BWCA Cabin Fever Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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02/08/2022 01:01PM  
It's starting to set in...the planning, researching and dreaming about the summer's paddling, hiking and fishing adventures seems to peak sometime in Feb for me every year.

I generally lay out the summer's plans over the winter. Who here's a planner vs "Fly by the seat of your pants" when it comes to your adventures?

Obviously with the current demand on the permit system, there's more planning for BW trips than needed in the past, but what about other adventures? Do you plan them months in advance or are you deciding on Friday where you're goin on Saturday?
 
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02/08/2022 01:10PM  
We're planners. Different types of trip require different levels of planning, but we'd NEVER just walk out the door and expect everything to be available to us when we reached our chosen destination. Right now we're planning a late February paddling trip on Florida's Suwannee River, a May RV trip, a July trip to Italy, and a late-August Quetico trip. We have reservations for the first three. We're packing food for the first. We have a couple routes in mind for Quetico, but won't make that decision until we know more about possible access from the south.

TZ
 
02/08/2022 01:12PM  
Plans are still pretty tentative right now. We have a road trip to Vancouver, WA for our grandson's HS graduation. We are driving to avoid the airline hassles (TSA, masks, rental cars) and will take in some of the sights along the way. I also need to coerce my son in Boulder, CO to take me up another 14er. It also occurred to me recently that I have never taken my bride to my favorite deer hunting spot in Wisconsin. There is nothing extraordinary about it; it is just a beautiful little valley in southwest Wisconsin that would make a nice day hike.
 
papalambeau
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02/08/2022 01:36PM  
Planning to the max! My wife and sons say that I way over plan but it's what keeps things moving forward during the "cabin fever weeks".

Right now I'm making the following plans:
- road trip to Florida over Spring Break in March.
- Turkey hunting for four grandkids during the Youth Hunt in Wisconsin and then hunting the turkey opener myself.
- May 7th fishing opener here in Wisconsin. A beautiful paddle only trout lake in the far north. Almost feels like the BW.
- Getting our deer stands ready in the spring. Early May and November look the same in northern Wisconsin.
- BW trip the first week of June. Group of seven for seven days.
- Fishing trip to Willow Flowage at the end of June.

The anticipation and planning is half the fun of each of these trips!
 
WonderMonkey
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02/08/2022 01:47PM  
I am an absolute planner, yet once the paddle hits the water, I'm not. When the trip begins I try (and hopefully do), let the trip come to me instead of me forcing the trip.
 
DRob1992
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02/08/2022 02:26PM  
I often do spontaneous mini trips that don't require much planning. Those often turn out to be a blast.
 
02/08/2022 04:01PM  
I find the experience of planning triggers a lot of the feelings I get when I paddle or hike. One of the reasons I read this forum most days, and yes more this time of year. Trips are generally more spontaneous putting together elements of previous planned trips (I have a BWCA and mountain document with gear and menus that require only slight adjustment.) Moab this spring, BWCA this summer, and Montana this fall are in my sights, details TBD.
 
HayRiverDrifter
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02/08/2022 05:51PM  
I reserved two permit right away so two of my dates are set. I will likely add another trip also. I have a good idea where I will travel during those two trips. I spend so much time studying maps and I am fortunate to have a large area of my brain to store maps so it's all in my head. Maybe that why I cannot remember other things because all the space if filled with maps lol.

It only takes me a few day to prepare for the trip even if I am taking grandkids. I have my lists and everything is stored where it's easy to pull out and pack. I may buy food a few weeks in advance though to avoid any empty shelf shortages.
 
OldTripper
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02/08/2022 09:06PM  
Definitely a planner.
I usually start planning my next trip as soon as I get home from a trip!!
I have done 2 trips where the entry/exit point(s) and number of days were set but the route was not. I let my paddle partner (their first trip) pick the route. They were pretty fun as well.
 
YetiJedi
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02/08/2022 09:15PM  
Planner here. Enjoying the process with my Dad since we live several states apart and will meet in the BWCA in May. Building the menu, planning the route, reviewing gear...it's been fun to connect on a regular basis. This will be our third trip in 4 years and I'm really grateful we get to go together again.

I also really enjoy planning with my daughters. The older ones are excited to come home from college and take a trip so we chat/message about that and share pics from past trips. My younger daughters love to go through the gear and "practice" camp in the basement, backyard, or on short hikes.

Finally, I'm anxiously prepping for my first solo canoe trip and that occupies the "what if" space in my mind. I've solo hunted/fished in the mountains out west so I'm not sure why there is a difference now...perhaps going deeper into the wilderness for a longer period of time is part of it. Finding lots of help on this site. It has been very helpful to focus on why I'm going instead of escaping what I'm leaving behind.

The planning for different types of trips this year is rejuvenating and welcomed!
 
02/08/2022 09:45PM  
Yes, I'm a planner.

I agree that different types of trips require different levels of planning. I could drive to the mountains in the morning, hike all day, then drive home. Not much involved. I can't decide on Friday where I want to go in the BW the next day - it's 2 days drive away. That's more planning, and if I do that, I'm not just staying for a day hike :). I'm going for 2 weeks - and that takes more planning. If I'm going somewhere I've never been, doing something I've never done, that requires more and possibly different planning.

Besides, a lifetime of experience has taught me that planning makes it go more smoothly, and that's a good thing.
 
pastorjsackett
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02/09/2022 04:49AM  
My trip is planned but I'll be on sabbatical this summer so there will be some "fly by the seat of your pants" as well. 32 years of doing this work and now a break to rest, learn and have a few travel adventures. Sweet.
 
PeaceFrog
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02/09/2022 07:29AM  
Yes the fever is real. I, like Boonie and others, am a planner. I like new adventures and new places to visit. I really enjoy the research and time committed to the planning process. However, I am not so rigid that I can't just grab some gear and go if the opportunity presents itself.
 
Bearpath9
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02/09/2022 07:38AM  
I'm kind of in-between. When I put away gear from a trip, I do a mental inventory. What worked ? What didn't ? What do I need next year, and what can I leave at home ? Since I probably will being doing solo's for the foreseeable future, not a difficult task. But sometimes I see something, or I read something, or just plain think of something....well, all bets are off. I can spend days thinking about it. Is it going to help or hinder ? Will I use it, or do it, or is it a waste of time or effort ? That's the fun of the whole process.

As for other trips, the wife is the big planner. Case in point--we recently went to St. Thomas. She spent hours packing and unpacking a suitcase. I spent about 2 hours tops packing my carry on with a weeks worth of clothing,etc. Maybe it's because of the BWCA....travel light. I will give her a lot of credit, she did most of the arrangements, but still. I better stop here before I get into trouble, if I already haven't.
 
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