BWCA Trip Report - the short, early april solo Boundary Waters Trip Reports
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04/10/2010 01:24PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
New Trip Report posted by kanoes

Trip Name: the short, early april solo.

Entry Point: 9

Click Here to View Trip Report
 
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04/10/2010 03:54PM  
Nicely done buddy! Looks like a neat area.

Now it is time to prepare for WCPP! :)
jb in the wild
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04/10/2010 04:17PM  
Kanoes, cool, very cool,you must have felt like the only person alive.You were right about the fire ban.

Glad you had a good trip looking forward to mine in acouple of weeks, when my synmats make it back from Exped.
04/10/2010 04:17PM  
Nice Report , I liked the pictures especially the self portrait, glad you boogied before the snow.
04/10/2010 04:32PM  
Well done my friend. I'm glad you had some peace to yourself, and yes, you should have slapped yourself for thinking of work - even it was for a fleeting second :)

Great photos too btw ;-)
Lisa
04/10/2010 05:14PM  
WOW!
I am envious for sure, enjoyable read and terrific pictures. As per your usual trip report style some great introspective remarks and realizations. Thanks for such a quick report.

Our first trip is just over two weeks away and your fine report has made that even a longer wait.
Boppa
04/10/2010 07:21PM  
Good job kman! Nice trip for April 7th.
04/10/2010 09:12PM  
Nice report, k. I'll leave it at that to avoid repeating what everyone else said. :-)
04/10/2010 09:58PM  
Great report! Glad you had a nice trip.
04/10/2010 10:13PM  
Nice report Kanoes. Glad that you had a great trip.
04/10/2010 10:14PM  
I liked the report. The "hissing story" gave me a good chuckle.
04/10/2010 10:19PM  
Awesome! thanks for sharing, I always enjoy the humor in your TR's.
04/10/2010 10:29PM  
Welcome back K! Another wonderfully entertaining report. Thanks for sharing.
rookie in 03
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04/10/2010 11:15PM  
Great report, great pics really great to include your thoughts. Makes me want to squeeze a trip in before August. Welcome back kanoes!
04/10/2010 11:35PM  
LIS south looks like a beautiful route. I'm eager to check it out. Thanks for the report!
04/11/2010 12:39AM  
Nice!

So, was the oatmeal you choked down jazzed up, or regular?

LOL about the radio. I have done similar. Crazy how long some things can take to figure out when you're startled awake by them.

04/11/2010 08:33AM  
Jan congrats on the trip, nice report love the pics.

~Kristy
shr2807
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04/11/2010 08:52AM  
Nice report. Takes some courage to go in that early. Glad you had a good time.
PortageKeeper
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04/11/2010 09:08AM  
Great report!
Have camped at Sioux Falls in the spring as well, but on the opposite side and further back in the woods. Paddled up the Pony but feared that Bootleg was still froze and turned around. Explored some of the creeks on the way back. It makes a good spring trip but, as you say, lots of flat land on the way up.
Thanks.

p.s. I'd send the radio back. Tell them it sounds like an Exped leaking!
04/11/2010 10:32AM  
thanks for the report
04/11/2010 11:12AM  
Jan,
Nice report. Nice Pics, How did the new tent work out?
What else did you try out or do differently this trip.
Any tips?
Glad you had some time to yourself in canoe country.
Also, glad the sun came out. I even checked the Ely weather to see how it was doing for your trip. Was concerned you might freeze your butt off. Glad you had fun.
SunCatcher
04/11/2010 12:39PM  
thanks for all the kind comments.

what i learned...

it was an excellent choice buying that tent. love it, itll be my go to one from now on.

i made the entry rug comment in the report. if nothing else, i will now bring a square of tyvek along for that purpose.

i learned alot about the ZRE bent shaft. improved my paddling skills quite a bit. (i used it 95% of the time)

if i see that im going to get lows 20's or less for overnight temps i will always pack that slumberjack 40 too. (i dont have any bags rated for less than 20)

04/11/2010 01:56PM  
Nice report. I'm jealous!! I love that area. I guess I've missed something... what happened to your beloved Taj tent?
04/11/2010 04:21PM  
"i made the entry rug comment in the report. if nothing else, i will now bring a square of tyvek along for that purpose."

I don't think I would use Tyvek for an entrance mat. That stuff is way too slippery. It might give you an unexpected surprise for a midnight bladder break.
04/11/2010 04:50PM  
unas? youre probably right.

sterngirl? i would never consider taking the taj on a solo trip. way to big for my needs and too heavy.
mr.barley
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04/12/2010 01:19AM  
Nice report, kanoes. Short and sweet with lots of pics....the way I like TR's
04/12/2010 08:17AM  
I use a beach mat for "rug" - rolls up easy to slide under pack flap, fairly light, even wet. Not bad for a dollar.

Nice report kanoes, I can only imagine the waiting for complete darkness for the fire... bet it seemed like forever. I'm with ya on enjoying being able to decide for yourself when it's time to head out, head back, or stop for the night. Must have been cool to hear the falls all evening. Welcome back.
wawasee
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04/12/2010 09:34AM  
Kanoes,what's it like to be the only person out there? It appears you enjoyed your solo, great trip report!
04/12/2010 09:19PM  
Very interesting report. It really made me think. Your report showed the human side of wilderness tripping. Your report showed BWCA trips are fun, challenging, sometimes shortened, and from real people.

Thanks again.
04/13/2010 12:49AM  
Revelation from a solo tripper.........

"maybe many things are better with onion flakes"
04/13/2010 08:33AM  
Another minus for the Tyvek as tent welcome mat...everything sticks to it. Well, not mud and such really but all the little forest bits...it's full of static.

I love a tent mat when car camping...haven't brought one to the BW. Sell me on it, Jan.
04/13/2010 09:27AM  
quote nojobro: "I love a tent mat when car camping...haven't brought one to the BW. Sell me on it, Jan."


Can I try? I use the rollup mats sold for beach-goers. I slide it down the side of the pack under compression straps or tuck it under the flap. If it's rainy/muddy/soggy when I set up camp, the mat is the first thing out and packs sit on top. Ditto for packing up. During camp, it sits in front of tent and becomes a shoe closet for five pairs of shoes. It's lightweight, easy to shake out, water doesn't pool on top, nor soak in too much, etc. They are usually pretty cheap at a dollar store, etc. or you can get a more substantial one at IKEA for something still under $10. Rarely go without it.
04/13/2010 12:35PM  
Thanks for the report Kanoes.
heavycanoe
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04/14/2010 04:56PM  
Wow a 2010 trip report already! Nice Read, I think if I took a solo in April I would try to travel as much water as possible. I think if I took a solo in any other month the fishing would be calling to me.
520eek
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04/15/2010 12:16PM  
Nice... very nice!
stinger2x
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04/16/2010 02:34PM  
Great report kanoes. Thanks!
Savage Voyageur
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04/16/2010 09:08PM  
Thanks Jan, I was wondering how you made out with the cool weather. Sounds like you had a great trip. Thanks again.
TuscaroraBorealis
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04/17/2010 09:32AM  
I imagine your mind was really beginning to wonder, trying to figure out the hissing? I know mine would've been!

Nice report. You have definitely "whetted my appetite" To get out on the water. SOON!
mjmkjun
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05/02/2010 08:03AM  
Nice writeup. yeah, middle-of-the-night leg cramps are not a nice wakeup call.
05/08/2010 10:41PM  
nice report kanoes, funny too! april 7th, thats just crazy...
05/09/2010 03:30AM  
Jan, a really good report, and I really liked the pics. Wow!, April 7th!

I'm looking forward to taking your old Eureka solo up the Moose River in a couple weeks.
phisherman
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05/09/2010 07:24AM  
Kanoes,

I envy you...wish I lived closer to the BW to make more trips. I am wondering what type/model Irwin Marathon Saw you used? Thanks.

05/09/2010 07:56AM  
Enjoyed the report. Kanoes, you have come a long way in your tripping in the short time I've known you on the board. Good luck in WCP.
05/09/2010 10:39AM  
phisherman, its the irwin marathon 15" ProTouch Coarse Cut Carpenter Saw.
yeah tom, i have come along way in a short time. where was this spark 20 years ago?
phisherman
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05/09/2010 02:41PM  
Kanoes,
Thanks for the reply! I see you are going to do a trip at WCP. Have fun! Solo?
05/09/2010 02:57PM  
youre welcome. the wcpp adventure will be a 4 man group solo.
05/09/2010 03:24PM  
I enjoyed reading your trip report today, Jan, but it made me shiver. Guess I want to wait for a bit warmer weather. :-)

Great report, great photos! Thanks.
 
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