Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Basswood Thieves?
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MikeinMpls |
Mike |
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missmolly |
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prettypaddle |
The only time I ever stopped at an occupied site when the owners weren't there was with my son, 3 at the time, who really had to go #2 but refused to go in the woods. The owners of the site paddled up as we were coming back to shore and I explained what we were doing there and apologized profusely. Cause if you're there for a good reason, that's just what you do, right? |
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3Ball |
missmolly: "I have my own sad story to tell. My partner and I were "shopping" for Packers gear and we saw a yellow and green tent after the portage to Pipestone Falls. See, I was pretty much in the "who knows, don't worry camp." Now, though, I am in the shoot first camp. |
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LindenTree |
Some people are not woods wise, could be a hundred reasons why they were at your campsite. |
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mjmkjun |
I would NEVER approach a campsite that is set-up with no canoes visible. Unless, of course, there was a body laying on the ground or someone flagging me over. Might be they were assessing the site's equipment values--so needed to get up closer. Could be innocent enough but they sure lacked manners and sure didn't come up with any justification. Who were they going to request direction/site info with when no soul in sight excepting when you guys approached from behind? meh |
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MikeinMpls |
Mike |
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missmolly |
3Ball: "missmolly: "I have my own sad story to tell. My partner and I were "shopping" for Packers gear and we saw a yellow and green tent after the portage to Pipestone Falls. Don't shoot wintxn for displaying Packer pride with a yellow and green tent. Some people are just born with great taste! |
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x2jmorris |
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SummerSkin |
It seems unlikely to me that anyone would do the planning and prepping to enter the BWCA with the purposes of stealing from campsites, but I'm sure stranger crimes have happened. Nothing wrong with being cautious and wary! |
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wintxn |
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shock |
LindenTree:, who knows , they did have their gear with to set up a camp , no gear in their canoe would make me more suspicious. |
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missmolly |
"Perfect!" I said. Then we saw two guys in a fishing boat motoring toward us. "Curses! Foiled again," I said. Go, Pack! |
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wintxn |
behavior, the fact that the canoeists saw no other boats nearby because my boat was on the other side of the island made my gut instincts kick in. With the current loss of jobs and too much time on their hands people will do things they shouldn't. Thanks to all that read and replied to my post, I felt compelled to share this incident with others that enjoy and cherish ou BWCA. |
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missmolly |
wintxn: "missmolly, thank you for giving me the real reason they stopped!! I plan to purchase a purple tent today. ;)" Don't do it! They say purple tents are five times more likely to be struck by lightning because Heaven loves green and gold. ;-) back at ya! |
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Savage Voyageur |
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analyzer |
I have never had an issue with thieves in 48 years, but I usually go to the end of the gunflint trail, and am a long way for kids to go mess around. I just can't see thieves going to that much work, to go across two wheeled portages to steal something. |
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wintxn |
My fishing partner and I were fishing behind the first island after the portage at Pipestone Falls. Our campsite was the one that is clearly visible with a green tent and a yellow tent pitched on the east side of the lake about 1/2 mile from the portage. As we came around the island, we noticed a canoe paddling towards our camp, thinking they might be trolling close to shore or not. The two young men in the canoe stopped at the shore of our campsite and stepped out of their canoe. As they stepped out of the canoe, I turned my motorized boat towards our campsite and proceeded to motor towards the campsite with two strangers standing at the shore. At this time, the young man in the bow of the canoe took two steps up towards our camp, looked into our camp and stepped back down to shore. By now my boat was within 200 yards of the camp shore and it was obvious to the strangers that we were about to return to our campsite. Still motoring towards the shore, the other young man quickly opens up a plastic tub and pulls out a map and holds it up high to display to my partner and me that they were kinda lost. As we came within speaking distance, my partner asked the paddlers if they were looking for a campsite and directed them to the empty site closest to the portage. They returned to their canoe and went to that site, hauled up the plastic tub and stayed there for ten minutes. Their next move was to paddle up to Pipestone Falls and go fishing in the current. We trolled around the bay and made sure that we were seen by the two strangers. We returned to our camp and made a fire at 9:30 pm. Shortly after, the two strangers paddled back to their campsite. At 7:00am the next morning, the strangers were gone. End of the story?? or did we interrupt a petty crime? Our tents were clearly visible for 1/4 mile from the lake. Nobody wastes paddling effort to get close to an occupied site. Who stops at an occupied site with no boats on the shore? Pulling the map out was the alibi to cover up the real reason to be in our site. The strangers did not ask for any assistance or explain why stopped. You don't have to be standing on shore to look at a map. By going fishing at Pipestone Falls displayed to me that these strangers knew exactly where they were and were not lost or in need of a map until they knew that they were cornered. The strangers didn't spend enough time in their site to set up camp for the night. The getaway canoe was aluminum with heavy duck hunting camouflage and a 2020 expiration blue license. I think they have done this before and have stolen from others. |
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plexmidwest |
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thegildedgopher |
My more fun guesses: - they buried treasure on that island and intended to dig it up. The plastic tote is to carry it back to the canoe. - they planted some weed back there and it’s harvest time dude Also... Miss Molly I always got good vibes from you and now I know for certain you are a good one. Go pack! (But probably not this year!) |
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JD |
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Canoearoo |
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missmolly |
I also agree with tGG about the glorious Pack. |
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johndku |
Years ago I wasn't "lost" in the exact sense, but I did paddle up to another occupied site to get re-oriented. Nearing the site, the occupants were in camp, I asked if they'd mind if I paddled up to shore, and I never got out of the canoe while they pointed out to me where I was on the map. They were very friendly. I'd never dream of getting out of the canoe at a campsite where I couldn't see any of the occupants, and they didn't give me the OK to come into camp. |