Curious how folks handle finding various items.

Small things - sunglasses, pocket knife, compass, lighter - all things we've found at vacant campsites and portages. We just pick them up and don't put much thought into it.

Larger items - we've came across a set of fishing poles and a full pack (twice) - at portages with no one around. We've always just kind of set them aside, but still very visable, with the thought that eventually the party will realize and return.

Maybe that's not the preferred course of action though? When do you leave it and when do you take it. When you do take it with you, what's your plan?

I think if I knew no one was around I would take it and list it on here as well as the facebook site. I usually travel pretty slow so carrying an extra item isn't an issue for me.

Unless something appears at risk of becoming "trash" I try to place it in an obvious but secure spot nearby. I've accidentally left items at a site and recovered them days later and was grateful they hadn't been removed.

I figure people are generally more likely to be reunited quickly with important items by retracing their steps than by trying to track down various lost-and-found postings after they leave the BWCA.

Items that appear to have been abandoned for a longer time I'd consider packing out.

If I found something like a portage pack I would leave it in place. The owner of it might not appear to be around, but is close and on their way back to get it. They might need their gear for the rest of their trip. I once had my own portage pack, paddle and other gear picked up off the end of a portage by a disorganized group while I was working on carrying my canoe across the portage. It had been stashed way off to the side away from the other group’s gear. Luckily I saw a guy carrying it and got it all back from him. Otherwise I would have been stranded with no food, shelter, extra clothing or paddle! So I think it’s best to just leave things like that where they’re found.

EmmaMorgan: "If I found something like a portage pack I would leave it in place. The owner of it might not appear to be around, but is close and on their way back to get it. They might need their gear for the rest of their trip. I once had my own portage pack, paddle and other gear picked up off the end of a portage by a disorganized group while I was working on carrying my canoe across the portage. It had been stashed way off to the side away from the other group’s gear. Luckily I saw a guy carrying it and got it all back from him. Otherwise I would have been stranded with no food, shelter, extra clothing or paddle! So I think it’s best to just leave things like that where they’re found. "

Yikes. Yeah I wouldn't touch anything if others were around. I guess in my response I was assuming no one was anywhere nearby but idk. If I was almost out and had forgot something ... which leaving a pack seems impossible to me as I load the canoe the same way every time but if I had forgot one I would hope it was brought out. I could be in the minority though I guess.

Like the "found well packed Duluth pack"? I think someone would be returning for that!

My son and I had this dilemma two years ago - I think it was the Trapline - Beaver portage just up from Malberg. We saw nobody as we came south from Adams, and this spot has a pretty remote feel for the BWCA. Older but nice canvas portage pack just sitting there at the end of the portage - oddly out in the open, not at all off to the side on by trees or anything. Decided that if it was ours, we'd go back for it, and so left it. Have wondered from time to time if its owner was reunited with the pack.

We do the same as your group.

One time I saw a fanny pack on the portage from Jordan to Ima..in it was medication. We didn’t know which way the group was heading so we left it assuming they’d come back. Got it out of the way but made it obvious. As we traveled we asked each group we ran into and soon, sure enough the third group we ran into was coming back for it. Wish I had grabbed it, but not knowing which way they were headed I also realized I had the possibility of doing more harm by moving it further away.

We just hoped no one else dragged it off…never found out if they got it back or not.

T

Never touch someone else's pack, unless it obstructs a portage or landing. It's practically impossible to forget a pack, at least not for more than few hours. Any interference might be dangerous and could make it difficult for rightful owners to retrieve their gear.

How about if it's most likely trash? We found a chair, wool blankets, shoes and a tarp that were left at a campsite maybe 15-20 lbs worth of gear. I presumed it was lazy campers leaving heavy items on purpose but was torn with how to handle the eyesore....

I leave it - it's a lot more likely someone will know where they left it than it is that I'll find them. Make it more visible if it's not obvious. Of course, I pick up trash - snap swivels, tangles of fishing line, even the occasional stake that looks like it's been there a while.

bobbernumber3: "Like the "found well packed Duluth pack"? I think someone would be returning for that!"

That was my thought in starting this thread. I would have left it, but was curioius as to others thoughts. My guess is at some point they came back for it only to find it gone.

As a solo camper who double portages, I have thought about what could happen to my pack that I leave behind while making that first portage. It would ruin my trip if someone picked it up thinking it was forgotten and left behind. For that reason unless it is plainly obvious that the pack has been there a long while I would leave any pack i would find.

I found a solo tent at the Henson/Gaskin portage when I was day tripping to fish Henson. I remember thinking that a tent was an odd piece of gear to be carried loose.
Fished for 6 hours and never saw anybody traveling or camping. I decided to take it but was worried I would be leaving some poor soul without shelter in the bug apocalypse. I was relieved when I gave it to my outfitter and he said others had told him about it.

There's a tan Rhino long sleeve undershirt on the southern shore of Fourty-One Island sized medium if anyone wants it. Hahahaha...should be hanging in a small tree to dry.

On my trip this year at the end of May, I was day tripping through an area. At the portage ready to begin my walk, I noticed a clear map case on the ground. I picked it up to check it out. Maps of the area of course and a compass. With the case being clear more items began to stick out. For one, there was a small travel notebook with it already open. I read a few lines and it was notes from a previous trip. I decided to open it up and see what other info I could find to help me make this decision we are now discussing.

I flipped to the beginning of the notebook and the title was “BWCA Trip 1999”. When it hit me that what I was holding were someone’s notes from pas canoe trips, family vacations and memories from years back, my brain really started to think the situation through. As I thumbed through a little more I found their permit as well. I now had an address!
Do I leave it in hopes they come back? Do they have any idea where they left it? What are the chances of them finding it in the perfect condition it was in?

I knew for certain that if I picked it up i could easily return it through the mail. If I left it all certainty was out the window. I ultimately kept it wondering if it was the right decision the rest of my trip.

When I returned home I wrote a letter describing the details of my travels and how I stumbled across their belongings, how I was uncertain I made the right choice and wishing them well on future trips.

They responded with a letter themselves describing how they thought they lost it and were completely devastated with the situation. At the end of their trip (7 days later) they did come back through the area looking for it. But ultimately they were grateful it was found in good condition and returned.

If the contents did not include an address, my decision to leave or take would/could have been different. Think it through and weigh your options.


JW

sns: "My son and I had this dilemma two years ago - I think it was the Trapline - Beaver portage just up from Malberg. We saw nobody as we came south from Adams, and this spot has a pretty remote feel for the BWCA. Older but nice canvas portage pack just sitting there at the end of the portage - oddly out in the open, not at all off to the side on by trees or anything. Decided that if it was ours, we'd go back for it, and so left it. Have wondered from time to time if its owner was reunited with the pack."

We actually put the pack where it could be seen. It stayed there for 2 days and disappeared on the third. Do not know if it was the owner or someone else took it.

Long ago I stenciled my name on the top flap of my Duluth Packs after chasing one down a portage trail going the wrong way. Never had any more problems.

Yeah, it seems like having luggage tags on everything would increase the likelihood of getting anything returned. I think I’ll do that today.

PORTAGES: If I find a pack, I leave it and assume someone will basically have to come back for it at some point. If I find more expensive smaller items that have been clearly set off to the side and forgotten during a chaotic portage, I will evaluate how well traveled an area is and the likelihood of someone returning and the the likelihood of reuniting someone through the lost & found on this site. If it is a small item worth less than $20, I add it to my own gear (just found a brand new Nalgene bottle and a head net on my last trip). Then there was the trip that my husband refused to bring a spare paddle along, much to my own discomfort. Lo and behold we found an inexpensive wooden paddle lost in the long grass at a remote area portage (never saw another soul in that area for 5 days). It is not a great quality paddle and was relatively worn and abused. But it finished the trip with us and I needed it as a "walking stick" on some brutal portages...fate works in mysterious ways.

CAMPSITES: I have never found expensive items left at a campsite so I have always just brought the stuff with me. Found a great sci-fi novel that my son read for the rest of the trip. Found 2 brand new rolls of TP, which was more than I would use on a 2 month trip. Found a pair of hideously neon green shoes.

In my mind, there is little excuse for ever leaving something at a campsite. Always, always have someone do a thorough final sweep of the site. Portages can be tough if you have a large group and loose items that are easy for one person to set down and a different person not notice, but it