Solo Trek into Quetico - No Country for Old Men
by Beemer01
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
06/16/2010
Entry & Exit Point:
Moose Lake (EP 25)
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
1
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (36 messages)
Day 7 of 7
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
I was awake at 4:30, caught a beautiful sunrise, broke camp and was on the water by 6:00 AM. I paddled glassy waters thru the morning mists mile after mile - not even a breath of wind.
Eventually I crossed back into the States, Wind Bay and the portage over to Wind Lake. The BWCA certainly has more far people than Quetico - on Wind Lake I passed some serious base campers with two room Cabela tents, folding chairs and I imagine boom boxes under their dining tables. Wind Lake is an easy destination, one longish portage off Moose and you've arrived.
Anyhow, I met some nice people on the portages, and spent some time photographing some of the beautiful late Spring flowers that lined my final portage.
Moose Lake was an easy paddle back to my car. I returned to Ely and doing the right thing, I swung into the US Customs office.
I think I was the first person to show up at this voluntary check point that day, anyhow I clearly surprised the two young officers. One looked at my small sheath knife and Leatherman and asked if this was a gun. After ascertaining that I was not armed with a strangely tiny Glock, I was asked for my passport and to remove my hat and sunglasses. We went through the usual questions and reverifying that I had not made any wilderness purchases I retrieved my unstamped passport and was surprised when they then buckled on their holsters…. and asked to inspect my car.
My pack was dug through - not sure what they were seeking, but they didn't find anything other than damp and certainly smelly gear.
Bye guys, I wonder how long a posting to Ely, Minnesota would last for these officers…. I'll bet their excitement ramps up even further in February!
Dinner at the DQ, a six pack, a chat with Lynn and I retired back to my VNO Bunkhouse for the evening. Nice trip!
Pack - I use the CCS Pioneer Pack and like it. Enough capacity for solo tripping, but a manageable size. I use a Kondos Guide Pack for my Olive Jar which is my sealed food container.
Stove - I love the Jetboil for solo trips. I eat little and the fact that I can get two cups of water to a boil in 40 seconds means convenience and very little fuel consumption.
Food - As noted I eat little - breakfasts of Cliff Bars or Granola Bars and coffee - lunch of a Power Bar and a freeze dried dinner works for me. I use a low sugar lemonade mix for my trail drinking.
Sleeping shelter - I use and am comfortable in the Hennessey Hammock system. Tarp - I use the Kelty Noah's Tarp and it's OK, not great. I'll eventually replace it with something like a CCS or Kondos rectangular tarp.
Canoe - I have my wooden stripper which again proved to be very seaworthy in rough water- but they are obviously more fragile than other materials. I find that using the CVCA back sling and the Bell footbrace make padding far more leveraged and comfortable.
Camera - I use a Weatherproof Olympus camera - I like that I never have to worry about watertight boxes- digging it out and so forth. I take a lot more pictures and am happy with the point and shoot ease and quality.
Day Seven - Island in Basswood back to Moose Lake.
I was awake at 4:30, caught a beautiful sunrise, broke camp and was on the water by 6:00 AM. I paddled glassy waters thru the morning mists mile after mile - not even a breath of wind.
Eventually I crossed back into the States, Wind Bay and the portage over to Wind Lake. The BWCA certainly has more far people than Quetico - on Wind Lake I passed some serious base campers with two room Cabela tents, folding chairs and I imagine boom boxes under their dining tables. Wind Lake is an easy destination, one longish portage off Moose and you've arrived.
Anyhow, I met some nice people on the portages, and spent some time photographing some of the beautiful late Spring flowers that lined my final portage.
Moose Lake was an easy paddle back to my car. I returned to Ely and doing the right thing, I swung into the US Customs office.
I think I was the first person to show up at this voluntary check point that day, anyhow I clearly surprised the two young officers. One looked at my small sheath knife and Leatherman and asked if this was a gun. After ascertaining that I was not armed with a strangely tiny Glock, I was asked for my passport and to remove my hat and sunglasses. We went through the usual questions and reverifying that I had not made any wilderness purchases I retrieved my unstamped passport and was surprised when they then buckled on their holsters…. and asked to inspect my car.
My pack was dug through - not sure what they were seeking, but they didn't find anything other than damp and certainly smelly gear.
Bye guys, I wonder how long a posting to Ely, Minnesota would last for these officers…. I'll bet their excitement ramps up even further in February!
Dinner at the DQ, a six pack, a chat with Lynn and I retired back to my VNO Bunkhouse for the evening. Nice trip!
Comments -
Pack - I use the CCS Pioneer Pack and like it. Enough capacity for solo tripping, but a manageable size. I use a Kondos Guide Pack for my Olive Jar which is my sealed food container.
Stove - I love the Jetboil for solo trips. I eat little and the fact that I can get two cups of water to a boil in 40 seconds means convenience and very little fuel consumption.
Food - As noted I eat little - breakfasts of Cliff Bars or Granola Bars and coffee - lunch of a Power Bar and a freeze dried dinner works for me. I use a low sugar lemonade mix for my trail drinking.
Sleeping shelter - I use and am comfortable in the Hennessey Hammock system. Tarp - I use the Kelty Noah's Tarp and it's OK, not great. I'll eventually replace it with something like a CCS or Kondos rectangular tarp.
Canoe - I have my wooden stripper which again proved to be very seaworthy in rough water- but they are obviously more fragile than other materials. I find that using the CVCA back sling and the Bell footbrace make padding far more leveraged and comfortable.
Camera - I use a Weatherproof Olympus camera - I like that I never have to worry about watertight boxes- digging it out and so forth. I take a lot more pictures and am happy with the point and shoot ease and quality.
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