Our group fishes hard most of the day. But everyone knows 4pm... and Happy Hour waits for no man. We partake in:

Hydrotherapy
Membership Training
Truth Serum
Pleasure Elixir
Canoeing Fluid

Others?

Nope, don't drink at all when I am on a trip.

Every group has their traditions. Having a cocktail in camp at a set time everyday is something the group can look forward to doing together after a day of fishing or just being on the water. Of course, the key to keeping this tradition a good one is to drink in moderation considering how far you are from help if someone drinks too much and gets hurt.

In my family/group 4pm is known as time for Psychic Balm.

4 pm is when the fish really start biting! You are missing out on the action!

Canoearoo: "4 pm is when the fish really start biting! You are missing out on the action!"

Why can't you do both? :)

One tends to fall out of the boat....:)

Snake Bite Vaccine / Medicine

4:20. You know the drill.

How would a I know when 4 o'clock is? Don't bring a watch. I do bring Bailey's for my morning coffee!

It’s 4pm somewhere...

Vodka soaked gummy lifesavers and another kind of gummy ;)
Made a new drink last trip we dubbed the "dammit deanna"
1 part rum, 1 part fireball, fill the rest with lemonade. Freaking delicious.

I try bringing a different type every trip. Gin and tonic with fresh limes over ice, Margaritas with limes and salt, screwdrivers, wine in a box, martinis with olives, fireball shots, baileys, vodka and lemonade, vodka and any flavor kool-aid.

One of our first trips trip we forgot the water filter but had those water tablets, that was the worst beverage. Kool-aid vodka warm lake water that had those tablets in. Tasted like a swimming pool water with vodka and kool-aid.

I bring “sea urchin piss” aka scotch - perfect Smokey campfire drink and doubles as an antiseptic

I prefer cannabis.

Our groups do not bring alcohol. We also try to go to areas where no one is around so we don't have to listen to groups that get a little loud as they get "relaxed".

ockycamper: "Our groups do not bring alcohol. We also try to go to areas where no one is around so we don't have to listen to groups that get a little loud as they get "relaxed"."

Why does everyone always assume that drinking makes everyone loud? Do people really go to the Boundary Waters to have a party that often? People having a party are going to be loud with or without drinks. Sure, alcohol can help them get louder, but there is a difference between having a few drinks around the fire and partying.

I, myself, always bring a little brandy to sip. Sometimes a little red wine, too.

A1t2o: "

ockycamper: "Our groups do not bring alcohol. We also try to go to areas where no one is around so we don't have to listen to groups that get a little loud as they get "relaxed"."

Why does everyone always assume that drinking makes everyone loud? Do people really go to the boundary waters to have a party that often? People having a party are going to be loud with or without drinks. Sure, alcohol can help them get louder, but there is a difference between having a few drinks around the fire and partying.


I myself always bring a little brandy to sip. Sometimes a little red wine too."

It’s not assumed, it’s experience... there’s always that guy that has one drink and you can hear him three lakes away. Most people are good though... I like a shot of whiskey myself (or did) and sorry to the folks three lakes away... haha.

I thought that you was you Ben! Singing those old voyageurs songs like "la claire fontaine",

Sous les feuilles d'un chêne
Je me suis fait sécher.
Sur la plus haute branche
Le rossignol chantait.

On Canadian trips into the boonies we used to take 180 proof rum, AKA firewater. On one trip we invented the Dynamite, hot tang and rum. The things you do when you are younger.

first year we went to BWCA in the Ely area. Four college guys were paddling two canoes. One canoe was towing an empty canoe loaded with coolers. The second canoe was towing a keg which was bobbing along in the water.

Yep.

ockycamper: "first year we went to BWCA in the Ely area. Four college guys were paddling two canoes. One canoe was towing an empty canoe loaded with coolers. The second canoe was towing a keg which was bobbing along in the water. "

Lake 1?

Yes, Lake 1 on the week before Memorial Day. After that year we left the Ely area for Gunflint and never looked back. We found the party crowds liked the Ely area. Have yet to run into partiers in the Gunflint area. May also be that we go in September.

ockycamper: "Yes, Lake 1 on the week before Memorial Day. After that year we left the Ely area for Gunflint and never looked back. We found the party crowds liked the Ely area. Have yet to run into partiers in the Gunflint area. May also be that we go in September."

You guys go to Alpine every September?

We base camp on Seagull, Alpine or Red Rock every fall and fish the surrounding lakes. Our favorite lake is Seagull. We love the vistas and view from the palisades and high points on the islands. Alpine has been best for fishing. Red Rock best to protect against winds and white caps, which kept us land locked over the years when we stayed on Seagull

ockycamper: "Yes, Lake 1 on the week before Memorial Day. After that year we left the Ely area for Gunflint and never looked back. We found the party crowds liked the Ely area. Have yet to run into partiers in the Gunflint area. May also be that we go in September."

I also trip on the Gunflint side. That might explain why I never though partiers were an issue at all. In fact, I don't think I have ever thought any other group at a campsite was annoying for any reason except that I wanted that site. I just don't hear other people unless I am on the water. Also, I've never stayed on an entry point lake, so that might have something to do with it too.

The only problem I've had with alcohol in the boundary waters is running out.

Four PM seems a pretty early cocktail hour this time of year. When sunset is 9 ish and it stays light until nearly 10:00, I feel like I'd be wasting a significant portion of my trip to start imbibing with so much daylight ahead.

ockycamper: "We base camp on Seagull, Alpine or Red Rock every fall and fish the surrounding lakes. Our favorite lake is Seagull. We love the vistas and view from the palisades and high points on the islands. Alpine has been best for fishing. Red Rock best to protect against winds and white caps, which kept us land locked over the years when we stayed on Seagull"

You gotta see a wide array of campers being so close to an EP there as well, no?

Going 3rd or 4th week of September, we have not seen anyone in the past 3 years. Before that we went the week of Labor Day and the backup into Alpine was huge. Also, every camp site on Alpine was taken.

Give me the last week of September for no bugs, no people, fall colors and solitude

ockycamper: "Going 3rd or 4th week of September, we have not seen anyone in the past 3 years. Before that we went the week of Labor Day and the backup into Alpine was huge. Also, every camp site on Alpine was taken.

Give me the last week of September for no bugs, no people, fall colors and solitude"

Hows the regrowth on Alpine? I’ve been hesitant to visit because of that.

We were on Alpine two of the past 5 years. We did not see any evidence of a fire and most of our groups were in hammocks.

One black Cherry limeade packet in some cold May filtered water upon arriving at camp, whilst sitting on a lakefront rock drying out from a hard day of paddling. That was my routine on this last trip. I don’t drink anymore, but if I did, some vodka in it would have been nice.

Morganade while cooking the evening meal. 100 proof Captain Morgan and Countrytime lemonade mix with some cool lake water.

nctry: "

A1t2o: "

ockycamper: "Our groups do not bring alcohol. We also try to go to areas where no one is around so we don't have to listen to groups that get a little loud as they get "relaxed"."

Why does everyone always assume that drinking makes everyone loud? Do people really go to the boundary waters to have a party that often? People having a party are going to be loud with or without drinks. Sure, alcohol can help them get louder, but there is a difference between having a few drinks around the fire and partying.



I myself always bring a little brandy to sip. Sometimes a little red wine too."

It’s not assumed, it’s experience... there’s always that guy that has one drink and you can hear him three lakes away. Most people are good though... I like a shot of whiskey myself (or did) and sorry to the folks three lakes away... haha."

Nctry is correct. Two years ago on Polly a campsite down from us was really rowdy. We passed them in the morning and they were definitely not feeling well. In spite of that, one guy was actually heading out to resupply their depleted alcohol stash. We reported that violation. Don't know if anything came from it.

Crystal light, vodka and lake water drank from a Nalgene.

A timeless classic