New Trip Report posted by RT

Trip Name: The 1st Big Trip.

Entry Point: 55A

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I wrote up the adventures of the last five years of "Big Trips" that my friends and I took. I was not going to post them at first but, seeing as some people damn near screamed at me to post them, here they are. (5 reports in total - 4 submitted back to back).

I laugh every time I see the "Ugly Baby" bait shop sign and again, reading your report made me laugh, just by your reference to it. Glad you had an eye opening experience that you thoroughly enjoyed.

I've been reading your reports in no special order and just finished this one, your first. You have a good writing style, one that invites the reader generously to share your experience as if offering this opportunity to an old friend. It's a nice touch, and I enjoy these reports. There's one I haven't read yet, but, so far I like The Super Loop the best, even though I'm sure that was not your favorite trip. It had all the elements of a good story.

I'm familiar with all these lakes you've traveled, as I lived in a cabin on Gull Lake every summer from 1989 to 2004 when I sold it. I still get to use the cabin, though, as the new owener, who only goes there sparingly, doesn't mind me being there when she isn't. The first few summers I lived there I travelled east, south, north and west on two and three day trips I made with my faithful companion, Barney, a malamute mix dog I loved more than anyone I've ever known. Unfortunately, Barney's no longer alive. He died of old age in 1996. He loved the BWCA. He chased a moose once on the portage to Ester Lake. I had to wait an hour until he made his way back to me sitting by the side of my canoe at the end of the portage. I don't know how he ever found his way back, or what he expected to do if he ever caught up with the moose.

Your trips bring back some good memories for me. While I lived up there, I knew Debbie Mark at Seagull Outfitters, as well as Bud Darling at Way of the Wilderness, and Mike Prom at Voyageur, all good people who provide great services to their customers. Your account of the Gunflint Trail sights is inteesting. New eyes view this trip in an interesting light, as I have driven that road countless times going back and forth to Grand Marais for supplies. And, of course, I know all the haunts in Grand Marais that you mention.

After doing near-by trips, I branched out to Quetico, where I did more than twenty trips, mostly up the Falls Chain. I revisited that area this summer again for the first time in 10 years. I did a fast trip report of it, not nearly as good as your detailed ones.

Anyway, thanks for these interesting reports.

Thank you very much for the praise. The Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais and the End of the Trail are some of my favorite spots in all of Minnesota. If there was a way I could find work in Grand Marais I would move without a second thought. I envy you for being able to live in that neck of the woods.

While I know Debbie at Seagull the best (over years of outfitting and buying a canoe from her) I have met everyone you spoke of. And all of them are as nice as anyone I have ever met.

I have never been into the Q proper. I really want to go but the reason that I (and Gopher and Matt) do the trips into the BW is because it is a very cheap trip to do and we get more relazation than if we were sitting on a beach somewhere. The Q is something like $20 per person per day and, being broke, those trips will have to wait until later in life I think.

Thank you for thinking my reports are interesting and reading them. ^_^

Good report. I would have liked to have seen the cavity lake fires as your group did on this trip. Those fires really changed the face of a large portion of the bwca. Your group was able to witness a monumental event in the the parks history.

From the way you made it sound, you guys had a really great trip and learned some valuable lessons at the same time. I'm glad your group got hooked on the bwca and i'll look for your other reports in this series. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks ^_^ Yeah, being in the BW during the fire was very interesting. We got to see the areas right before, during and right after the fire ravaged the area.

quote RT: "I wrote up the adventures of the last five years of "Big Trips" that my friends and I took. I was not going to post them at first but, seeing as some people damn near screamed at me to post them, here they are. (5 reports in total - 4 submitted back to back).


"

LOL! We didn't scream at ya, tho I think some were pleading for more ...

hehe... yeah, I exagerated a bit on the "screaming". But it was a funny thing to say.

quote RT: "Thanks ^_^ Yeah, being in the BW during the fire was very interesting. We got to see the areas right before, during and right after the fire ravaged the area. "

wow

that is incredible!!!!!!