BWCA Stone chairs on Gebeonequet Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
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Fearlessleader
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11/24/2013 08:43PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
A couple years ago we camped on Gebeonequet and enjoyed an amazing set of Adirondack chairs made of slabs of flat granite that had broken off a rock slope. They were oversized, but very comfortable and lined up so six people could relax on the "back porch" and look out over the lake.

Anybody know anything about them or how long they've been there? Not exactly untouched wilderness experience, but one of the more interesting campsite improvements I've come across.
 
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ECpizza
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11/24/2013 09:23PM  
Troublemaker.

There has been endless discussion about those here. I -think- they were there earlier this year, but some find their existence offensive. Personally, I'd love to see them.
h20
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11/24/2013 09:26PM  
do a sight search..some earlier discussion about them.
11/25/2013 07:28AM  
I wouldn't put stuff like that on here--people will purposely destroy stuff like that once they hear about it. They have been around for at least 10-15 years--probably longer.

T
billconner
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11/25/2013 11:21AM  
Yup. Some would plan their trip for the year to demolish them and thus save the BWCA.
Fearlessleader
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11/25/2013 12:32PM  
Wow. Sad to think that people would have such a negative response to something that neat. Have been doing an annual 1000 mile trek to the BWCA for over 40 years and haven't run into that mentality yet. When my son saw them. He thought they were the coolest things he had seen there.
Arkansas Man
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11/25/2013 03:22PM  
There has been quite a bit of discussion here concerning the stone chairs. Some like them and think they are neat, others not so much! Myself, I enjoyed them greatly!!




Bruce
Grandma L
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11/25/2013 04:41PM  
If you don't like them....don't go there, don't sit in them and leave them for the others who do... Live and let live?
11/26/2013 12:30AM  
We enjoyed them last summer on our first family trip to BWCAW. Took a day trip up from our campsite on Oyster to see them. They're not visible from the lake, so why spoil them?
Diego
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11/26/2013 10:35AM  
They were still there this September. They are not visible from the lake or the campsite, and you have to hike over to it from the campsite. We knew about it from this forum and made it a destination and a goal to get to them, which made that day alot of fun.
Woods Walker
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11/30/2013 09:30AM  
quote billconner: "Yup. Some would plan their trip for the year to demolish them and thus save the BWCA."


That is just stupid thinking... might as well rip up fire grates & latrines too.

Why is it that some things are "ruled" to leave alone as artifacts, yet other things are frowned upon.

I always find it interesting to see things like this.
bwcasolo
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11/30/2013 04:06PM  
my feeling on the matter is that they should not be there. fire grate and latrines are enough for me to show me that this is a usfs bwca campsite. what's the difference between this and nailing together table and chairs with bwca dead wood?
i would not stop at a site in the bwca if there were human made conveniences. they should go.
fire grates and latrines are usfs. try destroying them without a fine.
bojibob
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11/30/2013 04:19PM  
bwcasolo
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11/30/2013 04:37PM  
let's just build cabins, canoe docks, unregulated it would be a koa, sounds like a great wilderness experience.
JJ396
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11/30/2013 05:28PM  
What's the big deal? If you don't want to see them, don't go to that site. Others find them interesting so let them go see them.
billconner
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11/30/2013 06:47PM  
quote JJ396: "What's the big deal? If you don't want to see them, don't go to that site. Others find them interesting so let them go see them."


Concur - as long as no nails or wire or cord or other materials not natural to that area. That rules out cabins, docks, etc.
11/30/2013 08:03PM  
These chairs are actually hard to find. They are maybe 75 yards away from the campsite and high up a hill overlooking the lake. I'm sure lots of people who camped at the site never knew they were there.

QuietWild
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11/30/2013 08:57PM  
Personally, I love these chairs. The way they were set up only from stones in the immediate area is all very clever and tastefully done. I don't think anyone wants to see this at every campsite, but the rare "human artifact" does not bother me when done thoughtfully and within reason. And as others have pointed out, most will never see them unless they know where to look or maybe stumble upon them.

On a side note, I may be the exception to the rule. I found the chairs first in a snow storm while looking for the campsite; the campsite was the thing I couldn't find initially. I didn't actually find the campsite proper until morning (it was late, I was wet, and I needed to make camp quickly). That next day I discovered that bent-over trees and snow had blocked the regular path to the campsite.

It's all good from my point of view.
trailcherry
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12/02/2013 07:20PM  
Every campsite that I have visited in the BWCA has had some sort of man made convenience. That nice slab of rock that looks like a tabletop right next to the fire grate sure is a handy thing to have. Some cooking areas are more elaborate than others but I've never thought of dismantling it because someone that came before me put it there, those log benches sure come in handy too.
Swampturtle
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12/04/2013 11:37AM  
quote Diego: "They were still there this September. They are not visible from the lake or the campsite, and you have to hike over to it from the campsite. We knew about it from this forum and made it a destination and a goal to get to them, which made that day alot of fun. "


+1. We went in July. Paddled across the lake from our site to have a look at them and take pictures. It's not a secret, even the outfitters tell you they are there. We thought they were pretty neat. I hope people leave it be...
Swampblaze10
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12/04/2013 11:40AM  
Everyone knows they are there....including the USFS. They've left them alone as should everyone else. Guess no one remembers when the BW was full of cabins, resorts and industry.
PortageKeeper
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12/05/2013 01:28PM  
quote Swampblaze10: "Everyone knows they are there....including the USFS. They've left them alone as should everyone else. Guess no one remembers when the BW was full of cabins, resorts and industry.
"

I've heard that they will soon be protected as artifacts.
prizes14
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06/27/2021 10:33PM  
TomT: "These chairs are actually hard to find. They are maybe 75 yards away from the campsite and high up a hill overlooking the lake. I'm sure lots of people who camped at the site never knew they were there.


"


There is an actual campsite there that is not by the chairs? All I could find was the chairs. Where from the chairs is the campsite? I just remember thinking that where the chairs were was a pretty poor campsite because there was not fire grate, toilet or tent pad. I guess I missed the actual campsite.
chessie
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06/28/2021 08:49AM  
prizes14: "
TomT: "These chairs are actually hard to find. They are maybe 75 yards away from the campsite and high up a hill overlooking the lake. I'm sure lots of people who camped at the site never knew they were there.



"



There is an actual campsite there that is not by the chairs? All I could find was the chairs. Where from the chairs is the campsite? I just remember thinking that where the chairs were was a pretty poor campsite because there was not fire grate, toilet or tent pad. I guess I missed the actual campsite."

As I recall the campsite is southwest of the chairs. So if you were facing the chairs from the main body of the lake, it is further left along the shore line. There was a bit of rock activity at the site, too, some slabs around the fire grate area.
06/28/2021 03:18PM  
my chair and end table ;)
whyzata
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06/28/2021 03:36PM  
I was sad to learn that the Forest Service dismantled the Lady of the Lake on Brule 20 years ago. It was a left over from the "resort" era on Brule. But I thought it was interesting.
06/28/2021 04:08PM  
Def need to check that out. It's on my list.
RatherbeDuffing
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06/28/2021 05:23PM  
billconner: "
quote JJ396: "What's the big deal? If you don't want to see them, don't go to that site. Others find them interesting so let them go see them."



Concur - as long as no nails or wire or cord or other materials not natural to that area. That rules out cabins, docks, etc."


Slippery slope. What about a stupid primitive shelter like what you see on the TV show "Alone"? That could be made with all natural materials from the immediate area too. You and I might agree that is a bridge too far, but some idiot might not. Rules/laws are for the idiots and the criminals, not the normal members of society.

I think the chairs are cool, but I would rather they not be there. I for one am way too lazy to do anything about it though.
OMGitsKa
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06/28/2021 06:15PM  
What's up with people on this forum reviving like 7 year old threads lol.
06/28/2021 10:41PM  
whyzata: "I was sad to learn that the Forest Service dismantled the Lady of the Lake on Brule 20 years ago. It was a left over from the "resort" era on Brule. But I thought it was interesting. "


I don’t think that is correct. I read from the family that originally constructed it that is slowly deteriorated over time and what was left was removed eventually. The family was not upset about it. It wasn’t built to last it was built as a prank originally. It had nothing to do with a resort.

It was built by the Soderland family in 1944. It was hollow, the family was surprised it lasted into the 80’s but eventually fell apart. Then the FS either removed the remains or put it in the lake. One of the great grandchildren also posted on this site in 2011 I believe.

T
 
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