I receive occasional notices from John of his position. For those of you who are following his all spring-summer-fall adventure, I will post his locations so you can stop by and wave or say hello.
On 7-22-22 - John messaged that he in on hatchet Lake-campsite 1907 - south side middle of the lake. Hatchet is just south of Ima.

Grandma L: "I receive occasional notices from John of his position. For those of you who are following his all spring-summer-fall adventure, I will post his locations so you can stop by and wave or say hello.
On 7-22-22 - John messaged that he in on hatchet Lake-campsite 1907 - south side middle of the lake. Hatchet is just south of Ima. "

He’s at a beautiful campsite there on Hatchet. Very nice. I’d say East of Ima, but to each their own.

John is on the move - 7/25/22. He is on Wisini - site # 1470 on the west side of the north fingerling. Just north east of the 10 rod portage to Strup lake.

Lawnchair 107 - thanks for the direction correction - But, I got you to look and comment.

I'm just proud of John and happy for him.

Hi Grandama, is he using a InReach unit to communicate and give you a position? Thanks for giving us an update.

He is using a Zoleo - I only get map coordinates - I am sure it can be setup for more but once he is in the BWCA he can"t change it. I much prefer tracking paddlers with SPOT or InReach. the MN Border Route Challenge is all SPOT or InReach. I have 17 to 30 paddlers there to track - depending on the event.

Grandma L: "John is on the move - 7/25/22. He is on Wisini - site # 1470 on the west side of the north fingerling. Just north east of the 10 rod portage to Strup lake. "

Thanks for the update, Grandma L...he's certainly seeing some beautiful country!

John checked in today - He is currently on Kekekabic - the site on the north West end in a small bay.

When does he come out?

When does he come out?

He was planning being on Crooked in three weeks

I'm not saying John is going to die, but I like the general sentiment.

If you clicked on the just prior link, you know the tune:

Every mornin' at his site you'd see him rise
Coffee in his hand and a gleam in his eye
He's stand on the shore
And study the lake
But the man didn't dawdle
There were miles to make.

(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)

Paddlers saw him here
They saw him there
All together
He was pert near everywhere.

(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)

He started in the spring
When the water was cold
Some are guessing
He'll paddle 'til he's old.

(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)

He's slept with the moose
And the big, bad bears
He'll paddle away
The last of his cares.

(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)

A thousand years
And folks will say
John's still out there
Still paddling away.

(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)

Just got a location from John. He is currently on Sucker Lake, just east of Prairie Portage. On the motor side.

New location last evening. 8/11/22 John is at site 851 on the Basswood Fiver. East of Basswood Falls about middle of the 360 Rod portage.

Wow! I ran into him a couple days ago on the Carp-Birch portage near there. He was headed to meet an outfitter for a resupply and seemed in good spirits. What an epic experience! Is there a way we can follow him?

Good question - I only get Zoleo Lat-Long positions now and then. He is not set-up for us to track.

Grandma L: "New location last evening. 8/11/22 John is at site 851 on the Basswood Fiver. East of Basswood Falls about middle of the 360 Rod portage. "

I'm trying to follow along on the BWCA forum map. Is site 851 the same as 1684 on the BWCA forum map?

missmolly: "If you clicked on the just prior link, you know the tune:

Every mornin' at his site you'd see him rise
Coffee in his hand and a gleam in his eye
He's stand on the shore
And study the lake
But the man didn't dawdle
There were miles to make.


(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)


Paddlers saw him here
They saw him there
All together
He was pert near everywhere.


(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)


He started in the spring
When the water was cold
Some are guessing
He'll paddle 'til he's old.


(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)


He's slept with the moose
And the big, bad bears
He'll paddle away
The last of his cares.


(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)


A thousand years
And folks will say
John's still out there
Still paddling away.


(Big John, big John)
Big bad John (big John)
"

That's awesome! Well written, Miss Molly...Big John will love it when it gets back to the boards!!! :) :) :)

MidwestFirecraft: "

Grandma L: "New location last evening. 8/11/22 John is at site 851 on the Basswood Fiver. East of Basswood Falls about middle of the 360 Rod portage. "

I'm trying to follow along on the BWCA forum map. Is site 851 the same as 1684 on the BWCA forum map?"

Thats where I pictured him as well.

You are kind, Mr. Jedi.

Lawnchair107: "

MidwestFirecraft: "

Grandma L: "New location last evening. 8/11/22 John is at site 851 on the Basswood Fiver. East of Basswood Falls about middle of the 360 Rod portage. "

I'm trying to follow along on the BWCA forum map. Is site 851 the same as 1684 on the BWCA forum map?"

Thats where I pictured him as well."

Must just be a different numbering system...

Now I have miss molly in my head using her Johnny Cash voice singing that. Good work MM.

nctry: "Now I have miss molly in my head using her Johnny Cash voice singing that. Good work MM."

I'll plant this one in your head Ben, with my voice while we ruminate around the campfire.

You hump a beat up canoe
what do you get
Another lake deeper into the BW
and yet
My wife keeps calling still I can't get home
Cause I've gotta milk this paddle
till it's dry as a bone

Going in today to find John Galt. Unless he moves, we’ll find him on Tuesday or so.

nctry: "Now I have miss molly in my head using her Johnny Cash voice singing that. Good work MM."

Ha!

8/27/2022 -John reported being on Crooked Lake - Site 1868 west side of the bay.

LindenTree: "

nctry: "Now I have miss molly in my head using her Johnny Cash voice singing that. Good work MM."

I'll plant this one in your head Ben, with my voice while we ruminate around the campfire.


You hump a beat up canoe
what do you get
Another lake deeper into the BW
and yet
My wife keeps calling still I can't get home
Cause I've gotta milk this paddle
till it's dry as a bone
"

Oh boy... put that in the guys thread about staying busy... write songs!

Good to hear the Galt man is still at it! Getting to be an awesome time of year. Little wet now, but great days ahead! Sure miss my paddling days...

Grandma L: "8/27/2022 -John reported being on Crooked Lake - Site 1868 west side of the bay."

Confirmed on Crooked. But I saw him set up at 1857
Edit* that was on 8/24 though

8/30/22 - message from John with locations. On Wagosh Lake - straight south of Friday Bay. Only one site on that lake.

I'll be in the area near John this weekend. If I bump into him I'll say hello. What does he look like?

CatchMe: "I'll be in the area near John this weekend. If I bump into him I'll say hello. What does he look like?"

He'll be the stinky, hairy, grubby guy that wants to talk a lot....to someone besides himself. You'll recognize him.

Today 8/31/22 - John's message - He is on Gun Lake - south of Friday Bay - site 1086 on the south side of the lake.

I heard from John today - here is the conversation I am not sure when these messages were written, I received them on the date before each message.
9/12/22
"It’s my first time using it as well (for this trip). So far, I like it. If they added crude weather radar, it would be perfect. That storm had me considering postponing my departure, fingers crossed I made the right call tomorrow ??"
9/12/22
Still on Moose & survived the storm. A tree fell across my canoe - looks okay at first glance, though I’ll know more later after clearing the tree. I’m taking it as a sign to stay on Moose for the opener. Now to clear a tree! ??
9/12/22
Still on Moose & survived the storm. Tree fell across my canoe & I spent time getting it free today, tho it looks to be scratch free. I took it as a sign to stay on Moose for the opener. Fishing + packing tomorrow & planning to move Sun
9/212/22
It seems my messages getting through to your email is hit/miss (more miss?). Paddled to Birch Lake last night. Was windbound yesterday & Thursday’s storm laid a tree across my canoe, so that delayed my planned Friday travel.
9/12/22 at Canoe Country Campground and Cabins (47.97977, -91.51431)

So, these are delayed messages fro the start of his trip? What other “opener” is there now? I guess it could be various hunting seasons..

Yeah I got three messages about meeting up at Wed bay yesterday that were sent three weeks ago. Maybe the Zoleo needs some upgrades.

I got a position message from John last evening - he is on Ensign middle - south side.

9/22/22 - I got a message from John this evening. He is on Jordan Lake - northwest side

Heard for John today. He is on Insula, just east of the Hudson Portage. site #1360. It is supposed to be getting cold mid-week and possibly a few snowflakes up there.

When is his trip end date?

Mocha: "When is his trip end date?"

If I remember correctly his goal was to get in ice out, and come out ice in. He was in Ely long before the ice broke on the lakes this year.

Just hope the weather doesn't play any tricks on him and he gets "ice locked".

Got a location message this morning. John is on Lake One at site 1678. That site is on the big island in the southern part of Lake One - west end of the island.

John's location message for today says he is at the Lake One landing. Resupply? warmer clothes? Will have to wait to see

Grandma L: "John's location message for today says he is at the Lake One landing. Resupply? warmer clothes? Will have to wait to see"

Hello Grandma L!
Glad to hear my messages made it through & I hope you've been well :).
I had ~10/14 penciled in as my exit date based on wisdom gleaned from here & with the forecast for the next week being a mix of wintery precipitation, I decided to not press my luck & made for the exit today while the weather was mild. I may have been okay to stick it out for a couple/few more weeks, though I had made some plans down south for the end of Oct into Nov.
It has been a life-changing five months & i was not eager to leave the woods, it became home & made for a pleasant routine. Depending on how things go, I may plunge back into the woods again next year for a victory lap.
I owe you all a trip report & some pics/videos - lots of content to sort through & it may take me a bit of time to get it all together, though it will happen.
Cheers!

CabinAfter: "Wow! I ran into him a couple days ago on the Carp-Birch portage near there. He was headed to meet an outfitter for a resupply and seemed in good spirits. What an epic experience! Is there a way we can follow him? "

Howdy!
That portage sure was popular that day - it was one of the most populated stretches I passed through, maybe only bested by Splash portage in June.
While I'm not certain which of the folks I met on that portage you might be, they were all grand, so I can confidently say it was nice to meet you!
I hope you had an enjoyable rest of your trip & to cross paths with you again sometime :)

missmolly: "If you clicked on the just prior link, you know the tune:
...
"

I'm humbled by your creative benevolence. God broke the mould with you!

JohnGalt: "

missmolly: "If you clicked on the just prior link, you know the tune:
...
"

I'm humbled by your creative benevolence. God broke the mould with you! "

;-)

congratulations on your adventure. it IS very hard to leave the woods and EVEN HARDER to acclimate back into the real world. be sure to give yourself enough time and savor the afterglow.

Mocha: "congratulations on your adventure. it IS very hard to leave the woods and EVEN HARDER to acclimate back into the real world. be sure to give yourself enough time and savor the afterglow."

Thank you!
It would have been much more difficult without the knowledge provided by this forum, I am eternally grateful to everyone here.
It is a twist returning to civilized life - I could barely sleep last night, I figured I'd sleep like a babe being indoors & in a bed, though the indoor air feels so stifling it kept me up haha. I also over did it with rich food yesterday & returned my reuben by the path which it came.

John, how many days did you spend in the BWCA? Did you read "Hatchet?" The book's protagonist is overwhelmed by the stimulation of a shopping mall after coming out of the bush. Is it that way for you too?

Congrats John!!!

Congrats, John! That is an amazing adventure to have spent so many months out there solo. I look forward to your trip report.

missmolly: "John, how many days did you spend in the BWCA? Did you read "Hatchet?" The book's protagonist is overwhelmed by the stimulation of a shopping mall after coming out of the bush. Is it that way for you too?"

I did not read it, yet :). I saw it was a series, which is neat.
It was not as overwhelming as I'm sure it would have been for someone in Hatchets condition, as he was a youth plunged into the situation unwittingly so I think that caused some 'trauma'.
That said, i do notice some things, like the difference in air indoors being stuffy, running water being appreciated though i question if the lake water was not healthier, I'm much more content with less & am not in a hurry, I look with more awe at nature than at buildings/etc. A changed man haha

I was in from May 11 to Oct 11, taking out for ~10 days end of June into July staying in a bunkhouse or cabin & ~7 days in early/mid sept camping at CCOs campground on Moose. If I recall correctly, I took out on day 154, starting with day 1 not 0, so ~147 in the wild.

I hope you had a great summer. What was the furthest East/West lakes to which you travelled? It was fun to check on your progress through this thread. If you publish anything, I would love to read/watch it.

Congratulations... great trip!

John, I think appreciating the simple things makes for the best person. I watched one of those home-buying shows and a father bought his daughter a $12.5 million penthouse for her college digs.

I thought, "You've cursed her."

When you begin life with that magnitude of excess, what do you need next to feel gratitude, to feel fully alive?

I began life in a trailer, raised three to a bed. My pleasures were the stream out back, chock full of snakes and crawdads, and my over-sized bike, which was easier to pedal in a standing position because I was puny, but it took me to yonder streams and woods.

I think the months you spent in the BWCA will stay with you for the rest of your life. Ernest Hemingway, as an old man, wrote that he carried his youthful years in Paris with him still, as "a movable feast."

You'll carry the BWCA in you for the rest of your days.

JohnGalt: "

missmolly: "John, how many days did you spend in the BWCA? Did you read "Hatchet?" The book's protagonist is overwhelmed by the stimulation of a shopping mall after coming out of the bush. Is it that way for you too?"

I did not read it, yet :). I saw it was a series, which is neat.
It was not as overwhelming as I'm sure it would have been for someone in Hatchets condition, as he was a youth plunged into the situation unwittingly so I think that caused some 'trauma'.
That said, i do notice some things, like the difference in air indoors being stuffy, running water being appreciated though i question if the lake water was not healthier, I'm much more content with less & am not in a hurry, I look with more awe at nature than at buildings/etc. A changed man haha

I was in from May 11 to Oct 11, taking out for ~10 days end of June into July staying in a bunkhouse or cabin & ~7 days in early/mid sept camping at CCOs campground on Moose. If I recall correctly, I took out on day 154, starting with day 1 not 0, so ~147 in the wild."

Is there a few chapters of your trip report ready for reading yet?