Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: BWCA Virgin = My Wife
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Grumpy |
Grumpy |
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BWPaddler |
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SevenofNine |
quote Grumpy: "Thanks for everyone's input. My wife and I were up way late last Friday. It was really fun seeing her getting all excited. We looked into LIS, Moose River, Hog Creek, Moose Lake and she even thought about the Stuart River Portage. We decided on LIS!!! Reservation made and all is well. Welcome to the board and good luck on your trip. Best advice I can give is do your best to make things easy for her. Talk to her about what she wants to do (travel, fish, etc.) and get out on a lake in a canoe before you go up north so she knows how canoeing will be like. Make sure she has decent/warm clothing and a warm sleeping bag! Let us know how things went. |
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Spartan2 |
And I personally love my mummy bag, so go figure? I seem to be atypical, as I like to go in the spring when the flowers are fresh, the campsites fresher, and the loons have their chicks with them on the water. (mid-June). Yes, it is bug season. For me, the bugs are a small price to pay to have the aforementioned treats, so I guess all women aren't alike. I prefer colder weather to hot, so we don't go in July or August. The very last part of August or early September is nice, though. But whenever you are going, you will have the opportunity to have a great trip. Enjoy! On my first trip in 1971 I was new to canoeing, new to camping, and I loved it! (I could swim, though. Be sure she wears a PFD in the canoe at all times, please. We do even now and we are both swimmers.) I am just as enthusiastic about planning trip #26, or whatever this next one is, as I was in planning trip #2. She'll love it. Write a trip report once you get back. Maybe you can write a report together. :-) |
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boonie |
(2) Make sure she has a warm, comfortable sleeping bag and pad. (3) Make sure she knows the proper way to get in the canoe (hope you have a pretty stable one) - both hands on the gunwales, weight low and over the center line of the canoe. Make sure she knows to stay vertical and keep her center of gravity between the gunwales. (4) Relax, have fun, enjoy the trip. |
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serenityseeker |
Make sure she has a warm enough bag and a decent sleeping pad. I do not do cold and most other ladies I know hate it as well. If she does not know how to swim, make sure she is willing to wear a PFD on the water or find some swim lessons before you go. Shell is a great lake. I was just there. The portage to Shell can be a challenge for the less in shape people or those not expecting it. It was for me. If you were not aware, Loon allows motors. so you will run into motor boats there. Have a great trip!! |
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Divainthewild |
For her first trip may I suggest that you plan on camping at Lower Pauness. You have several day trip options open at that point and the portages are very beautiful and short. Don't forget to visit Devil's Cascade. If you chose to do the Shell portage, it's not a hard portage but it's long and the beginning is all up hill. It's definitely worth it though. Make sure she has lots of warm stuff and don't forget to permathin all your clothes. Have way too much fun! |
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Grumpy |
I only brought up going into Shell for the fishing. My wife saw a couple of pictures (one of a guy who is muddy to his knees it is on the maps portion of this site) of the portage and got turned off on that route immediately. I was wondering if anyone had been that way this year, that could tell me about the portage. I know portages can vary from year to year. I will have fun! I hope that my two girls will also. If it turns out that they do, we will do a loop and maybe a little more challenging. I do want to take the Stuart Lake portage again. I want to thank all of you who have given me advice! It's nice to have a site like this where people can share thier experiences. Wayne |
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Canoodler |
We went to East Loon Bay on one trip in August and just by luck found a beautiful sand beach site that was relatively remote. It is the cove site facing across to the "pinch-off" to Little Loon Lake. The entire trip from the LIS put-in to this point is a little challenge, so I would assume you and your family are in pretty good shape, or that you plan to carry the bulk of the weight. If you are lucky to find a campsite before this East Loon Bay spot, take it and go in the next day. I would base-camp at this East Loon cove and come out the way you came in, noting that the Devil's Cascade portage is steep up now. Do spent time at Devil's Cascade - this is a gem of a small canyon! There are numerous short trails off the portage to viewpoints in the canyon. Leave as early in the morning at the LIS EP as you can to avoid crowds and to give yourself plenty of time. |
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Grumpy |
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BWPaddler |
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friman001 |
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jwartman59 |
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Amok |
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Grumpy |
We head out tomorrow at 12:30 am. A little over 5 hours driving and we are there! Anyone recommend a good place for breakfast? This will be the maiden voyage for my canoe. Thank you all for the advice given, now it is up to me to make sure it is an ejoyable one! But, that won't be hard to do. |
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Craig K |
Remember to slow down on the portages if you need to to keep it enjoyable for them. Let them explore the Devils Cascade area. I'll be doing that same trip in a month with my son so I'm looking forward to your trip report. |
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Grumpy |
Thanks for all of your comments. Wayne |
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billconner |
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Jackfish |
quote Grumpy: "After all was said and done, all she could say is... You are, indeed, a lucky man. Congrats on a great trip. :) |
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nojobro |
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Grumpy |
quote shoreviewswede: "Grumpy, I have not traveled that route, so am not speaking from experience. I revised my last post, I heard that the fishing on Shell is awesome. That is why I brought it up. We are most likely going to go up to Loon. Hopefully the reservation I put on a campsite did not get lost? |
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shoreviewswede |
You say your destination is Loon... but are portaging into Shell? looking at the map, that looks like the hard way to Loon. Just from looking at the map, route from EP to Loon looks like a very rational trip for your requirements; good dose of paddling without long portages. |
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Thaumaturgist |
quote Grumpy: My daughter did not have a good time at all. She said she was bored! She made up her mind to never go again." She might change her mind in a few (7-8) years. I'm hoping to bring my daughter some day (She's 11 now) I've asked her to go, but keep getting the "Are you crazy?" look. She wants nothing to do with an outdoor throne room, fully stocked w/ the Minnesota state bird. |
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SevenofNine |
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salukiguy |
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Grumpy |
Would someone be able to share a relatively easy paddle and portage route? Also what time of year would be best? We used to get a campsite at Trailsend Campground and do a day trip with the kids. But she would stay at camp. What do you think of Stuart Lake for her maiden voyage? First ever portage 480 Rods! What better way to brake her in? Thanks in advance for all of your advice! Grumpy |
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Mort |
Needless to say, you have many, many route options to pick from. Two that come right to mind are Little Indian Sioux River North to Loon Lake, ...or Hog Creek to Perent Lake. If you stay off the more popular routes, I think that the beginning week or two of August would be the best time of year for your wife to be introduced to the B'dub, because the weather tends to be the most stable, water is warm for shallow wading/swimming, and the mosquitoes are significantly fewer and less pesky that time of the summer. |
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ducks |
Bugs could ruin a trip for my wife and make her not want to go back so we go in August. Less bugs and warmer water. We've gone the beginning of Aug. and the end of Aug. and we like the end much better. There were a lot less people at the end of Aug. Stuart? Trying to get her to quit before she even sees the water :) Good luck and I hope you both have a great time. |
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Woods Walker |
Troy |
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Grumpy |
After all was said and done, all she could say is... WHEN ARE GOING TO GO AGAIN!!!! I am not so Grumpy anymore! I now have a paddle partner for life. I will try and get a trip report out to fill you in on the rest of the not so boring trip we had! |
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Canoodler |
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nojobro |
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Grumpy |
We made it to Devils Cascade. Good time was had by all. Her foot started to swell from her limphodemia. So travel was slow at best. My daughter did not have a good time at all. She said she was bored! She made up her mind to never go again. |
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Spartan2 |
Congratulations! |
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shoreviewswede |
I am glad she enjoyed the trip that you thoughtfully planned. |
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Divainthewild |
If seclusion is what you are looking for, you wont find it on Loon. Remember, it's motorized and a highly used lake. I've never camped on Loon so I can't help ya out with campsites. The girls will LOVE the portages if they don't have to carry anything heavy. The first portage on LIS has a beautiful waterfall and of course the DC portage is extremely scenic. Fishing is excellent on Loon but be careful of big waves on this lake. Make sure you consider this when planning your trip. I suppose if you stay in one of the bays, you should be fine. Personally, I loath motorized lakes when we are in our canoe. The only thing that will ruin it for the girls is if they get uncomfortable. Cold, rain and wind will make a girl real crabby, real fast. Be sure they have good raingear and let them know that it also works fabulous for a windbreaker. I wear my raingear more for the wind and cold, then the rain. Firewood is an absolute MUST for us gals. A cloudy, rainy day can bring spirits down but a nice toasty warm fire to play in will make 'em all happy. Don't forget extra tarps! Have a great time!!! |
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BearBrown |
A warm sleeping bag is a must for the ladies. I know my girlfriend is a freeze baby, especially at night. A sleeping pad to insulate from the ground will help a lot too. On my trip last august, we took a newbie with us. She had never canoed or camped and can't swim. And she still had a blast figuring it all out. We took it pretty easy, but she was a trooper. Hope your wife loves it. |
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ducks |
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Savage Voyageur |
Chose a trip that will make it not break it for her. If you make it too hard for your wife she will never want to return again. I would go in late August or early September, Less people and bugs. Also choose a lake that is not too big so the wind will not be a problem. There are lots of lakes that are smaller to choose from. Lakes that are long are what to look for, less portaging, more paddling. Loop trips are nice for the reason that you see something new each day. But nothing wrong with a trip to a lake then travel back the same way. Keep it simple and easy and you will have a Paddle partner for life. Enjoy your trip. |
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kanoes |
quote ducks: " Lizz EP #47 might work for you since it's small lakes and easy portages. Several loop options from there or you could basecamp and have daytrip options in all directions. +1 im really fond of hog creek also. |
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PineKnot |
Take her to Seagull. Base camp there and take a couple day trips. You’ll love it, and so will she. And I’m envious! |
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paddlefamily |
Hegman Lakes EP 77. Scenic, not too far up the Echo. Staying on smaller lakes limits wind issues. :) Get off the beaten path and camp on Little Bass Lake. Portage to it is a little hilly, 180 rods. Hike some of the Angleworm Trail for a day trip. Little Indian Sioux EP 14. Area is really lovely. Scenic lakes, Devil's Cascade. Base camp on Shell, leaving numerous options for day trips. Moose EP 16. Take the river to Nina Moose Lake to Nina Moose River and loop back through Ramshead and Lamb Lakes, back out to Moose River EP> Isabella River EP 34/35 has easy portages, easy paddling and is good moose habitat. I agree, go late summer/early fall for less bugs = happy wife. How many days are you thinking of going? |
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Chilly |
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