I was talking to a bw member about trips across a portage and she mentioned that 5 trips across a portage sounds like a lot. So we have 3 kids and oldest can now carry a lighter portage pack. I figure a pack per person.. so 5 packs for a family of 5. We also bring their backpacking packs a have them carry the rain gear to give them something to do.

So how many kids to you have? 3

How many packs to you have? 5 + 3 small ones for the kids

How many trips do you make across the portage? 6 trips total counting the canoe.. but one kid takes a pack. Also it isn't just one person making that 6 trips (anymore use to be with babies we would trade off)

And for fun.. how many and what kind of canoes? One.. mn3 20 foot. I'm guessing in 2 years we might be up to the mn 3 and a spirit 2 depending on oldest ability to paddle.. which means in a few years we might be up to 7 trips because of the 2 canoes

All of our full family trips have been on the edge of the bwca camping or cabin w/ daytrips. But I've done 2 daddy/daughter trips w/ my 8 year old and my 11 year old is doing her 4th trip with me in a few weeks.

On a daddy/daughter trip it's.

1 kid and 1 adult
1 big pack, 1 ccs rucksack, and 1 small daypack
2 trips (1st trip I take the ccs guide and daughter the rucksack, 2nd trip I carry daypack w/ canoe and daughter the 2 paddles)
canoe is a SR Quetico 18.5

If we do fit in a full family bwca trip the plan is
2 kids, 2 adults, and 1 black lab
2 big packs, 2 ccs rucksacks, 1 daypack
1 trip or 2 for me and 1 for wife and kids
SR Quetico 18.5

Here are my girls portaging w/ their ccs rucksacks

quote Canoearoo: "I was talking to a bw member about trips across a portage and she mentioned that 5 trips across a portage sounds like a lot. "

I'm sure that person was me that you're referring to :-) Since we had this conversation and I thought that was wild ;-).

We have 1 kid. She takes her own pack across the portage. Its an REI flash pack, and she carries:
- Our toilet paper
- first aid kit
- all of her clothes
- our utensil kit
- Water Filter
- Extra paracord
- Her headlamp
- Duct tape
- Dog food bowl

Our last trip we brought an extra pack with so we had to double portage, but usually its three packs, plus the canoe (17' Boundary Waters).

My husband portages his pack and the canoe together unless its a very long portage. (Over 100 rods)

I'm hoping to single portage on our next trip.

I say in the end - after you explained to me your reasons that its really all personal preference.

LOL Lindsey, yes it was you, I wasn't offended, but it got me wondering what everyone else does.. which is why I made the post :)

1 kid

4 packs - plus some extras.

2-3 trips across the portage. This varies (depends on current conditions, length etc.)

2 canoes (but if it's just Vickie, Aurora and I we usually use just the Souris River 18.5) Also, we have a Bell Seliga tripper.

So with 3 people (one being a child) have have 4 packs but make 3 trips across the portage. Interesting

1 Adult, 2 kids=3 packs

3 ccs (ruck/adventure and pioneer or guide)

1 trip across portages

Canoe is Spirit II

If another adult comes, add one pack and now we take the MN 3.

Kids pack usually their own gear and a little group gear. Cloths/bag/pad/light, 1 stuffed animal and a book or two. Each year I add a little group gear to them. First it was the first aid kit (1 lbs), gravity filter moving to lantern, tarp and so on.

Trip in two weeks (yeah!!!!!) with my 10 yo and she is currently training with 27# on her back. I want to lighten the load for her to 20# or less for the trip but she wants to condition for soccer tryouts the following week. She "said" she will take both bags, pads, all cloths, lantern, 1st aid, filter and rain gear leaving me with food, tent, tarp and misc. gear. I figure I may be under 20#. We'll finish packing this weekend and weight it all out.

I don't push any gear on them besides their own cloths/bag/pad and animal. Except I have always said you carry ONE piece of group gear so the share the work. They have always wanted more.

John

quote Canoearoo: "So with 3 people (one being a child) have have 4 packs but make 3 trips across the portage. Interesting "

On most portages we do only two but, on more difficult ones, occasionally I'll carry only the canoe. Thus necessitating a third trip.

First BWCA trip 5 days/4 nights.

2 Adults, 2 kids (smallish side)
3 packs (CCS Explorer, Pioneer, GG Solo)
2 day packs
1 MN3

I sent my wife and daughters over (GG Solo + 2 day packs + PFD's/paddles). I carried the food pack (CCS Explorer) and canoe. I go back for the gear pack and whatever else. So I double, everyone else single.

We did dry food items to keep weight down. All food fit in two bear vaults. Brought in a few card games and drawing pads for the kids. Fishing rods for all and a small tackle box.

Next trip I hope to breakup the personal pack between my kids and get down to a single portage. If not maybe a 1.5 portage between my wife and myself.

Now that our kids are older, it's getting easier. Last year on a couple of portages I was demoted to just the paddle carrier (2 paddles!).

So, now we carry in 1 - 1.5 trips. Crazy. And we can get a ways in!

17 year old, carries pack + canoe or just canoe

14 year old, carries pack

11 year old, carries sm pack

mom/dad carry canoe + pack or one of each

We just got back from the BWCA and we are now down to triple portaging! All 3 kids were able to carry a small pack and then sit at the end of the portage and wait for us; which meant we could now cross in 3 trips instead of 5!!

Great job guys!!

Awesome!!! Where did you go?

My older daughter and I just had a great trip to Crocodile. We double portaged again. 1st trip across I had big pack and paddle and H had small pack and paddle. 2nd trip I had canoe and H had another small pack.

Always have had kids carry a pack - starting with a small daypack sized pack and soon to a less-than-full adult size pack (by age 10-11). No matter if things could be placed in fewer packs, I think it helps to spread things out and make each one lighter if possible. After 1-2 portages, we usually have it "down".

1) We get to the landing and each kid turns their back to me to receive their pack.
2) I place pack from boat onto their back.
3) Kid grabs their other assigned item (life vests, paddles, maps, etc.) and takes off down the trail.
4) I put my own pack on and hoist the canoe from the water.
5) I place canoe in water at the other end and drop my own pack in it
6) Kids approach with their packs and I place inside boat
7) loose gear is stowed and we shove off

It is honestly a thing of beauty. Had this working magically on a trip to Knife with two of my kids plus a relative's child. The kids LOVED it - being organized and having it go seamlessly. No, they do NOT love portages in general, ha.

Most recent BWCA trip with kids had 4 kids (one extra from "luft"), youngest was 12. Two tents (Kelty Gunnison 4 and Nemo Losi 3P) and a screen tent for bugs in June.

We used 4 packs, 3 large and 1 medium:
- 2 GG Superior Ones,
- 1 Camp Trails Outrigger,
- 1 GG Solo.

Boats - 2:
- 1 SR Quetico 18.5 (stuffed to the gills) and a
- 10' plastic kayak

Portages - 1. Everyone got a pack (4) except one person got the kayak. I took the canoe as well.

quote paddlefamily: "Now that our kids are older, it's getting easier. Last year on a couple of portages I was demoted to just the paddle carrier (2 paddles!).


So, now we carry in 1 - 1.5 trips. Crazy. And we can get a ways in!


17 year old, carries pack + canoe or just canoe


14 year old, carries pack


11 year old, carries sm pack


mom/dad carry canoe + pack or one of each"

I look forward to that "demotion", lol!