Just curious, what time does everyone try and shoot for when putting in on your first day?

I would be happy to be on the water at daybreak. My trip partners, not so much. We usually get in the water between 7 and 8, depending on if we are staying near the entry point.

We've launched anywhere from an hour prior to sunrise to a couple hours of light left in the day. I wouldn't recommend the later. One fall trip we launched at brule with about 2 hours of sunlight left and made an absolute sprint up to Winchell to get to camp at last light and set-up in near dark.

Depends a lot of when you are going and where you are going. If you are going in early to mid-May or after mid-September and plan on going several portages past the EP you wont have too much problem finding a campsite. If you are tripping between Memorial Day and Labor Day you will want to get an early start to get a campsite unless you like stress. Some people that are exiting don't leave until noon or later, so there is always that factor that helps people that enter later in the day. If the forecast calls for crappy weather for the next few days more people will opt to exit before hand which also opens up more campsites. Another huge factor to consider is the wind generally picks up as the day goes on making paddling conditions less than optimal and often downright dangerous. It's generally the calmest between sunrise and 11:00 a.m. and then again after 5:00 or 6:00 p.m.

If my group and I are on the water by 8am I consider that a win/win. But any time between 7am and 9am on that first morning.

We have yet to arrive at the entry point prior to sunrise but we are typically paddling within an hour of sunrise.

Earlier is always better for me. If it was only my decision we would start the first portage prior to sunrise to paddle at first light. I agree with the other advantages but that is not why I would want to start that early. I am not a huge morning person normally but when in the BWCA I just really enjoy paddling across the lake on a calm morning as the sun rises and everything comes to life.

That said my wife is not a morning person at all. She does enjoy it once we are moving and is "mostly" thankful i got her moving as early as i did, but also the reason we are starting a little after sunrise.

The only advantage I have is that she prefers to avoid the wind as much as we can.

First light is the norm. We usually make a big push the first day (9-10 hours of travel) to our basecamp.

This year is an exception as travel up north (Iowa to Beaverhouse) is getting broken up into 2 days. Spending night in Fort Frances then going to Atikokan to pick up permit before going in at Beaverhouse, probably around 11a.

We're usually on the water before 7 a.m. to beat the wind and have a better opportunity of seeing wildlife. We go hard and deep so we're usually setting up camp in the late afternoon.

First light for us as well, typically 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. We like to be early on the portages.

Once in a while I'll stay in Ely or GM, and then try to get to the entry then next day between 7-8am. Earlier might be nice, but usually just doesn't happen. More often, however, I am driving up from Minnepolis, so with a 5 or so hour drive I'm usually at the entry about 11am or so. On these days, I know I will not paddle as far as I would like and I'll likely have to settle on whatever campsite is available that night. Usually I opt for the second option to make the trip as long as possible.

7am or earlier on launch day. On the water by 6am during the trip. We stop around 1-2pm each day though.

I prefer early but I like to get away from the EP on the first day.

But anywhere from sunrise to 8am works. Sometimes sunrise is 8am depending on the time of year.

One time I've slept in the truck at the EP due to storms (not enjoyable) and were on the water in June by 5am. We made great time that day of course but more-so just to get out of the truck

Depends mostly on where I'm traveling from but generally will enter when I get there instead of lodging overnight. EP and time of year affect it also.

We are staying in Ely night before entry so our plan is hit the portage at O Dark 30.

More of the same here. 7-8am is the typical bogey for our group. We put in anywhere from 6-10hrs on day one, so an early start allows sufficient time for setting up camp and evening fishing. No sense in risking the winds on bigger lakes or fighting the crowds depending on season and/or route.

Solo, I am usually on the water by 5:30am.
Family trip, it is usually 9am.

I used to try to get out as early as possible. I have come to be more relaxed about our first day. My paddle partners don't appreciate being rushed out. It's their vacation time too. We talk about allowing the slower rhythms of the wilderness and BW direct our days. I have to come to think that this can apply before you get in the canoe the first day, too.

If I’m canoeing, or paddling, then I like to be on the water as early as possible, 6 or 7 a.m….. if I’m hiking then closer to 9 or 10.

Always depends on what your destination is going to be. I try to time it out to start looking for campsites no earlier than 11AM. Most people have vacated desirable sites by then. For example, if I'm leaving from Rockwood Lodge, I'll wake up at 6:30AM and head to TrailCenter for breakfast when they open. No rush to get on the water until I know I can make it to Henson, Omega, Winchell, etc around noon or later. I just do some backwards math that gets me looking for a site at the right time. I can't begin to imagine how many people paddle past sites they want that are occupied only to be vacant an hour later.

So my tripping buddies and I have noticed a disturbing trend in our canoeing habits that has been progressively getting worse since the first year we guided together: we don't mind paddling late. In fact, the majority of our trips have at least one night that ends with us paddling in the dark. I blame too many weekend trips and late season trips when we are trying to get as much out of our time as possible. Our launch times have varied from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm (yes 11 pm, hit our campsite on Cross Lake at 2:15 am. Cross River is something else in the dark. Long story....) Anyways, I have also seen the drive to extend a trip as long as possible carry over to my solo trips as well. While living on the Gunflint (now Ely) I make a routine of entering after work on a Friday which really can be a crapshoot. I had one trip entering at Brant where (of course) the brant sites were full so I marched all the way to Bat after a 5:00 pm start (not ideal.) That said, I also find some level of peace in the late start. Any site that is going to fill is pretty much full so you aren't really competing with anyone. You just have to find a site before others go to bed and turn their flashlights off (I also have snuck into campsites to see if they were occupied, so far they haven't been, but after dark it can be real hard to tell.)

Yes the ideal is probably an early start, but my point is that, with a little creative planning and a low bar for campsite pickiness, you can start a trip whenever is convenient.

Usually is an hour after sunrise for us. Depends on the EP. If I'm going to sawbill or Brule I'd rather not drive on those forest roads in the dark.

I’m such a night owl and I admire you!

I hope folks won’t mind if I add an observation that has been troubling me for a while now. As everyone knows (and I’m sure lots of guides are members of this forum!), there are a lot of truly badass guides working the outfitters on BWCA and Q. These folks know the million acres better than most. The trips these folks do on their off hours and days are some truly amazing adventures. But I have now counted three different stories in the past year, told to me by guides, about broken bones suffered on their trips by paddling partners when portaging at night.

Three stories is a lot in one year coming from the pros.

Just putting that out there.

As a soloist I’ve made a pledge to myself never portage at night unless it’s a life threatening emergency. And I carry a pretty good headlamp. And I have climbed solo to high altitude many times, mostly at night on summit days.

Night paddling could be wonderful. With an easy shallow sandy “wade in and out” type landing, I think I’ll try it. It’s the night portaging that isn’t for me.

Oh, and in August my earliest solo push off has been 6:10, about three minutes after sunrise.

LaVirginienne: "I’m such a night owl and I admire you!


I hope folks won’t mind if I add an observation that has been troubling me for a while now. As everyone knows (and I’m sure lots of guides are members of this forum!), there are a lot of truly badass guides working the outfitters on BWCA and Q. These folks know the million acres better than most. The trips these folks do on their off hours and days are some truly amazing adventures. But I have now counted three different stories in the past year, told to me by guides, about broken bones suffered on their trips by paddling partners when portaging at night.


Three stories is a lot in one year coming from the pros.


Just putting that out there.


As a soloist I’ve made a pledge to myself never portage at night unless it’s a life threatening emergency. And I carry a pretty good headlamp. And I have climbed solo to high altitude many times, mostly at night on summit days.


Night paddling could be wonderful. With an easy shallow sandy “wade in and out” type landing, I think I’ll try it. It’s the night portaging that isn’t for me.

Oh, and in August my earliest solo push off has been 6:10, about three minutes after sunrise. "

Absolutely, and those stories have to be in the back of our minds. I think one big key (and it can be really tough) is to not feel rushed during night travel. Panic isn't the right word, but there is definitely a motivating feeling (at least for me) that when I am traveling at night that there is somewhere I have to be. Maybe a greater rushing feeling? And especially when it is a quick time-off from guiding or outfitting, I feel like I am finally free to move as fast as I want to, go as far as I want to, and really push myself. There's this thing about consistantly pushing groups to overcome their challenges, but it can be hard to challenge yourself at the same time (different thresholds.) All those factors play into the circustances when the "pros" get hurt. Honestly, most of the injuries/close calls I have ever had were in my off time/personal trips. Maybe I am being less careful, or maybe the stakes are raised a little bit, but I know that's when it always happens for me (in the dark or not.)

TreeBear: "

LaVirginienne: "I’m such a night owl and I admire you!



I hope folks won’t mind if I add an observation that has been troubling me for a while now. As everyone knows (and I’m sure lots of guides are members of this forum!), there are a lot of truly badass guides working the outfitters on BWCA and Q. These folks know the million acres better than most. The trips these folks do on their off hours and days are some truly amazing adventures. But I have now counted three different stories in the past year, told to me by guides, about broken bones suffered on their trips by paddling partners when portaging at night.



Three stories is a lot in one year coming from the pros.



Just putting that out there.



As a soloist I’ve made a pledge to myself never portage at night unless it’s a life threatening emergency. And I carry a pretty good headlamp. And I have climbed solo to high altitude many times, mostly at night on summit days.



Night paddling could be wonderful. With an easy shallow sandy “wade in and out” type landing, I think I’ll try it. It’s the night portaging that isn’t for me.


Oh, and in August my earliest solo push off has been 6:10, about three minutes after sunrise. "

Absolutely, and those stories have to be in the back of our minds. I think one big key (and it can be really tough) is to not feel rushed during night travel. Panic isn't the right word, but there is definitely a motivating feeling (at least for me) that when I am traveling at night that there is somewhere I have to be. Maybe a greater rushing feeling? And especially when it is a quick time-off from guiding or outfitting, I feel like I am finally free to move as fast as I want to, go as far as I want to, and really push myself. There's this thing about consistantly pushing groups to overcome their challenges, but it can be hard to challenge yourself at the same time (different thresholds.) All those factors play into the circustances when the "pros" get hurt. Honestly, most of the injuries/close calls I have ever had were in my off time/personal trips. Maybe I am being less careful, or maybe the stakes are raised a little bit, but I know that's when it always happens for me (in the dark or not.)"

Few years ago I had a friend on Oyster that cut himself kinda bad. I live 100 miles west of Ely on the range. I decided to do what I could to help. So after getting permission from the forest supervisor I threw stuff together and got to the moose river north in the evening. Goal was to be on the right channel of the oyster before it was to dark to find. Got on it moments before the lights in the sky totally were gone. It was dark! It was after midnight when I rolled into camp on Oyster. The worst I suppose is missing the portage I had to drag up through the rapids... did I mention it was dark... haha. Lots could have happened, it wasn’t very “smart”. But a little short last adventure in the BW’s.
Only was able to muster one more trip after that and now my hands can hardly hold a paddle long at all.
I always thought getting on the water maybe seven... seven thirty was good. AM that is... haha. I really enjoyed a sunrise with my coffee and an ok breakfast first. Didn’t like to be pushed before that. My last trip to WCPP was with magic paddler. I asked him what time he’d want to leave so I could plan my morning routine around that. It got so once he heard me get out of my tent he’d be tearing down and ready to go before I had a chance to even start my routine. Mind you, I was all packed also so off we’d go maybe an hour or two before the time we had agreed upon. My body was going downhill fast at that point of my life so I had a bit of difficulty keeping up all the while wishing I’d had my coffee. But we stumbled upon moose we may have never seen and many great morning sights. I’d be a fool to look back and say I wished I’d waited til I’d had my coffee... now I can’t paddle. I can sit and drink coffee all day. All the while looking at pictures of moose I’d seen because I missed a cup that day... biggest and closest encounter I think I ever had.

TreeBear: "

LaVirginienne: "I’m such a night owl and I admire you!



I hope folks won’t mind if I add an observation that has been troubling me for a while now. As everyone knows (and I’m sure lots of guides are members of this forum!), there are a lot of truly badass guides working the outfitters on BWCA and Q. These folks know the million acres better than most. The trips these folks do on their off hours and days are some truly amazing adventures. But I have now counted three different stories in the past year, told to me by guides, about broken bones suffered on their trips by paddling partners when portaging at night.



Three stories is a lot in one year coming from the pros.



Just putting that out there.



As a soloist I’ve made a pledge to myself never portage at night unless it’s a life threatening emergency. And I carry a pretty good headlamp. And I have climbed solo to high altitude many times, mostly at night on summit days.



Night paddling could be wonderful. With an easy shallow sandy “wade in and out” type landing, I think I’ll try it. It’s the night portaging that isn’t for me.


Oh, and in August my earliest solo push off has been 6:10, about three minutes after sunrise. "

Absolutely, and those stories have to be in the back of our minds. I think one big key (and it can be really tough) is to not feel rushed during night travel. Panic isn't the right word, but there is definitely a motivating feeling (at least for me) that when I am traveling at night that there is somewhere I have to be. Maybe a greater rushing feeling? And especially when it is a quick time-off from guiding or outfitting, I feel like I am finally free to move as fast as I want to, go as far as I want to, and really push myself. There's this thing about consistantly pushing groups to overcome their challenges, but it can be hard to challenge yourself at the same time (different thresholds.) All those factors play into the circustances when the "pros" get hurt. Honestly, most of the injuries/close calls I have ever had were in my off time/personal trips. Maybe I am being less careful, or maybe the stakes are raised a little bit, but I know that's when it always happens for me (in the dark or not.)"

Awesome Treebear! I totally get it. Loved reading this.

After breakfast!

It depends -- if outta Ely, Britton's is open early. There might've been a time when we just grabbed something quick for the drive to the EP and off abt 8.
This year going in off Gunflint side and Trail Center only opens for breakfast at 8:00, so we'll do that and hopefully on the water by 9-9:30.

We normally do breakfast at Brittons but this year I think we are just going to wake up early and get a head start up to Lower Basswood Falls/Crooked. I'm thinking I would like to have more flexibility since we normally don't do that much traveling. In years past we might only portage in 1 lake or maybe 2 so breakfast in town didn't seem to be a huge deal.

Myself I always preferred to get going as early as possible, but on group trips it is always later after a big breakfast. My drive is about 10-10.5 hours and I have never minded driving through the night.