What do you look for in a trip?

Something new? Familiar? Granite walls? Winding river current? Few portages? Challenging portages? Small lakes? Big lakes? Fishing? Solitude? Loop routes? Base camping? Loons? Moose? Spontaneity? Permit availability? Proximity? Group skill level?

I figure everyone goes for all of these... but what makes you pick spot A over B over C? Is there a hierarchy of reasoning? Fishing beats solitude, for example.

Of course there is no wrong answer.

Great fishing is the main thing I look for when deciding on where I choose to trip. But solitude is a must also. I have no interest in tripping in high volume areas. I enjoy testing my limitations , and will seek out areas with long portages to get away from the “crowd”. I also enjoy routes that have those narrow winding rivers, when they have substantial water! LOL .

I use to take any available entry point. I made the 716 rod portage to Angleworm with aluminum canoes several times.

Now that I have flexible vacation time and can plan well in advance I chose an EP with relatively secure parking and in a location that I can make a circle without retracing much of the route.

A different route each time to see new sights. We only have a handful of trips under our belt so not too difficult to do this, yet.

Since I like to basecamp, a perfect campsite. A level tent pad, good landing and a nice fire grate. I prefer narrow lakes or rivers for many reasons. I could paddle from sunrise to sunset on a river. I don't mind long portages as long as they are flat. I'm not much of a fisherman so I like to have other things close by for day trips like waterfalls, scenic lookouts, and even hiking trails.

Solitude and a feeling of being well off the beaten path, when possible, although in reality it’s in part based on the desires of the other members of the group. Anyway, they don’t make solitude like they used to!

Great fishing, somewhere new, off the beaten path.

Smaller lakes and/or rivers. Lakes with one campsite. New routes but not opposed to familiar ones I like. Generally I don't reserve permits, so availabilty, too.

A route I haven't been to yet

A newish route each time, also a challenging portage in case new people come with me.

I like to start with a place that has reasonably good fishing. From there I like to find a spot that takes effort to get to but not so much that my 8 and 10 year old boys get too exhausted. Anything after that is just icing on the cake.

New entry points. I used to want to have a several new camp sites during the trip, but now I look for more base camping with places to explore.

As I get older I enjoy every aspect more.

Fishing. Remote lakes help and provide solitude.

I'll try to rank it...

1) New places (don't see any need to repeat trips for many years)
2) Nice campsite (we mostly basecamp with 5-7 people)
3) Solitude
4) Smaller lakes (hate being windbound)
5) Interesting/unique sights/landmarks (falls, cliffs, pictos, etc)
6) Fishing

My trips are my vacation. We try to go somewhere new every year, but we plan on having time to relax. We want good scenery, and good enough fishing for dinner. Fishing is nice but it only takes one fish per person to have a big dinner.

I just like being out there and having time in the evening to smoke a cigar and have a drink. Fire, cards, stars. That's what it is all about.

I like to find the spot right next to QueticoMike because that guy knows where the big bass swim!

Seriously, I, like Mike, want solitude. A great campsite is a huge plus, but because I paddle Crown Land, I never know what I'll find. As I grow older and wobblier, a safe landing site is wonderful, but damn, they're hard to find abutting an open, flat area. I love a lake down a logging road without two many wet areas and other traps. I do love cliffs and only visit smaller lakes, as larger ones are likely to have resorts or outpost cabins. I don't even want to fish a lake adjacent to a larger lake, as a resort might park a boat there.

Paddle, Porgate Repeat. When solo I look for a loop long enough to fit the length of time I plan to be out which covers new water or places I haven't been in a while. I'm not looking to cover large miles, but do like to keep moving for most of the day. The next few years will likely see more visits to the PMA's for the solitude and extra bushwacking.

When taking others, whatever fits the needs of the group. Over that last few years the groups have been with paddlers new to the BWCA, so I am more likely to revisit a location based on what they want to see or do.

Great scenery in a lake that also has great fishing. And there are lots to choose from! Lac La Croix this year.

-Relative solitude - mostly, just away from crowded areas. I don't mind sharing a lake with a few courteous groups.
-High paddle-to-portage ratio. I really enjoy paddling. I don't enjoy portaging, which is kind of like the toll you pay in order to achieve solitude. It's like buying gear... You have to accept the portages as the price of solitude. If I can find a route with minimal portages AND relative solitude, that's the jackpot, but really I'll be happy if I can spend 80% of my travel time paddling and 20% or less portaging.
-I'm not terribly picky when it comes to campsites, BUT... must have a level tent pad. Must have easy access to water (more of an issue when backpacking than when paddling, obviously.) Must have some wind protection. Of course, these criteria aren't important when it's urgent or critical to set up camp in a hurry, wherever you are. My buddy and I, though, have hiked well past sunset with head lamps on because the last campsite we passed was sub-par and we were sure we could find something better in a few minutes... then an hour or more later, we're still looking and now we've gone too far to backtrack and have to settle for anywhere we can get tent pegs into the ground.
-Somewhere I haven't been, but that isn't a deal breaker. We've backpacked the exact same trail before, and we've covered the same basic ground in the BWCA on more than one trip, and even paddled down the same river in Arkansas more than once. If you like a place that much, it's ok to see it again.

I don't care about fishing. It's not a priority at all for me. I'll fish of course, but I don't go out of my way for it.

Solitude? Hmm, I want to be able to have some alone time for sure, but I honestly love meeting the like-minded wilderness lovers that one meets out on the water or on a portage/trail. Getting away from people is a priority for my trips, but the kinds of people you meet in the wilderness are the exception to the rule; I enjoy meeting them.

What I primarily look for is a good experience. I know that's vague. It can vary from one trip to another. Sometimes I want to see or hear things that I can't near home and/or anywhere else. Other times, I don't mind if the experience is familiar. I just want to have a pure, quality interaction with nature. I want the time and opportunity to appreciate my surroundings from grand landscapes all the way down to taking the time to appreciate how much complexity can be found in a single square foot of the wilderness when you really get down and look.

Solitude, something new, although not opposed to part of the route being familiar, I travel at a relaxed pace rather than basecamp, prefer loop routes, but have done point-to-point and out-and-back trips, like granite, small lakes, rivers/streams, don't fish, don't avoid portages (they get me where I want to go), loons, moose, wildlife are a plus, but it's hard to target that.

Challenge. That's the main thing for me. Therefore, I rarely enjoy layover days. I like to feel like I've 'earned' my meals and relaxation time with long paddles and challenging portages. Honestly, my best memories from the BWs are challenging portages--there's just such a level of satisfaction from accomplishing them.

All the elements listed in the OP and probably a couple more. My primary objective is to achieve an attitude shift and that can be found everywhere I have gone so far. I mostly want to try somewhere new that has something to offer from the list. Meeting up with others along the way can be a nice add as a soloist so I might plan a trip as part of a group solo. And I will keep going back to a few favorite spots, perhaps from a different entry point.
Not enough time to see it all but I am going to see all I can, and I have that attitude to deal with.

I’ve only been on 3 trips so far. I had wanted to go to the BW since I was a teenager but could never make it happen until later in life. Fishing was the primary reason I started going to BW but really enjoy everything about canoe camping. The company,the camp chores,the food and a bourbon by a fire on cool night. Last September my trip partner and I were on a good sized lake and our last 2 nights had the entire place to ourselves. I was out fishing alone in the afternoon,the wind died and sun came out and the lake was like glass. As I sat there all alone in my canoe and the whole lake to myself, the silence was incredible! I stopped fishing and just sat there taking it all in for about a 1/2 hour.I think that’s when I figured out what I was looking for.

Beautiful lakes. Seclusion. Fishing. Not all in that order. A scenic campsite with Norway pines and flat, open spaces to pitch the tent also helps.

No cell service
Fishing
Good central Basecamp surrounded by varied fisheries, scenic areas
Limited interaction with public

Brother - in - law and I have kayaked Big Fork River from Big Falls to Rainy River and a BWCA trip in the last two years, the kayaks are heavy and you put a toll on your body passing, but we like the stability and that they won't swamp since we go in May. We fish the chop and travel about 8 miles from Basecamp each day, so we are spent when dinner and a fire rolls around. This year are going to North Quetico for nine days to get away from the wives and jobs.

The river trip was fun, we landed a 53" Sturgeon on the river in a kayak, but with 20 Mile days and not knowing what's condition the campsite would be in, we found ourselves stuck on shore a lot of evenings since the current was too strong to fish in the kayaks after camp was established.

The BWCA trip was a blast, we paddled in darkness until 2am, made it 14 miles and two portages, but we were smoked after bed that morning. What left a bitter taste in our mouths was the motor traffic on Basswood our return day and the lack of courtesy while on water and at portages. We had an amazing 6 day trip, but the last two were ho-hum sure to the buzzing of motors and ability to high-five a passing boat every 5 minutes.

So 2019 we are getting away from all technology, looking to land a grand slam in a day, be on big water and get away from the crowd.

busting my hump all day long, scrambling to set up camp before dark, eating my dinner while watching the sun set while thinking to myself - WOW, I'm here!

I am always looking for something new. Doesn't matter what or where, just something I haven't seen yet.

If I am calling the shots, I want the solitude. But sometimes it's about the kids and that means focusing on their having a great time...

Mainly, I go to just reset my soul. I love to fish but rarely fish anywhere near as much as i thought I would. Definitely go for the scenery as photography is a passion of mine. But in picking a route I am always pretty confident that there will be plenty of subject matter no matter where I go. I go for the solitude but a reasonable amount of interaction doesn't ruin things for me. If, at the key times of the day(dawn and dusk) i am able to have the illusion of being alone I am happy. I would also say that at times I go for the quiet but at times I also go for the noise. We all know and appreciate the lack of sound that can be enjoyed up there but I also love the racket made by a couple pairs of loons, the slap of a Beavers tail, the calls of the jays or the woodpeckers, the peepers at dusk and the roar of a falls or rapids nearby.

As we have gotten older our trips are much less ambitious than they used to be. We might do an out and back trip for 5 or 6 days that we could probably cover in 2 to 3 but it gives us lots of time to explore the area we are in. It really does look different on the way back. Other times we go in a ways and just set up a basecamp for a few days. In this case a criteria is usually the existence of some interesting looking daytrips to keep us occupied.

The other thing that i really enjoy is that life just slows down for me, and the simplicity but necessity of doing simple camp chores like gathering wood, filtering water and preparing meals keeps my mind both occupied and free to wander at the same time. The practice of setting up camp is not necessarily a high point of the trip, but the feeling once it is setup to ensure comfort is a great satisfaction and generally means that now the real relaxation can begin. This in particular has little to do with the route I have chosen or the lake we have stopped on, but more aligned with the experience of canoe camping in the BWCA in general.

My thoughts often wander to the history of the area and I can imagine the Native Americans who lived here, the Voyagers who traversed the area, and the eons of time when nobody but the wildlife was here at all. It all does just fine without us, in fact arguably better than with us.

As someone previously mentioned, we also appreciate the complexity of nature and generally take the time to explore the area around our campsite thoroughly. There are so many tales to be told if one takes the time to look closely at the rocks, the water, the trees and the forest floor.

Sometimes we go back to an area that we have enjoyed before, usually adding some sort of different twist to it. Often we go somewhere new but that is getting harder to find given our inclination towards easier trips that meet our criteria for fishing, scenery, solitude and daytrips. There are definitely a few more on the BWCA bucket list though.

In my early years of BWCA/Quetico tripping I had the privilege to introduce many people to canoe camping and the incredible resource we all enjoy. That is something I greatly enjoyed but it is getting harder to find those opportunities. Hypothetically, if I stumbled upon one, two or three people who had never been there and were game for the experience i suspect I would agonize over the choice of route for weeks before I ultimately remembered that up there, it's all good.

1. What does the group want? I am easy.
2. Each trip has a goal which narrows EP choice.
3. Fishing matters, as does solitude.
4. Variety of options, for contingencies
5. The real challenge is slowing down to enjoy. So I don't seek challenge unless #1 demands it. Then I enjoy it with others.
6. Won't repeat many routes exactly for a while, unless new to others in group or seeking redemption from a disappointing trip. (This will change eventually).
7. Good place for a layover day if looping/ good lake to day trip from if base camping.

good answers, now i go to quiet my head, as i have gotten older (63), i am experiencing a calming of myself. it's not to hard to explain. there is a peaceful, calm that is happening with me.
going solo, i can be swallowed up by the surroundings and immerse myself in the quiet, so it really doesn't matter where i go.
i know, deep thoughts, but i may be looking forward to this coming paddling year more than ever.
it's all beautiful in canoe land :)

We like fishing and scenery.

Usually something new, part of the route or put-in can be familiar or a place I have traveled in reverse. I want to go for more than a week & travel a good many miles. Rivers, streams, little lakes, big water all good. We travel every other day because I like to get familiar with a campsite & explore & relax & meet the local wildlife. I don't mind paddling/portaging all day to get where I am going as long as I get some nice breaks along the way. I enjoy loop routes or end to end. Big features like granite cliffs, pictos & waterfalls are sought out as the route is planned. We don't avoid long portages or small campsites with bad reviews or a rocky landing. We travel as 2, smaller campsites with 1 small tent pad are perfect. In general, they tend to be not as used & have more wood to burn. Sometimes we target a specific campsite, but if it's taken I have a plan b, c, d. I fish for fun, mostly & catch & release, I check the route once it is picked for specific fish species so I know what's in the lakes we travel.

Mostly I just want to get out there, float, paddle...soak in the sounds of the wildlife & wind...emerse myself in the smell of pine & duff...wake to dampness & the loon calling & sunrise burning off the morning dew. Aaah..and the turtles, there are always turtles.

We love seeing new areas. After a number of years away from the BWCA, we have been trying a wide variety of entry points. Loops are generally our first choice, but not always doable with our limited time. Long portages are not an issue as we pack light and travel efficiently across then.

This summer, we are eagerly awaiting a week long trip and a venture into our first PMA. I have done a lot of far northern Canada tripping when our group wouldn't see anyone for weeks (though quite a few years ago) so I am really looking forward to the secluded aspect of a PMA.

I love narrow, small lakes and rivers. We often will explore off our main route if we see a winding stream. We've seen great wildlife and rare plants when we do this.

I love towering red pines for campsites, hopefully with some nice secluded overlooks. Fishing is never why we go to a particular place, but my husband usually fishes at some point as we travel and in the evenings before dinner. My son loves campsites where he can explore and hike around.

Can't get enough of the sounds of loons calling and water lapping at the shore.

bwcasolo: "good answers, now i go to quiet my head, as i have gotten older (63), i am experiencing a calming of myself. it's not to hard to explain. there is a peaceful, calm that is happening with me.
going solo, i can be swallowed up by the surroundings and immerse myself in the quiet, so it really doesn't matter where i go.
i know, deep thoughts, but i may be looking forward to this coming paddling year more than ever.
it's all beautiful in canoe land :)"

I have hopefully turned the corner - trying to calm myself with the solo. All the effort that goes into the selection and preparation should allow one to be calm and enjoy, rather than having the mind go into overdrive. I think I found the calm on my last solo by doing a paddle around the lake. Then the windstorm and snow brought acceptance, then the trip out brought peace. Thanks for the this reply, as it helps me understand / hopefully put the calming in place! Maybe when I start my next trip into a remote area I will say something like "mechanism off!" and have a calm mind to enjoy being alone or not. It's been 4 months since my last trip and 4 months to my next - this picture is the calming. Leaving on the most beautiful day of my trip!

I look for places I have not been. My too do list is still many years long before I can even consider going back to places I've already been and enjoyed!

I've taken my kids up there twice. The 1st time we went up LIS and around through Finger and out Moose. The second time we went in at Mudro, up through Fairy, Sunday, Iron, Crooked, LBF and back to Mudro. These trips were about teaching the kids how to survive, how to not rely on technology. They learned how to start fires with one match, read maps, the value of knowing how to pack correctly and hard work. They loved the experience although the call it survival vacations now.

This year, my son graduates high school and he wants to do both of our old routes put together. Its going to be about 125 miles, 8 long hard days. This trip is about father son time, making memories and seeing if dad is still in shape enough to get it done.

I know a lot of people base camp and I don't know if I could do that personally. I want to move and explore. I love to fish, but that's second to what my son wants to do, he wants to MOVE.

1 - What does the group want (typically fishing)
2 - How many days (max seems to always be 4)
3 - New Lakes and Rivers
4 - Remoteness (willing to put in at high traffic areas)
5 - Proximity to sites for exploration (waterfalls, old mining sites, hieroglyphs, etc)
6 - Quality of Campsites (we are typically 3 tents and sometimes 4 so need a bit of space)

lindylair: "Mainly, I go to just reset my soul. I love to fish but rarely fish anywhere near as much as i thought I would. Definitely go for the scenery as photography is a passion of mine. But in picking a route I am always pretty confident that there will be plenty of subject matter no matter where I go. I go for the solitude but a reasonable amount of interaction doesn't ruin things for me. If, at the key times of the day(dawn and dusk) i am able to have the illusion of being alone I am happy. I would also say that at times I go for the quiet but at times I also go for the noise. We all know and appreciate the lack of sound that can be enjoyed up there but I also love the racket made by a couple pairs of loons, the slap of a Beavers tail, the calls of the jays or the woodpeckers, the peepers at dusk and the roar of a falls or rapids nearby.


As we have gotten older our trips are much less ambitious than they used to be. We might do an out and back trip for 5 or 6 days that we could probably cover in 2 to 3 but it gives us lots of time to explore the area we are in. It really does look different on the way back. Other times we go in a ways and just set up a basecamp for a few days. In this case a criteria is usually the existence of some interesting looking daytrips to keep us occupied.


The other thing that i really enjoy is that life just slows down for me, and the simplicity but necessity of doing simple camp chores like gathering wood, filtering water and preparing meals keeps my mind both occupied and free to wander at the same time. The practice of setting up camp is not necessarily a high point of the trip, but the feeling once it is setup to ensure comfort is a great satisfaction and generally means that now the real relaxation can begin. This in particular has little to do with the route I have chosen or the lake we have stopped on, but more aligned with the experience of canoe camping in the BWCA in general.


My thoughts often wander to the history of the area and I can imagine the Native Americans who lived here, the Voyagers who traversed the area, and the eons of time when nobody but the wildlife was here at all. It all does just fine without us, in fact arguably better than with us.


As someone previously mentioned, we also appreciate the complexity of nature and generally take the time to explore the area around our campsite thoroughly. There are so many tales to be told if one takes the time to look closely at the rocks, the water, the trees and the forest floor.


Sometimes we go back to an area that we have enjoyed before, usually adding some sort of different twist to it. Often we go somewhere new but that is getting harder to find given our inclination towards easier trips that meet our criteria for fishing, scenery, solitude and daytrips. There are definitely a few more on the BWCA bucket list though.


In my early years of BWCA/Quetico tripping I had the privilege to introduce many people to canoe camping and the incredible resource we all enjoy. That is something I greatly enjoyed but it is getting harder to find those opportunities. Hypothetically, if I stumbled upon one, two or three people who had never been there and were game for the experience i suspect I would agonize over the choice of route for weeks before I ultimately remembered that up there, it's all good. "

Amen!!

Savage Voyageur: "Great fishing, somewhere new, off the beaten path. "

+1

Add to that a generally "pretty" area.

Very small lakes in low travel areas and decent fishing.