I leave for Ely 2 weeks from today. I can't contain the excitement for my first trip! I was hoping this would be a fun post for some veterans to recall their first adventure and hopefully help ME make yet another last minute check to be sure I haven't forgotton anything that could cause my trip to go sour. I have learned SO much from this forum that I can't thank you all enough.

When you first start out going do what I do and use a written check list of gear. I did that for a number of years for both canoe trips and for backpacking. I still use it sometimes for long trips to make sure I've got every thing covered. For overnighters I don't worry as much if I lack something as I can usually get by without it.

I wish that I'd known how much I would enjoy it, because I would have started doing it sooner.

Other than that, It was all about over-packing. You'll need about half the crap that you bring.

Old fingers is right - make a list. I separate my lists clothes, food, fishing, camping, miscellaneous. I think without my lists, I would forget more and pack more than with my list.

DON'T get upset when something goes wrong, because things will. Remind yourself to learn from your mistakes, but laugh at them, too. You're on vacation so have fun and don't sweat the small stuff. Oh yeah, vacuum seal a roll of toilet paper. I've had the same spare roll for years and it's still dry.

Have a great time and just roll with it. Some of our best sites / experiences have come after our plan a was scratched and we had to go to plan b, c, d. Just because site you've planned on staying at all spring is taken or you don't cover x number of miles the trip will go on. As one of my good friends says "when mother nature throws you a curve ball, sit back on it and hit it out of the park".

Relax and enjoy the trip. Experience is the best teacher.

Who you go with is as important as where you go, how experienced you all are, what you bring, eat, see, etc.... Only go with people you can work with, tolerate and actually enjoy for an intense week.

I have wanted to tie some folks to trees and paddle away before our week together was done. They might have felt the same. So, choose trip-mates carefully.

Take a small journal and make notes, write at the end of the day about your adventures. You think you will remember, but you don't. Take lots of pictures, too.

You might want to write up a trip report for us later, or even make a book like I do each time, to remember your canoe trip later on when you are far away from the canoe country.

And the notes will help you for planning your next adventures. You will be sure to want to go again! :-)

The first BW canoe trip I took was with my son. He was in the Air Force then stationed in Illinois. We had to talk on the phone about our trip. We were both backpackers so we felt good about the camping and orienteering aspect of the trip. If an emergency came up we both have experience in that area. What we lacked was time in the canoe! So, he wasn't able to put time in and I was still working. I spent as much time as I could on a local lake with my wife to get the paddling techniques down. That turned out to be the best decision I could have made. On the trip we had all kinds of weather and being able to handle the canoe was really important.

As Spartan2 said, keep a journal and pictures. I still read my old trip journals every time I start to plan a new trip.

I really believe that your level of "fun" goes way up when you know you have planned well and prepared yourself. Have a great trip!

GrandmaL says it well, it will be an "intense" experience and the processing starts when you return. Just "Be prepared.", as the scouts say and experience what is to come.

And thanks for taking us back. I had noooooo idea. That was 1979. I just got back from a 9 day solo and am already thinking about the next trip.

Stay in shape and take some time to rest, get your body ready.

Keeping everything SIMPLE. The BWCA is my time to return to the basic necessities of life. My body & soul can endure a few days of minimal supplements/comforts. To understand that food is more of a FUEL than a feast in the BW. This will help with extra weight found in junk foods & the equipment to prepare them in. That once you find that "magic" lure you won't fish with anything else and the rest of the 10lbs of lures just weigh you down. That HAMMOCKS are THE way to go, never have to worry about rocks/roots stopping your stakes, and you enjoy the wind a bit more because it rocks you to sleep. And finally understanding that the BWCA was created by God to be cared for by Man and to be shared with others!!

The response is a lot like what I expected. Go, enjoy, dont worry :)
I have already read through many of your trip reports and posts here since early this year to get an idea of how to be prepared. Lists are important to me also. Like many of you I break them down into categories. Using this forum has me completely prepared gear-wise.

I am doing this trip because I am a nature lover, outdoors person, northwoods visitor since I was a kid and a huge fishing enthusiast. My trip partner is my life partner and she has the same passions and skills for the outdoors that I do. We dont have any significant paddling experience, but in recent weeks have gone out a couple of times and rented a canoe and paddled for the day so we know what to expect. We will do it one more time this coming weekend to work on our J stroke, paddling in tandem and practice righting a capsized canoe.

I have no expectations other than to see this amazing place and experience what it has to offer. I am not worried about things going "wrong" because I am prepared. Often times on adventures like this when something goes "wrong" it can turn into an amazing experience. I enjoy being tested, forced to re-think plans or having to improvise. I am prepared for rain, cold, bugs, rugged terrain and wildlife, but I would expect nothing less in natures pure beauty.

I am definately bringing a journal and will be more than delighted to write a trip report when I return. I bought an underwater camera for the rugged terrain and will hopefully have some choice photos to share as well. Great group of people in this community. thank you. :)

As in life, there will be obstacles of sorts. Whether the wind is in your face the whole time or the portage seems uphill the entire length. Don't let frustrations succumb to negativity. Take that moment to stop and recharge. Have a snack and plenty of fluid. No one person (whether they admit it) has the best stroke or the best stove or tent set up. It's how you and your partner want to enjoy yourselves. Stay warm, dry and nourished, the rest will fall into place. The one wish that will be granted is that you will want to get back and begin tweaking things.

Go in with the attitude that each time you trip you will learn more, acquire some skills, get a nice piece of gear you've been wanting and be ready to make memories. I wish I had started twenty years sooner.

Take the time to enjoy your trip, it's not the destination but the journey to get there. So slow down and forget about time tables to be some place at a certain time/

Don't try to push to hard the first day with your excitement.

I was so pumped to go that I tweeked my knee that still bothers me and we were completely exhausted after the first day by going so hard.

i wish i would have known about dedicated solo canoes.

Exped

i was a senior in high school when i took a group of classmates on a ten day trip in the bwca. prior to this i had done several trips of over three weeks in wabakimi and north of that. as far as canoe experience i was ready for anything. however on those prior trips i was paddling with very experienced trippers, we worked as a team.

with my classmates it was a whole different experience. on the first night i was aware that someone had to be in charge. the group was chaos, anything chocolate was doomed. i loathed the idea but i realized that i was going to have to start being a leader and give the trip some semblance of order. my efforts were only semi rewarded. it was like leading a pack of cats. we made it but that trip stands out in my memory as one of the worst trips i have ever taken.

quote OldFingers57: "Take the time to enjoy your trip, it's not the destination but the journey to get there. So slow down and forget about time tables to be some place at a certain time/ "

+1. Slow down.

I agree with Oldfingers and Spartan2 - keep a journal and use packing lists. Over time and trips you will refine your packing lists. And lastly, remember a spare paddle. In the early 1970's when I started to trip this didn't occur to me. My first 2 trips we had no spare paddle - I don't remember it being suggested when I got my BSA canoeing merit badge in the 1960's. After swimming a short drop on the Granite River it occurred to me we probably needed a spare. Any mistakes you make now we probably make for future stories. Have fun.

Wore less cotton.

The one thing that comes to mind is about clothes, no cotton only synthetic clothes or wool. Cotton takes forever to dry if wet.

Wanna know what I did wrong? This story Tells it all.

Stupid choices aside...
Things I wish I knew before my first trip...

Lightweight canoes are worth it

Cotton is just plain wrong for the BWCA
--- part B--- jeans are cotton
---part C, there are exceptions to every rule

Weird camping tricks. Especially with fire and cooking. (Always try and learn a couple new tricks every trip)

Always pack a personal supply of TP. It has saved my butt a few times. (Pun intended)

A lot of good thoughts so far - packing lists, journal, TP, no cotton clothing, spare paddle, etc.

A few other thoughts:

Make sure your gear is in working order before you pack it, i.e. the water filter filters, the stove lights, the headlamp works, etc.

Don't forget painters for the canoe and don't forget to tie it up.

Take lots of memory and power for your camera. You're going to need it ;)

Look at your list and try to pare down the stuff you are taking. Try to simplify things. Ounces do add up to heavier packs, extra things make bulkier packs, and more things are more clutter to keep track of, more things to pack and unpack.

Finally:

I didn't know enough about canoeing and the weather there. Floating down a lazy river in a canoe is not the same as 10 miles of flat water paddling in the wind. That made my trip plan too aggressive.

Have fun! I'm sure you'll be better prepared since you have found BWCA.com before your trip ;).

My short list of what I wish I knew, before I knew it:

A) When going with other adults, outside my home, be sure to pack everyone's items at the same time. Have a "trip packing evening" that everyone that is going gets together and packs everything including their own personal items. This will save alot of doubled up but not needed doubled up items. This is also a great idea for fishing gear, if you can get everyone to do it. (a back up spool of line is a great idea...no need for 6 of them on a 6 man trip. A back up reel is a great idea...no need for 6 of them.

B) On a "fishing trip" 2 light weight 1 inch x 8 foot aluminum poles and some Velcro can change everything. Making a "cata-canoe" is very easy and absolutely changes everything when fishing in the BWCA. No worries about tipping. (On our test runs we have TRIED to tip them, you simply can not) you can stand in the canoe to stretch or to fish. Sitting high up in a bag chair for 10 hours a day/7 days is way more comfortable that dealing with canoe butt and swamp ass after day 2.

C) In my Opinion: Start early and stop early when portaging and changing camp sites. Making a loop can be great fun and you can see so many things, but find a nice camp site early and enjoy the area instead of rushing through like its a race.

D) 3 day trips are just long enough to realize that you should have planned a 5-7-9 day trip.

E) Permethrin, sold in concentrate at the local farm store, is your friend. $15 for 20 quarts vs $15 for sawyers 1 pint at the local big box store. Zero bugs in the tents, ever. No ticks. priceless.

That the bugs really aren't that bad, and that the wind really can be that bad.

Just because the camera is waterproof doesn't mean that it floats.

+1 Take it easy the first day. I still have to remind myself to plan a shorter day to account for not being used to the more strenuous travel. I've burned my friends out doing too much distance, and had to hold up the second day to recover.

quote steve830: "Just because the camera is waterproof doesn't mean that it floats. "

Amen. I keep my WP camera in my shirt pocket, but it's attached to a lanyard that's worn around my neck.

Ditto what Spartan2 said about keeping a journal. Keep it light, I often read mine from twenty or thirty years ago and really enjoy seeing how much I'd forgotten.

Also, at least once cook your meal on the forest service grate. We almost all use stoves now but it's good to experience how it used to be.

Practice navigation skills when in the canoe. We were experienced backpackers when we first went in but this was a whole new ball game. Rent a canoe and get on a lake with lots of bays and islands. Then try to orient yourself on the map to what you are seeing. Distances are deceiving at lake level. Peninsulas and islands can be indistinguishable from that perspective.

That was what I learned from our first trip.

quote boonie: "

quote steve830: "Just because the camera is waterproof doesn't mean that it floats. "

Amen. I keep my WP camera in my shirt pocket, but it's attached to a lanyard that's worn around my neck."

True dat. Got a floating wrist strap for mine AND tested it safely... friend lost WP camera tubing a river last weekend for lack thereof.

One inch on the map does not equal one inch on the water (or ground).

quote Fearlessleader: "Ditto what Spartan2 said about keeping a journal. Keep it light, I often read mine from twenty or thirty years ago and really enjoy seeing how much I'd forgotten.


Also, at least once cook your meal on the forest service grate. We almost all use stoves now but it's good to experience how it used to be. "

We cook all of our meals over wood on the grate,, it tastes better and you can cook your meals at home on the stove. We use the stove to make coffee and boil water.

I wish I'd known how essentially the lightweight long-sleeve shirt is. Keeps the sun and the bugs away from your skin, and you never have to worry about re-applying. A few squirts of DEET on the collar and cuffs can knock down the bugs without the need to wear poison directly on your skin.

And, perhaps the most useful of all: make sure your sun shirt has long tails. A little DEET on the shirt-tails does wonders for keeping the skeeters off your butt at the latrine!

I wish that there was a way to make more than one trip per year to the BWCAW.Once a year is not enough.

My first trip to the BWCA was with my parents in the late 70's/early 80's and I didn't bring a pad to sleep on because I was too macho to need a pad. My dad picked a terrible spot for the tent, in a soft mossy low spot, and it rained in the night. Everyone else on their 70s era closed cell foam pads were fine, I and my bag got soaked.

Sleeping pads, not just for comfort, also for dryness.

Back then we didn't have synthetics other than polyester leisure suits and nylon stockings, and my mom and I are allergic to wool, so I had two pair of jeans, a pair of cargo shorts, 2 T-shirts, a chamois shirt, and a sweatshirt. Plus lots and lots of cotton tube socks. I'm sure my clothes, closed cell foam pad, 4 paperback books, and heavy duty sleeping bag weighed more than the total of the gear I bring on multi person trips now a days. My parents packed my gear in my school backpack and it must have weighed 60 pounds. My bag was lashed on top somehow. Oh, and canvas tennis shoes and leather sandals.

We did all of our cooking over a fire and dipped our water from the middle of the lake with no filter or iodine or anything.

However, I still have the cedar strip canoe my dad made and we used. I also have the Winona kevlar canoe we bought shortly thereafter, even though it weighs 74 pounds. They used Kevlar for strength, not lightness back then. And the Eureka tent we used lasted me well into the 90s and I loved it. Not as much as my Hoo Doo 2, but pretty close.

My husband and I also still use his two Duluth bags from his youth, and his factory second Winona Royalex canoe, though we need to get a new yoke.

Things I wished I had known:

Ultra lightweight wicking fabrics are coming and they will change your life!
A good sleeping pad is worth a lot. Really!
Buy great gear, you might be using it for a really long time.
Though the knees and balance may go, rock hopping around an island campsite is one of the great joys in life.
Go camping a lot in your 20s. Why didn't I camp in my 20s? There was a big no-camping era when I was having little kids and working too much. That was stupid.

ALL my gear goes in waterproof bags! All my cloths go in dri-bags then in my pack then cover my pack with a water proof cover. Also never forget to put you t.p. in water proof bag!
Also, a $10 wal-Mart rain suit is NOT a good deal! You will regret every penny of that purchase. Spend the money on a good one. I speak from experience. be safe, be respectful and have fun!

Less is more. Don't bring too much stuff.

I signed up for a River Canoe trip with the YMCA to paddle the Ottertail River. When I arrived at the YMCA we were informed due to shallow waters we were going to paddle in the Boundary Waters instead.

I was 14 and they made me carry this big heavy canvas pack with leather straps and eat this real crappy powdered food.

Oh the horror......

I swore I would never do THAT again.

A change of underwear for every day.
Take a lightweight canoe if you plan on traveling/portaging any distance. Rent one if you need to. The first two times I went we used the monstrous Alumacraft and Grummin aluminum canoes. A tough portage even for two young, fit people.
Line your pack with a heavy duty construction grade garbage bag. Bring a book or deck of cards in case you get stranded in your tents because of rain.
Make sure the "friends" you are going with are friends you can tolerate being with for that amount of time.
Enjoy your trip.

Full size coolers are not normal BWCA equipment (my BWCA seasoned mentor said it was, go figure). My canoe partner and I were elected to carry it. Freshman hazing.

Outside of the prior stated. The best advise I can give is to slow down, observe your surroundings, take it in and relax. Many newbies are in a big hurry to conquer and come out of the gun a hundred miles an hour and fade fast. Set realistic goals and be safe!! Don't kill yourselves. Have a great trip!!

For me it was over-packing..... to many clothes, didn't need jeans, no use for heavy boots, to much food... blah blah blah. you kind of get the picture. Also the excitement of getting in there will about kill you that first portage. I know it does for me, once you settle into a pace you can absorb that much more and take in what's around you. Good luck and enjoy!!

Not just your first trip, but any trip.
Do not get too focused on that 5 star campsite, they are rarely available.

One thing I've learned over the years is good quality equipment is worth every penny. If you have good equipment you can pretty much handle any situation thrown at you.

Hydrate. Even if you think you are not thirsty, drink water.

Don't be afraid to get your feet wet!

Don't count on catching walleye for dinner every night. ;)

Things in the forest sound bigger and more dangerous than they really are. A little rustling in the woods isn't something to worry about.

The old cotton type sleeping bags are very hard to put out once they catch on fire.

Make sure you tie up your canoe if you are going to be camping above water falls. Also make sure the hole you thought you fixed in the canoe before you left actually doesn't leak when in water.

If there is a portage don't try to run the rapids.

The Wallmart rain ponchos are fine if it doesn't rain.

Your feet will get wet no matter what so don't waste time trying to keep them dry while portaging.

Beer goes flat very fast when you put it into a different container.

If you are going to pack way too much stuff make sure you are following a group of boy scouts that can help you portage.

quote salukiguy: "The old cotton type sleeping bags are very hard to put out once they catch on fire."

There are so many responses there is no way I can comment on them all, but there are some great ideas here that I have incorporated into my travel plans. I even read ECPizzas trip report and there were some doozeys in that trip. (I will probably never volunteer to take a group of youths into the Bdub alone while simutaneously attempting to quit smoking...)

But I have to know a little more behind the story of your sleeping bag catching on fire!

Not to travel to far in one day, 5:00 am to 7:00 pm is to much for your 1st trip, couldn't move the next morning.

quote drglock: "

quote salukiguy: "The old cotton type sleeping bags are very hard to put out once they catch on fire."

There are so many responses there is no way I can comment on them all, but there are some great ideas here that I have incorporated into my travel plans. I even read ECPizzas trip report and there were some doozeys in that trip. (I will probably never volunteer to take a group of youths into the Bdub alone while simutaneously attempting to quit smoking...)


But I have to know a little more behind the story of your sleeping bag catching on fire!


"

I agree about the fire and sleeping bag, sounds like a good story!

You can never predict what clothes you will need on your trip. But, you can always take layers off, so pack warm enough clothes. We always pack a set of long underwear and a down vest because we've been to the BWCA in August and the temps have dipped into the 40's. You probably won't freeze to death, but there is nothing more miserable than freezing to death!!!!!

quote Frenchy: "I wish that there was a way to make more than one trip per year to the BWCAW.Once a year is not enough."

I am blessed to take 3 trips this year. A spring trip my two pack mules - I means sons, a summer trip with the Boy Scouts, and a fall trip with my wife.

Advice for first timers:

I use a list - broken up into categories: cooking and cleanup stuff, clothes (very minimal here) shelter, camp gear, personal gear.

Make and keep a journal, take more pictures than you think you need. And label them immediately when you get home.

Try to minimize loose gear and items in your canoe. Makes portages easier, and you will lose less gear.

Bring a spare paddle. I didn't on my spring trip since we had 3 people and one canoe. I figured if we busted one, two could paddle the boat. We broke two - fortunately the second "casualty" was on our way out, and we limped our way out without too much trouble.

And have fun. The first of many trips I hope.

filtering your water is a much, much better option than boiling all your drinking water...

quote bear bait: "filtering your water is a much, much better option than boiling all your drinking water..."

Ahh yes. I had to do that once because my ceramic filter cracked. Now I bring a gravity filter and iodine as a backup.

quote tuscarorasurvivor: "

quote bear bait: "filtering your water is a much, much better option than boiling all your drinking water..."

Ahh yes. I had to do that once because my ceramic filter cracked. Now I bring a gravity filter and iodine as a backup."

Me too. I took the filter out to clean it on the second day and dropped it on the ground. Boiled water tastes very smoky.

1. Bring a sheet of plastic to cover up the firewood you gather right after the tent is up.

2. When you see a little rain cloud way out there and your trip mates say; "I think it's going to miss us" put your rain suit on.

3. Always keep a clean, organized camp. Cover or put everything in it's place. It will rain and blow.

4. Clothes pins make it easier to find the clothing you hang on the line.

5. Buy barbless hooks or pinch your barbs down. You might miss a fish or two, but you won't miss the pain of hook extraction.

You learn something new every trip. That’s why i love it. No matter how well you plan expect at least one curve ball thrown your way. Double check the map, pack lite but have backups for the important items, Be patient and roll with the punches.

Have plenty of drinking water easily available at the start of traveling/portaging. This seems so obvious, but on some of my early trips I was stupid enough to leave the entry point with no drinking water. It sucks to have to filter/treat water at the end of a long, hot portage when you're thirsty, and your water treatment device(s) are buried in the bottom of the biggest pack!

One time I got caught with this was a start of a long portage, temp of 38 degrees. I wasn't thinking about water at the start of the portage. But when the sun came out after 30 minutes, the temp had gone up about 30 degrees and I had no water ready.

I wish I knew to bring more tarps than the 1 small one the outfitter set us up with. I wish I knew to keep a journal. I wish I knew to go easier on the Hooch, 'cuz I never drink the hard stuff at home!!!...

As a man this is a little weird to discuss,and I sure varies greatly from one female to the next, but a little thing that I do for my wife to make the trip more pleasant for her, is to plan around her menstruation cycle.

I don't ask her. I track it all the time, and just do it by habit. Some girls cramp more than others. My wife gets them worse some months more than others, and feels like she needs a shower a little more during her cycle. So I just schedule around it. I try to plan our trip during the first 2 weeks of her cycle after her menstruation ends.

I don't always get it exactly right, so yes, I have Tampons (feminine products if you want to be PC) on the list, just as a reminder for her.

I may catch some flack from some of the women on here for posting this, but again the nuisance level varies from one woman to the next, and I think my wife silently appreciates that I try to work around it, when possible
.

My first Quetico canoe trip was back in 1979. It was just me (age 17) and another teenager (age 15). We were out for two weeks.

There are two things I wish I would have known then:

1. Bring a tent. Those islands and "breezy points" are NOT mosquito-free!

2. Bring enough food and pack it properly. Suppers that consist of a single box of mac and cheese (with no butter) won't be enough food for two growing, hard-working boys.

Bring a water bottle, don't stand up in the canoe while moving, be careful when cutting wood, and be careful with bug spray. What great memories lol.

My buddy and I at 15 years old wish we knew that the bears wouldn't eat us...........maybe we wouldn't have sat in terror watching him eat all our food.....

From my first trip with 3 other guys who'd just graduated high school:

1. Adjust to and account for the trip preferences of others in your group. I almost lost a friend giving him a hard time about his pace/complaints.

2. Never assume the weather will hold or work with you. I was pelted with hail with no hat and shorts many miles from camp. We had 15 minutes all week that we could see a patch of clear skies. The storms soaked through our tent and drown our sleeping bags.

3. My friend was relatively new to drinking (most of us were) and I told him 3 parts to 1 in mixing his drinks(YES with a 2 liter of pop we portaged out). I didn't tell him what the 1 part was, resulting in a very sick friend passed out on the rocks outside the tent. Specificity is key in many camping situations.

4. DO NOT stay up drinking all night because your sleeping bags are wet and set out for home at the crack of dawn, shooting rapids you have no business shooting, flipping the canoe, breaking your paddle, soaking your packs, wetting your remaining food (except for some week old white bread which was somehow DELICIOUS), and sobering up half way through the tough trip out. DON'T DO THAT.

TREK33: "Keeping everything SIMPLE. The BWCA is my time to return to the basic necessities of life. My body & soul can endure a few days of minimal supplements/comforts. To understand that food is more of a FUEL than a feast in the BW. This will help with extra weight found in junk foods & the equipment to prepare them in. That once you find that "magic" lure you won't fish with anything else and the rest of the 10lbs of lures just weigh you down. That HAMMOCKS are THE way to go, never have to worry about rocks/roots stopping your stakes, and you enjoy the wind a bit more because it rocks you to sleep. And finally understanding that the BWCA was created by God to be cared for by Man and to be shared with others!! "

Good stuff, TREK33!

scottiebaldwin: "

TREK33: "Keeping everything SIMPLE. The BWCA is my time to return to the basic necessities of life. My body & soul can endure a few days of minimal supplements/comforts. To understand that food is more of a FUEL than a feast in the BW. This will help with extra weight found in junk foods & the equipment to prepare them in. That once you find that "magic" lure you won't fish with anything else and the rest of the 10lbs of lures just weigh you down. That HAMMOCKS are THE way to go, never have to worry about rocks/roots stopping your stakes, and you enjoy the wind a bit more because it rocks you to sleep. And finally understanding that the BWCA was created by God to be cared for by Man and to be shared with others!! "

Good stuff, TREK33!
"

Well said

deerfoot: "

quote allfish: "I wish I knew to bring more tarps than the 1 small one the outfitter set us up with. I wish I knew to keep a journal. I wish I knew to go easier on the Hooch, 'cuz I never drink the hard stuff at home!!!..."

That's funny because I do the same thing. The only place/time I drink whisky is on my three or four annual canoe camping trips. Why is that?"

Quote Fix

How many damn mosquitoes I would swallow.

Underwear is right. Clean dry unders keep your ass from getting chapped.

IF I had known I was going to go 50 times, I wish I had kept a journal from all of the trips. It would be fun to read them now.

I wish I had bought a kevlar much sooner.

I based camped on the same lake 48 times. I still love that lake, lots of great memories, however, I kinda wished I had made more loops. I went on a LISN loop with my wife 2 years ago, and we had a blast. I hope the knees and shoulders hold up for a few more. There is so much more of the boundary waters and quetico I want to see. I put off going to the quetico for all these years, and now that I finally bought a kevlar canoe, they closed the border. If there is somewhere you want to go, don't procrastinate.

When crossing big water, there is no such thing as too early.

A hot shower after a week in the boundary waters, is one of life's great pleasures.

Take pictures.

At some point, all you will have are memories. Make some.

analyzer: "IF I had known I was going to go 50 times, I wish I had kept a journal from all of the trips. It would be fun to read them now.

Take pictures.


At some point, all you will have are memories. Make some."

There is a journal from every trip, but we only have 32 trips. It IS fun to read them now. And the memories are priceless.

If I had known how much of a part of my life and how much an aspect of our marriage that canoe-tripping would be, I would have paid even MORE attention to the details. Still, as I have done four "vintage" trip reports this COVID winter (and one more to go), I realize that it was a process. A dozen photos and bare-bones notes on the first trip in 1971, and by the time we were ending in 2012 and 2013 there was real journaling and many, many photos. Enough to make a lovely book. Of the 32 trips, only two don't have a real book (either a photo album with narrative or a book made on Snapfish.) I will try to finish those this spring.

My photography evolved, and so did my sense of mental perspective. I learned that I didn't like base-camping, and I didn't like getting a tow. Lots of wonderful loops in those books. Lots of paddling, lots of portaging. Good weather, bad weather, aches and pains, and pain-free trips. So much to remember.

I guess if I had known beforehand how much canoe-tripping would change me, I would have been surprised. The canoe country still has a " pull" for me, in spite of not taking a real trip in almost eight years. We will be at a cabin on Poplar Lake this June. And I will feel like I have come "home".

Spartan2: "

I guess if I had known beforehand how much canoe-tripping would change me, I would have been surprised. The canoe country still has a " pull" for me, in spite of not taking a real trip in almost eight years. We will be at a cabin on Poplar Lake this June. And I will feel like I have come "home"."

I teared up reading that. I think there are alot of us, that the bwca, feels like home. So many memories.

I wish I would have kept a Journal. Damn...

When you get to camp immediately put up your tent if it’s not raining.
2nd thing is to toss out a slip bobber with a leach on it.
Take a slip bobber.

Wish I'd put $100.00 back for every trip I took up north 40 years ago.
Then I would have spent it all on ammo 5 years ago.

That a decent pack off craigslist would have made all the difference. That and cotton is rotten.

A1t2o: "That and cotton is rotten."

It's not only that I am dryer with nylon and polyester, but I think I smell better too. It seems cotton retains the smell more than the synthetics.

Synthetics are lighter, dry faster, smell better, and stain less. It's a win, win, win, win in my book.

I’m offering this on behalf of my wife.

Our honeymoon was spent backpacking in WY, at my suggestion. Not until years later did I find out she had never been to the BWCA. On her first trip there, she remarked that she would have been very happy to have gone on a canoe trip instead of the backpacking trip.

I still have a crease in my forehead from the self-administered double dope slap that immediately followed.

analyzer: "

A1t2o: "That and cotton is rotten."

It's not only that I am dryer with nylon and polyester, but I think I smell better too. It seems cotton retains the smell more than the synthetics.


Synthetics are lighter, dry faster, smell better, and stain less. It's a win, win, win, win in my book."

All true, but watch out for embers when tending the fire. Merino is where it's at but I'm as yet not willing to cough up for anything more substantial than a pair of socks.

I wish I'd known "going solo" was a real option. I missed several seasons because of not having someone to go with. Now, I get my permit or permits and if I can't find some one to go, I just go alone.

To spend the money on quality gear at the start...because I would end up with it anyways. You think you're saving money...I probably spent twice as much as needed on any particular piece of gear as I bought or re-bought making upgrades.

pswith5: "I wish I'd known "going solo" was a real option. I missed several seasons because of not having someone to go with. Now, I get my permit or permits and if I can't find some one to go, I just go alone."

+1

Wish I knew sooner that using a hammock can still be a warm as a tent and that it would be SOOO much better on my back!

1. don't get talked into trying to cover lots of miles each day
2. BWCA is not always about portaging. . . lots of us REALLY like base camping
3. Hammocks.. . .no getting out of bed 3 times a night crawling over rocks on your knees, or tracking mud into the tent.
4. September. . .no bugs, far less people, and colors (late September) you will never forget
5. NO: cast iron, cotton, tents larger then two man tents, heavy chairs
6. Forget the pump style water filtration. . .gravity bags are the bomb.
7, bring a large group tarp and put it up in the middle of the hammocks. . .the times sitting around in the evenings eating dinner or around a fire. . .even in the rain. . .will never be forgotton.
8. Bring a SPOT. . .your wife will sleep better for it

Expect to improvise.

Work in a rain/relax day.

Enjoy!

DeanL: "Have a great time and just roll with it. Some of our best sites / experiences have come after our plan a was scratched and we had to go to plan b, c, d. Just because site you've planned on staying at all spring is taken or you don't cover x number of miles the trip will go on. As one of my good friends says "when mother nature throws you a curve ball, sit back on it and hit it out of the park"."

Sorry stealing this :) I can remember my first few trips, did lots of research, wanted certain areas/spots...things didn’t work out...almost let it ruin the trips...The Freedom of going with the flow is so liberating. I still have a plan, but it is no big deal to deviate. In fact if you ask me at a portage where I am going you will probably get 2-4 answers...depends!

T

timatkn, what you say is so true! Two years ago we planned a PMA and Frost River combo trip. Ended up slowing down in the PMA and skipped the Frost. So the next year we planned Frost River and Louse R. trip. Ended up skipping the Louse and swinging north through Little Sag. Beautiful! So this year I am going back to do the Louse. I always get everywhere I planned, just not always on the trip I planned it for...just enjoy where you are!

casualbriday: "

analyzer: "

A1t2o: "That and cotton is rotten."

It's not only that I am dryer with nylon and polyester, but I think I smell better too. It seems cotton retains the smell more than the synthetics."

All true, but watch out for embers when tending the fire. Merino is where it's at but I'm as yet not willing to cough up for anything more substantial than a pair of socks."

I usually do bring one cotton shirt that I will wear around the fire on dry days. It can feel really nice to throw on a warm long sleeve cotton shirt after wearing synthetics all day, and it protects my nicer fishing shirt from getting burn holes in it.

Also about the smell, bacteria that make us smell bad grow in moist conditions. Fast drying and wicking clothing means less bacteria growth and less BO. So we do smell better when wearing nylon and polyester. Being more willing to rinse your clothes off or go in the water wearing them because you know they will dry doesn't hurt either.

Speckled: "To spend the money on quality gear at the start...because I would end up with it anyways. You think you're saving money...I probably spent twice as much as needed on any particular piece of gear as I bought or re-bought making upgrades. "

I don't agree with this. I started with used gear and little knowledge. Over the years I have mostly replaced my starting gear with quality gear, some new and some used, but I have also learned a lot through research and experience. You can't just tell everyone getting started to buy the best and be done with it. That's a big commitment that many can't afford, don't know enough about, and/or are not yet sure that this will be a big part of their lives. It takes time to buy the right gear for yourself.

timatkn: "

DeanL: "Have a great time and just roll with it. Some of our best sites / experiences have come after our plan a was scratched and we had to go to plan b, c, d. Just because site you've planned on staying at all spring is taken or you don't cover x number of miles the trip will go on. As one of my good friends says "when mother nature throws you a curve ball, sit back on it and hit it out of the park"."

Sorry stealing this :) I can remember my first few trips, did lots of research, wanted certain areas/spots...things didn’t work out...almost let it ruin the trips...The Freedom of going with the flow is so liberating. I still have a plan, but it is no big deal to deviate. In fact if you ask me at a portage where I am going you will probably get 2-4 answers...depends!


T"

I'm in 100% agreement. I've been wind-bound for a day with 2 young kids, and we picked tons of blueberries, read books and napped in hammocks in the rain, it was great. Now, we make just general plans on where we'd like to go, and go at our own pace. Nothing better than traveling if you want, or staying an extra day at a site if you want.