Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Group Forum: Solo Tripping :: Trip report and a big Thanks to all !
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pswith5 |
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boonie |
quote pswith5: "Busy 9-27 thrust 10-4. Wedding anniversary. Anyone got 8-29 thrust 9-4 open?" Happy Anniversary! You could come in the 23rd through the 26th . . . surely you won't be that busy and your wife will understand ;). I've been married over 41 years now and there's a very simple reason for that. |
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boonie |
Like hobbydog, I was wondering what you ended up doing in the food dept. and how it worked out. . .? I did several trips before I really got that under control. I don't think I've had a trip go completely as planned, and many have been considerably different, which usually means a good bit shorter ;). I vacillated back and forth between single blades and double blades for several years before I became comfortable with the double blade (or single for that matter). I still take one of each and switch back and forth. When I took fishing equipment - and I wasn't fishing seriously - I was surprised to find that it still weighed 5-6 lbs. Photography gear can up quickly too. I think just about anything extra you're interested in doing in there - fishing, photography, gourmet meals, reading - all adds considerable pounds, as well as considerable enjoyment for many. I enjoy doing a lot of "nothing" and, surprisingly, even that adds weight ;). For those interested in the group solo thing, I'm going in EP# 50, Cross Bay, Wednesday, September 23rd. If that coincides with your schedule and you want to hook up for a couple of days, let me know. Steve may join me for the first couple of days - Cross Bay to Snipe, then Snipe to Tuscarora, maybe one or two more before exiting while I continue on. |
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ducks |
quote boonie: I'm going to think hard about this. Sounds fun.! Im teaching a new grade level (1st ) next year so getting a couple of days off in September will be trickier than the past |
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wvevans |
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boonie |
If you can handle 1st graders, you MIGHT survive tripping with me :) I'm old and cantankerous. My sister was originally planning to com with me, but she's been unable to commit due to some health issues and it looks more and more certain that won't change. If it works out for you, I'm staying at Nelson's in GM the night before (on your recommendation) and I think there are 2 beds in the room, so we can share it if she doesn't come. And no matter what my wife says, I DO NOT snore ;). wvevans- If Sept might work, let me know. It took me quite a while to get my food to a point where I was satisfied with the amount and wasn't carrying too much extra and also to find meals that I liked. Individual tastes can be so varied that it's hard to tell from someone else's experience, but I'm wondering what brands of freeze-dried foods you have tried . . .? I haven't tried the Camp Chow from Trail Center, but many like them. I have had better luck with the smaller makers of dehydrated meals who don't add a lot of chemicals or sodium vs. the larger ones like Mountain House that do, but even then it's taken some experimentation. I don't like all the meals from a maker equally, just like I don't like all the meals at my favorite restaurant. You may just find that you prefer doing your own. All (who may be interested)- I think I posted (quite a while ago) about my 12-day trip plan, but the general plan is to enter at Cross Bay, stay a night on Snipe - yeah, I know it's a short first day - then on to Tuscarora via Copper Lake and the Howl portage, which should be fun :). And interesting - Steve has heard rumors of signs of Paleo-Indian copper mining on copper. After Tuscarora, I have grand plans (that probably won't get completed :)) for a long loop to the west and back to Tuscarora and out through Missing Link to Round Lake. The general idea is to head to Little Sag, then west through Ledge and back through Kekekabic, but some foot surgery has hampered my efforts at "getting in shape", and there's always the "weather issue", especially that time of year. |
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muddyfeet |
Welcome to the luxury that is hammock hanging. Did the puppy stay in the hammock with you?? |
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boonie |
Hope to see you in Oct. Bill, Pete - how's it looking for you guys? Last minute decision . . .? |
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hobbydog |
quote wvevans: " Why is it that people here preach over and Over that you don’t need tons of Tackle and we still bring tons of tackle. I learned my lesson, that’s for sure. "I really doubt that you learned the lesson. :) I was one that told you you were bringing too much tackle. I still brought too much tackle on my recent trip. It is a lesson that is very hard to learn. Kind of the same with food. How did you end up in that department? Sounds like a really good trip. Start planning the next one. |
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wvevans |
My original plan was to head up through the number chain, through Insula, Thomas, Kek and down Knife and back out through Snow Bank. I had my outfitter drop my truck off on Snowbank and bring me to the Lake one Access. I made it up to Insula after taking my time in the rain by the Morning of day two. The walleye fishing was awesome and caught all the fish I wanted but sadly nothing Over 23 inches . I spent 3 days on Insula witch was a mistake. With the Next 3 days of a big wind and I only made it to Thomas before being stuck there for another 3 days. Not where I wanted to be after Day 6 . I did catch a handful of small Lakers , 1st time summer Laker fishing for me so that was good. My best bait for lakers was jigging a size 4 white Tube Jig. I did catch two little ones Trolling the Knock off Deep Diver Tail dancers by Cabalas . After you guys told me I had way too much gear more than once I still ended up taking too much gear. Two CCS packs plus a dry bag made double and sometimes triple Portaging necessary. Why is it that people here preach over and Over that you don’t need tons of Tackle and we still bring tons of tackle. I learned my lesson, that’s for sure. I ended up Cutting over from Thomas and heading out from there on Day 8 instead of making up to Knife . I was a little bumbed out by this but now I have a new area to explore in the near future. I only made one big rookie mistake on this trip. I looked at the Map on day 8 and Figured I could paddle all the way out from where I was at . I made it to Snow bank just as it was getting Dark. The wind and waves picked up and about half way across and it got a bit scary. I pulled up to a bigger Island just East of the access in the Dark, Pulled out my pad and bag and crashed out right there on the ground for the night and never woke up once till morning. I would Love to participate in a group Solo this fall if anyone wants to get one going. I am going to try to take the Kids up in August as well. Again thanks guys for all the great advice. I couldn’t have had a better time. |
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ducks |
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bhouse46 |
And yes a trip coinciding with Fall wing in the twin cities is on my radar and making it a group event would be so cool. |
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housty9 |
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ducks |
I'm expecting to be very tired at the beginning of the year as each and every one of them will need me non stop all day:) It's going to be a big adjustment. I'll probably be going to bed at 6:00 every night. Both girls will be playing travel soccer this fall so getting away for a weekend will be more difficult also. That's a big reason I'm doing my solo in Aug. because I wanted to make sure I got one in this year. If it works out that I can do it I'd probably take TH, Fri off and drive up during the night Wed entering TH morning and figure out a meeting place like Snipe or Tuscarora on Thursday?? Then I'd head out on Sun. Where are you exiting and are you exiting on Fri. Oct. 2nd??? Or if it works better w/ my schedule I could enter TH 1st and meet you on a predetermined lake for your last night. Just thinking out loud hear as I wouldn't know what/if it would work until Sept. I've only had the Camp Chow samples at the restaurant and they are very good. I see they now have "in the bag" directions so I'm going to get some the next time I'm there. I may even order a couple on line to bring on my Aug trip. |
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boonie |
I also had the thought that some peoples' schedules might fit into meeting at the end better, but the logistics would be more difficult. If you come in at the beginning, ducks, I'll be on Snipe Wednesday night, Tuscarora Thursday night, and then most likely on to Little Sag for Friday night. If you come in Cross Bay early Thursday morning, you could meet me (us) at the portage to Copper Lake, which could be interesting and we'll continue on through the Howl Swamp portage, which should be fun ;). Alternately, you could enter at Missing Link (from Round) and just catch us on Snipe. I plan to exit on Sunday, Oct. 4th, at Round Lake and walk to my car at the Cross Bay landing. Plans at the end are, of course, more subject to the "vagaries" - weather, whim, etc. - but the general plan is to camp on Missing Link (or maybe Tuscarora) the last night, Saturday the 3rd, and have an easy exit Sunday. The plan is to be on Crooked the night before that and on Gabi Thursday. Pete, wv, bhouse- let us know if any works for you. |
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pswith5 |
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bhouse46 |
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ducks |
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boonie |
Yeah, but the worst that happens is you get a solo and I get a group solo with my multiple personalities - me, myself, and I (I am never alone) :). And you don't have to put with another bunch of 6-year-olds ;). I hope it works out one way or another. If not, you'll have to drive the gang down to WV and get "indoctrinated". I hope indoctrination's not against any religion ;). |
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boonie |
Sorry it's not going to work out for you, but I'll look forward to your report. |
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boonie |
Here is the one truth that coaches must know, ducks: The team with the most points wins. The team that loses is coached by some idiot who doesn't know that :). Hope to see you in Oct. Only 2 months away now, starting to get excited! |
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ducks |
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ducks |
So now when we get to Sept. I'll have to see what the 4 day weekend of Th Oct. 1st to Sun. Oct. 4th holds for me. |