Howdy!

Snagged a spot on Knife Lake, last island site before S.A. Knife, & should be here a hair under two weeks. This site is fairly elevated & away from the landing, a small portage in & of itself. Heard some canoe sounds from the landing yesterday evening ~7PM while assembling my tent & figured some folks were looking for a site (Knife is currently crowded). A pleasant group of Northern Tier scouts & their Naval Academy future helicopter pilot guide took me up on the offer to cohabitate for the night. Second time I’ve been blessed to be in position to lend aid this week (while on Sucker Lake south of Indian Portage ~6th Aug I was able to assist a group which had an an injured member to arrange a tow).

Hope you all are having a great week!

Nice!

Saw this in my Google news feed this morning!

Nothing enhances the wilderness experience like Wi-Fi.

Love it !!

Mocha: "Saw this in my Google news feed this morning!"

Say what?! Haha

Ahahn366: "Nothing enhances the wilderness experience like Wi-Fi."

“Christopher McCandless is attributed with scribbling the words “happiness only real when shared” above the Doctor Zhivago passage: “And so it turned out that only a life similar to the life of those around us, merging with it without a ripple, is genuine life, and that an unshared happiness is not happiness…”“

While maybe not 100% accurate, it is nice to be able to share the experience with others via photo/video on a more regular basis. I do agree though that it is counter to the general ‘digital detox’ most appreciate from wilderness excursions.

The Northern Tier group stopped by for the night again last night, the first visitors after ‘opening’. They got a kick out of the sign. Great group of people. Folks at the campsite west of me on the same island saw the sign yesterday & stopped by to invite me for a fish fry, was delicious food & better company. Meeting Bonz by the end of the month - August has been busy!

Have a great day, y’all!

Frankly I think John Galt should start his own forum for this.

Because we primarily hit the BWCA/Q to unplug, unwind, and avoid crowds, it would be easy for me to scoff at this idea. The way you're sharing your equipment, your enthusiasm, and your graciousness, however, make me smile. Regardless of who said them, the words are true: happiness is only real when shared.

TZ

Sounds busy up there, must be full of people who live there all summer or something

Someday: "Frankly I think John Galt should start his own forum for this."

Or his own website.

Tuesday wound up being quite the busy day!

The day began with BonzSF stopping by on his way to Quetico & that mensch gifted me some coffee portaged all the way from California. It is a bit surreal to be sitting in the wilderness at the edge of the US, peering into Canada, enjoying some fresh ground coffee hand-delivered by plane, car, motorboat, & then canoe right to the shore of my campsite. Thank you once again, Bonz, the coffee is top notch! (I’m brewing another cup as I type & it feels like I’m committing a crime by not using a French press & leaving all of that flavorful oil on top of the grounds haha.)



Just as supper time approached, I was met with the most unexpected surprise & invaluable treasure, some Voyagerettes [from an out of print fiction book written by Marie Sue] happened across my flag+note & blessed me with their companionship. Marie Sue, Marie Esther, & the most recent addition to the Voyagerettes, Marie Zaih, along with two male companions, err budding voyagers, shared camp with me & I couldn’t have been more impressed. Marie Sue was on her 52nd trip/year up here! While she had missed a couple of years recently, she shared that she had completed trips to the BWCA/Quetico for 50 consecutive years before a brief involuntary pause. I found that to be an incredible feat which few can or will accomplish. By chance, they had brought an extra portion of food & it was as if a restaurant had arrived at my shores. Marie Zaih is a wonderful camp cook & prepared likely the best camp grub I’ve had & likely will have for the foreseeable future. The following day, Wednesday, became a rest day & the weather agreed as a light varying mist obscured the sky much of the day along with intermittent sprinkles. They travelled to Knife Lake yesterday, Thursday, & I don’t know who was more appreciative, them for my assistance through the portages or I for them allowing me to help. It was fun to tag along for their journey as Marie Sue reached the shores of Knife Lake once again after decades of visiting other areas of BWCA/Quetico. The last time she had visited Robbins Island, it was Dorothy’s home. She shared that it was as if time slowed down when she approached the end of the final portage into Knife Lake. ‘At the end of the day’, they gave me something which cannot be bought with all of the silver & gold in the world, for that I will be eternally grateful. Thank you, Voyagerettes & crew, I will never forget your company :).

I am looking forward to tomorrow morning when I will meet the Voyagerettes & their accomplices again on Knife Lake to assist with their portage back & to once more be an accessory to their voyage as they have reserved another short stay at Galt’s Grounds Traveling Cafe & Hostel for Saturday night through Monday morning. All I can say to sum up the past few days is that God is great.

Cheers!

PS
Marie Sue is a natural born rock-hound & gifted me this rock she spotted which has a faint heart protruding from its face. I swear, she is so sweet that if her canoe tipped over she would just dissolve right into the lake - it is a good thing she is an expert with a paddle ;).

Who?

Awww... come on...let's not start that again..

pswith5: "Awww... come on...let's not start that again.."

At what point does it become harassment & result in the other party being chastised for their actions as opposed to me for my restraint?

Pure intolerance & bigotry.

“Intolerance, Intolertion.—adj. Intolerant, not able or willing to endure: not enduring difference of opinion: persecuting.—n. one opposed to toleration.”

“Bigot, bigot, n. one blindly and obstinately devoted to a particular creed or party.—adj. Bigoted, having the qualities of a bigot.—n. Bigotry, blind or excessive zeal, esp. in religious matters.”

Excerpt From
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary

I find John's attitude and texts very entertaining. I would love to visit his camp site

If you don't like them. . . just don't read them.

I like how John lives in some of these guys heads rent free!

JG are you planning on doing any fall or winter hunting?

doorbluff84: "JG are you planning on doing any fall or winter hunting?"

Howdy doorbluff84!

Yes, I do intend to hunt this fall. I am looking forward to pursuing grouse, waterfowl, & then deer. I have been mulling dipping my toe into trapping this winter as well, though I have much research remaining on that topic. How about yourself?

Edit: Reading through the trapping refs last night informed me that only MN land owners are legally allowed to trap. I’ll be pursuing fur bearers which I can legally hunt instead.

Greetings from Ledge Lake!

Stuck under the tarp tonight in the rain, I thought I'd try and get a text out to my family] p knowing that this lake has a high elevation. Mission complete, I then started another mission to post here about the outrage I felt upon taking my gps/camera out of airplane mode and finding enough service to text... but this post caught my eye first. Glad I clicked on it as it has rejuvenated my spirits, especially the bit from McCandles.
Loved ones now know that I am OK and I can rest easy after putting the GPS/Camera back into airplane mode after sending this off.

Big fan of your travels John, keep on keeping on! I wish I had a few extra days to swing your way but I'm double portaging and need to exit Kawishiwi Lake this Saturday or Sunday. I entered Round/Brandt last Friday.

Saw 6 otters today travelling in a group ahead of me on Fee Lake, if you're looking for trapping intel, and about 100 grouse along the Kekekabic trail as I splashed my way through Bingshick, Glee, Faye, Warclub and Seahorse.

I'll gladly fire up some pike tacos for anyone around Boulder or Adams the next couple nights... and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups if you say that you saw it here! Plenty of oil and Bannock mix left, not so much coffee.

3rd mission completed: be the first ever to post to BWCA.COM from Ledge Lake.

Zac

Z4K: "Greetings from Ledge Lake!

Stuck under the tarp tonight in the rain, I thought I'd try and get a text out to my family] p knowing that this lake has a high elevation. Mission complete, I then started another mission to post here about the outrage I felt upon taking my gps/camera out of airplane mode and finding enough service to text... but this post caught my eye first. Glad I clicked on it as it has rejuvenated my spirits, especially the bit from McCandles.
Loved ones now know that I am OK and I can rest easy after putting the GPS/Camera back into airplane mode after sending this off.

Big fan of your travels John, keep on keeping on! I wish I had a few extra days to swing your way but I'm double portaging and need to exit Kawishiwi Lake this Saturday or Sunday. I entered Round/Brandt last Friday.

Saw 6 otters today travelling in a group ahead of me on Fee Lake, if you're looking for trapping intel, and about 100 grouse along the Kekekabic trail as I splashed my way through Bingshick, Glee, Faye, Warclub and Seahorse.

I'll gladly fire up some pike tacos for anyone around Boulder or Adams the next couple nights... and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups if you say that you saw it here! Plenty of oil and Bannock mix left, not so much coffee.

3rd mission completed: be the first ever to post to BWCA.COM from Ledge Lake.

Zac"

Greetings to you as well, Zac!

Congratulations on being the first to post from Ledge Lake :). You have made quite a trek deep into the bush, that is a feat of a route, & two weeks is a substantial amount of time for a trip. I’m glad you made your comment, it is always pleasant to hear from a kindred spirit. Hopefully, our paths may cross one day & we can share a fire + swap stories.

Thank you for sharing that tip re the grouse along Kekekebic trail. I have been mulling recently where I should setup my hunting camp & being near that trail is now top of mind. Planning to discuss options with the outfitter Friday & will see if they have suggestions about that location.

Safe travels & looking forward to hearing more about your adventure!

PS
Our paths were close to being able to cross in ‘the real world’, as our takeout dates are closely aligned. I’ll be heading out of the woods on Friday with an early Saturday departure out of town.

Welp, the Voyagerettes & crew departed yesterday. It was wonderful having them for a second stay & their trip seems to have been an enjoyable success for their group. The last few days they got some great weather, wildlife, & heavenly shows. The fisherman of the group slayed the LM on Carp Lake their last night & too many other fun tidbits to mention here. I witnessed a human being de-hooked for the first time (that I can recall) & it was a valuable experience in case/for when I come across another. Saw the most incredible shooting star so far in my travels &, as fortune would have it, it was caught on camera + most of their group saw it as well; some truly astronomical odds ;).



Service Update:
Galt’s Grounds Traveling Cafe & Hostel is expecting a visitor for coffee Friday morning before undergoing a temporary closure for staff training & remodeling. I’ll be at the CCO campground mid-late Sept & will be reopening with hunting camp amenities ~9/26 following Wing Night weekend, location tbd. Winter closure of the traveling cafe & hostel expected ~10/18 in order to attend the Winter Camping Symposium. Traveling cafe & hostel services are anticipated to resume following ice out on Moose Lake ~May 2024.

Have a great day, y’all!

JohnGalt: "

doorbluff84: "JG are you planning on doing any fall or winter hunting?"

Howdy doorbluff84!

Yes, I do intend to hunt this fall. I am looking forward to pursuing grouse, waterfowl, & then deer. I have been mulling dipping my toe into trapping this winter as well, though I have much research remaining on that topic. How about yourself?

Edit: Reading through the trapping refs last night informed me that only MN land owners are legally allowed to trap. I’ll be pursuing fur bearers which I can legally hunt instead."

Me too. I plan on doing some grouse hunting here in Wisconsin in a couple of weeks for opener and then I picked up a new rifle I need to bore sight in and am going to do some whitetail hunting.

I have also grown curious about winter trapping here in Wisconsin. I’m considering taking a introduction to trapping course here. Cheers JG.

Provocateur

Link

doorbluff84: "Me too. I plan on doing some grouse hunting here in Wisconsin in a couple of weeks for opener and then I picked up a new rifle I need to bore sight in and am going to do some whitetail hunting.

I have also grown curious about winter trapping here in Wisconsin. I’m considering taking a introduction to trapping course here. Cheers JG. "

Nice!
What rifle did you get? Hope she shoots true for you!

You should do it! Take the trapping class :) worst thing that can happen is you learn something new haha. I imagine running a trap line in the winter would be a fun & valuable experience, even if the traps remain empty it will still get you out in the field during the winter months to take in the atmosphere of the winter wonderland.

I would love to do an extended 2-3 month trip in the BWCA testing my prepping abilities. I would probably not be married when I came back but it would be a real test!

ockycamper: "I would love to do an extended 2-3 month trip in the BWCA testing my prepping abilities. I would probably not be married when I came back but it would be a real test!"

Lmao @ coming back out a bachelor.

I couldn’t imagine surviving it without a food pack. That would be the true test, foraging one’s calories. I’m trying to work my way there & I’m nearing the point where I would be confident foraging certain mushrooms + berries, though I’d still almost certainly die of starvation. Hunting this fall/winter will be a valuable experience in that direction (the direction of not starving). In time, I’d like to hunt in the fall & preserve meat in my winter camp for use over the summer & forage excess seasonal wild produce during the summer to be preserved for winter use. I’m sure I’d still need to rely on buying some staples from Zup’s, though I think it would be an ancestral experience to ‘complete the caloric circle’ through the seasons for a year or few.

Side note:
I confirmed today that Galt’s Grounds Traveling Cafe & Hostel may have time-limited guests (i.e. not more than a day or few) over the winter.

Disclaimer:
Just in case some folks try to take the joke too seriously, this is a disclaimer that this thread is a ‘joke’ & there is no legal entity providing a cafe nor hostel, it’s just me chillin’ with wilderness homies when opportunities present themselves.

I picked up a 6.5 Creedmoor caliber Winchester. It’s all sighted in now :-)

Agreed on trapping - my sentiment as well. Another excuse to get out and use my canvas hot tent too.

Back out in the woods, finally!

Had an unexpected start to the season which kept me campground bound though with that behind me I’m back out in the BWCA proper to enjoy the rest of the season.

I’m so far being lazy this year - got a tow right to my present camp on Sucker Lake & next week sometime I’ll likely just move over to Birch Lake. Plan is to resupply ~Aug 11th & then be on Ensign ~Aug 21st. Takeout will be early/mid September to begin the transition to winter camp.

I arrived at campsite 1291 (furthest north on Sucker Lake, near Prairie Portage) Sunday & Monday had some guests. One of three groups up here from a Kansas Boy Scouts troop commented to each other on the water in the early afternoon ‘campsites taken’, so I hollered that they were welcome to stay the night, which they obviously accepted.

Two dads, their two sons, & two of their son’s friends had an enjoyable stay. It is likely they are heading to Wind Lake today in anticipation of their takeout tomorrow afternoon. I hope they had a fun rest of their trip; they had great weather. It was, for the most part, their first time up here though they are experienced campers from past trips so it was enjoyable to share more BWCA applicable skills with them. They got a kick out of the Starlink & the coffee received good reviews.

It is always fun to have folks drop by for a stay.

Anyways, have a great day, reader!

PS
I think I laid the first underwater data cable in the BWCA. This campsite has an obstructed north view so I have the Starlink dish on a small rock outcropping where it gets a better view & laid the cable underwater by canoe.

Thanks for the update! I hope you have a great season!
I hope a snapping turtle doesn’t bite through the undersea cable!

Good to hear you're back. Thought for a while that you might have moved on to other horizons. I'm going to being passing by on our tow on the 21st. I can throw the coffee delivery in your general direction. Or maybe connect on the way back 10 days later. Our trip is evolving, as some trips do! We switched from two solos with a meandering 50 miles to a tandem and a fishing intense 70 miler. Target is Kawinipi walleye. We'll see what works out. Have fun out there.

JohnGalt, think of all the stories you are part now. What a great legacy.

Since 2007 I have paddled mostly in Canada for the solitude. But I have never minded the infrequent times we have run into other people. Some of the encounters have been quite memorable. And I have to say Canadians are a very friendly people who willingly share with other travelers.

John, our guys really liked getting to meet you last year in Grand Marais. We will be in the Gunflint area on Monday 9/23 and will probably be eating lunch at Trail Center Lodge then to Seagull Outfitters to paddle out to Red Rock.

If you are in the area we could meet up at Trail Center, or if you are paddling through, on Red Rock the week of 9/23-27

Mark
Crestwood Baptist Church Men's Ministries

doorbluff84: "I picked up a 6.5 Creedmoor caliber Winchester. It’s all sighted in now :-)

Agreed on trapping - my sentiment as well. Another excuse to get out and use my canvas hot tent too. "

How have you liked your rifle? Did you use it to bag any deer last year? Did you wind up taking the trapping course?
Tis that season again. I may try to find some geese these week, grouse this weekend.

Zulu: "Thanks for the update! I hope you have a great season!
I hope a snapping turtle doesn’t bite through the undersea cable!"

Thank you for the well wishes :)
It was a great season & speaking of snappers, saw some monstrous specimen on Ensign this year - made for a bit caution when swimming lol.

BonzSF: "Good to hear you're back. Thought for a while that you might have moved on to other horizons. I'm going to being passing by on our tow on the 21st. I can throw the coffee delivery in your general direction. Or maybe connect on the way back 10 days later. Our trip is evolving, as some trips do! We switched from two solos with a meandering 50 miles to a tandem and a fishing intense 70 miler. Target is Kawinipi walleye. We'll see what works out. Have fun out there. "

Hope you had a great trip, Bonz!
70 miles is quite a haul, what was your route & how did you like it? (Or if you made a trip report I’d love to read it!)
Perhaps next year we’ll cross paths :)

It was a great season. The start was unexpected though perhaps a blessing in disguise as the disruption was during the buggy season haha.

deerfoot: "JohnGalt, think of all the stories you are part now. What a great legacy.

Since 2007 I have paddled mostly in Canada for the solitude. But I have never minded the infrequent times we have run into other people. Some of the encounters have been quite memorable. And I have to say Canadians are a very friendly people who willingly share with other travelers."

Hi deerfoot!

What you mentioned has been my favorite part, meeting so many great people along the way :)

All of the Canadians I’ve met have been fine folks as well, though now that I think of it I don’t think I’ve met one since I’ve been out here (thought I’ve not gone into Quetico). I don’t hold a grudge over 1812 lol!

We will be in the Gunflint next week on Red Rock. We really enjoyed meeting you last year in Grand Marais.

For those that question John and his "internet cafe". . . . spend as much time in the BWCA as he has. I know of no one that has spent as many consecutive days up there. . . .and through the winter. . . as John. I think we could all learn a lot from John

ockycamper: "John, our guys really liked getting to meet you last year in Grand Marais. We will be in the Gunflint area on Monday 9/23 and will probably be eating lunch at Trail Center Lodge then to Seagull Outfitters to paddle out to Red Rock.

If you are in the area we could meet up at Trail Center, or if you are paddling through, on Red Rock the week of 9/23-27

Mark
Crestwood Baptist Church Men's Ministries"

Howdy Mark!
It was a pleasure to meet you all as well, I hope you all had a great trip & that your trip this year is a blast as well.
Unfortunately, I have a wedding to attend in SC the last weekend of the month & I’m carpooling down there early with a fellow from Illinois, so I’ll not be able to cross your path this year.
I’m guessing that you all will have a trip planned for a similar timeframe next year - I’ll likely be free to take a day trip to Gunflint if so.

ockycamper: "We will be in the Gunflint next week on Red Rock. We really enjoyed meeting you last year in Grand Marais.

For those that question John and his "internet cafe". . . . spend as much time in the BWCA as he has. I know of no one that has spent as many consecutive days up there. . . .and through the winter. . . as John. I think we could all learn a lot from John"

:( apologies for my late reply to your message.
I lament not being able to make it this year, it was a nice to meet you all last year & I was hoping to be able to make it. Hopefully, next year it works.

Haha thank you for your confidence. I’m not an expert woodsman, though I’m pretty good at chilling in the wilderness lol.

Another great summer season is coming to a close.

A group of Boy Scouts from Arkansas stayed the night a few days after the first group; it was great to meet them & suffer together through the warmest overnight low since at least 2011.

The folks I met least year on Carp Lake made reservations for Ensign in August. I was able to get one of the sites they recommended the day before, & the 6:30AM tow was worthwhile as less than an hour later folks were by to see if it was free (the first of many that day). It was a fun week with them & they recommended a great site (the solo island site). We took a day trip to the falls near Cattyman Lake &, idk, I may have broken my finger slipping in the falls though it still bends so it’ll be fine. When they departed, they had a zucchini which wasn’t used & the tow boat operator sure was confused over how I managed to come across a zucchini in the wilderness haha - he is making zucchini bread now, so it was a solid save.

I was running low on some supplies & hailed down a CCO tow boat operator on Sunday to schedule a tow for yesterday to complete a resupply. My initial plan was to head in to Wind Lake for a week & pursue geese & grouse this weekend, though I found that the site I rent for the winter is vacant early so I’ll be setting up winter accommodations this week & get to some hunting about the Moose Lake area.

If any folks are going through Ely & would like to meet up in town for food/brews or if anyone is interested in pursuing some hunting, lmk.
Cheers!

Edit:
I forgot to mention that the gentleman I met from CO last year dropped by in July before/after their trip - his first real taste of the mosquitos HAHA!
He began another trip on the 6th off of Lake One - the man is hooked! First trip last year & now two trips this year, you love to see it!

Man, I hope you are around Stuart of august next year. Would love to meet the infamous John Galt! I read so much about you in this forum, it would be nice to put a face to the name! Do you mostly stay on the gunflint side or do you venture towards the west?

Deeznuts: "Man, I hope you are around Stuart of august next year. Would love to meet the infamous John Galt! I read so much about you in this forum, it would be nice to put a face to the name! Do you mostly stay on the gunflint side or do you venture towards the west?"

For the most part, I enter through Moose Lake EP (I have a good relationship with an outfitter there & there are a lot of permits/day so it is easy to pick up a permit on the fly).


Stuart next August? I may be able to swing that.
There is a group I meet up with (‘voyagerettes & crew’) towards the tail end of August & they are trying for Lake One next year, though if scheduling allows I’d be delighted to meet you about Stuart Lake next year. As you pin down permits/a date range, keep me posted & if it doesn’t conflict with the other group I’ll be there.

Fascinating thread, especially because it sounds like you are/were camped out near or perhaps even on the same island where Knife Lake Pete used to spend the entire summer.

OldGuide2: "Fascinating thread, especially because it sounds like you are/were camped out near or perhaps even on the same island where Knife Lake Pete used to spend the entire summer. "

If it is the island I’m thinking of, Pete had great taste in campsites :)
I’m curious to learn more about Pete, was/is his nickname Knife Lake Pete?

I'll let other old-timers chime in about Pete, who was a character and probably needs another separate thread. Knife Lake Pete was what a lot of folks called him because he spent the whole summer on Knife, usually in the same spot. And yes, as someone who visited him there, he did have a good taste in campsites.

JohnGalt: "

BonzSF: "Good to hear you're back. Thought for a while that you might have moved on to other horizons. I'm going to being passing by on our tow on the 21st. I can throw the coffee delivery in your general direction. Or maybe connect on the way back 10 days later. Our trip is evolving, as some trips do! We switched from two solos with a meandering 50 miles to a tandem and a fishing intense 70 miler. Target is Kawinipi walleye. We'll see what works out. Have fun out there. "

Hope you had a great trip, Bonz!
70 miles is quite a haul, what was your route & how did you like it? (Or if you made a trip report I’d love to read it!)
Perhaps next year we’ll cross paths :)

It was a great season. The start was unexpected though perhaps a blessing in disguise as the disruption was during the buggy season haha."

Hi JG,
Great trip as always. Yeah, I’m always for missing the bugs. That’s why we’re there in August! Fishing isn’t great but everything else is grey, I mean great!(with a few exceptions). We had to change our tow time because the airline didn’t send the food pack on the same plane. Ended up not checking into Canada until after lunch. Details will follow when I do my Trip Report. We decided to switch back to the 50 mile loop after doing the Sunday to Agnes Lakes portages in one morning. We still stuck with the tandem to stick together. Went up Agnes and back down the “S” chain at a very relaxed pace. I didn’t want to wear myself out because I had to fly out to London with my wife three days after returning home! (Where I am now).
I’ll post the trip report when I get home and write it.
Meanwhile here’s a trip photo