Monday, May 26, 2025 [paragraph break]

Today is Memorial Day. I’m waking up at Myran Park in Chetek, Wisconsin. This weekend was our annual Memorial Weekend paddling trip that I do with friends. They’ve been doing a paddling trip this weekend for over 20 years, I only joined 2019. I can’t recall the exact number but I believe we paddled about 25 miles over 2 days on the Red Cedar River. It was good to get some paddling in before heading up to the Boundary Waters as I haven’t been out on the water yet this year. Had I not been in the Northwest part of Wisconsin, I probably wouldn’t have done a BW trip this year. It’ll be less than 4 hours to the outfitter in Ely compared to the normal 7 hours from home.

The agenda for today is to get leeches, last minute food, and pick up a friend at the Duluth airport. My goal is to make it to Ely Outfitting Company by 7PM. After having led a group of 8 last year and preparing and packing all the food on our own, I’m feeling much less nervous about the trip this year. The weather is looking perfect, and much warmer than I expected. I am worried about rain and a potential fire ban. There’s rain in the forecast but it’s been very dry. Time will tell. [paragraph break]

I made my stop in Superior and made sure to grab some beer. Being that this group is high school friends from Wisconsin, we will be having a few beverages tonight to eliminate any last-minute nerves. After my stops, I had some time to kill in the Duluth/Superior area so I went to Ursa Minor Brewing Company for some pizza. Turned out to be a great choice as I could sit outside in the sun, review my lists and relax a bit before the inevitable chaos of packing our canoe packs. I grabbed a pizza to go knowing that some people might be hungry tonight. A little time was spent reorganizing the car one last time for my friend and his gear. He’s flying into Duluth from San Diego and has been on every trip so far with me so I’m glad he could come again. The other three in our group are all new to the Boundary Waters. They’d be driving up from Appleton & Manitowoc, WI together. I had a list of things for them to grab that I couldn’t fit in my vehicle. Most importantly a cooler full of food.

We made it to the outfitter by about 6PM which I’m grateful for as it gave us time to pack, plan, and prepare before the other 3 members of our group arrive. I’m also happy to be back at Ely Outfitting Company. The bunkhouse situation here is much better than the outfitter I went with last year. We actually have space to lay things out! My friend spent most of the time preparing fishing rods and equipment while I would be organizing packs and trying to make sense of all our gear. I’m concerned with how much gear some of my friends have packed, it’s their first time and I find it’s always hard to tell people how much to bring. Ultimately, I’d rather have them overpack than under pack.

Everyone is a little nervous but we’re in good shape for the most part. We wind down the night with pizza, beer, and a movie on an iPad. Cast Away was the choice tonight, but we spend most of the night talking instead of watching.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 [paragraph break]

Today we wake up just before 7 to grab breakfast at Evergreen Restaurant. On our first trip, I did not properly plan a place to eat in the morning which was not a fun lesson to learn. So going over to Evergreen was a great choice for breakfast and some much needed coffee. Another benefit of eating somewhere other than the bunkhouse is that it allowed us to use the bathroom. No matter how big a bunkhouse is, it only takes one visit to the bathroom to share that smell amongst the rest of your group.

When we get back to the outfitter, it’s time for packing, repacking, and last-minute decision making. I should have packed more ahead of time. The one thing I did pack in advance was all kitchen equipment into my 65L backpacking pack. This would be smaller and easier to carry than a traditional portage pack. I can already tell that it will be the standard for future trips. With the amount of gear to bring and how to pack it, I find it’s difficult to communicate that to newcomers. Should my friends just have their clothes in dry bags? Do they need their own backpack style bags? At some point, you just have to roll with it. In my experience, new people won’t truly know until they go on a trip. Due to having a group of 5, we ended up opting for a two-person and three-person canoe. This was probably the right choice instead of having a solo canoe. But the length of the three-person would cause a minor issue on the river.

We opted for the full shuttle service due to less hassle. I thought about leaving vehicles at the end point but that would prove to be a challenge because I still had my kayak on top of my car. It’s worth paying a little extra to not worry about all of that. Our shuttle driver ended up being the same driver we had back in 2022! It’s a short drive to Entry Point 34: Island River and a little time is spent figuring out which packs go in what canoes when we get there. We take another group picture before heading off and finally, we are on the water and trip has officially begun. The weather is calm and there’s a slow current to the river which helps everyone make those initial adjustments once you’re in the canoe.

We ran into a solo fisherman at the first portage and a family group heading the opposite way on our second portage. The portaging is where the real work happens. Due to having fresh food along for this trip, our food pack and barrel are by far the heaviest. I try to carry these as little as possible, as does everyone else.

On the Isabella River, we decide to stop at campsite #1938 also known as the Stonehenge site. This will make today a little easier and we plan on tackling the rest of the river tomorrow. The site is nice but it’s fairly compact next to the fire area. If you weren’t careful, you could easily burn a hole in your tent. Upon arriving, the first order of business is always to set up the tents and air pads. I find that it’s important to take care of that right away, no matter how early you arrive. We climb up on some rocks to get a better view of the surrounding area which is neat because of how far you can see because of the Pagami Creek Fire in 2011.

With plenty of sunlight left in the day, we decide to do some fishing. Having researched our route, I knew that there should be some walleye holes in the river. Not long after the first line is in the water there it is…FISH ON FISH ON! My buddy caught a walleye on the first cast. It’s always fun to see how the first catch prompts the rest of the group to get lines in the water. Leeches with slip bobbers would be the name of the game this trip. We end up catching 3 eater sized walleyes before dinner.

In my last trip report, I said I wouldn’t be doing steaks for dinner on the first night anymore. It’s too much of a pain to cook steaks for that many people. So, the change on this trip would be burgers with all the fixings, including potato salad and cowboy beans on the side. Cooking the burgers was much quicker than steaks. And having a handheld meal (other than the sides) makes clean up easy. Another change this year for the meals was opting to bring paper plates instead of plastic ones. At home, I don’t mind doing dishes. But when I’m camping? I can’t stand them. This would prove to be a welcomed change. [paragraph break]

The food turned out great. Biting into a burger with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and onions really elevated the level of freshness. While dinner was going on, we had a pair of swans fly overhead. They couldn’t have been more than 50’ above us. There was another pair hanging around the bend in the river which was a nice sight to see. With full bellies, some go back to fishing while others play Uno. We had a lot of fun although there was quite a discussion around the rules regarding when you have to declare “uno”. This commotion would continue each night we played.

As it got darker, the fire was rolling and melted someone’s sandals that they had right next to it. An unfortunate start to the trip. Something I’ve seen and experienced before when camping. You never realize how hot a fire is until it’s too late. Good thing I brought duct tape but we wouldn’t be attempting a repair job tonight. Following the ordeal, we were left with no choice but to make some s’mores. We put together a perfect little prep table to melt the chocolate before adding the mallow. An excellent decision. Maybe the best smore I’ve ever had. [paragraph break]

Last year, my friend who has been with me on every trip expressed he wanted to bring an iPad or a tablet to watch movies each night. So, he pulled it out and we threw on Twisters to end the night. I have to admit, I’m not the biggest fan of bringing technology into the wilderness but the guys in my group loved it. And if the group is happy, the trip leader is happy. I would wake up tonight at about 4AM to go to the bathroom and I believe I saw Mercury off to the East.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025 [paragraph break]

We wake up to sunshine and warm temps. With having little to no shade at our site, even those that prefer to sleep in find it too warm to do so. This ultimately didn’t help us move any quicker. I felt a little behind not getting to Quadga Lake on the first day. Breakfast consisted of oatmeal, fried fish, and coffee. I brought a few different fish fry breadings and used the cajun flavor this morning. Delicious. I liked having the fish for breakfast compared to dinner, a nice change of pace.

In the moment it crosses my mind but I never document the time we get on the water. Frankly compared to other trip reports I've read, I’m a little embarrassed with how late we get moving. But that’s what works for my groups and it hasn’t been an issue yet (famous last words?). The current helps with our pace today and with the sun shining, spirits are high. I can’t believe it’s still May. My biggest concern this year was the weather and somehow it’s exceeding my expectations.

We hit the back to back portages before Quadga Lake which prompts the question “would you rather do these as 1 bigger portage or 2 smaller ones?” While at the time the answer was debatable, I think the clear answer is 1 bigger portage. Landing then unloading and loading the canoe takes time. Once you’re portaging its not so bad. On one of the 30 rod portages, I’m standing in a rock shin deep in water. I lost my footing and fall into the water. Thankfully it’s warm out and nothing important got wet. I knew this would happen at some point because I was a little careless at these portages.

After doing the longer portage by Quadga, we have a brief lunch. We also see another person on the river who was doing a day trip from the site on Quadga. It’s nice to eat a little lunch by the rapids but the bugs came out quicker than expected. Thankfully it was only these moments when we were stopped on portages that we really noticed the bugs. We continue on the river with no notable moments other than passing another pair of swans on the river. Crazy to see so many! Beautiful birds.

We continue down the river and get to a short 11 rod portage. With the water levels this year, it looked you could run the rapids. Discussions were had and ultimately, we portaged. I have no doubt we could have easily made it in both canoes. However, having a 3-person canoe still causes me to pause in my confidence of being able to run it. Not long after that we are moving slowly on the river and our 3 person canoe (which I’m in the stern of) hits a rock. We slowly glide over the rock and stop so the rock is right beneath the middle person, essentially acting as a fulcrum. Son of bitch. Right away I know this isn’t a good situation. But I remain calm. We get the other canoe to come back and try to help us out. No dice. Discussions on what to do turn into arguments with anger levels rising. At this point there’s no other choice. I get up, jump in the water and move us off the rock. Thankfully I could touch the bottom and got back in with no issues. It wasn’t exactly fun but I knew it might have been the only choice the moment we got stuck. [paragraph break]

We continue on the river and have our eyes on the last site before the 145 rod portage that will connect the river directly to Bald Eagle Lake. I was hoping we could take this site so that way we’d spend 2 nights on the river and 2 nights on lakes. And of course, when you’re hoping for a site….it’s occupied. That’s the way the Boundary Waters goes sometimes. We chat with the solo man at the site for a little then head on our way. This would be the longest portage of our trip and of course, it happens on the longest traveling day. Yup. Although it’s a long portage, my friend and I reminisce on the long portages we had on the trip last year.

Making our way up the Isabella River into Bald Eagle, we notice that once again, the first few sites are occupied. I’m starting to get a little nervous. As the lake starts to open up, we see more swans. There was a total of 12 within eyesight! I’ve never seen so many. Amazing. We get lucky and notice that site 1724 was open on the West side. The entire group is relieved to see an open site. And the site ends up being a lot more spread out than the Stonehenge site (which isn’t saying much). But everyone is happy. [paragraph break]

Dinner tonight was smoked chicken wraps. Once again, some fresh veggies on them really elevated the meal. It was my first time doing wraps on a trip and I think I’ll do them again. Easy to heat up the chicken in a pan and let people make their own. Barely any dishes as well! This was the site that had me thinking it’d be nice to bring a camp shovel because the fire pit desperately needed the ash to be dug out. As I’m typing I wonder, what would be the proper disposal method of the ash? Tossing it in the woods seems like the best option but also not the right decision. Looking back I’m torn but it was hard to keep a good fire going tonight.

With the long day, everyone is exhausted and in bed before 10. It’s a great feeling knowing you won’t have to portage tomorrow. I lay in bed taking notes for this trip report; I wonder how much gear I’ll end up not using. This is always a question on these trips. The same thing applies to the food. Thankfully this time, I did a better job recording the portions of how much food I actually brought. How much to bring depends on the level of intensity, the people involved, etc. The key is to never run out! Bringing Uno + the camp maps again for around the fire has been a welcome tradition. Thinking more about gear I’d also like to do a better job splitting up the food into bags for easier management. They did this on our first trip when we fully outfitted the food and I thought it was silly. Now I look back thinking it’s the way to do it.

Thursday, May 29, 2025 [paragraph break]

It’s another beautiful sunny morning in camp. I really can’t emphasize enough how fantastic the weather has been. No rush today so we take our time making some breakfast sandwiches. They are always a hit but it’s more than I want to eat in the morning sometimes. It has me debating about only doing oatmeal/granola/snacks and precooked bacon for breakfasts. There’s always so much to do in the morning and cooking a meal takes some time and energy, especially with a fire. This may be a question I propose to the group next year. Oatmeal could get tiring after a few days but I’m sure I can find a way to spice it up a bit.

The target today is the last site on Bald Eagle (1719) which appears to be a fantastic site. The back up would be the island site on Gabbro (1717). Sure enough, both sites are taken. Group members asked if this is the standard, sites you want being taken. I explain that it's always a gamble. Especially on lakes that are more popular. I mention how last year on the Clearwater loop, we got the last site available on Moose Lake which I thought wouldn’t have been busy at all. You really never know until you get out there. The key is to not get too frustrated when sites are taken. It’s easy to say that now but in the moment of a long day, it’s impossible to agree with. [paragraph break]

We end up taking the next site on Gabbro (1716). I didn’t want to progress too far into Gabbro since we still had another night in our trip. I will say, this site has some great sun-bathing rocks. A nice gentle slope going right into the water. With temperatures in the mid-70s today and a light breeze, everyone is happy. We spend our time swimming, washing off, and enjoying the sun. I’m a big fan of swimming with my PFD on in the Boundary Waters. It’s not just for safety; I just like not having to tread water. I think the group needed a relaxing day like today and our site accompanied that vibe. It is significantly hazier today, at least in the distance. I’m confident it’s from a fire, I’m not sure which one. Due to dry conditions this spring, it was possible a fire ban could have been implemented but there wasn’t one when we departed or since.

During our leisurely day, time was spent looking at the maps. Talking about the Boundary Waters; past trips and where I’d like to go next. Our first trip was Farm Lake to Lake One and we did get to Gabbro on that trip. It was interesting to be heading into a familiar area. Part of the reason I’m in this area again is the proximity to Ely with it being a first trip for 3/5 group members. My next trip I’m looking to go into the Northwest portion of Boundary Waters. Ideally, I'd like to see some pictographs and get on some border water again. I ramble on about my thoughts for future trips. Another thought I had is that I wonder what it would be like sharing a tent with someone other than the person you share a canoe with. That’s how it’s always been on these trips. You share a canoe you share a tent. And a lot of the gear can be shared in a portage pack. It just makes sense. At the same time, would you enjoy getting some space between the person you’re naturally spending the most time with? I think that could be the case too.

We took a short day trip out to 2 small islands in the lake. A fun little excursion that prompted us to think about fishing here. Not now. But maybe at night or in the morning. Time will tell. And time goes on. The day is moving and soon enough we start getting some shore fishing in from the site. With the way our site is laid out and sloped, there are plenty of opportunities. I land my first fish of the night, and it's a beautiful bluegill. It didn’t take long to get on the walleye once again. We would end up keeping a handful tonight. At this point, it’s by far the best fishing that we’ve had on any trip. I’m 100% convinced it’s due to water temps.

Dinner tonight would be a repeat of last year which was the very popular spaghetti with meatballs. A little garlic fry bread and a garlic butter spread on the side? Magnificent. Taking the fresh food is worth the weight. I have no doubt about that. Making dinner did not stop the amount of fishing going on and it made for a great time. People are trying to eat their food but bobbers are disappearing. Multiple bowls had to be set down in order to reel fish in. So much fun. I did however definitely get the portions wrong on this trip (and that’s why I recorded them) because we had some leftovers. Not a typical problem on these trips. [paragraph break]

Bugs are out a little more tonight but the thermacell has been a welcomed addition.

Friday, May 30, 2025 [paragraph break]

Today I am awake at 445AM to fish. Why did I want to do this again? The plan was to go out to the island and fish there. I don't know if we actually thought we’d be successful, more that it was a fun thing to do. We had most of the gear packed last night so the only thing we had to do was get dressed, eat a light snack, and brew up some coffee. Because we were fairly successful fishing last night, we left a handful of fish on a stringer overnight in the water. Now I'm sure this is not best practice. It probably would have been better to filet them and throw them in my food pack which is still cold. When we went to check on them, we noticed that all the fish were torn to shreds. Some had their heads bitten off, others looked like they were clawed apart by something. We aren’t sure if it was a pike, muskrat, or some other animal? It was shocking to all of us. Nobody heard anything which is a little surprising due to how close our tents were. Nonetheless, we clean up the mess and depart for the island we visited yesterday. We spent about 2 hours fishing there without a single bite. Reflecting on it as we returned, we might have had more success just staying at camp. It was still a fun little expedition.

The distance we need to travel today is minimal and those that went out fishing are hungry. So breakfast will be a bigger one; bacon, eggs, and hasbrowns. I typically end up mixing it all together to just make a big skillet. Throw it in a bowl and it’s easy to devour. I really can’t get over the fact of how much easier it has been bringing paper plates and bowls. A little fishing is done from the site this morning, a couple of crappie and a really nice bass. Biggest of any trip so far. Even if I (and most friends on this trip) aren't super into fishing, catching fish is awesome. Even as a spectator. It boosts everyone’s mood.

We are slow moving as this will only be a no-portage day and by far our shortest. As we move along on Gabbro Lake, we see the biggest turtle of the trip, sunbathing on a rock. If I had to guess, I would say it was at least 16” in diameter. If not larger. Big enough where it’s cool to see from a distance but you might be a little scared if it approached you. For the first time on this trip, we got the site we wanted. It would be 1711 which was located at the choke point between Gabbro and Little Gabbro Lake. I didn’t even plan on going for the island site (2135) as I knew it would be taken and it was. On our first trip, we stayed at 1712. After landing our boats and checking out the site, we’re satisfied with our choice. Shortly after, a group of paddles came through Little Gabbro towards Gabbro. I’m not sure if they were hoping for our site but they did ask about the island site. I told them the other site nearby (that I had previously stayed at) was open and that it was a nice. I’m not sure if they took the site. They went there but were also leaving 1 boat at a time? Maybe they were checking out the island as our view of the island was blocked by a bay. Regardless, we’re happy to be perched up on this site. Being high up gives us a little more wind which helps with the bugs. The only thing I don’t like about this site is the proximity and visibility to other sites. Once the nearby site on Little Gabbro was occupied (1708), it didn’t feel the same.

We decided to do another repeat of last year and build a new bench at this site. I find it fun to work on camp projects like this, especially when you have time to kill and it’s probably too early in the day to throw a line in the water. I wish I had taken before and after pictures as once again, I feel like the bench we added elevates the site to a higher rating. After our camp project, people do their own things. Some check in on their phones, which as previously mentioned, isn't my vibe. But, we are closer to civilization and service was available. I probably spent a solid 2 hours laying on a rock sunbathing and taking in the noises of the wilderness. It’s a bittersweet moment as I know the trip is coming to an end. That’s why we have to enjoy the time out here when we can. Soak up all the sun and vibes before it’s back to reality.

There was a point today where it was almost too hot in the sun. Our site didn’t have much shade so the Gatorade powder was getting used a lot. Gatorade powder is another staple of every trip for me. It’s heavy, but being able to drink something other than water is highly desirable. I know it was in the 70’s but my Garmin was saying it could reach 90 in the next few days…and it’s not even June! On the flip side, the entire Boundary Waters feels like a tinderbox right now. Still no fire ban.

As the day winds down, we start fishing with no luck. We try the Little Gabbro side of our site but the wind makes that damn near impossible. The opposite side was blocked by the wind but still nothing. Even fishing the little channel, we didn’t get many bites. A disappointing end to the fishing when I think about how successful we were early on. On the bright side, we were able to go from rock to rock to try fishing further out around the site. Always a fun little test of if you can make it to the next rock or not.

Dinner tonight was mac and cheese with ground beef. My friend had prepared this last year and I did not record his portions well because as I made WAY too much. I also made the mistake of not seasoning the beef in advance, something that is noted for my next trip. After dinner we spend time by the fire, recalling the memories of the trip. It’s still bittersweet. We talk about the plan for tomorrow as we have a shuttle picking us up by 10AM at Entry Point 33- Little Gabbro Lake. That would also include our longest portage of the trip. We wind down and the last movie of the trip is put on the iPad. We finished Twisters the 2nd night and would finish Django Unchained tonight. Only one camper stayed up to finish it.

Saturday, May 31, 2025 [paragraph break]

It's the coldest morning of the trip. The fog is heavy which makes looking out at the lake pretty wild from our elevated site. Quick breakfast and coffee then we are packing things up for the last time. Truly this is the saddest part of every trip. Thankfully, I know our last day won’t be like our miserable end last year, paddling into strong winds the entire length of Clearwater Lake...never again. Today we have a short paddle and about a 200-rod portage. We are on the water at 8:08AM. When we reach the portage, we have a little extra time and we spend it sitting there looking back out at Little Gabbro Lake. Soaking it all up before it’s gone.

Not only was this the longest portage of the trip but it was by far the buggiest. In all honesty it was pretty miserable. We get to the parking lot by about 9:40 and our shuttle arrives early and we begin the trip back to Ely. We have the same shuttle driver again so it’s fun to chat with him about our trip and how we need to inflate the numbers and size of the fish we caught. I mention to him the number of swans we saw and he said there was an effort to restore the trumpeter swan population in the area. It was clearly visible as I bet we saw over 20 pairs of swans on our trip. In hindsight, some of them could have been the same pair but still, we were constantly seeing them. Everyone is tired by the time we get back to the outfitter. My friends head back home while I grab lunch at Gator’s Grilled Cheese Emporium with the friend who flew in. A pretty solid meal and it's nice to sit and eat before driving to the Duluth Airport. Once I drop my friend off, I begin the lonely drive back home. This is actually the worst part of the trip. The fun is over and after spending days with friends, I’m alone in a car for the next 5 hours. Yuck. On a positive note, I have to say it was great going from my Memorial Weekend Paddling trip to the Boundary Waters trip. I spent 7 of the last 8 nights camping! Can't ask for more than that.

I’m not sure when I got home but I spent more time than expected laying things out in my garage to dry and organize. Unpacking from these trips is worse than packing! So much gear, especially when I am supplying gear for others. All in all, another great Boundary Waters trip in the books.

I am once again feeling incredibly grateful to have a group of friends that put their trust in me for a trip like this. Similar to last year, there were people that were new to this type of adventure and I’m glad it was a success. Full stop. This is a great feeling. [paragraph break]

I wonder how much different this trip would have been if the earlier weather reports of rain and temps barely in the mid 60’s came true. There would be minimal swimming, less shirtless sunbathing, and I probably would not have enjoyed jumping in the water to get our canoe off that rock. I do know that regardless of these temps; the weeks before Memorial Day or before/after Labor Day are probably what I am sticking with. Seeing how the bugs started to increase at the end of this trip, I can’t imagine how it is in June or July. Thinking more about the weather and the time of the year I am so happy the weather turned out amazing for us. It could not have been better. [paragraph break]

I can’t believe how much leftover food I ended up with. Again, I’m glad I recorded portions but there’s so many factors. A big one on my mind is how much shorter and easier this trip was compared to last year. You add a few more big portages and it’s easy to imagine people eating more. It also depends on the group and their eating habits. Thinking about sorting out the food better, I think I’ll try to do a better job reviewing with everyone what the meals are and what snacks I have packed along. That way people know what’s available when they’re hungry. It’s easy to say that now as I know I throw a lot of information at my friends before and at the start of the trip. Maybe it's something to review the first night of camp. [paragraph break]

Originally this trip was going to be a 2-person trip or potentially a solo one. I ended up adding 3 newbies to the 2-person trip which was the right choice. Even if my friends aren’t huge campers like I am, I know they appreciated the experience. Will any of them come on another trip? I know one of them is for sure interested. The other 2? I’m not sure. But I should be able to get them out car camping sometime. [paragraph break]

Last year, my friend had brought 2 camp mats along that we put out by the fire. Everyone loved being able to sit by the fire with their back against a log and not having to be directly on the groud. This year, I brought 2 beach mats that my family had since I was a young kid. They worked out perfectly and will be a staple for future trips. [paragraph break]

The trip last year we had 4 new people all of whom had some camping experience. This year it was 3 new people and while I love introducing friends to this special place, I look forward to a trip with no new people. There’s a lot to show and teach them. Tips on portaging and landing a canoe, how to use a gravity filter, how the coffee works, etc. It adds up and takes a toll on me as the trip leader. Part of me loves it, but by the end of it I’m drained. [paragraph break]

A few gear and food changes I had listed for my next trip:

- Less fuel. We only ever used it for coffee (again). At the same time, we were able to cook everything over the fire (again). So I’ve been lucky for 3 trips and the luck has to run out at some point. Not sure if I’ll follow this next year.

- If I’m going to continue packing bigger breakfasts, I need to commit to waking up earlier. Frankly I’m not sure I want to do that so I think I’ll go with simpler breakfasts, like oatmeal.

- We brought a small plastic container of booze but there wasn't much desire to drink it. I’d rather bring beer out there. The no-can rule makes that difficult to accomplish.

- Camp shovel. I have a small packable one that would’ve helped with some fire management.

- Extra sunscreen. We ran out this year.

- Less rope. I know it’s standard to bring extra rope….it never gets used!!

- Paper plates + bowls was a nice decision to minimize the dishes.

- Last year I purchased a CCS bug shelter screened tarp. It wasn’t cheap but I know at some point it will get used. Both last year and this year we didn’t use it. I think I’ll still bring it in the future. All it takes is bad bugs or rain and I’ll be grateful to have packed it.

- I used by 65L backpacking pack for all the kitchen gear. It fit perfectly and made transporting it so much easier. This will be the standard for the next trip.

- Do a pack overview or label so people know where stuff is and what food/snacks are available. After a solid 2 days, people are pretty aware of what pack has what. But it would be nice to have them labeled somehow. I also want to have bags for snacks and each meal type to make it easier to manage.

- I always seem to pack extra gear that doesn’t get used. There’s a balance of being prepared and overpacking. It seems impossible to find the perfect middle ground. I think I just need to go on more trips :) [paragraph break]

My final thought is that it just feels good to pass time in the Boundary Waters. There’s no place that I’d rather spend my time. A solo trip is in my future. It’s just a matter of when.