Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Planning Forum :: First time to BWCA
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bwcadan |
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Cc26 |
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cyclones30 |
Gman7: "Do most people stay multiple days in a camp or just pass through back on Alice, Thomas and Frazier?" Flip a coin. Even if they do or they don't, your timing could be at the beginning middle or end of their stay. |
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mjmkjun |
It's a courtesy but also adhering to the 9-person rule/regulation of congregation. Also, consider there's a risk of wrong packs being accidentally carried off by someone if differing parties are loading and unloading gear. Always double-check the landing area when your last packs/bags are picked up. It's easy to leave something behind especially in hurried/excited mode. Has happened to many, including myself. Backtracking sure messes with the pace of traveling time when having to retrieve an item at the last portage ..... or the one before that. Paddles, cameras, PFD's, personal drinking bottles, fishing gear, and small packs are common items overlooked. Recommendation: 'No Rinse Shampoo'. You can find it on Amazon. 'No Rinse' is terrific for cleaning sweaty greasy hair. Camp showers are sometimes not doable due to encroaching darkness or fatigue--so a quick hygienic alternative. |
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Jaywalker |
Get a very early start. Make sure all your gear is in a few large packs; avoid loose gear or lots of small bags - they really slow down the portages. And be flexible and ready to camp early. |
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gravelroad |
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allfish |
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Michwall2 |
The biggest part of being bear safe in the BW is odor control. With the blue barrel, you lock as much of that odor in as possible. You can still hang the barrel when there are appropriate trees. When there are not, tie it off to a tree/rock an appropriate distance from camp. Some put pans or plates on top to make noise if it is tampered with. Others not. The blue barrels are not "bear proof", but they give you a better chance of avoiding an incident. The blue barrels also help keep the mini-bears (mice and chipmunks) out of your food too. Other bear safety item include: No food/snacks (no gum, candy bars, tic tacs, nuts, etc.) in the tents. Any personal care items that smell like food (toothpaste, strawberry scented shampoo, mint flavored floss, etc) should go in the food barrel to be hung. Pack out all your trash. Trash bag goes in the food container to contain odor. Enjoy that first trip! |
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Gman7 |
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GopherAdventure |
Tony |
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cyclones30 |
As far as food, are you doing your own or going through an outfitter? Either way look into blue barrels (likely 2) with that many people. Keep a clean camp, clean hands when touching them, and stash them into the woods. Lots of past posts on them if you use the search tool. Fishing...take some leeches if you want live bait that's easy to take care of. Find current and you'll find fish too |
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Gman7 |
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Cc26 |
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Gman7 |
I appreciate the advise and will take it all to heart. Thanks, Greg |
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bwcadan |
If you can find no trees to hang a bear bag, you could take it or both if you have 2 and hang your food over the lake by tying a rope from a tree which will not uproot. Not really too big is needed. Make sure your knot is secure and thus you will not lose your food to a knot giving away and the bag falling into the water. If concerned, use two ropes. If you are not into knots, You can center the rope through the bag straps and loop both ends around your tree several times so that the resulting friction will hold the bag in place whether or not you tie a knot. You could practice this concept at home to measure the amount of rope you need. Not so much the actual hanging, but you can verify the rope needed by laying it out as if you were actually doing the deed in the wilderness, Tie one anyway to double secure your food. I hang mine about 3 feet from the water and down a vertical drop that no bears can reach my bag or climb down to get it. Never had a problem this way the couple of times I did this. You may have to canoe quite a distance as needed. You may want a bug whacker for each tent. No bugs smashed on side of tent and no mosquitoes hide after a missed hand swat to come out mid night to harass your group. Keep them dry as you travel and after you get to the camp. They are sensitive to moisture. |
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Gman7 |
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TomT |
bwcadan: "Early as possible that time of year should mean you have been on the water for a while by 6:00. I expect you to have some of adjustment with the travel on water and can virtually guarantee you will not be very proficient with the portage situation. I would not expect you to get to your destination until after 1:00 PM or so at best. Take your time and consider that a part of the adventure. Agree 100% Especially being a holiday weekend there will be lots of traffic on the portages. With a group that large it's going to take organization to get proficient on the portages. If you can be unloading your gear at the entry right at the crack of dawn you could possibly beat the crowds. Otherwise you'll be waiting in line to land at the portages because there will be boats stacking up. Go early and be organized with no loose items. To get to Insula it will be 6-7 hours. It's no big deal to stop earlier if there's a decent site open. Try to have packs and canoes off to the side at the landings to let other traffic go through. Enjoy your trip! |
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Boppasteveg |
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lindylair |
Being Memorial Weekend and still a pandemic going on, I would assume busier than normal, with at least a decent percentage of those folks getting a headstart and heading in on Friday. Which means some of those folks will be on day two of their trip and possibly heading to Insula along with you. Plus you have a large group size which makes campsite selection a little bit more of a challenge to find a site that can accommodate all of you. As far as bear trees, there is an easy solution if you are willing to spend a few bucks...one of the the best moves we ever made was switching to Bear Vaults and stashing them in the woods outside of camp at night, and no longer having to hunt for the right tree that often doesn't exist. Honestly, most bear hangs are pretty insufficient anyways if you have a hungry and determined bear...not to mention the mini bears. Bear Vaults work if stashed in the woods off of common trails, for both bears and rodents. Takes that concern out of the picture. Having said all of that, you are likely to have a great trip, it is a beautiful area and though there are lots of folks there, you can find solitude when you need it the most. Just plan for all of the contingencies and be flexible. |