As the months between hunting, fishing and camping drag on, I use the BWCA forum to help keep me sane. That means I have visited just about all the trip reports. I know I would be interested in reading about some trips that people took years ago where you only have memories to go on.

I remember my first trip, even though it was over 50 years ago. No pictures or notes, only the smoke damaged maps we used and fond memories.

I don't have the skill to write about that trip, or at least to do it justice, but maybe some of you can recreate one of your trips and we can all "enjoy" another rainy nite in a canvas tent and lake water Tang.

I am definitely younger than a lot of the folks on this board and, in some ways, I am jealous of your perspectives of this amazing place we all cherish. Still, we all share a love of the clear blue lakes, the forest-clad hills, the loon calls echoing off the shores into the horizon, the uncountable stars that sprinkle the evening sky, the flame-painted sunrises, and all those memories we have created in this incredible place. My first trip to the BW may have been 30 years more recently than yours, but I have similar feelings towards mine. That trip only exists now as cherished memories, but each new trip adds to those moments in my mind. I also enjoy reading others' stories and reflecting on my own until I get to head North again and make some more! Thanks for posting.

This isn't a real "old" trip, it was just 2015, but as it was our first trip so it's as far back as I can go.

Tripping partner was my then 9 year old son:

We were newbies, didn't really know what we were doing. Used an outfitter for all our gear and supplies.

We did the Granite River, and on a short 3 night trip we experienced pretty much everything. We saw bears and otters, swam, fished, picked blueberries, flipped the canoe once, got lost for an hour or two, and had a blast. Been back every year since.

Not quite 5 years later the kid in that picture is only 2" shorter than me, and I'm 6'2'. Looking forward to him portaging the canoe this year.

I just told Spartan1 last evening that while we are stuck in the house so much this spring perhaps we should do a historic trip report or two. Lots of work, as all of the photos have to be scanned. On the other hand, we will probably need a "project". But I have already done our 1971 report, and that is the only one with a canvas tent. :-)

merlyn - My earliest trip was 1978 and the notes are very limited so if I did a trip report, it would be short. Also as Spartan2 said, scanning those old prints/ slides is very time consuming. But that is on my winter to-do list, but since I am running out of winter, maybe next year :-)
I have started to remake some of my YouTube BWCA slide shows that were taken 8-12 years ago.
Here is a link to my most recent... my YouTube homepage contains many more.

Y'all ask for it. I've been meaning to do this for a long time. There may be more photos to edit in later.

https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=1194340&forumID=19&confID=1

ghamer - your Sunday campsite on Alton is one of my favorites. has to be one of the prime sites in the BWCA.

This was a fun suggestion. I enjoyed doing a report on our long trip in 1992, and I am wondering now if I should take apart another one of those big albums! :-)