Going on my first solo up to Knife Lake. This is mainly a fish slaying trip so I will be mostly base camping. I want to jump over to a couple other lakes but I'm concerned with leaving my camp unattended for the day. I don't want to come back to an emptied out campsite?

I wouldn't worry about it. Most people respect other people's camp and gear. Thankfully the Bdub keeps most of the riff raff out. Not that theft can't happen or hasn't happened but it's rare.

It's never happened to me over the 38 years I've been tripping.

I've never heard of any problems like that. Anyone?

i wouldnt worry about it but i would keep a tidy camp with things out of sight from someone paddling by.

Slay all the fish you want but don't worry about your camp being messed with. Never heard of this happening but I guess I wouldn't leave any gold bricks in camp:)

quote SevenofNine: "I wouldn't worry about it. Most people respect other people's camp and gear. Thankfully the Bdub keeps most of the riff raff out. Not that theft can't happen or hasn't happened but it's rare."

Mostly...99.% safe. Just keep things away from shore, and keep things tidy and out of sight. Been tripping a long time and never had any issues.

I'm not sure about the Riff Raff part.

by the way....what do you paddle and when are you going to be on knife. ;)

The only concern I would have on Knife would be bears. Keep a tidy camp and have nothing in your tent to attract them and you should be ok... Never had a problem. But old Dorothy had her share of problems with them back in the day. I remember coming and she'd be fixing screens. I've been visited a number of times, but never lost anything.

quote kanoes: "by the way....what do you paddle and when are you going to be on knife. ;)"

TFF!!!

The only problem I ever had was having my site stolen. I came back from a day trip to find another group camped in my site. My tent was tucked back in the woods a bit and they didn't see it until they were set up and the few items I had by the firegrate they figured was forgotten. I guess they couldn't comprehend anyone not being part of a large group and traveling light.

They offered to share the site with me (nice of them) but I decided to pack up and leave.

That's a problem I never thought about Bannock! It counsels in favor of keeping your stuff in full view. Like the others, I have never worried about my site when I have left it for the day (food is always sequestered so I'm not worried about bears).

There was a thread quite awhile back relating to campsite thieves.

This is one thread

I am going to put my two cents in... I will qualify this statement by saying that I am a security minded person as I live in the city. I lock my doors at all times, etc. My theory on the BWCA is much like my theory at home or in a state park campground... someone may at some time steal my stuff. All I can do is take what simple precautions I can.

I usually leave my car at an outfitters but have left it at the EP as well... empty. I have locks on my Thule rack so it can't be taken off my car and I lock my kayak on when I travel with it.

When I day trip from a base camp, I keep my valuables (camera/phone/cash) with me and stash my food. My gear stays put in camp. It is the best I can do unless I want to travel every day and take my stuff with me.

If I'm going to day trip and it's not obvious the site is occupied, I will try to fly a "flag" in clear view like a spare tarp or more often than not, since I hang my food pack, hang it in plain site (perhaps easier in Q.) I guess I'm not ready to start worrying about someone pilfering stuff from my site. I've worried more about that on a long portage. When the day comes, I'll just head north to Wabakimi, Opisquia, or WCPP from then on.

On solo trips I typically move every day so this doesn't come up. I've taken a number of group trips where we did day trips and never given it any thought. We tidy up before leaving but that's it.

In all of the years I've been traveling the BWCA there has never been an issue of my camp being rifled through while I was out. One thing I always do is keep anything of value or worth stealing out of sight. Keep a clean site and have any true valuables (wallet, camera, cash, jewelery, etc.) with you when you leave for the day. Really I can't even remember hearing of anyone getting ripped off in their camp while they were gone.

quote Bannock: " The only problem I ever had was having my site stolen. I came back from a day trip to find another group camped in my site. My tent was tucked back in the woods a bit and they didn't see it until they were set up and the few items I had by the firegrate they figured was forgotten. I guess they couldn't comprehend anyone not being part of a large group and traveling light.


They offered to share the site with me (nice of them) but I decided to pack up and leave.


"

This reminds me of a thread, two or three years ago, where we were discussing whether we preferred tents that blended in with the surroundings or brightly colored ones that others could spot from a distance. A campsite that can be determined, from a distance, to be occupied would provide more privacy than a campsite which has to be approached closely.

quote luft: "This is one thread "

Funny in that thread Trygve in all his vast knowledge and ego, stated it was abusrd for someone to have their bait stolen.

We were the ones that had leeches stolen on Iron Lake. Two Leech Lockers lids unscrewed leeches taken and then screwed back on.

Grandma L's grandson had his camp rifled through on a solo trip by drunken "neighbors". He launched a counter attack and stole his stuff back... pretty gutsy as he was out numbered and they were drunk!