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Trip Planning Forum

First BWCA Trip

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Date/Time: 10/10/2024 04:11PM

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First BWCA Trip

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Author	Message Text
OldGuide2	08/09/2024 06:15PM Looks like you are pretty well set, but a few suggestions. I note question marks by tarp. You will need a tarp. That is always something that is good to buy (many of us swear by CCS, but there are others you can find in threads). Also see you are taking a saw, but not a knife which is nice to have to filet fish and other needs. There are also many threads on what might be best for you. Have never seen the need for a saw as most wood suitable for a fire can be scrounged and broken with a large rock if you can't stomp it. Also agree with suggestions about having a bundle of paracord. You can never have enough rope. You should ask about the bear rig and if possible give it a try before you go out. If you don't like it, you can always switch to a barrel. Also, maybe I am showing my age, but see you have no compass. Finally, I would take matches as well as a fire starter. Starters can sometimes be balky and you don't want to be without something to light the stove or a fire.
mgraber	08/09/2024 12:02PM I will 3rd the recommendation for more clothes. Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them. The record low for Ely in August is 21 degrees F. We have had our water partially freeze even in July. Sometimes you never even get in the 50's in late August and it can rain day and night for several days. We had a trip in early July where it rained almost constantly for 5 days and nights and rarely ever got over 55 deg with nights in the mid to high 30's. You need more long clothes and a substantial jacket just in case, that way if you get really wet travelling in rain you will have something dry to put on in camp. That being said, it will most likely not be that cold or wet.
Syd1419	08/09/2024 11:40AM I would suggest making sure you pack enough socks. I usually take at least two pairs of merino wool socks, a pair of gym socks, and my snow skiing socks to sleep in. I HATE cold feet. I also suggest a set of warmer sleeping clothes that never leave your tent. That way if you get wet during the day, you know for sure you have something dry to put on at camp. Have a most excellent trip!
Cricket67	08/05/2024 06:52PM Lots of great information already shared. Bonnie alluded to being a little light on cloths and I'll echo that sentiment. Not sure where is California we are coming from, but know that even in late August we could have nights dipping into the 30's and/or days that struggle to get out of the low 50's. When I go late August I always will bring a fleece layer and almost allows need to get it out at least once or twice. A good fleece under a quality rain jacket will go far to keep you cozy on that day where it's windy and rainy and 52 degrees. I will also double up on needing two sets of foot ware. One for portages where you will be stepping in water and one dry pair for camp. Very common discussion over in the gear thread with lots of opinions on what make the best portaging option.
boonie	08/05/2024 06:28AM You have received lots of good input from some very experienced trippers. Your gear list looks good and you should be able to fit it in those packs. Bulk is important as well as weight, but I guess your tent, bag, pads are fairly light and compact. I use compression sacks for my bag and clothes. You might reference the size of the packs you normally use for a similar backpack trip. Your clothes list seems a little light to me. I like long pants, LS shirts for sun/bug protection. Hats, paddling gloves, Buffs, especially UV protective/Insect Shield are very light, compact and useful. You may also want to consider an insulating layer. You didn't mention footwear - it will get wet while traveling. Most carry another pair for camp. Two footwear, three pair socks. Many years ago I looked up average weather and record highs/lows for the dates of my trips and prepared accordingly. I have experienced considerable variance in weather. Over the years and changes I have tended toward simpler and lighter. I quit hanging years ago, switching to bear canisters and Ursacks. It saves a lot of time, effort, and complication. I would agree with TrailZen there. I generally just eat cold cereal, bars and nuts, and dehydrated dinners, drink water and coffee so there's not a lot of bulk or weight. Preparation is quick, simple, and requires little fuel or kitchen utensils. I use a JetBoil stove and cozies to rehydrate the meals. I double portage. I don't have a separate pack for food and the Ursack/canister is just in one of the 2 packs I carry. The food is generally low-odor and is also in OPsacks and Smelly Proof bags. If you are going to need 2 medium isopro canisters, you'd save weight and bulk just getting a large one. I generally don't use an entire medium canister for 2+ weeks, but your usage may vary. I've rented a lot of canoes from outfitters and none have provided "painters" to tie them up. Most trippers also carry a "ditch kit". It's a nice loop - I did the same CCW from Baker Lake a few years ago. It's not long - you could easily do it double portaging in your time frame.
Sparkeh	08/05/2024 04:01AM A small lighter is allowed in your pocket on a plane. Tsa never takes mine.
TrailZen	08/04/2024 08:58PM Foroglio: "Sounds good! Yeah, it's an IsoPro stove then! So you think the 121L and 57L pack is probably what I should be looking at? I think I can always upgrade/downgrade when I get to Sawbill with all of my stuff (As long as they still have available obviously). How difficult/time-consuming is it to hang stuff? Should I instead look into a bear vault rental? Thank you!" If you haven't done many hangs, your first BWCAW trip isn't the place to learn. In our early trips my wife's afternoon entertainment was watching me try to get the bear hang in place. Years of practice and using the two-tree, three-cord system cut my time to a few minutes. The bear vault will serve you better. TZ
Jaywalker	08/04/2024 06:36PM A BV 500 weighs 2 lbs 10 oz and holds about 10.7 liters, or roughly 6-7 days food for one person if packed very tightly. I’m guessing for the two of you for 4 nights, plus toiletries, it might be hard to fit into one. When I use to hang my food, I figured it typically took me 15-20 minutes on average to get it all set, but that varied by campsite. Once in a while a convenient white pine makes it easy, and sometimes you have to walk back away from camp to find the right spot. There have been no significant fire burns in recent history in the area you are going, so that will help. It may help to have a “throw bag” you can fill with a rock or two to help get over selected branches. I know I probably frustrate some people when I say this, but I maintain that 95% of the 2,200+ campsites have trees that provide for a 12 foot up, 6 foot out, and 3 foot down hang.
Foroglio	08/04/2024 06:16PM TrailZen: "Foroglio: "The propane stove I plan to bring is an MSR pocket rocket." Excellent--similar to what we use. Because their fuel is only 20% propane, I refer to these as "IsoPro" (isobutane & propane) stoves. Yeah, it's hard to find a lighter stove than a Pocket Rocket. If you're using a cozy with your freeze-dried meals you may not need two fuel canisters--we started using a cozy and cut our fuel consumption in half. We only hang food and "smellibles", not other gear, so hanging your large packs isn't necessary. TZ" Sounds good! Yeah, it's an IsoPro stove then! So you think the 121L and 57L pack is probably what I should be looking at? I think I can always upgrade/downgrade when I get to Sawbill with all of my stuff (As long as they still have available obviously). How difficult/time-consuming is it to hang stuff? Should I instead look into a bear vault rental? Thank you!
TrailZen	08/04/2024 05:51PM Foroglio: "The propane stove I plan to bring is an MSR pocket rocket." Excellent--similar to what we use. Because their fuel is only 20% propane, I refer to these as "IsoPro" (isobutane & propane) stoves. Yeah, it's hard to find a lighter stove than a Pocket Rocket. If you're using a cozy with your freeze-dried meals you may not need two fuel canisters--we started using a cozy and cut our fuel consumption in half. We only hang food and "smellibles", not other gear, so hanging your large packs isn't necessary. TZ
Foroglio	08/04/2024 04:40PM Thank you! I will be bringing pretty much all freeze-dried food. And I will ask the outfitter about mooring rope.
Foroglio	08/04/2024 04:37PM The propane stove I plan to bring is an MSR pocket rocket so quite small. Then for meals just planning on mostly freeze-dried food that will fly on the plane with. And then possibly some ramen and maybe one nice meal to cook on first night that will just buy in MN. And I plan to buy propane in MN as well. Would it be okay to just have the freeze-dried food in its own dry sack inside of the larger packs and then just hang that? Thank you!
Mocha	08/04/2024 04:29PM You might also need to purchase propane in mn, don’t think that’s allowed on a plane. I’d bet your pack gets scrutinized with all the specialty stuff in it. Sawbill will have what you don’t or. Ant bring p,us a whole lot of thinks you didn’t think you needed! I’ve never been a hammocker, too much to explore around camp. Consider two camp chairs, maybe. How much does this weigh? Will it cost extra to check this for the flight?
4keys	08/04/2024 04:25PM I don’t know if your outfitter is providing it, but don’t forget some rope to tie the canoe up. The bw is not a good place to have your canoe blow away in a storm. You don’t say if you are bringing dehydrated food or fresh food. That may affect how full your packs are (and how much they weigh) and if you can single portage or not. Hope you have a great trip!
TrailZen	08/04/2024 04:21PM Your gear list looks very complete, and the 110L and 57L packs are pretty much in line with what my wife & I use for single-walking portages. You don't detail your meal plans, so I can't make a guess about your food weight. Most propane stoves I'm familiar with are a bit on the heavy side, as are the propane canisters. Hope it's a great first trip that gets you hooked on Canoe Country. TZ
Foroglio	08/04/2024 02:35PM My girlfriend and I are getting ready for first BWCA trip. Flying in from California and bringing much of our gear on the plane with us. Renting a canoe and some harder things to take on a plane from an outfitter. As well as purchasing a lighter and gas for our camp stove upon landing. I wanted to get an idea of the community's thoughts on what the "Essential" items are. As well as some commonplace practices. Such as this single vs double portaging. I don't see us having so much gear that we can't fit it into one larger pack and one smaller pack. For me to carry the smaller pack and canoe and then my girlfriend to carry the larger pack. This would mean we can single portage. Is it bad practice to have a food pack that then goes inside of another larger pack until it is time to eat or hang it up? The outfitter I am using, Sawbill outfitters, has two pack options. A 57L and a 110L. I plan to rent the packs as I only have backpacking packs I could bring on plane that would not be good for portaging. The 110L seems really big? Will I really need a 100L and then possibly a 57L to carry all of our stuff? Here is what I plan right now to have: From my stuff: - [ ] Headlamp x2 - [ ] Stove w/ two propane canisters - [ ] Pot/Utensils - [ ] Water Filtration - [ ] Tent - [ ] Sleeping mats x2 - [ ] Sleeping bags x2 - [ ] Pillow x2 - [ ] Tarp?? - [ ] Dry Sack(s) - [ ] First Aid kit - [ ] Battery Packs - [ ] Small Backpacks with water Resevoir - [ ] Toilet Paper - [ ] Lighter (Purchased in MN) - [ ] Sunscreen - [ ] Bug Spray - [ ] Bug Nets - [ ] Multitool - [ ] Compass - [ ] Sunglasses w/lanyard - [ ] Rain Gear - [ ] Minimal clothing (one pants and shorts each. light jacket each. couple of shirts each. few socks each) - [ ] Hammock? - [ ] Waterproof maps From the Outfitter: - [ ] 17' Kevlar Northstar Seliga - Touring w/ Paddles - [ ] PFD - Coast Guard approved personal x2 - [ ] Bear-proof food storage hoist rope set (two 40? poly ropes with pulley) - [ ] Granite Gear Superior One expedition portage pack w/suspension system and hip belt (121L) - [ ] Granite Gear #3.5 basic portage pack w/padded shoulder straps & hip belt (57L)???? - [ ] Crazy Creek canoe/camp seat or ThermaLounger x2 - [ ] Folding bow saw It will be a 4 night/ 5 day trip in late August doing a loop from Sawbill Lake through Cherokee and Temperance Lakes Thank you for any and all insight and recommendations!!