Sure would like to hear an update from John Galt.

Merlyn, for those of us who don't know, who is John Galt and what is he doing?

He’s the guy who wants to do a big solo trip, like ice-out to ice-in. Had a long and detailed thread in Trip Planning a while back.

Jackfish: "who is John Galt"

That was either a perfect set up or incredible happenstance...

Chuckles: "

Jackfish: "who is John Galt"

That was either a perfect set up or incredible happenstance..."

... lost me with this post ...

bobbernumber3: "

Chuckles: "

Jackfish: "who is John Galt"

That was either a perfect set up or incredible happenstance..."

... lost me with this post ..."

Google "Who Is John Galt?" It is the opening line in Atlas Shrugged and is repeated hundreds of times throughout the novel.

Sorry. Should have posted in Trip Planning. I was curious because he was very active for upward of 50+ posts about his long solo and got a lot of people engaged in the planning.

Wasn't that the guy with some grandiose plan and like no experience. Sounds like he had too much time in his hands and just started to day dream some unrealistic ideas.

For those interested and have an hour to read here is the thread about John, John Galt

OMGitsKa: "Wasn't that the guy with some grandiose plan and like no experience. Sounds like he had too much time in his hands and just started to day dream some unrealistic ideas. "

Oh, he’s one of us.

nctry - That’s funny, cracked me up. I have wondered what the reference to John Galt was about. I’ve seen it before. I think I know enough to get me by for now.

John Galt should get a pine cone and a bear paw and a dancing moose for all the words he wrote!

missmolly: "John Galt should get a pine cone and a bear paw and a dancing moose for all the words he wrote!"

A favorite quote...

"I've learned one thing - People who know the least anyways seem to know it the loudest" -- Al Capp

Or something unforeseen has happened (emergency, accident, illness, etc).

Gosh, I love Al Capp!

I just know that if you took his total word count and cut it into 20-word posts, he'd have had exceeded BassPro's total plus Kanoe's total.

I thought Hemingway wrote long sentences, but they usually make sense when they finish, then Vonnegut with the streams spraying everywhere, but then I picked up a Jack Kerouac novel on a lark and man this dude, one of his sentences can last three pages long, you get lost before it’s over. I thought Andy Capp was a comic strip in the Trib back in the day.

So I see “John Galt” posted on another thread. Looked at his profile and only been a member since October of this year? ?

nctry: "So I see “John Galt” posted on another thread. Looked at his profile and only been a member since October of this year? ?"

Thats the guy. I don't know or care if he is legit or not but I have always been fascinated by the "big trip" type adventures . The Jason Barbour videos on YouTube are a good example. The thread he started and all the posts that responded made for fun and thoughtful reading.

scat: "I thought Hemingway wrote long sentences, but they usually make sense when they finish, then Vonnegut with the streams spraying everywhere, but then I picked up a Jack Kerouac novel on a lark and man this dude, one of his sentences can last three pages long, you get lost before it’s over. "

I see what you did there.

Yes, he's planning a big, long trip for 2022 (hence the thread in 2021 planning)

I guess we need to wait until late next year to see how he does on his trip.

I give it a 90% you never hear from him again.

Wow a lot of salty remarks. His trip has not commenced yet (according to his initial plan) and people are already beating him up for various things. So much for supporting a fellow member, especially the younger newer members, even if it seems unfathomable to accomplish in your mind.

jamdemos: "Wow a lot of salty remarks. His trip has not commenced yet (according to his initial plan) and people are already beating him up for various things. So much for supporting a fellow member, especially the younger newer members, even if it seems unfathomable to accomplish in your mind."

Seems like a lot of envy going on. I hope the guy follows through and has an awesome, successful trip. I support you John Galt!

I give John Galt a lot of credit for all of his planning and research. I applaud him for making the effort to answer most of the questions asked, and responding to the comments made in his original thread. He seems sincere in his effort and I hope he succeeds and has an enjoyable experience and exceeds his own expectations.

jamdemos: "Wow a lot of salty remarks. His trip has not commenced yet (according to his initial plan) and people are already beating him up for various things. So much for supporting a fellow member, especially the younger newer members, even if it seems unfathomable to accomplish in your mind."

You're right. I had little experience being alone before launching my weeks-long and months-long paddling trips and I was catty about the number of words he composed. My editors are always thumping me for being verbose, so I'm NOT THE ONE TO COMPLAIN!

I hope he has a helluva great trip and returns the Master of the Boundary Waters, as grizzled as a bear, happy as an otter, and tough as a wolverine.

Chuckles: "

bobbernumber3: "

Chuckles: "

Jackfish: "who is John Galt"

That was either a perfect set up or incredible happenstance..."

... lost me with this post ..."

Google "Who Is John Galt?" It is the opening line in Atlas Shrugged and is repeated hundreds of times throughout the novel. "

Terrible, horrible book that I wish I’d never read.

merlyn: "Sure would like to hear an update from John Galt."

Hey, y'all!
Happy belated Thanksgiving.
Hope you & yours had a great holiday :)

Apologies for not noticing this thread earlier - I've been more 'in the past' on this board, researching for gear, route planning, & etc.
To those who, rightfully/constructively critiqued my post - I agree. Fun Fact: John Galt was voted 'Most articulate' in the student consultancy he was a member of in college X). If we can't laugh at ourselves sometimes, what's the point of it all haha. I do plan to revise the heck out of the first few posts on that other thread, I've just been preoccupied with ironing out gear details to ensure that I don't get negatively impacted by shortages (narrowly dodged this on the canoe).

I do believe things are progressing along nicely. Most of my gear is in order/on order - chose a great time to gear up, with the holiday sales & all. Fresh map set arrived a day or two ago & high-level route/plan is starting to come into focus, though it's been a bit daunting to wrap my hands around ala 'analysis paralysis'. I've been looking at a wall map & reading Beymer's books for inspiration, as well as referencing the maps/reviews on this board.
Advice/tips/tricks/critiques are all appreciated!

For those interesting in some further details :)
Route stuff:
I'll be moving out & heading up to Ely in the last few of days of April. If the canoe isn't in yet or if there is ice on the lake, I'll stay in a bunk house or something until May 1st & camp Fall Lake campground until I can enter via Fall Lake EP.
I'm thinking from there I'll head north up to Basswood & then likely East towards Sag. From Sag region, SE towards State Lake & I think my first resupply will be around this time (early July) & I'll need to coordinate this inside a Gunflint EP or take a night/two at an outfitter bunkhouse. While in this region I plan to find a route to State Lake that I can reasonably traverse in order to fish the lake over several days/week(s) in search of a trout. Eagle Mountain is another box I would check in this region. Frost River will either happen on the way to the State Lake basecamp, or after breaking camp to head West after exhausting this area.
Heading west, I'd like to go through Ashigan/Ensign & a few other lakes + 'reach the other side', though I have a lot of details to iron out in the gaps between destinations. Second resupply would happen on the trip West in late August & I may plan that for Ely, taking a similar route out from Fall Lake though going West from Basswood out to the park border by Crane Lake. From there, work my way back to Fall Lake to leave when my food runs dry sometime in Oct.
Over winter, I think I may change my original plan (motorcycle trip of the warm south) & rent a cheapo apt to prep for '23-'24 when I'll try for 365+ days.

Select gear acquisition details:
*Went with the Wenonah Encounter from Piragis for the canoe - gentleman there was very helpful with selection & estimated she could safely take 500lbs give|take.
*Dan is getting me set up with a Lean+ & tarps - looking forward to trying to keep up with the tent/tart masters on this board, some stiff competition!
*Dutch had a sale on cordage & his confusingly named doohickeys last week. My buddy found it entertaining that I was 'black Friday shopping' for rope X)
*Packs arrived today from Frost River - went with the Kitchen Pack & Grand Portage Pack + the Summit Expedition for camera/fishing gear. Initial impression was that they were a tad heavy, though the construction is top-notch & WOW those buckskin straps are amazing. Duluth Lumbar Pack is backordered until Jan or so.
*Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20* for 'sleeping bag'. Never really was a fan of being stuck in a mummy bag again after spending a deployment in one. I still can't get over how light this bag is, I swear it floats like a feather when dropped.
*Fujifilm X-T4 + 2xGoPro Hero8's to capture the action & document the trip, as well as dabbling in landscape/wildlife photography. YouTube channel was created a day or two ago, though I don't have any content yet. I created a short video using a Tera-Light Mini, though it was more a test run (1m 20s 4k video was 2GB! I think I'll be shooting in 1080P after that test haha).
*Rockpals 60W solar panel & a Beaudens power supply - unfortunate weight/bulk burden sacrifice for the camera equipment.
*Orvis Superfine 8wt. (reel on backorder) - need to flesh out the rest of the fly-fishing kit, if any pros would like to help a newbie!
*Smorgasbord of other gear. Most of my existing gear was hodge-podged/inherited from when I tripped in high-school/college, a lot of stuff needed replacement (e.g. stove was more corroded in spots than I was comfortable with), is more suitable for large groups, or I was too poor/cheap as a youngin' & stuff is getting replaced with lighter/better/more reliable alternatives.

Besides that, I guess all is going well? Need to finalize gear + begin food prep & PT regiment this month/Jan, permits end of Jan, need to plan a couple of short shake-out trips in the Feb/Mar, pack up & move stuff into storage in early April. It's going to be Go-Time before I know it!
Good luck & talk to you all soon :)

Looks like a great start. Please keep us up to date with your gear and by all means ask any questions you might have.

John Galt, It's good to see you back here. Just a couple things that come to mind as I read through all of this: How will you handle garbage? You need to factor this into your re-supply plan. You need a way to get it out. How about partnering with some sponsors or supporters? What I mean by sponsors is maybe you find some outfitters throughout the region and for the segment of your trip that you are in there area perhaps you have a decal or something to identify them inside your canoe where it is occasionally captured in your filming. In return they assist you in your resupply efforts so you do not have to leave the BWCA then re-enter on a new permit. They could receive and hold onto your supply cache then meet you inside the BWCA to deliver it to you and at the same time remove your refuse. From a supporter standpoint I mean make some friends on this site that could do the same. Seek out people that plan on being in the same area that you will be at a specific time and are willing to bring you your cache and remove your waste. Plan on spending a day or two with them hanging out and conversing and catching up on what is going on in the world (if you even want to know). There are some top-notch people on here that I'm sure would love to be a part of your adventure. Even it's just day trippers that are willing to spend a day paddling into the BWCA to support your efforts. It may be a fun family event for a day.

Northwoodsman: "John Galt, It's good to see you back here. Just a couple things that come to mind as I read through all of this: How will you handle garbage? You need to factor this into your re-supply plan. You need a way to get it out. How about partnering with some sponsors or supporters? What I mean by sponsors is maybe you find some outfitters throughout the region and for the segment of your trip that you are in there area perhaps you have a decal or something to identify them inside your canoe where it is occasionally captured in your filming. In return they assist you in your resupply efforts so you do not have to leave the BWCA then re-enter on a new permit. They could receive and hold onto your supply cache then meet you inside the BWCA to deliver it to you and at the same time remove your refuse. From a supporter standpoint I mean make some friends on this site that could do the same. Seek out people that plan on being in the same area that you will be at a specific time and are willing to bring you your cache and remove your waste. Plan on spending a day or two with them hanging out and conversing and catching up on what is going on in the world (if you even want to know). There are some top-notch people on here that I'm sure would love to be a part of your adventure. Even it's just day trippers that are willing to spend a day paddling into the BWCA to support your efforts. It may be a fun family event for a day."

I guess I’ll echo that... I for one would be a willing participant.
While the encounter is a great canoe, I found once I was dog less I never had enough stuff to keep the front end down. Wind started to be a huge factor vs being just a factor... haha. So unless you have a lot of stuff... I’d highly recommend the Prism. To me that is the bomb! I paddled my Encounter hundreds and I’m talking many hundreds of miles. I actually had a little heavy on gear to counter an eighty pound dog. My last big trip to Woodland Caribou was a tough one because of wind. The front of that Encounter really sticks up there. The Prism is 6” shorter and just as sea worthy in my book. Just my 2 1/2 cents. My sentences aren’t real long, but I guess there are plenty of em for one little point so I’ll shut up! Haha.
I share the same heart as far as longer trips and such. Blessings on that! I hope Frenchy don’t get his way or that 365 days could get expensive. I’ll have to search if you have a trip planning thread or what.
One more thing... you need to be flexible. As I was heading toward prairie portage for a resupply I was met with a closed portage due to fire and couldn’t get there from where I was at. I had planned to go down to Snowbank and do the Flash lake deal into Moose and up, but the winds wouldn’t let me. I had to rethink and got a friend to grab me from the landing and my resupply came a day early. Within less then a day I was on Fall with a new permit and back on the water. Meanwhile, spent the evening with friends and enjoyed a nice fire.
Have plan b’s. Weather radio was a good thing too. Especially when they name the lakes leading to you with a big storm approaching. Haha.
You ARE one of us! Haha!

MidwestFirecraft: "Looks like a great start. Please keep us up to date with your gear and by all means ask any questions you might have. "

Thank you, MidwestFirecraft! Hope you're having a stupendous Saturday :)

Thus far, most every question I've had has been 'asked & answered' at some point on this board - you all have curated a truly wonderful wealth of information & I am in your debt.
I'll be posting a thread here & there seeking the experts' counsel on some topics (fly fishing & route planning are two low-hanging fruit that come to mind).
I'll also get the other post cleaned up/up-to-date & get a more complete gear list compiled in the next few days/week.

Cheers!

Northwoodsman: "John Galt, It's good to see you back here. Just a couple things that come to mind as I read through all of this: How will you handle garbage? You need to factor this into your re-supply plan. You need a way to get it out. How about partnering with some sponsors or supporters? What I mean by sponsors is maybe you find some outfitters throughout the region and for the segment of your trip that you are in there area perhaps you have a decal or something to identify them inside your canoe where it is occasionally captured in your filming. In return they assist you in your resupply efforts so you do not have to leave the BWCA then re-enter on a new permit. They could receive and hold onto your supply cache then meet you inside the BWCA to deliver it to you and at the same time remove your refuse. From a supporter standpoint I mean make some friends on this site that could do the same. Seek out people that plan on being in the same area that you will be at a specific time and are willing to bring you your cache and remove your waste. Plan on spending a day or two with them hanging out and conversing and catching up on what is going on in the world (if you even want to know). There are some top-notch people on here that I'm sure would love to be a part of your adventure. Even it's just day trippers that are willing to spend a day paddling into the BWCA to support your efforts. It may be a fun family event for a day."

Hello Northwoodsman!
Thank you for your feedback + interest in my seemingly insane adventure X)

Trash handling, I anticipate, will be handled in the fashion you outline - 'resupplier' would trade a bag or two of food/fuel/etc consumables for a bag or two of refuse. For the most part, I'll be packaging meals/ingredients in LEM vacuum bags & this should result in a fairly compact & clean trash system [fingers crossed haha].

Great suggestion regarding a 'tit-for-tat' with local outfitter/sponsors. In general, I love going out of my way to support small/independent businesses & I'd happily provide an 'ad spot' on my canoe, even if I don't rely on their services. If there are any noteworthy sponsors of this site or just great blokes in general, I'd be honored to carry their brand on my hull & give them a proper shout-out to the YouTube crowd :)

"There are some top-notch people on here"
That's an understatement right there!
From my observances, you all are a collection of some of the finest folks to have ever canoed & portaged the earth :)
Back on/around Thanksgiving, I was very sad upon reading a thread by Amok & realizing they had passed away based on a reply from Kanoes. Then, immediately after replying with my condolences/respects for Amok, I realized that Kanoes had passed as well (cry face). Even though I'd never met/conversed with these two, I could tell they were some amazing individuals by the words/advice they left behind & I missed them just the same. Rest in Peace, Amok, Kanoes, & other BWCA greats no longer with us whose loss I have yet to mourn.

I digress back to the present.
I'd relish the opportunity to break bannock [always broken, never cut! - Learned that from @Bannock last night haha] with any/all of you. I would never want to impose upon another's trip by expecting any 'service', though I would also not turn away anyone interested in sharing or contributing to the experience. As the route gets pinned down a bit more, I'd love to coordinate with anyone interested in a wilderness pow-wow.

Welp, I'm past my word count - haha jk jk, love you all :)
Have a great rest of your weekend!

Encounter is a huge solo- lots of surface area to catch the wind, it can handle big loads and big seas, but is almost impossible to manage in the winds that would create such seas. Since your trek area is rarely more than a day or two journey from possible resupply you might want to consider a more manageable hull like the Prism, Magic, Northwind etc. I've paddled lots of solos and found the Encounter one of the most frustrating hulls- not due to the way it moved through the water (quite good at that) but in its ability to capture wind. At the very least you should consider test-paddling canoes before you buy.

nctry: "

Northwoodsman

I guess I’ll echo that... I for one would be a willing participant.
While the encounter is a great canoe, I found once I was dog less I never had enough stuff to keep the front end down. Wind started to be a huge factor vs being just a factor... haha. So unless you have a lot of stuff... I’d highly recommend the Prism. To me that is the bomb! I paddled my Encounter hundreds and I’m talking many hundreds of miles. I actually had a little heavy on gear to counter an eighty pound dog. My last big trip to Woodland Caribou was a tough one because of wind. The front of that Encounter really sticks up there. The Prism is 6” shorter and just as sea worthy in my book. Just my 2 1/2 cents. My sentences aren’t real long, but I guess there are plenty of em for one little point so I’ll shut up! Haha.
I share the same heart as far as longer trips and such. Blessings on that! I hope Frenchy don’t get his way or that 365 days could get expensive. I’ll have to search if you have a trip planning thread or what.
One more thing... you need to be flexible. As I was heading toward prairie portage for a resupply I was met with a closed portage due to fire and couldn’t get there from where I was at. I had planned to go down to Snowbank and do the Flash lake deal into Moose and up, but the winds wouldn’t let me. I had to rethink and got a friend to grab me from the landing and my resupply came a day early. Within less then a day I was on Fall with a new permit and back on the water. Meanwhile, spent the evening with friends and enjoyed a nice fire.
Have plan b’s. Weather radio was a good thing too. Especially when they name the lakes leading to you with a big storm approaching. Haha.
You ARE one of us! Haha!"

Hello nctry!
Thank you for your advice & interest :)

The Prism & Encounter are the two canoes I discussed with the gent from Piragis. While I won't have a dog with me next year, I'll have plenty enough gear to break my back over a portage haha & I may get a pup to trip with in '23-24+. I don't recall from my phone call with Piragis exactly what factors led to the decision for the Encounter over the Prism, though both are likely fine vessels capable of supporting the expedition. As you astutely noted, wind could be an issue, especially if paddling a lighter load. Fingers crossed, I'll be able to coordinate most of the travel days with calmer weather & mitigate this issue to some degree.

I've read some of the posts regarding the reduction in permit quotas & the associated issue it is attempting to solve. While I am not opposed to some fee increase legally directed to fund enhanced enforcement/the park's 'health', it would be a shame if those less able to afford 'vacations' are priced out of, imho, the most beneficial experience available to those less fortunate among us. $16, or whatever the permit cost is currently, may be underpriced though a 'daily fee' could make longer excursions cost prohibitive for some & I'd guess that individuals dedicating a lot of time in the bush are good stewards/an overall benefit to the park - it may be a 'cut off the nose to spite the face' reaction. If the crux of the issue is overcrowding in certain areas of the park, having 'limited permits' akin to EP22/23 may be a more precise solution. At the end of the day, we can hem & haw about it, though the FS will decree & the dude will abide.

Great point regarding having a 'plan b' for resupply points. I'll need to ensure more than one viable route exists to the locations where the resupply is set to take place. It would also be wise to have a 'backup' rendezvous point. I'll have a Zoleo, so texting to coordinate adjustments midstream should be feasible. The Zoleo provides weather forecasts & I'll also be bringing along a multiband radio , which should pick up local weather reporting.

It's an honor to be welcomed amongst you folks & I look forward to becoming 'one of you' in due time as I earn my stripes errr trees :). While I haven't made any plans or dove into the details for the event, I think I may try to make it to Canoecopia '22. I'd enjoy putting some internet names to faces for others who will be in attendance.

Cheers!

Banksiana: "Encounter is a huge solo- lots of surface area to catch the wind, it can handle big loads and big seas, but is almost impossible to manage in the winds that would create such seas. Since your trek area is rarely more than a day or two journey from possible resupply you might want to consider a more manageable hull like the Prism, Magic, Northwind etc. I've paddled lots of solos and found the Encounter one of the most frustrating hulls- not due to the way it moved through the water (quite good at that) but in its ability to capture wind. At the very least you should consider test-paddling canoes before you buy. "

Hello Banksiana!
Firstly, love your 'signature' haha.

You're 100% correct, test-paddling the few canoes being considered would have been awesome & the proper course of action. Unfortunately, I had to 'pull the trigger' & purchase a canoe 'sight unseen' if I was going to receive one in 2022. From the companies I called, most/all canoe production for 2022 has already been sold. Piragis had two Encounters on order that weren't yet claimed, one with the graphite layer-up & the other an 'outfitter special' (I went with the latter). The canoe is due to arrive April/May, so I'm at the wire to get the boat in time & if I delayed further I may have been taking a long hike instead of a canoe trip X)

At the end of the portage, I'll at least have a capable canoe that I know will be able to handle my over-packing habit. It should also be a bit 'future-proof' for me, as I plan to trip with a waterfowl retriever sized dog in the future & I've been toying with the idea of moving to N. MN after these excursions, which would lead to remote big game hunting & this hull will be able to handle a load of meat.
Hopefully, I can learn to manage the kite for a bow with proper trimming of the load & I'll have a good deal of time to refine the technique 'in the field'. Following this trip I'll be considering a cover to cut down on wind drag, at least for the bow, though I didn't want to introduce this variable yet for safety/ignorance reasons.

Looking for a bright-side, by not test-paddling I'll get the 'ignorance is bliss' benefit of not knowing what I'm missing out on with the Prism! Haha

Arrrrgh, the board be briney but the B-dub be fresh and sweet (when not on fire).

Best wishes to ye, matey! May your tarp not leak; may you find an open site after seven portages, and may you never need more than your spare paddle!

Have a great adventure!

Congratulations on finding your boat! No matter what you picked, there would always be some who suggest another option would have been better - that's a never ending circle. I'm just glad you were able to get one that would be ready in time. They seem to be backlogged quite a bit.

My SRQ16 can also really catch some wind and weathervane around, especially if poorly packed or empty. I've gotten better at packing all my heavies items forward and that seems to work well. When fishing empty, I sometimes use a few rocks in the bow but am very guarded about doing this. An empty canoe will float, but the floatation in the bow and stern has its limits. I don't know how much extra weight (from rocks) would be required to sink it - that is something I would really like to test next year - but another option is to put water up front. You might consider getting a silnylon or other light weight bag that can be filled with water and positioned in the bow when your food rations are running low. It provides enough weight to keep the bow trimmed when upright, but is neutral in the water and packs up very small when empty.

Good luck with your planning.

Glad to hear your plans are in full swing. Quite the adventure you are planning. I am also always in shock at how light the Enlightened Equipment items are. I love their stuff and have been very happy with its performance. I hope the planning continues to move forward smoothly. If the timing works out on one of my trips this summer, I would be happy to assist in any way.

You'll find the Encounter quite comfortable when burdened. Unlike others on the board I found it was the stern not the bow that got blown about, in any kind of cross wind I loaded the back end of the boat.

When you get to Ely drop me a line and I'll be happy to accompany you on some test paddles on the cold lakes.

jillpine: "Arrrrgh, the board be briney but the B-dub be fresh and sweet (when not on fire).


Best wishes to ye, matey! May your tarp not leak; may you find an open site after seven portages, and may you never need more than your spare paddle!


Have a great adventure! "

And may the wind always be to your back… Which will never happen for some reason. Ha ha

V3 of the system I'll be using to tension tent/tarp tieout points. The orange cordage is a 20' hank with loops at either end so several can be connected if >20' is needed. There are no knots to untie. A truckers hitch or similar could replace the flea or w/e the accoutrement is named & the loop the flea is attached to could be enlargened in that configuration. I can post a crude 'how-to', if anyone is interested.

Once the tarp & tent arrive I'll be testing these & the food pack hang system 'in the field' at a friends place, though they work on my 'test bench':


Note: If that image appears sideways, simply rotate your dwelling for more ergonomic viewing pleasure.
Cheers!

PS
The blue cordage doz-hickey serves two main functions: 1) Line tensioner/fastner that can be attached without a knot to a stake or wrapped around a tree up to ~8" diameter. 2) Hold the excess orange cordage to keep it neat & up out of the dirt. It also has an extra small loop that can be used as a hanging attachment point or to attach a second stake/tieout point. It's made with lash-it or zip-it, w/e that stuff is called.

A good dog will bring firewood to camp...





Older shot of Bernice and I... before my CCS gear... haha! But with the Encounter! You will like the encounter...

Tentative May-Aug Route:
1) Fall Lake
2) Pipestone Bay [Basswood Lake]
3) Hanson's Island [Basswood Lake]
4) Rice Bay/Prairie Portage [Basswood Lake]
5) Carp Lake
6) Thunder Point [Knife Lake|South Arm Knife Lake]
7) Gijikiki Lake
8) American Point [Saganaga Lake]
9) Jasper Lake
10) Eddy Lake
11) Kekekabic Lake
12) Fraser Lake
13) Cap Lake|Ledge Lake
14) Fee Lake|Hoe Lake
15) Little Saganaga Lake
16) Tuscarora Lake
17) Snipe Lake
18) Long Island Lake
19) Kiskadinna Lake
20) Gaskin Lake
21) Horseshoe Lake
---21.a) Misquah|Little Trout Lake
---21.b) Resupply 1 at this point in trip
---21.c) Basecamp in region for access to State Lake
22) Winchell Lake
23) Brule Lake (East)
24) Swan Lake
25) Brule Lake (West)
26) Town Lake
27) Frost Lake
28) Bologna Lake
29) Afton Lake
30) Hub Lake
31) Wine Lake
32) Dent Lake
33) Trail Lake
34) Boze Lake
35) Pan Lake
36) Makwa Lake
---36.a) May stop at Ledge Lake instead if travel day is long
37) Boulder Lake
---37.a) May push past to Adams, especially if camped at Ledge Lake for (36)
38) Adams Lake
39) River Lake
40) Alice Lake
41) Thomas Lake
42) Ima Lake
43) Ashigan Lake
44) Ensign Lake
45) Newfound Lake|Moose Lake|Windy Lake
46) Good Lake|Indiana Lake|Hoist Bay [Basswood Lake]
47) Ella Hall Lake|Mud Lake
---47.a) Four Mile Portage to Fall Lake for Resupply 2

48+ will be West region & trip end.

This is just a tentative route - needed to start somewhere.
Consideration was primarily motivated by 'position on the map' to form the journey between destinations & each stop will need to be reviewed to determine if the locations are 'good' or if there are 'better' locations reasonably along the direction of travel. I do not have any river stops & when reviewing the route a few days ago I was considering traveling the Kawishiwi further south between River Lake (39) & Alice Lake (40).

Once I have the final leg of the trip drafted, I'll create a post for the route to receive advice/critique. I'd guess it'll happen tonight/tomorrow.

Cheers!

jillpine: "Arrrrgh, the board be briney but the B-dub be fresh and sweet (when not on fire).


Best wishes to ye, matey! May your tarp not leak; may you find an open site after seven portages, and may you never need more than your spare paddle!


Have a great adventure! "

Ahoy, matey!

Thank you for the well wishes. I wish you the same, JillPine!
Have a great weekend :)

Jaywalker: "Congratulations on finding your boat! No matter what you picked, there would always be some who suggest another option would have been better - that's a never ending circle. I'm just glad you were able to get one that would be ready in time. They seem to be backlogged quite a bit.


My SRQ16 can also really catch some wind and weathervane around, especially if poorly packed or empty. I've gotten better at packing all my heavies items forward and that seems to work well. When fishing empty, I sometimes use a few rocks in the bow but am very guarded about doing this. An empty canoe will float, but the floatation in the bow and stern has its limits. I don't know how much extra weight (from rocks) would be required to sink it - that is something I would really like to test next year - but another option is to put water up front. You might consider getting a silnylon or other light weight bag that can be filled with water and positioned in the bow when your food rations are running low. It provides enough weight to keep the bow trimmed when upright, but is neutral in the water and packs up very small when empty.


Good luck with your planning. "

Hey Jaywalker!

Thank you for the tips.
I had in mind that I'd keep a spare silnylon drybag handy in case I took a spill & needed a counterbalance - looks like I'll add a second one & then I'll have some bow/stern water bag ballasts.

straighthairedcurly: "Glad to hear your plans are in full swing. Quite the adventure you are planning. I am also always in shock at how light the Enlightened Equipment items are. I love their stuff and have been very happy with its performance. I hope the planning continues to move forward smoothly. If the timing works out on one of my trips this summer, I would be happy to assist in any way."

Thanks, straightharedcurly!

Enlightened Equipment seems to be great quality. I am glad that Feathered Friends was sold out & that I 'took the dive' to get Enlightened's quilt/sleeping bag adaptation - I think it will be a very comfortable bag vs a mummy & it saves weight + removes a zipper that will inevitably fail.
I was originally going to use the modular military bag that I have... then I looked at the weight! Something like 8-10 lbs, though that weight does include a bivy, compression sacks, & two bags rated to lower/higher temps.

I look forward to meeting up with you, if the route/timing works out & if only to share a meal + some stories. As our two plans for next year become more solidified, we can see if there are points of overlap/near overlap where we can rendezvous.

Cheers!

Banksiana: "You'll find the Encounter quite comfortable when burdened. Unlike others on the board I found it was the stern not the bow that got blown about, in any kind of cross wind I loaded the back end of the boat.


When you get to Ely drop me a line and I'll be happy to accompany you on some test paddles on the cold lakes."

Sounds like a plan, Banksiana!

It's looking like I'll be arriving in Ely ~April 28th, give or take a day or few. I'll be starting out on Fall Lake & planning on staying at least the first night on Fall Lake before heading to Basswood - we could plan on meeting on Fall Lake if I'm in the BW before you're able to make it out on the water in Ely.
If when I arrive the cold lakes are still frozen lakes, I'll be staying at the Fall Lake campground beginning May 1st & could meet you for a coffee/beer in Ely to discuss the stubborn ice :) [in this frozen lakes scenario, I'd spend the last few days of April at a local hotel or outfitter until May 1st, so I'd still be in town].

Talk to you soon & have a great rest of your weekend!

Portage99: "...

And may the wind always be to your back… Which will never happen for some reason. Ha ha"

Haha
Thank you, Portage99 :)
I wish the same fabled favorable wind to you as well & may your portages be always cleared + free of muddy crossings!

nctry: "...
A good dog will bring firewood to camp...
...
Older shot of Bernice and I... before my CCS gear... haha! But with the Encounter! You will like the encounter..."

What a great dog!
I can only hope to one day have a pup with such great firewood selection & collection prowess :)

Thank you so much for posting the picture of your Encounter, nctry!
I have recently been mulling over 'how to make it all fit' in the canoe & your picture provided exactly what I was seeking - a photograph of an Encounter loaded with canoe packs...I don't know why I was having such a time finding this hah

It looks like the 'Grand Portage Pack' will ride behind the seat vertically, as you have it, almost forming a backrest. To the stern of this will be the 'Kitchen Pack'. Further stern there will be a small space that could fit a 'day pack' (Summit Expedition) or a 'Pelican Case' of electronics. To the bow of the seat would be the food pack (standard US Army duffle bag) & a small space beyond this pack at the bow for the other of the 'day pack'/'Pelican case'.
Seems it will all 'fit', hopefully!
There'll likely be an additional silnylon drybag of food at the start for the first week/few - I'm sure I'll be able to tuck that away in some left over pocket of space...or I'll be towing it behind me! haha

Yeah, that was my kondos explorer pack I think and a regular #3 I think Duluth pack. I had a kondos guide (like a large day pack). And my bucket...
Not long after I went to a CCS pioneer pack, CCS Explorer pack and my bucket. Bernie by then had two dog packs. They rode up front with her.
When she wasn’t with anymore I tossed the pioneer and bucket behind and the other ahead of me. I don’t know why banksiana had trouble with the rear as it’s the front that sticks up so high... and that’s when trimmed even.
That canoe tracks very nice otherwise.

nctry: "I don’t know why banksiana had trouble with the rear as it’s the front that sticks up so high... and that’s when trimmed even.
That canoe tracks very nice otherwise."

Front sticks up high, but the process of "splitting" the water while making way plants the bow. When wind comes perpendicular to direction of travel it pushes against the side of the canoe- the bow tends to stick as it is moving forward and the stern gets blown downwind- and like a weathervane the bow tends to point towards the direction the wind is coming from. This is why so many solo boats are designed with very low freeboard in the stern.

Yeah, I get it... that happens to me when I try to trim the bow heavy. So I just tried to trim as even as I could. Like I say... the prism was the bomb for me and then my body said no more... I’m thinking our buddy here will figure it out for himself and do fine. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me, more of a slight little quirk.

Got that route post - hot off the press!

merlyn: "Sure would like to hear an update from John Galt."

Just came in off Knife this week and stayed on Birch the last night. Ran into John Galt. He’s doing another May to October trip this year. Stopped and talked with him and gave him a few leftover leeches we had. Seems like a nice guy.

He's developing into one of those "canoe country legends"......

HighnDry: "He's developing into one of those "canoe country legends"......"

Waiting for the podcast report. Sort of enjoy listening to those. Odd mix of respect, awe, horror, eye-rolling and WTH??

"Wasn't that the guy with some grandiose plan and like no experience."

Not anymore. He has heaps of BWCA-experience now.

Did he ever post anything on his YouTube channel? If so, under what name? Has he posted trip reports on other media?

I think he was planning on doing something similar this year. He's been very quiet. Hope all is ok.