Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Sharing camp with a stranger
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x2jmorris |
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missmolly |
^This^ reminds me of a family who were turned away from an inn. I don't think they were paddlers, but still.... Because I paddle Crown Land, there are no campsites. You just camp where you want. So, one day, we camped on an island near the put-in and late that evening, in the dark, some Canadians arrived and also camped on the island. It was a small island, so they were quite close. They didn't ask for our permission and needn't have done so, for it wasn't our island. It was actually their island for they were Canadians. They built a fire and talked softly, a few feet from our tent. It was nice to have them there. In Norway and Sweden, if you own land, others may hike it and pick berries. You don't need the landowners' permission. In Maine, even though we all own the lakes, those who own the shoreline can keep paddlers from reaching the public water. That makes me grit my teeth. "Some come to the wilderness paddle a bit and to camp a lot. Some come travel across the wilderness, to soak in as many sights and sounds as can be wrung from each day. I'll always risk a lousy campsite for a bit more adventure out of the day." I agree with OCDave. Many times, I've paddled into the dark, unable to find a place to pitch a tent. These memories are so vivid. I've never felt so alive, so charged with the moment. I was actually paddling at night two nights ago. #It'sathrill,butdon'tspill Speaking of spilling, I tipped this spring. It happened so SUDDENLY. Luckily, I managed to fall into the water without tipping the canoe, but my thigh did strike the gunnel and it still hurts. So, there I was, submerged in the cool water and my first thought was, "This is how people die." And my IMMEDIATE, second thought, "But I'm wearing a life jacket, so not me. Not today." The hardest part was by the time I'd reached the shoreline towing my canoe, I was spent. Getting out of the water was hard and getting back into the canoe without retipping was even harder. |
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bwcadan |
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wxce1260 |
About 10pm that night, we look out on the lake and can see a headlamp's light way off in the distance. It kept getting closer and finally we see a family with a mom, dad and two little guys completely soaked, cold and very tired. Dad and Mom had been to the BWCA before several years back, but this was the first for their two little guys (8y/o and 10 y/o). Anyway, they had put in at the Little Isabella River (a bit late) and got caught in the big storm while they were before the portage into the Snake River. They had to hunker down while the storm passed, got cold and wet and pushed on after the storm. All the campsites were full on the rivers and by the time they made it to Bald Eagle it was almost dark. Long story short, they were denied the request to share a site by some at the south end of BE, so they continued on. Then it got dark (like pitch black BWCA dark)and they could not see or find any other campsites along BE. They finally saw our Luci light string and paddled towards us. When they reached our campsite, all they asked was if we could point them in the direction of an open site? We, of course invited them in to our campsite. The little guys hadn't eaten supper, so while mom and dad set up a tent etc, we took their boys, who were shivering, got them some hot chocolate and warmed them up under our tarp in our chairs. (no fires for warming). They were so thankful. I was absolutely shocked that others would not let them stop at their sites on the south end of the lake. Anyway, we were up early to go on our way and as we were fishing on Gabbro they paddled their way out and swung by to thank us (multiple times). Here is a picture of the two little guys warming up under our lights and tarp. I'm sure we will never see them again, but it does go down as one of my most memorable nights in the wilderness. |
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Dooger |
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RetiredDave |
Dave |
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Northwoodsman |
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HowardSprague |
OneMatch: "I've had several situations where I/we shared a camp. I never have had to ask to come into someone else's camp but on 4 different times I've had a group come by and knowing there were no other sites available offered respite. It was always a pleasant experience and a chance to meet other like minded paddlers Wow, Jerry - that beats our Kawishiwi Lake site-sharing with four Packer fan Wisconsin dudes! That was fine too though - being the last night of our trip and the first for them, we traded my leeches for some of their eggs. Worked out well. |
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Dooger |
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OneMatch |
My favorite was on Wind Lake. We got the last site pretty early in the afternoon and about 2 hours after we set up, a group of 4 coeds from U of M came and asked if they could stay. It was a no brainer for us (2 single guys)! |
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Crashdavis |
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fenrirrr |
The first boat to arrive had a young-ish couple who asked if we knew of any open sites (we didn't but steered them toward a short portage to secluded lake with a site just down the shore). There was some tension in the boat but with plenty of daylight they paddled ahead. Soon after the second pair of boats approached. Before they got to shore one of the women pointed and me and exclaimed "I know you!"–which was honestly the last thing I wanted to hear on a trip we took to escape craziness at home. Turned out she was a bartender at our neighborhood brewery with some friends on their first BWCA experience. My group assessed the time (starting to get late), did a quick head count (4+4) and invited them to share our site for the evening. The friends made camp a short hike from our tents and we were all chatting over dinner when the couple in the first boat reappeared. Their situation had obviously deteriorated. The husband and wife were unable to locate/navigate the portage (she'd apparently injured her ankle earlier in the day) and unfamiliar with the environment and their gear had become overwhelmed by their situation. With the sun setting we helped them pitch a tent and hang their food before the mosquitoes swarmed and we all called it a night. The next morning my group–preferring more solitude and being over the limit for people & watercraft at the site–decided to set off for more remote lakes. We said goodbye to the friends and couple (who despite celebrating their anniversary hadn't spoken a word to each other all morning). We didn't see them again but hopefully they all found their ways in the wilderness and had a positive BWCA experience. |
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A1t2o |
Some of the situations I have read about on this site where they had to share camp with strangers sound like a nightmare. People used to backpacking that just expect to share a site without asking and people showing up thinking the campsite is unoccupied then basically refusing to leave are some examples that come to mind. If it was an actual emergency though, I would gladly offer a place to regroup and warm up, wait out a storm, or spend the night if there were no other options. That's just basic empathy and as a bonus you get a nice story out of it. |
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4keys |
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ockycamper |
MichiganMan: "We did, one time in Lake Superior Provincial Park. There was only one campsite on the lake we were headed to. We passed a canoe on the way, so we suspected they'd have nowhere else to go. Sure enough right at dusk, they paddled up and asked if we'd let them share the site. And of course we did. They were very nice guys, and very thankful. They even offered us $$, which we did not accept. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The way to make sure this never happens to our camps is to pick a site in the morning, or early afternoon at the latest. Those that paddle all day and into the evening to "get in the miles" accept the responsibility of no sites. I am totally on board for sharing the site for families described in this thread. Not so much for those that are paddling by choice into the late evening and then want to bunk up when there are no sites. |
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ockycamper |
What I was referring to is the groups trying to make it to "that lake" and paddle right up to dark to find "that spot". . . then when everything is full, want to share a site. . .when those currently on the sites stopped earlier to insure they had a site to camp on. |
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A1t2o |
ockycamper: "The way to make sure this never happens to our camps is to pick a site in the morning, or early afternoon at the latest. Those that paddle all day and into the evening to "get in the miles" accept the responsibility of no sites. I am totally on board for sharing the site for families described in this thread. Not so much for those that are paddling by choice into the late evening and then want to bunk up when there are no sites." I do not agree with this. Maybe this is an Ely vs Gunflint difference, but expecting people to be done traveling by noon-1PM is unreasonable. Sounds to me like someone that gets up at the crack of dawn or earlier and thinks that everyone that isn't is lazy. Some people are early morning people, some are not. There is nothing wrong with paddling into the late afternoon. The issue is their destination lake being overcrowded, which is a planning problem, not how far they travel a day. |
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x2jmorris |
I then thought of it. I am not sure I would feel comfortable to paddle up to a site and ask. Therefore I think that anyone that does ask is probably having a really bad time and could use some help and I would almost always say sure unless I had a 6th sense kind of feeling. |
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ockycamper |
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ockycamper |
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deerfoot |
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bottomtothetap |
wxce1260: "In 2021 we were camped on the north end of Bald Eagle in July. About 6pm we had a HUGE storm come through with 50+ mph wind, hail, lightning and sheets of rain. (This was during the last fire ban). We had a Luci light string that gave us some night light. We were once the recipients of the same kindness you extended to these folks. God Bless you! Kindness of Strangers trip report |
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Captn Tony |
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KawnipiKid |
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okinaw55 |
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OCDave |
ockycamper: "The way to make sure this never happens to our camps is to pick a site in the morning, or early afternoon at the latest. Those that paddle all day and into the evening to "get in the miles" accept the responsibility of no sites. I am totally on board for sharing the site for families described in this thread. Not so much for those that are paddling by choice into the late evening and then want to bunk up when there are no sites." Some come to the wilderness paddle a bit and to camp a lot. Some come travel across the wilderness, to soak in as many sights and sounds as can be wrung from each day. I'll always risk a lousy campsite for a bit more adventure out of the day. |
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x2jmorris |
ockycamper: "All of this is the reason our groups moved to mid-late September." Very much so. Even October is a great time. |
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x2jmorris |
okinaw55: "I think I'd be more inclined to disperse camp at a portage with an alarm set very early instead of asking someone else to make room for us. I hope that never comes about." This is a likely possibility for me tomorrow :/ I am hopeful to find one but I am hitting the water late bc of reasons... anyway I know a portage nearby that won't likely be used and since no fires it is just set a tent and sleep until like 6am and then get up and try some more. |
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HighnDry |
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MichiganMan |
That said, I'd be mortified if I ever had to do that to someone else. I will do everything in my power to never put my party in that position! |
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straighthairedcurly |
The 2nd time, we had taken the last site on South Temperance and knew North Temperance was also full. A pair of young women came paddling along at full speed clearly hoping our site was empty. They visibly deflated when they saw us. We called them over and invited them to stay. They had come from Baker Laker that morning and hadn't passed any open sites. We had a great time chatting with them. |
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mgraber |
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timatkn |
A1t2o: "At first when I saw the title, I thought "Absolutely Not!", but emergencies are a completely different story. I had a similar thoughts as you. But I’ve offered to share with people in over their heads or helped them find an open site. Never have shared in the end. I’d have to be desperate to approach an occupied site myself. I also agree with Okycamper as well that there are people out there that purposely plan poorly and impose on others unnecessarily. Arriving to entry point late in the day on purpose, paddling in to an exit/entry lake in the evening and expecting to share is a poor plan. I’d be annoyed if I was enjoying a camp with my family on a nice day like on Disappointment and someone expected to share a site. Not sure what I’d do? Me personally I did that once…I came into Disappointment at about 3:30, got lucky found the last site—my backup plan was to exit early—not share with others. As we were looking it over a group of exasperated middle aged women came rolling in desperate for a site…My wife and I gave it to them and an hour later we were having a Burger and beer in Ely :) We lied and said we were leaving our site :). Felt good to make their day…and for good Karma nailed a 25 inch walleye on the way out! T |
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ockycamper |
missmolly: ""Long story short, they were denied the request to share a site by some at the south end of BE, so they continued on." Technically you don't own the lakes. I am an appraiser and deal with property rights. EVERY land and lake is owned by some entity, either private or government. Many lakes are in fact owned by power companies. Others by federal entitities and others by state or local. Just because you are a citizen of Maine does not mean you own the lakes. The only person or entity that owns any real property is the one whose name is on the deed. I have lived over seas. Frankly I would hate the system where anyone can come on private property and help themselves. Property ownership and usage rights are one of the foundations of our country that make it great. The European system is more aligned with socialism. |
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missmolly |
A quick Google search and much data, similar to the following statement, popped up: "The State of Maine owns the land below the natural low water mark, held in trust for the People." I am one of the people. "The only person or entity that owns any real property is the one whose name is on the deed." There is no deed for any Maine lake over 10 acres. Property ownership ends at the water. I'll write no more about this since it's off-topic. |
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ockycamper |
While you are correct that there are no deed or titles for lakes or rivers, there are for lands bordering them which limits who can access those lakes and rivers. When it comes to lakes the key is if they are navigable or have an economic benefit, commercial use, etc. There are in fact many privately owned lakes. In the US, the large lakes are in fact owned and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. One last point. . .you are correct that lakes in Maine (by far the most liberal state in terms of property rights) state lakes are held in the public domain and trust. However, that does not mean you. The public in fact votes for the legilatures that manage those entities and set the rules. So in essence. . . .if you don't have access to a lake because of land ownership of restrictions on use . . . you have in fact. . .through your representatives. . .entrusted them with taking actions that limited your rights. that is why you can only use the BWCA via entry points set up to limit access. The people of Minnesota do not own the BWCA lakes any more then you own those in Maine. |
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scat |
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Freeleo1 |
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nctry |
ockycamper: "All of this is the reason our groups moved to mid-late September." My problem was I already paddled mid September. I enjoyed utilizing open water season from May to October... never in the 45 years I paddled the Bwca did I not find a campsite. I was in the three to four o’clock club. I enjoy my mornings and my coffee. On the water by 7 or 8. Always made good time. But usually got in past the folks that clog up the entry lakes. |
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MikeinMpls |
okinaw55: "I think I'd be more inclined to disperse camp at a portage with an alarm set very early instead of asking someone else to make room for us. I hope that never comes about." I think I would do the same, Dave, unless it was an emergency, such as injury, hypothermia, etc. considering my near phobic fear of imposing on people and my fragile ego. I've never had anyone ever ask me if they could share a site. I've seen LOTS of paddlers who I may have offered to share...couples trying to outrun a storm, or people out in the lake, out of earshot, paddling in white caps late in the day. Unsafe things. But if it's clear that the request to share is due to poor prior planning....I dunno. That's all I'll say lest I sound judgmental. Though not exactly the same, we invited two very cold and very wet paddlers into our camp on Upper Pauness on a mid-May trip a long time ago. It was a mid-morning, hard rain, and these two got caught in it unprepared. We made coffee for them. We chatted, they changed into dry things, and they were on their way. Mike |