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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Group Forum: Solo Tripping All alone at night in the BWCA |
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04/11/2020 10:41AM
A few years ago I did a short solo trip to the BWCA, in October. I thought it would be interesting to see what entered my camp while I was a sleep!
I set up a trail camera to catch the action. Turned out I was the only action!
Anybody else do this ?
Jim
I set up a trail camera to catch the action. Turned out I was the only action!
Anybody else do this ?
Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
04/13/2020 04:00AM
GraniteCliffs: "I prefer to assume there is nothing out there when I am sleeping. I don’t want to collect evidence that there is indeed something sniffing around my camp.
Yep, ignorance is bliss. "
Ha! I'm with you! I would rather pretend that there isn't anything sniffing outside my tent while I am inside it sleeping.
04/13/2020 09:30AM
What prompted me to take a Trail camera? Years ago, I was solo camping on a small gravel bar on a local river. No bears or anything like that here.
I woke up. I didn't know if I was dreaming or actually heard something outside my tent. I hollered and heard nothing running off. Laid there awhile, trying to figure if there had been anything out there. A trail camera would have told the truth.
I woke up. I didn't know if I was dreaming or actually heard something outside my tent. I hollered and heard nothing running off. Laid there awhile, trying to figure if there had been anything out there. A trail camera would have told the truth.
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
04/13/2020 10:45AM
So...you set up a trail cam. Upon looking at the images the next morning you see a bear had visited your camp. Bear walks through, sniffs, comes close to your tent. Stays a bit, then leaves. That's cool you say. Next night bear. Next night bear. Is this going to impact your trip, positively or negatively? Are you going to benefit from seeing what comes through your camp at night?
I occasionally go out after dark with my headlamp looking for critters. Usually don't see much as I assume things hear me before I see them. I only assume all kinds of things have come through my camps over the decades, and many I have woken up to and looked at. The trail cam isn't for me, but some people might like it. Night vision goggles though.... that's another story.
Mike
I occasionally go out after dark with my headlamp looking for critters. Usually don't see much as I assume things hear me before I see them. I only assume all kinds of things have come through my camps over the decades, and many I have woken up to and looked at. The trail cam isn't for me, but some people might like it. Night vision goggles though.... that's another story.
Mike
I did indeed rock down to Electric Avenue, but I did not take it higher. I regret that.
04/13/2020 09:10PM
1JimD: "Blatz: "Trail Cams are kind of heavy. That's why I decided to leave mine at home last year"
I didn't weigh mine, it had six or eight AA batteries, Guessing a little over 1#?"
I try to keep my gear to the minimum. My big splurge weight wise is a Helinox Zero chair.
04/14/2020 12:28PM
I've done this on about three trips. I got the idea from one of the infamous bear posts where people speculated about bears sneaking through campsites every night. So far, in three trips, the only thing to trigger my camera in camp was this....
I usually place the camera somewhere close to my bear barrel or the fire pit.
I also sometimes put the camera during the day out in the woods by my fish remains. I got curious about this after the FS changed their position of fish disposal from shorelines to out in the woods. So far all I've caught on film there was this.....
I usually place the camera somewhere close to my bear barrel or the fire pit.
I also sometimes put the camera during the day out in the woods by my fish remains. I got curious about this after the FS changed their position of fish disposal from shorelines to out in the woods. So far all I've caught on film there was this.....
04/14/2020 01:05PM
I was the lone individual camping at a FS campground in the UP several years ago, when what sounded like a dog fight broke out behind my tent about 2:am one night. Scared the crap out of me, but as soon as it was over, I got out to see absolutely nothing. I would have loved to know what sort of critters were fighting. I just may get a game camera.
I set a goal of losing 10 lbs. this year. I only have 15 left to lose.
04/20/2020 08:06AM
awbrown: "I was the lone individual camping at a FS campground in the UP several years ago, when what sounded like a dog fight broke out behind my tent about 2:am one night. Scared the crap out of me, but as soon as it was over, I got out to see absolutely nothing. I would have loved to know what sort of critters were fighting. I just may get a game camera."
Sounds like it might have been coyotes? They really squeal and holler.
I’ve never done the trail cam thing up there but want to. Someone posted a year of trail cam pictures on a Quetico beach on the forums and they got all sorts of animal action.
I’m not sure I really want to know what’s out there. I do know for certain that the mice are very active at night. I hear them all the time. Other than that, ignorance is bliss!
Tom
04/20/2020 01:20PM
I took my brother with me a few years ago and it was his first night ever in bdub.
We each had a solo tent. He was worn out and checked out early and I stayed out for some star watching. A giant jackrabbit decided to terrorize the campsite. Fun to watch. It'd run around like mad, then every five minutes it would go hide out in the vestibule to my brother's tent for a minute.
After a while my brother finally called out to see if I was in my tent and knew what was out there. It had him nervous.
The next morning he said he slept horrible because that rabbit set up camp in/under his tent and he couldn't convince himself it was always the rabbit.
We each had a solo tent. He was worn out and checked out early and I stayed out for some star watching. A giant jackrabbit decided to terrorize the campsite. Fun to watch. It'd run around like mad, then every five minutes it would go hide out in the vestibule to my brother's tent for a minute.
After a while my brother finally called out to see if I was in my tent and knew what was out there. It had him nervous.
The next morning he said he slept horrible because that rabbit set up camp in/under his tent and he couldn't convince himself it was always the rabbit.
04/23/2020 05:19PM
Just bought one this past winter and am thinking of taking it along on my solo in the end of May. It will be a fun toy to have along. I will try to set it up in different places each night just for fun. I am not worried at all about learning what comes through at night.
Want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans...
04/24/2020 10:14PM
The Trail cameras are not only about capturing Wild things !
I set mine as kind of a Selfie, taking Moon lit pics, with me in it ! Too bad I'm not that Photogenic !
Good luck to those that choose to take and use a TR camera !
Jim
I set mine as kind of a Selfie, taking Moon lit pics, with me in it ! Too bad I'm not that Photogenic !
Good luck to those that choose to take and use a TR camera !
Jim
Keep your paddle wet and your seat dry!
06/10/2020 07:16PM
Jaywalker: "I've done this on about three trips. I got the idea from one of the infamous bear posts where people speculated about bears sneaking through campsites every night. So far, in three trips, the only thing to trigger my camera in camp was this....
I usually place the camera somewhere close to my bear barrel or the fire I've caught on film there was this....."
That’s the most terrifying rabbit I’ve ever seen. I’m glad you survived the night!! That looks like about 120 pounder, eh?
06/11/2020 06:22PM
Oh he was a big one alright, but it was the scary sharp teeth that worried me - that and the growling all night. Fortunately I had all my carrots secured in my rabbit-barrel. I know its technically only rabbit-resistant, but I may switch to the new Oryctolagusacks when they come out.
06/13/2020 10:28PM
I love my trail cameras around home and out in the woods I hunt and hike. Provides a lot of entertainment and gets me out in the woods for exercise checking them.
One camera with lithium batteries that uses 8 AA would be not that bad unless your doing a lot of portaging every day.
One camera with lithium batteries that uses 8 AA would be not that bad unless your doing a lot of portaging every day.
06/13/2020 10:44PM
Jaywalker: "Oh he was a big one alright, but it was the scary sharp teeth that worried me - that and the growling all night. Fortunately I had all my carrots secured in my rabbit-barrel. I know its technically only rabbit-resistant, but I may switch to the new Oryctolagusacks when they come out. "
Time to bring out the Holy Hand Grenade . Monty Python and the killer rabbit
06/13/2020 10:54PM
MReid: "Jaywalker: "Oh he was a big one alright, but it was the scary sharp teeth that worried me - that and the growling all night. Fortunately I had all my carrots secured in my rabbit-barrel. I know its technically only rabbit-resistant, but I may switch to the new Oryctolagusacks when they come out. "
Time to bring out the Holy Hand Grenade . Monty Python and the killer rabbit "
Hiking in Colorado once, I kicked at a mouse. He actually turned toward me with teeth clashing and had a little roar (small lion). Yes, I backed off.
06/15/2020 10:56PM
Pinetree: "MReid: "Jaywalker: "Oh he was a big one alright, but it was the scary sharp teeth that worried me - that and the growling all night. Fortunately I had all my carrots secured in my rabbit-barrel. I know its technically only rabbit-resistant, but I may switch to the new Oryctolagusacks when they come out. "
Time to bring out the Holy Hand Grenade . Monty Python and the killer rabbit "
Hiking in Colorado once, I kicked at a mouse. He actually turned toward me with teeth clashing and had a little roar (small lion). Yes, I backed off. "
"Run Away! Run Away!" : )
06/16/2020 12:25PM
Pinetree: "MReid: "Jaywalker: "Oh he was a big one alright, but it was the scary sharp teeth that worried me - that and the growling all night. Fortunately I had all my carrots secured in my rabbit-barrel. I know its technically only rabbit-resistant, but I may switch to the new Oryctolagusacks when they come out. "
Time to bring out the Holy Hand Grenade . Monty Python and the killer rabbit "
Hiking in Colorado once, I kicked at a mouse. He actually turned toward me with teeth clashing and had a little roar (small lion). Yes, I backed off. "
Reminds me of one of our shop cats on the prowl for a mouse. As he got close and prepared to pounce, the mouse spun around, stood up on its little back legs, and roared at the cat. The startled cat leapt backwards and the mouse made his getaway. Hilarious to watch.
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