Reading about electricity at Sawbill and cell phone service across the Boundary Waters makes me a little bit sad. I am happy for those of you who live up there and will benefit from these things but I miss the old days sometimes. I have a cell phone but sometimes I wish it didn't work. If I live long enough I may drive up the Sawbill Trail one of these days and find a Culvers. I miss Bettys Pies being a tiny place with a walk-up window. I miss being able to camp along the North Shore without a reservation.
I am grateful for the memories though and I am grateful that there is still a lot of bush. Happy Thanksgiving.

The times you are talking about sound amazing. I don't go back quite that far but even just 20-25 years ago were incredibly different than what it is today. It feels like it is losing some magic but nothing lasts forever.

I understand what you are saying Traveler. I am a similar age.

A few years ago, I promised myself, that for the rest of my life, I'd live life looking out the windshield rather than the rearview mirror.

Happy Thanksgiving!

bobbernumber3: "I understand what you are saying Traveler. I am a similar age.


A few years ago, I promised myself, that for the rest of my life, I'd live life looking out the windshield rather than the rearview mirror.


Happy Thanksgiving!
"

LOVE ^this.^

Traveler, did you read "Huckleberry Finn"? If so, you might remember what Huck does and if not, here it is:

"But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can't stand it. I been there before."

I try to follow in Huck's footsteps. I once fished an amazing lake in northwestern Ontario. You had to cross one lake and portage four rapids to reach it, but once you did, you had a waterfall at both ends and big bass, walleye, and pike between them. Then, one day, two groups of canoeists arrived. I immediately packed, left, and have never returned, for there's always a lonesome lake beyond yonder rapids, and if not, beyond yonder yonder rapids.

missmolly: "Traveler, did you read "Huckleberry Finn"? If so, you might remember what Huck does and if not, here it is:


"But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can't stand it. I been there before."


I try to follow in Huck's footsteps. I once fished an amazing lake in northwestern Ontario. You had to cross one lake and portage four rapids to reach it, but once you did, you had a waterfall at both ends and big bass, walleye, and pike between them. Then, one day, two groups of canoeists arrived. I immediately packed, left, and have never returned, for there's always a lonesome lake beyond yonder rapids, and if not, beyond yonder yonder rapids. "

I am reminded of my favorite passage from "Paradise Below Zero" by Calvin Rutstrum. He relates the tale of two guys deep in the Canadian bush in the winter. One turns to the other and says, "Now dammit, we can yell for help and no one will hear us."

x2jmorris: "The times you are talking about sound amazing. I don't go back quite that far but even just 20-25 years ago were incredibly different than what it is today. It feels like it is losing some magic but nothing lasts forever."

Hope you don't mind me saying so but you hit the nail on the head in your response, x2jmorris. As another old man who recalls earlier times, there's a kind of sadness in my heart for the loss of wild environments that only exists where human settlement does not encroach... or encroaches lightly. The BWCA is at heart but I speak on a broader scale, as well. The future generations will not miss it at all as they will have no firsthand experiences of it, except for reading about its wonders, challenges, and quietude in a book/novel/journal. Thankfully, there are still special, quiet spots to be found. Personally, I am saddened by the news of the Sawbill area receiving generous grant money for improved electrical accessibility. Increased utilities mean mowing down more forested areas to accommodate the grids then followed by increased home development, convenience stores, and more of the trappings of the march of capitalism. The quietude of forested roads and the delight of occasional wildlife sightings will be adversely affected, for sure. Such is the madness of modern progress.

It sounds like you're losing the small town feeling. I think it's still the old days in many many small towns and rural areas. I think there are still many "secret places" waiting to be found.

gravelroad: "

missmolly:
"But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can't stand it. I been there before."

Yeah, I am ready to "light out for the Territory"!

Back in '69 my dad and I paddled 2 days on a lake near Dryden, Ont. to get to a spot he wanted to find. Two years later we went back and came around a bend toward the end of the second day only to discover a logging bridge across the lake in front of us!

Gotta keep looking out the windshield. :-)

Not sure what I did there. First time I tried to Reply with Quote and it looks like I was quoting myself! Ha ha

"And [we'd] have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for those meddling kids!"

Traveler: "

gravelroad: "

missmolly:
"But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can't stand it. I been there before."

Yeah, I am ready to "light out for the Territory"!


Back in '69 my dad and I paddled 2 days on a lake near Dryden, Ont. to get to a spot he wanted to find. Two years later we went back and came around a bend toward the end of the second day only to discover a logging bridge across the lake in front of us!


Gotta keep looking out the windshield. :-)

"

Traveler, I have nightmares where I reach lakes I've loved and they concrete bottoms like swimming pools and sidewalks and tourists. And the water is so clear that I can see there's no life whatsoever in the water.

This old guy also misses the old days also.

I grow up on Basswood, my parents worked there. Mom cooking and cleaning at the Resorts. My Dad guiding, building and trapping. My Father is Buried on Basswood, I need a permit to visit his grave. The family home was taken from us and burned to the ground. Now it is a campsite.

I wish I could stop or change what outsiders call progress. No, they have more power and more money.

This land was my/our land now it is yours!!

A perfect conversation for the day after "Thanksgiving".

Bekaadesiwin

Bekaadesiwin to you too, Maiingan. I am sorry for your families loss.

"A perfect conversation for the day after "Thanksgiving"."

No, it's a conversation for another thread. Only one comment: The BWCA is also yours. It's not just ours.

Traveler: "I miss Bettys Pies being a tiny place with a walk-up window. I miss being able to camp along the North Shore without a reservation."

Yes, and there was a time you could go up the north shore in the fall without having a reservation (and it didn't cost $300/nite). Way back when Tettegouche was known as the Baptism River wayside rest stop, just a parking lot on the side of 61. You could shoot a cannon down Hwy 61 and not hit anything on most any fall day.

I feel the same, Traveler. People have probably always felt this way. The Roman road crossing the Alps, the Claudia Augusta, was finished 2000 years ago. It’s still awe inspiring. Then you realize that the mountain herders who had already lived there for thousands of years BC must have seen the Romans coming and thought “This can’t be good.”

It's not just accelerating technology and development. When my mother was born in 1932, the world population was just under 2 billion. When she birthed me, it was just under 3 billion and when I first paddled canoe country it was just over 4. We just recently reached 8 billion people on the planet. The woman I shared thanksgiving with yesterday has seen the number of living humans quadruple in her lifetime.

I’ve been trying to look forward by appreciating that I never saw orioles or bluebirds in my youth but see them now every summer. Bald eagles are thick as thieves down here 400 miles south of Ely. I never saw one as a kid. The best way I’ve found to keep looking forward is realizing that my kids and grandkids do not want to hear about how much better things used to be. They do like to see things that are cool now, and I’m lucky to still be around to show them, as missmolly says, “beyond yonder yonder.”

p.s. – maiingan, I’ll raise a toast in your parents’ honor the next time I’m on Basswood. Nobody should need a permit to visit their father’s grave.

A solar flare will create another dark age soon. We can have those times back.

missmolly: "Traveler, did you read "Huckleberry Finn"? If so, you might remember what Huck does and if not, here it is:


"But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can't stand it. I been there before."


I try to follow in Huck's footsteps. I once fished an amazing lake in northwestern Ontario. You had to cross one lake and portage four rapids to reach it, but once you did, you had a waterfall at both ends and big bass, walleye, and pike between them. Then, one day, two groups of canoeists arrived. I immediately packed, left, and have never returned, for there's always a lonesome lake beyond yonder rapids, and if not, beyond yonder yonder rapids. "

I concur.
I love going to those places, where you feel no one has been there for a few hundred years.
They do exist.

x2jmorris: "The times you are talking about sound amazing. I don't go back quite that far but even just 20-25 years ago were incredibly different than what it is today. It feels like it is losing some magic but nothing lasts forever."

No they don't: But some things should.

Stumpy: "

missmolly: "Traveler, did you read "Huckleberry Finn"? If so, you might remember what Huck does and if not, here it is:



"But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can't stand it. I been there before."



I try to follow in Huck's footsteps. I once fished an amazing lake in northwestern Ontario. You had to cross one lake and portage four rapids to reach it, but once you did, you had a waterfall at both ends and big bass, walleye, and pike between them. Then, one day, two groups of canoeists arrived. I immediately packed, left, and have never returned, for there's always a lonesome lake beyond yonder rapids, and if not, beyond yonder yonder rapids. "

I concur.
I love going to those places, where you feel no one has been there for a few hundred years.
They do exist. "

Heck, yeah, they do, Stumpy. To reach them, one often has to sweat and grunt and be scratched and bitten, but they're worth all that and more.

Everytime I hear someone, "If a hotel doesn't have room service, I consider that roughing it," I secretly rejoice for such people help keep the wild places wild.

mjmkjun: " The future generations will not miss it at all as they will have no firsthand experiences of it, "

This thought is particularly sobering and worrisome to me. It’s much harder miss something you never knew.

It still has its magic. . . you just have to adapt. We take our groups up mid to late September and mostly base camp on Seagull, Alpine, or Red Rock. Whe Alpine started getting crowded we moved to Red Rock and the last week of September. In four years of doing that, we have yet to see another paddler. Base camping in that setting is what brings us solitude. Paddling miles in and through many portages is what brings us to crossing paths with other paddlers. Its about adapting. And yes, I am the same age as the OP as are most of our guys. Nothing says solitude like waking up to a big breakfast, spending the day fishing, then returning for a big dinner followed by hours around the campfire before turning in.

That kind of solitude I have not found in the BWCA for many years, ockycamper. I guess late September is the ticket although I have always brought along a son or grandson who was still in school. Maybe someday...

In the meantime I am looking farther afield.

Traveler: "That kind of solitude I have not found in the BWCA for many years, ockycamper. I guess late September is the ticket although I have always brought along a son or grandson who was still in school. Maybe someday...


In the meantime I am looking farther afield. "

Our men have been going to BWCA for over 15 years. The first 3 years from the Ely area, trying last week of May, then August, then first week of September. We would get to portgages and have to "stage" out on the water with other canoes waiting on our turn to land. We said no more.

Fourth year we moved to Gunflint. We went in the first time at the Isabella/Liz area. Again, paddlers. (early September). So we moved to Seagull. Second week of September we were portaging into Alpine and it was like a highway. When we arrived at Alpine there was not a vacant camp site to be found.

So we retooled and moved to 3rd and 4th weeks of September and moved to Rockwood. That did the ticket. In the last 3 years we have not seen, heard, or passed a paddler not in one or our groups.

We prize solitude. That means going later in September, going to the smaller lakes off the Gunflint, and basecamping.

ockycamper: "

Traveler: "That kind of solitude I have not found in the BWCA for many years, ockycamper. I guess late September is the ticket although I have always brought along a son or grandson who was still in school. Maybe someday...



In the meantime I am looking farther afield. "

Our men have been going to BWCA for over 15 years. The first 3 years from the Ely area, trying last week of May, then August, then first week of September. We would get to portgages and have to "stage" out on the water with other canoes waiting on our turn to land. We said no more.


Fourth year we moved to Gunflint. We went in the first time at the Isabella/Liz area. Again, paddlers. (early September). So we moved to Seagull. Second week of September we were portaging into Alpine and it was like a highway. When we arrived at Alpine there was not a vacant camp site to be found.


So we retooled and moved to 3rd and 4th weeks of September and moved to Rockwood. That did the ticket. In the last 3 years we have not seen, heard, or passed a paddler not in one or our groups.


We prize solitude. That means going later in September, going to the smaller lakes off the Gunflint, and basecamping. "

Late Sept and early Oct work well for me too. I also find early June to be ok. Bringing kids makes those times harder as it can be quite cold and not very enjoyable for them. Dead end lakes are another thing I try.

I really do not understand people complaining about having cell phone coverage. Maybe I'm missing something here, but I don't think you're required to bring a cell phone. And you always have the option to just turn it off.

Ahh, I understand, and of course I do not have to bring a phone or turn it on — except that I'm married. When phone service was not possible there was nothing I could do. Now that it's possible I will have to report in every day. Not really complaining, there are things I like about that too. But it is one more way that the solitude is getting harder to find.

I was thinking about this post while cutting up turkey bits for the freezer (always a fun after-Thanksgiving task) when Carly Simon's "Anticipation" (with the refrain "these are the good old days") came on the stereo. It made me think that while my 'good old days' for the BWCA/Q date to my first trip in 1978, many paddlers' 'good old days' are now. Consider the Greek philosopher Heraclitus' saying, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.”

TZ

Maiingan-
Excuse my poor Anishinabe: I am naniinawendam.
Man, there is no other way to look at it: you got hosed. At least your father got to stay...

Traveler: "Ahh, I understand, and of course I do not have to bring a phone or turn it on — except that I'm married. When phone service was not possible there was nothing I could do. Now that it's possible I will have to report in every day. Not really complaining, there are things I like about that too. But it is one more way that the solitude is getting harder to find."

Traveler, as one old guy to another, my solution was to get a Garmin Inreach mini satellite communicator. I use it to send a daily “I’m OK” message to family, who are instructed not to reply unless it is something absolutely urgent. It is not very time consuming or intrusive. You do not get messages, phone calls, or email from anyone you have not sent a message. Sometimes at the same time I’ll update a weather report. It also has an SOS button.

lundojam: "Maiingan-
Excuse my poor Anishinabe: I am naniinawendam.
Man, there is no other way to look at it: you got hosed. At least your father got to stay...
"

I miss a time when there were more good people like You Lundojam, Traveler, KawnipiKid, etc.......

"When you are in doubt, be still, and wait; when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.
So long as mists envelop you, be still; be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists
-- as it surely will. Then act with courage."
- Chief White Eagle, Ponca

Traveler: "Ahh, I understand, and of course I do not have to bring a phone or turn it on — except that I'm married. When phone service was not possible there was nothing I could do. Now that it's possible I will have to report in every day. Not really complaining, there are things I like about that too. But it is one more way that the solitude is getting harder to find."

No, you don't "have to." If maintaining that boundary, which hasn't been a problem in your relationship up to now, is important to you, why would your partner force their desire to cross that boundary on you now that they can? Can't they respect that you value the isolation?

Like I said in a thread all about the upcoming cell coverage, this isn't a problem of technology advancing. This is an issue of willpower or lackthereof. Don't want phones to be a part of your wilderness experience? Then don't make them a part of your wilderness experience.

boonie: "

Traveler: "Ahh, I understand, and of course I do not have to bring a phone or turn it on — except that I'm married. When phone service was not possible there was nothing I could do. Now that it's possible I will have to report in every day. Not really complaining, there are things I like about that too. But it is one more way that the solitude is getting harder to find."

Traveler, as one old guy to another, my solution was to get a Garmin Inreach mini satellite communicator. I use it to send a daily “I’m OK” message to family, who are instructed not to reply unless it is something absolutely urgent. It is not very time consuming or intrusive. You do not get messages, phone calls, or email from anyone you have not sent a message. Sometimes at the same time I’ll update a weather report. It also has an SOS button."

We have some guys with those. Others with Spot Messsengers. I was able to find a Sat phone on sale last year with a usage plan similar to Garmin Inreach and Spot. The beauty of the sat phone is there is no charge or message usage on incoming calls or texts. My family knows that can either text me or call me and leave a message. I will then get back to them by text or call when I am available.

As others have suggested, I do not leave the Sat phone or cell phone on continually. Both are left off other then when I need to text, check messages, or make an emergency call.

One thing the Sat phone brings to the table is it has an SOS botton on it like the Garmin and Spot. You can push it for help but also are able to talk to first responders regarding your emergency.

lundojam: "Maiingan-
Excuse my poor Anishinabe: I am naniinawendam.
Man, there is no other way to look at it: you got hosed. At least your father got to stay...
"

Family got hosed twice unfortunately. 1st time when the government/settlers took the area over from the Anishinaabe…then after you come back and own some of it, the FS took it over for the public good to create the BWCAW.

I can argue and rationalize the long term good but looking at it from your perspective it would be a hard pill to swallow.

One persons good ole days is another’s terrible ole days…It’s all perspective I guess. I get the irony for ya of this posting the day after Thanksgiving…

T

I first went to the BW in 1983. Ely is not the same but I am fortunate to experience a little bit of how it was.

I won’t ever take a cell phone on a wilderness trip but having the ability to check weather and send messages on a garmin is fine with me. But talking on a cell phone from North Bay in Quetico just seemed out of place to me. This happened in 2015 when my brother called his wife and got through.

We just have to work harder and go further north to get that real wilderness feeling.

I’m with ya Traveler... been going since ‘77. I totally get everyone’s responses. The windshield comment has it’s merits. But not at all a bad thing to check the rear view mirror now and again. I can’t paddle like I could and I’m ok letting a new generation move forward and experience what we have there. I would wish anyone with any ancestor should be able to visit a grave permit or no permit. Respect should go both ways... I’d hope those who lived there could appreciate a certain amount of preservation of said land and we respect and appreciate the culture that was. We do need to keep the windshield clear of bugs and our rear view mirror clean to be able to appreciate the road traveled. Young people have many ways to “relive the past” in many ways. But the ability to experience the solitude and adventure as we got to will diminish as time moves forward and populations increase. Yes, we can travel north... but who knows what will happen with future situations. Not a bad thing to play back some footage from your old dash cams from along the way...

In my profession I have had to study extensively on eminent domain laws. There are clearly examples of when they were used without regard to individuals situations/needs. However, without eminent domain there would be no highways, county/state/national parks, or much of the infastructure we enjoy. And yes, there would be no BWCA

My family lost their farm and 7000 feet of prime river frontage to the wild rivers act.

I have very mixed feelings about it.

The river wouldn't be what it is today without.

I am sure it would be over developed.

But on the other hand being forced to sell was not pleasant.

The park service doesn't even acknowledge the people who were force to sell.

Canoe landings that were named after the people who lived there.

The signs are now just say Canoe Landing.

It would be nice to see some acknowledgement to those who were forced to giving up all the owned,

"However, without eminent domain there would be no highways, county/state/national parks, or much of the infastructure we enjoy."

Yep. There used to be and there might still be a farm on I-94 between Tomah and Eau Claire that was bisected by the highway. The owner painted "Raped Acres" on his barn.

Like Carbon1, "I have very mixed feelings about it."

And as Carbon1 noted, without eminent domain, the lakes would become more and more and MORE developed. Grass would replace native flora. The roar of motorboats would be heard above bird song. And on and on.

However, I lost my last home to the "common good." I know how that feels. I spent years restoring that forest, planting hundreds of lost indigenous species, like elm, chestnut, sugar maple, cherry, walnut, and many more. With the return of the flora came the return of the fauna, but I was coerced into leaving.

So, I see both sides.