I'm wondering how those of you who take extended trips (2 weeks +) stay abreast of the weather forecast. I am mainly interested in wind conditions. If it rains, it rains. But sometimes it's really nice to know if the stiff breeze you wake up to means a "camp day" or maybe just a later start crossing that large lake.

A 10 day forecast is pretty suspect by about day 5 or 6. When I am out for 2 weeks or more knowing what to expect later in the day or tomorrow is an educated guess at best. I'm curious what others do.

I'm not a big fan of bringing a lot of technology with me. I'm an I.T. guy for a living, so these trips are a way for me to get away and disconnect. So far I don't bring a GPS, SPOT, etc. That said, I would consider bringing some technology if it solved this issue. I'm not interested in a sat phone so I can call someone. That would only lead to someone being able to call me.

Anyone have a great way to get a weather forecast without being too "in touch"?

I use a Sat. phone and my wife texts me each day with the weather forcast. You are right, it is nice knowing what the wind is going to do when you plan the next few days. There is an app someone developed that sends you the report on a Sat. phone.texting weather app

The Delorme Inreach is what I would probably get if purchasing any device today. It has two-way texting using the Iridium Satellites. Get your weather and be able to do a self-rescue if necessary. They have more than one model. Delorme Inreach Explorer

Thanks for the reply, Marten. I've been looking at the newest InReach Explorer. It seems to address a lot of things with one device. Short of a better solution, this may very well be the way I go.

I've never brought my weather radio to WCPP. But I agree, it would be nice to know. I usually get different people switching out if I take a longer trip and depend on them to bring in an updated forecast. I know in the BW my weather radio saved my butt a few times. It is so nice to know and be able to plan for whatever.

I laminated my 10 day forecast and took it with. It was surprisingly wrong. If it said 'storms Tuesday afternoon, it was beautiful Tuesday. We did however get the predicted storm... Wednesday morning. By day 5 it was useless.

I did end up using the sat phone, and after the first call, got the latest wether before anything else. Could I survive without it? Sure. Did I like getting the wether? Yes. For me it was like packing a spare lighter...

quote ECpizza: "I laminated my 10 day forecast and took it with. It was surprisingly wrong. If it said 'storms Tuesday afternoon, it was beautiful Tuesday. We did however get the predicted storm... Wednesday morning. By day 5 it was useless.
"

I feel there is something to this issue of the weather forecast for WCPP being right but off in the timing. Obviously the forecast we get is for the general area. Depending on which direction the weather system is moving in from it is usually about 8 hours off. It is still nice to know what is out there with the wind prediction being the most important.

And yes, the forecast is usually OK for the next 48 hours but after that it can be laughable. That is one of the reasons I have my forecast delivered each morning. One morning up in Opasquia PP I even called home to get the up to the minute forecast because we did not want to linger too long and lose the tailwind that would take us 15 miles down a long lake. We were able to explore until 3:00 pm and then enjoy the tailwind. The forecast was for a stiff headwind the next day. A perk of toting one more device.

I would think the weather forecast out of Winnipeg would give a fair idea what may be coming. I've never brought it to WC or Wabakimi, but I have a radio that picks up the NWS broadcast (162.55 in TC area) that I have been able to pick up in BWCA & Quetico. My assumption is that Canada has a similar service.

But what really can you do about it? It's not like you will forget going to the baseball game and stay home and watch it on TV. If you have been paying attention and look at the sky you will have as accurate as any forecast you will get.

There is no substitute for being aware and paying attention to your surroundings. I've often said, "The weatherman gets his/her forecast the same way we do. They stick their head out of the window." And they are generally right about whatever it did yesterday.

An example of why I started this thread. I'm in a nice campsite, it's a reasonably nice morning, and have a day or two of non-travel days in my overall plan. My next move will take me over a larger body of water, later in the day. I don't know if there is as nice of a site as I am in now until I get across that big lake.

If I had a forecast that said the wind would pick up or storms were moving in late in the day, I might very well choose to stay where I'm at, fish, and enjoy a day watching the water go by. On the other hand, it might be a great day to get that lake behind me.

Thanks for the conversation so far!

On my longer trip in the bw in 2012 I was wind bound on Lac La Croix a few days. Listening to the weather radio it was giving me a small window to get off the lake. I had to get going early with very cold temps. But I got off and the winds returned but I was on smaller water. On the same trip on Fishdance Lake the radio alerted me of a storm approaching. I was able to take cover as it named off the lakes around me. They are more than sticking their heads out the window... They are using radar and other equipment to come up with whats going on.

I took a sat phone on first solo's, did like Martin and wife gave me weather update. Now use Delorme In Reach, like it a lot. She texts me weather up date

SunCatcher