BWCA Trip Report - Trepidation on Tuscarora Boundary Waters Trip Reports
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06/04/2020 12:52PM  
New Trip Report posted by Aldy1

Trip Name: Trepidation on Tuscarora.

Entry Point: 51

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thegildedgopher
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06/04/2020 01:14PM  
Wow, one of the most gripping and sobering reports I have read. That image of those two hugging on the island will be with you forever. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
06/04/2020 01:47PM  
Thanks for helping these guys. Thanks for sharing your story.

BigCurrent
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06/04/2020 01:51PM  
Wow. Gripping and frightening stuff. Thank you for assisting them. We traveled through that route a few days after you and had heard the news. It was a quiet and somber paddle across the lake.
06/04/2020 02:01PM  
I exchanged numbers with one of the guys and texted him after we got home. He sent me a picture of all three of them smiling with their arms around each other, presumably taken right before the trip. Breaks my heart to see that picture. But I was comforted by his positive and optimistic character. I wish those guys peace.
06/04/2020 02:06PM  
Thank you for sharing this. I'm sorry you had to be the ones to help but I'm glad you were there to help!! I can totally understand how this might taint the feeling of a trip. I hope you're able to get out again soon without anything so heavy to weigh on you. Thanks again for sharing.
straighthairedcurly
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06/04/2020 02:13PM  
Tough trip report to write, but thank you for doing it. We all need to remember nature can easily get the best of us. During my whitewater canoeing days, I rescued 2 rafters from definitive drowning situations, but another time was too late to help a young man who decided to try swimming across the river at Taylor's Falls and all I was able to do was help look for the body.

I am so glad your group was there when you were and were able to help out. My heart goes out to the friends and family of the young man.

Be careful out there people. Make careful choices and watch out for one another.
Aguynamedjosh
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06/04/2020 02:36PM  
Wow. Godsend that you all showed up when you did. No doubt you saved that second man's life. Very eye opening trip report for me, as a rookie paddler I'm naive to all of the dangers that can occur. Your ending thoughts will stick with me for all the trips I plan from here on out. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
06/04/2020 02:47PM  
What a powerful and sobering experience. Thank you for taking the time to document and write it down. There are lessons for all of us to learn, even the most seasoned veterans out there. I have already added a few extra survival supplies to my PFD for our trip this month.
Certainly not the relaxation you were looking for and hope the next trip provides it.

Safe paddling everyone.
UncleGorgak
  
06/04/2020 03:40PM  
My wife had told me about that horrible incident the weekend that it had happened. You should send your wright up to the boys on tumblehome and maybe they will read it on their podcast to remind everyone how easily the unexpected can happen. Lots of paddlers will hear it.
woodsandwater
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06/04/2020 03:48PM  
Amazing. Thank you for sharing this. You never know. Always be prepared for the worst.
06/04/2020 04:50PM  
Thanks for writing it up, glad you came along to help when you did. As someone said, you probably saved the second guy's life. And lessons to be learned.
06/04/2020 05:42PM  
Thank you for writing this report. I think even the most experienced paddlers can gain from this story. Well done
Mad_Angler
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06/04/2020 06:02PM  
Thanks for writing this up.

I go to the BW nearly every Memorial Day. Mentally, I know the water can be fatal at that time of year. Emotionally, I have a hard time believing it. Stories like this remind me to take appropriate precautions.

Also a good point to always wear your life jackets. Even for a short paddle.

Another good point is to have some basic survival gear in the pockets of your life jacket. Survival gear won't do any good in the bottom of some duluth pack.
Abbey
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06/05/2020 12:48AM  
Thank you for sharing this trip report.
We have an InReach, which we bought for a remote international trip, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have it and would just rent a Spot for the trips that “really need it”. I almost didn’t bring it on our last trip and didn’t bring it on the one before that. Rationally, I know it’s a good idea. Emotionally, I like being completely untethered. This report is a reminder that it could help someone besides our group. Shouldn’t rely on others, but the ability to send a message could help others. Now I’m thinking that I need to get better about having some nearby outfitter’s emails loaded into the InReach before each trip.
MidwestFirecraft
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06/05/2020 07:10AM  
Thank you for your trip report and for sharing the first hand details of what happened. Grateful it has not deterred you from taking new people this summer. Hope your trip is safe and full of great memories.
carmike
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06/06/2020 06:43PM  
Wow, thank you for the report.

Not to change the emotional register of the report or the comments, but I wonder if the coals all over the tent pads were caused by campers in the wintertime?
06/06/2020 10:04PM  
Thank you for telling this story and for being proactive and jumping in to help. I shudder to think how much worse it could have been if the one person had decided to try to swim back to the island under these conditions.

When this was originally shared, it led me to finish a assembling a PFD specific Altoids tin mini-survival kit, which I finished, vacuum sealed, and put in its new home until needed. I always keep such things in an underseat bag, but from now on that wont be enough - especially since I regularly do cold water trips.
Boppasteveg
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07/05/2020 04:07PM  
I believe that a higher power puts us in certain places and situations when a guardian angel is needed. I believe that's what happened to you guys.
Have you ever been in a situation where you needed help or some other type of assistance...and it seemingly comes from out-of-nowhere? Thankfully, you and your crew were there to assist and did what needed to be done.

A very well-written trip report.

I would reach out to those guys every once in awhile to see how they're doing.
07/26/2021 05:41PM  
Wow. What an amazing adventure and tragedy. I cannot imagine what this experience was like for you and for the others in that group. Thank you for sharing.
CanoeingWithKids
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07/29/2021 05:54PM  
Thank you for sharing. I had my 16 year old daughter read this because she is in the middle of the "It will never happen to me" years. I have tried to explain that in the wilderness, little things are big things and things can go seriously wrong even if you do everything right. I hope this helps her perspective.
 
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