BWCA Trip Report - A Good Time with a Good Friend - Seagull, Alpine, and Ogish September 2016 Boundary Waters Trip Reports
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SaganagaJoe
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09/21/2016 09:55PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
New Trip Report posted by SaganagaJoe

Trip Name: A Good Time with a Good Friend - Seagull, Alpine, and Ogish September 2016.

Entry Point: 54

Click Here to View Trip Report
 
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Savage Voyageur
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09/21/2016 10:38PM  
Thanks for the trip report Joe. Sounds like you had big fun, fishing, northern lights, music.
RetiredDave
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09/22/2016 09:31AM  
I enjoyed your trip report, Joe. The descriptions and the photos made me feel as if I was there with you guys. Pringles, pikes, and pancakes in paradise!

Thanks!

Dave
bottomtothetap
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09/22/2016 11:00AM  
Joe--

I see from your photos that you (or maybe your buddy) are another Alumicraft guy. With all of the Kevlar options out there, I am often teased/questioned about my Alumicraft canoe. But you know what? Other than a bit of extra weight, I like my Alumicraft QT17-CL as much as, or better than anything else I've tripped with. It's sturdy as can be so I don't have to worry about the occasional rocks. The keel helps with tracking and it has enough depth to handle waves well. I like the inside bow-panel for bracing my feet when paddling from up there and the small "decks" over the flotation enclosures on the bow and stern have come in handy as well. At camp, we can flip it over to use as a table when needed, again without worry about damage to the hull. True, it's also not as fast as many of the lighter canoes but who's in a hurry?

Is this normally what you trip with?
SaganagaJoe
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09/22/2016 01:32PM  
quote bottomtothetap: "Joe--

I see from your photos that you (or maybe your buddy) are another Alumicraft guy. With all of the Kevlar options out there, I am often teased/questioned about my Alumicraft canoe. But you know what? Other than a bit of extra weight, I like my Alumicraft QT17-CL as much as, or better than anything else I've tripped with. It's sturdy as can be so I don't have to worry about the occasional rocks. The keel helps with tracking and it has enough depth to handle waves well. I like the inside bow-panel for bracing my feet when paddling from up there and the small "decks" over the flotation enclosures on the bow and stern have come in handy as well. At camp, we can flip it over to use as a table when needed, again without worry about damage to the hull. True, it's also not as fast as many of the lighter canoes but who's in a hurry?

Is this normally what you trip with? "


Right now it is. I'm definitely an aluminum canoe guy, but call it a cost-benefit analysis.

The kevlars are definitely lighter and easier to portage, but at this time in my life I can portage the aluminum canoe without any physical issues, and I think that the benefits of having a more secure, sturdy, and rugged canoe outweigh the costs of the extra weight. Obviously I'm still careful and watch for rocks, but I don't have to treat my canoe like a china doll. I can take right up to shore and get out where I might be less likely to slip or get taken away by a current. The shoreline it isn't going to punch a hole in it. It also is less likely to get blown away by the wind which on this trip was a real variable. Plus the kevlars cost more to rent and I'm a law school student on a budget!

If I was doing a particularly aggressive trip and covering a lot of ground, or knew I was going to be taking some really long, steep, and difficult portages (Hanson-Knife, Grandpa-Seagull, etc.), I might consider getting a kevlar for ease of portaging. There, the benefits of easier portaging outweigh the costs of treating it like a china doll.

Just out of curiosity: My buddy said that he heard a party pass our campsite on Ogish and heard someone say, "Hey, I wonder if that's the guy who always trips with an aluminum canoe." Was that you by some chance? I didn't see the party at all.

SaganagaJoe
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09/22/2016 01:42PM  
quote RetiredDave: " Pringles, pikes, and pancakes in paradise!



Darn, that should have been the title of my trip report! That sums it up perfectly. Thanks for your feedback.
SaganagaJoe
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09/22/2016 01:43PM  
quote Savage Voyageur: "Thanks for the trip report Joe. Sounds like you had big fun, fishing, northern lights, music. "


Thanks Gary. We had a blast.
bottomtothetap
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09/22/2016 04:12PM  

It was not me on Ogish-- we were on Clearwater, Caribou and West Pike (see the trip report/video I just posted). But that's just it: Aluminum is now more the exception in the BWCA than the rule and it gets people's attention when you are out with one.

I agree with the reasons you've cited for using the Alumacraft. On a trip when we were going Knife to Vera and then Vera to Ensign with some older guys, we rented Kevlar canoes and that's part of where I formed my opinions. BTW, I think I have over thirty years on you so it's not just guys your age who can do the aluminum. This year our two longest portages were each over 200 rods and I was able to tackle both of them with my Alumacraft.
SaganagaJoe
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09/22/2016 04:57PM  
quote bottomtothetap: "
It was not me on Ogish-- we were on Clearwater, Caribou and West Pike (see the trip report/video I just posted). But that's just it: Aluminum is now more the exception in the BWCA than the rule and it gets people's attention when you are out with one.


I agree with the reasons you've cited for using the Alumacraft. On a trip when we were going Knife to Vera and then Vera to Ensign with some older guys, we rented Kevlar canoes and that's part of where I formed my opinions. BTW, I think I have over thirty years on you so it's not just guys your age who can do the aluminum. This year our two longest portages were each over 200 rods and I was able to tackle both of them with my Alumacraft. "


Eventually your muscles get accustomed to it. It did take me a while but I had no problem with it this trip.
09/22/2016 07:38PM  
Awesome report as always! Glad to hear the bears weren't bad news for you guys, and glad you enjoyed the north Seagull area.
SaganagaJoe
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09/22/2016 07:54PM  
quote MNLindsey80: "Awesome report as always! Glad to hear the bears weren't bad news for you guys, and glad you enjoyed the north Seagull area. "


I'll be returning to north Seagull. I can't get one particular campsite out of my mind, and there's lots to do up there - fishing, hiking the palisades, day trips to Jasper Alpine Falls...time to start dreaming for next summer.
missmolly
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09/23/2016 01:32PM  
I love to see fish pics where the fishers have big grins!
SaganagaJoe
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09/23/2016 01:58PM  
Yep. We don't have northern pike out where we live so even the hammer and axe handles are fun to catch. Boy do they fight!
missmolly
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09/23/2016 02:35PM  
quote SaganagaJoe: "Yep. We don't have northern pike out where we live so even the hammer and axe handles are fun to catch. Boy do they fight!"


Well, your smiles make me smile, so here's hoping you catch many, many more and never lose your gratitude!
ozarkpaddler
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09/23/2016 11:22PM  
As always, such an enjoyable trip report. Funny, your Aurora story reminded me of the last time my wife and I saw the Aurora. There was a huge raspberry patch between the latrine and the fire. My wife startled a bear enjoying the bounty of ripe raspberries (never bothered us) and we were much too "Wound up" to go to bed. Had we not stayed up late because of the bear, we'd have never seen the Aurora, and it was a really spectacular one. Thanks again for sharing your trip!
SaganagaJoe
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09/24/2016 03:50PM  
Thanks, Terry. That's a great story too.
09/25/2016 01:56PM  
Thanks, Joe. I enjoyed your report and the pictures. Fall is a nice time to be there, but it has its challenges, especially the wind. I'm glad you and Cam were able to sneak in a trip. It sounds like you had a good time.
SaganagaJoe
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09/25/2016 10:26PM  
quote boonie: "Thanks, Joe. I enjoyed your report and the pictures. Fall is a nice time to be there, but it has its challenges, especially the wind. I'm glad you and Cam were able to sneak in a trip. It sounds like you had a good time."


Thanks, Steve.
 
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