I just got back from another solo. Entered Ep37 Kawishiwi Lake. Stayed on Malberg, then the night before exiting I moved to Polly.

It was an amazing trip. Top water fishing was awesome. Fishdance Pictographs were incredible. I did quite a bit of traveling and exploring that whole area.

However...my camp on Polly...

Rant number 1

To the campers who dumped their used cooking oil all over the fire grate and into where you would have a fire, I congratulate you. You have invented a new smell. The whole kitchen area smelled like a Crisco factory.

Do you not know that you can reuse that oil. Or how about since you can't burn it off because of the fire ban. How about packing it out. You packed it in.

Oh let's not forget the bugs. Especially the big black bugs we call bears. They love that stuff. Moron.

Rant number 2

When someone is occupying a campsite and having dinner right on the waters edge, don't park your canoe 20ft right in front of me and proceed to fish and talk as loud as you possibly can.

Now I could have gotten in my canoe and fished right next to you or played a nice little game of skipping rocks, but I don't think you are smart enough to get the hint. So I just stared at you the WHOLE time you were there. Oh and it's not like that was the only place to fish, you've got the whole gosh darn lake. And please don't breed any longer. There are enough of you in this world.

End of Rant. I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Sometimes you just need to get it off your chest.
The cooking oil. Yeah, not good.

About the guys fishing right off your camp. This is an interesting phenomenon. I’m pretty sure it’s ego.

I was in Quetico about 15 years ago and the same exact thing happened. Not a human for a mile in any direction except me. A canoe floats buy and the two guys in the canoe are 20’ off my camp and proceed to fish and converse for an hour. It was the strangest thing I’ve ever experienced. They no doubt wanted to include me in their fishing expertise and I was seething. Their behavior was intentional and with purpose.

Fast-forward 15 years to the present day. I’m older now and if this were to happen again, I would intervene. It’s either ignorance to the respect and solitude of others or male ego showboating.

I am the most respectful camper you will find. I am quiet, and go out of my way to give you the serenity at your camp you are looking for. Do the same for me please.

Co-rant off.
Tom

Re: point number 2, we experienced something like that on Kelly Lake in June. 3 canoes full of women spent all afternoon fishing within 50 yards of our site, chattering loudly amongst themselves the whole time. We watched them catch a nice pike right away, and apparently that convinced them the best fishing hole on the entire lake was right next to our site, because they stayed for a good 3 hours. I don't get too worked up about seeing or hearing people, but it was pretty annoying, not gonna lie.

I’ve had this happen also (close fishing, not the oil) a few times. I was not happy as it’s just thoughtless and disrespectful of other people’s desire for some solitude, privacy and full use of their own campsite. Paddling by I don’t mind, but hanging out right offshore is no good.

One time in Quetico, though, a nice group of guys wanted to fish right offshore from my site. They had hoped to camp there but I was there. They’d camped on the site in the past and always had good luck fishing in that spot. They actually apologized for being too close and asked permission to fish there. And they weren’t even as close as a couple of other people had been to my sites in the past. Their thoughtfulness was refreshing and I told them no worries, enjoy. Had a couple of nice conversations with them while they fished too, and ended up not minding their presence. Had they not done that, I would’ve been annoyed and angry with them.

First: Get off my lawn!

Next, the fishing thing is a real deal. Was at the rapids between Gabbro and Bald Eagle in late May this year fishing with my son, and another 2 boats come in and literally pin us into a corner between the two little rapids. Pull there boats close enough that I could tell the brand of poles they were using. Mentioned out loud to my son that there are a million acres of wilderness here so its interesting that this is the only 100 square yard patch that has fish. The one dude looks at me and says "f-off, you don't own the lake". This happens all the time where I live in Sconnie with the cabin dwellers who come for the weekend, but it seems to be getting more and more frequent in the wilderness too.

Old man rant: complete :)

Might be time to have that item into the etiquette area of the permit

Mocha: "Might be time to have that item into the etiquette area of the permit "

It would not help. The videos and web sites already talk about etiquette. . .particularly on portages, but we have always had guys paddle and portage right through us.

We experienced a group fishing near our campsite earlier this month. It was a little annoying but they were quiet and stayed off shore at least 30 yards. They were part of a group camping at the next campsite down the lake and were focused on a spot where the lake bottom dropped off.

My rant is about the motor boat we experienced back in the 1980s somewhere around Pipestone Bay. I still haven’t let this one go…. Our group was finishing a portage and some of our canoes and gear were on the shore while the rest of the group were still portaging. The guys in the boat whistled at us as they were approaching the portage from the water and made a hand gesture indicating we should “make a hole”. One of the adult leaders of our group moved gear aside to make room. Without stopping the motor boaters beached their Lund and loaded it on to a cart and rolled it down the portage. They didn’t thank us or apologize for the intrusion. Probably bankers.

airmorse: "I just got back from another solo. Entered Ep37 Kawishiwi Lake. Stayed on Malberg, then the night before exiting I moved to Polly.

It was an amazing trip. Top water fishing was awesome. Fishdance Pictographs were incredible. I did quite a bit of traveling and exploring that whole area.

However...my camp on Polly...

Rant number 1

To the campers who dumped their used cooking oil all over the fire grate and into where you would have a fire, I congratulate you. You have invented a new smell. The whole kitchen area smelled like a Crisco factory.

Do you not know that you can reuse that oil. Or how about since you can't burn it off because of the fire ban. How about packing it out. You packed it in.

Oh let's not forget the bugs. Especially the big black bugs we call bears. They love that stuff. Moron.

Rant number 2

When someone is occupying a campsite and having dinner right on the waters edge, don't park your canoe 20ft right in front of me and proceed to fish and talk as loud as you possibly can.

Now I could have gotten in my canoe and fished right next to you or played a nice little game of skipping rocks, but I don't think you are smart enough to get the hint. So I just stared at you the WHOLE time you were there. Oh and it's not like that was the only place to fish, you've got the whole gosh darn lake. And please don't breed any longer. There are enough of you in this world.

End of Rant. I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. "

My problem with this is why would you burn your oil if you packed it in you can pack it out. I bring in a empty Gatorade bottle just to put used oil in to bring it out

ockycamper: "

Mocha: "Might be time to have that item into the etiquette area of the permit "

It would not help. The videos and web sites already talk about etiquette. . .particularly on portages, but we have always had guys paddle and portage right through us."

I portaged right through a group this spring going from Gun to Fairy. They were sitting on the Fairy side crap spread out filtering water with a pump filter. I wasn't about to wait for them if you're going to filter water at a portage get out on the water and do it. Especially pump filtering it

This prompted a question. How many filter their oil (running used oil through a cloth into a container) and reuse it several times on a trip? If that works, it would cut way back on how much oil we bring

ockycamper: "This prompted a question. How many filter their oil (running used oil through a cloth into a container) and reuse it several times on a trip? If that works, it would cut way back on how much oil we bring"

I've thought about doing that, but I typically use so little oil I deemed it unnecessary. What little remains in the pan gets absorbed with a paper towel and then put into the trash.

Ausable: "

ockycamper: "This prompted a question. How many filter their oil (running used oil through a cloth into a container) and reuse it several times on a trip? If that works, it would cut way back on how much oil we bring"

I've thought about doing that, but I typically use so little oil I deemed it unnecessary. What little remains in the pan gets absorbed with a paper towel and then put into the trash."

Same here. There's typically only a light coating of oil on the bottom of the pan when I'm done cooking. Guess I don't deep fry my fish like some of y'all.

I swear Polly (and the Lady Chain in general) is full of the most clueless people in the whole BWCA. We have seen all kinds of silly stuff in there. We camped on Polly last week on the site near the portage on the north side. Two dudes pulled up on a nearby rock to have a discussion about their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After eavesdropping on their conversation, we decided to have a just-loud-enough conversation about smoking meth and hailing Satan until they went away. Could this conversation not occur at your own campsite, or away from everyone else's campsites?

ockycamper: "This prompted a question. How many filter their oil (running used oil through a cloth into a container) and reuse it several times on a trip? If that works, it would cut way back on how much oil we bring"

I've re-used oil many times boat camping and having fish frys at home. I just use a food-grade plastic funnel and a paper towel to put it right back in the jug it came out of after it cools down. I would consider it for the BWCA if I was with a basecamping group that wanted to eat fish every night. I worry about deep-frying fish over a fire because the temperature is not so well controlled so it's easy to overheat the oil and ruin it. Peanut oil can handle higher temps but it's still possible to smoke it out like any of the rest.

I'd start throwing rocks if someone pulled up with 50 feet of my camp while I was eating dinner.

montanapaddler: "I swear Polly (and the Lady Chain in general) is full of the most clueless people in the whole BWCA. We have seen all kinds of silly stuff in there. We camped on Polly last week on the site near the portage on the north side. Two dudes pulled up on a nearby rock to have a discussion about their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After eavesdropping on their conversation, we decided to have a just-loud-enough conversation about smoking meth and hailing Satan until they went away. Could this conversation not occur at your own campsite, or away from everyone else's campsites?"

Not sure what you are saying. Were they loud? Were they too near you? You mentioned you "eavesdropped" on their conversation. Was it only the fact that they were discussing faith in Christ that offended you?

Our very first trip into BWCA we had a group of 4 guys paddle in on our 3rd day of 5 days. That night they proceeded to crank 80's hair bands until 1am and have a huge fire (at least 4 times the size of the fire grate). At one point another site yelled at them with several exploitives.

The next day they set out to fish at the early hours of noon when they woke up and fished towards our site within 25 yards of shore, while we were fishing mind you.

That night they did the same thing with the music and fire, the site that cured them out the night before this time paddled over. I thought for sure there was going to be a scuffle. But after about 20 minutes they lowered the music (we could still hear it) and lowered the fire. We went to bed at 10pm and they were still up. The next morning we got up at 7am to start packing to get out and they were already gone.

ockycamper: "

montanapaddler: "I swear Polly (and the Lady Chain in general) is full of the most clueless people in the whole BWCA. We have seen all kinds of silly stuff in there. We camped on Polly last week on the site near the portage on the north side. Two dudes pulled up on a nearby rock to have a discussion about their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After eavesdropping on their conversation, we decided to have a just-loud-enough conversation about smoking meth and hailing Satan until they went away. Could this conversation not occur at your own campsite, or away from everyone else's campsites?"

Not sure what you are saying. Were they loud? Were they too near you? You mentioned you "eavesdropped" on their conversation. Was it only the fact that they were discussing faith in Christ that offended you?"

Too loud and too close. No, the content did not offend us.

mnsportsmanjr: "Our very first trip into BWCA we had a group of 4 guys paddle in on our 3rd day of 5 days. That night they proceeded to crank 80's hair bands until 1am and have a huge fire (at least 4 times the size of the fire grate). At one point another site yelled at them with several exploitives.


The next day they set out to fish at the early hours of noon when they woke up and fished towards our site within 25 yards of shore, while we were fishing mind you.


That night they did the same thing with the music and fire, the site that cured them out the night before this time paddled over. I thought for sure there was going to be a scuffle. But after about 20 minutes they lowered the music (we could still hear it) and lowered the fire. We went to bed at 10pm and they were still up. The next morning we got up at 7am to start packing to get out and they were already gone."

I had a similar experience my first time in the BWCA. A group set up at a site about 1/3 mile away and proceeded to blast rock music on a boom box so loud that I could understand the lyrics from about 7-10pm. And before cranking up the music they had a political debate/yelling match amongst themselves, again so loud that I could understand most of what they were saying. And believe me, it wasn't worth hearing. After the second night in a row of that I was going to move, but then they apparently moved on. Maybe it was the same group of yahoos...

NEIowapaddler: "

Ausable: "

ockycamper: "This prompted a question. How many filter their oil (running used oil through a cloth into a container) and reuse it several times on a trip? If that works, it would cut way back on how much oil we bring"

I've thought about doing that, but I typically use so little oil I deemed it unnecessary. What little remains in the pan gets absorbed with a paper towel and then put into the trash."

Same here. There's typically only a light coating of oil on the bottom of the pan when I'm done cooking. Guess I don't deep fry my fish like some of y'all. "

I got tired of dealing with oil a few years back, so now we cook all of our fish inside tin foil, with some butter and lemon pepper. We bake them over coals. No more fish fries. It's taken care of a lot of mess and smell. I also usually bring a chowder mix and eat fish chowder if we have two meals worth of fish. I can go to breaded fish fries around home and let the restaurant deal with the oil!

Baking off the remnants on a nice campfire and packing out the tin foil is fine. Trying to pack that mess out during a fire ban…I just don’t know…

Besides the issue of not being able to bake fish in tin foil over an open fire…

wxce1260: "

NEIowapaddler: "

Ausable: "

ockycamper: "This prompted a question. How many filter their oil (running used oil through a cloth into a container) and reuse it several times on a trip? If that works, it would cut way back on how much oil we bring"

I've thought about doing that, but I typically use so little oil I deemed it unnecessary. What little remains in the pan gets absorbed with a paper towel and then put into the trash."

Same here. There's typically only a light coating of oil on the bottom of the pan when I'm done cooking. Guess I don't deep fry my fish like some of y'all. "

I got tired of dealing with oil a few years back, so now we cook all of our fish inside tin foil, with some butter and lemon pepper. We bake them over coals. No more fish fries. It's taken care of a lot of mess and smell. I also usually bring a chowder mix and eat fish chowder if we have two meals worth of fish. I can go to breaded fish fries around home and let the restaurant deal with the oil!"

Leftover bacon grease to cook fish. 2 paper towels for clean up nothin to it. I burn the paper towels in the fire pit or with a lighter.

I call these kinds of people “2 percenters”. My theory is that 2 percent of the population is clueless and inconsiderate. Commonly called A-holes. It will always be this way. The good thing is we control how we respond to them. I like Jim Rohn’s idea of just saying “Isn’t that interesting”. And then either walk away or just clean up their mess.

It’s better not to get emotionally involved in the work of the 2 percenter.

I did the same solo a few years ago, and when I paddled up to a completely empty site on Polly and plopped down next to the fire grate, to my surprise and then anger, it reignited on its own. So, big kudos to the whoever the idiots were that were there before me and didn't extinguish their fire all the way. Pure luck that I happened to arrive at that very moment. Had that been a dry year like this year, it certainly could have resulted in a wildfire.

Maybe Polly just attracts stupid people? Idk

Taiscealai: "I did the same solo a few years ago, and when I paddled up to a completely empty site on Polly and plopped down next to the fire grate, to my surprise and then anger, it reignited on its own. So, big kudos to the whoever the idiots were that were there before me and didn't extinguish their fire all the way. Pure luck that I happened to arrive at that very moment. Had that been a dry year like this year, it certainly could have resulted in a wildfire.


Maybe Polly just attracts stupid people? Idk"

Was paddling up thru Cummings past 1st island campsite and firepit was still smoking with nobody around. Had met a group on Korb creek who were paddling out. We stopped and drenched it.

The oil issue would have really bugged me. So contrary to leave no trace with a significant impact to the enjoyment of your trip.

Last week I traveled with a Scout crew from Lake One over to Alice with an exit on Snowbank for a 6 night trip. Here are my rants in order of annoyance.

1. On the portage from Ima to Jordan a group of 6 was parked on the Ima side having lunch. Canoes still in the water, blocking the best, deepest channel to get back to the main lake. Our group was doing day trips from IMA so we know they were there for at least 30 minutes. I politely told them they really shouldn't stop for an extended time at a portage, but I don't really like being the 'bwca police'

2. Also on Ima, we were hanging the bear bag on our island site about 15-20 minutes after sunset when a loud group paddled by looking for a campsite. They had been on Kek but decided not to leave until after 2pm since they were having so much fun cliff jumping. We pointed out where we had seen empty sites earlier that day. The next morning we passed their 'campsite' they had settled in. Not an official campsite. They were all down at the water, apparently washing dishes directly in the lake. While most of the sites on the lake were taken, had they been even a couple hours earlier I'm pretty sure they could have found a site.

3. On our last night on Disappointment saw another group setting up an improvised campsite around 5pm. I'm guessing they may not have been the only group to do this. We got our site around 10:30am (we packed up and left our Ima site by 7:30 knowing how busy Disappointment/Parent could be) and by noon it appeared every site on the lake was occupied but all afternoon we saw groups go by with full gear obviously looking for sites. I'm not sure what other options this group had.

We made the switch to shelf-stable ghee and will never go back. Lightly dust in pancake batter, spoonful of ghee in the pan, fries up even better than using oil. Use the remains of your pancake "breading" at the end to soak up the remaining ghee.

Deeznuts: "We made the switch to shelf-stable ghee and will never go back. Lightly dust in pancake batter, spoonful of ghee in the pan, fries up even better than using oil. Use the remains of your pancake "breading" at the end to soak up the remaining ghee. "

We also use ghee. You can get it in a plastic peanut butter jar at Walmart

In reference to the oil issue: I think there some (not a lot but...) trippers who put (unconsciously or not) oil into a vague "biodegradable" category. Same people who put leftovers or similar garbage in the woods because the animals or flies or nature will turn it back into the earth in short order. Might be the same people who bathe in the lake ("it's biodegradable soap!") or do other similar things.

Excess/used oil (and leftover food and lots of other things) is an inconvenient item to clean up and carry out. We pack it out because it's the right thing to do.

Mike

montanapaddler: "

Deeznuts: "We made the switch to shelf-stable ghee and will never go back. Lightly dust in pancake batter, spoonful of ghee in the pan, fries up even better than using oil. Use the remains of your pancake "breading" at the end to soak up the remaining ghee. "

We also use ghee. You can get it in a plastic peanut butter jar at Walmart"

I have been very happy with ghee as an alternative to oil for frying fish - works great even when using an MSR backpacking stove during this summer's fire ban. A little added to my home dehydrated dinners is also a plus to add back some fat/flavor during rehydrating.

One thing about that "peanut butter" jar it's sold in - that jar can and will leak in warm/hot weather. After my first trip with ghee, I always transfer what I need to a Nalgene container that won't leak.

Some very good oil disposal tips here. I also endorse using organic ghee.

Other than an unsightly mess ugly smell, dumping vegetable oils will pollute the soil killing plants and beneficial organisms. Also, the oil will eventually leach into nearby waters where it is harmful to fish and other aquatic organisms.