a few hours so we could do it more often.
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whiteh20
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Feb. 4 days: Dog Sled trip Snowbank thru numbers- Family trip
May- 3 days: Isabella down the river- w/son
May- Weekend: Slim Lake to Little Rice- w/son
June- 4 days: Baker thru Fire lakes to Sawbill- w/son
July- 4 days: Hog to Isabella- with son
August 5 days: Larch, Clove and up the border- Family trip
Sept.- 3 days: Slim, Big Rice- Solo
Oct.- Weekend: Isabella to river- Solo
Oct.- Weekend: Lake 1 to three- Solo
Nov.- ????
We had cold, rain, ice and some snow in May. Bugs and rain in June. Storms in July, perfect weather in August and October.
Not in BWCA but managed to get on a raft trip this spring in the Grand Canyon.
Another great year in 2008 and Looking forword to many trips in 2009!!
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nolahlm
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Thumbs way up. It was my first trip, and i loved it. it was a good trip, and only had one day of rainy weather.
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Grandma L
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Thumbs up on both the May and August trips for "the gramdmas". Only one problem, May is too far away. I am already counting down until the next trip.
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gbusk
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Thumbs up. Probably had the best fishing of my life off the GF trail in July this year.
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