New Trip Report posted by blankspacesam

Trip Name: Vento Unit in Early October.

Entry Point: 62

Click Here to View Trip Report

Dang it, Sam, I wanted you to catch a fish too, but brook trout potato soup and the World's Best Donuts had me wishing I'd been on your trip.

Nice report of an area we have visited and enjoyed. Sounds like you had a good time.

But I guess I have to ask. What is "Vento Unit"?? Not a term I am familiar with.

I didn't look at the videos as I don't usually follow that sort of links, but I did wish for a few still photos in the report.

Spartan2: "Nice report of an area we have visited and enjoyed. Sounds like you had a good time.


But I guess I have to ask. What is "Vento Unit"?? Not a term I am familiar with.


I didn't look at the videos as I don't usually follow that sort of links, but I did wish for a few still photos in the report.


"

Bruce Vento was a politician that was involved in the 1978 Bwca act, and perhaps more notably in conservation along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. When he died jim oberstar (I think) sponsored legislation to rename the area NE of the Gunflint Trail after him. I don’t believe vento had many fans up in that neck of the woods, so it’s a little weird to me. I’ve spent the majority of my bwca days in that area but don’t usually refer to it by that name myself.

Great trip report by the way!

Thank you. We have traveled fairly extensively in that area and I never had heard that designation.

thegildedgopher is correct. The first page of this newsletter from CWCS gives some details.

Spartan2: "Nice report of an area we have visited and enjoyed. Sounds like you had a good time.


But I guess I have to ask. What is "Vento Unit"?? Not a term I am familiar with.


I didn't look at the videos as I don't usually follow that sort of links, but I did wish for a few still photos in the report.


"

Thanks for reading! I've now figured out how to embed the videos so you should be able to watch without following any link. I also added some great pictures from mcsweem and wrestlencanoe

Thanks to all who have added to the history of why it is called the "Vento Unit". I'd heard it on the Tumblehome podcast and wasn't sure what else to call this loop as we split time pretty evenly among the lakes.

Thanks! Love your pictures!!

Beautiful brookie McSweem! That fella is sporting a beautiful humpback, distinct kype, and colors that all the ladies are sure to love!

thegildedgopher: "

Spartan2: "Nice report of an area we have visited and enjoyed. Sounds like you had a good time.



But I guess I have to ask. What is "Vento Unit"?? Not a term I am familiar with.



I didn't look at the videos as I don't usually follow that sort of links, but I did wish for a few still photos in the report.



"

Bruce Vento was a politician that was involved in the 1978 Bwca act, and perhaps more notably in conservation along the Mississippi River in St. Paul. When he died jim oberstar (I think) sponsored legislation to rename the area NE of the Gunflint Trail after him. I don’t believe vento had many fans up in that neck of the woods, so it’s a little weird to me. I’ve spent the majority of my bwca days in that area but don’t usually refer to it by that name myself.


Great trip report by the way!"

I got to go to a Congressional hearing held in Minnesota with Paul Wellstone and Bruce Vento there on the BWCA. Both were very strong supporters of the BWCA and why we have much of it that we do. I listened to Bruce Vento talk and he was one brilliant man whom knew his subject well. He died of cancer at to young of an age.

Bruce Vento was a champion of the Wilderness. I truly great man who can be credited with fighting for the wilderness.

A few years before he died, he proposed a 10,000 acre addition to the BWCA. We all knew it wouldn’t happen but the man tried.

Heavy Industry, logging, mining and anti-wilderness proponents didn’t like the guy because he was trying to preserve a little slice of woods and water. Some thought it would be better to harvest the timber, mine the ground, build trails and roads, and even remove any protections to public lands.
Tom

Not to get too far off the topic of this trip report, but I was riding my fat bike on the shore of the Mississippi today and it occurred to me just how many of the special natural places in my life were preserved as such because of the work of Bruce Vento. I owe him a great deal I’d say.