Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Reports :: Trip Report - Plans meet reality, 4 southerners visit the BWCA
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jamotrade |
1. The cliff where your kid was jumping was a very good spot to look for your walleyes instead. 2. You need to get the deep fried cheese curds. The raw ones are pretty nasty. Good to see you had fun! |
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OldHiker |
tonyj - YES! It's totally the scene from Last of the Mohicans. jamotrade - Think we had fished there the day before, but we may not have given it enough time. And they make deep fried cheese curds? Now I know we have to come back! |
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tonyj |
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Freeleo1 |
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BuckFlicks |
I wish my dog was low key enough to take one canoe trips. My buddy and I learned the same lesson you did after our first trip to the BWCA. We also had an extensive backpacking background and thought, "hey... the canoe will do most of the work, this is our chance to bring the gear and food we've always wanted on a backpack. We can pack Lots of Stuff™." After all, our two river trips showed us that packing a cooler full of ice and Coke and beers and hamburgers makes for awesome camp dinners. We also thought we could single portage. Both myths were dispelled on the first portage and lesson learned. I also learned that I preferred hauling the canoe to the backpacks, and my buddy preferred the packs, so I get one hard trip and one easy trip per portage, and he gets two moderate trips. It works out. I could feel your anxiety as everything seemed to be going wrong before the boats hit the water, even on the first day of paddling... but once you put that behind you and allow your spirit to take in the surroundings and not worry about everything else, there's nothing like the Boundary Waters. I've spent many more nights packing in Colorado than I have in the BWCA, but I think if given the choice, I'd select BWCA 9 times out of 10 now. I'm glad you pushed past your obstacles and got to enjoy the trip. |
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rdgbwca |
I also noticed how you were able to change plans rather than forcing things just to stick with a plan. I am also hoping to catch my first walleye on my upcoming trip. The part about cliff jumping was funny too. Which portage, between which lakes, was the heart break hill portage? |
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paddlinjoe |
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ducks |
The things we learn on our first trip are priceless ;) My first trip was 4 college age guys that had never been to the bwca before. We were nothing short of a 3 ring circus. Sack of potatoes, big cooler etc... 25 years later I still learn new things on each trip that help me on the next one. |
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Oisinirish |
Nothing wrong with traveling "heavy" if it increases comfort, within reason of course. My $.02. |
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Cadiman |
What a fun and fantastic story! This will inspire me to go ahead and write one for my 12yo son and I's first trip just last year. So many of the same themes about learning as you go played out for us too. We are leaving in a week on our next attempt. Except this time we are bringing three first timers with us; a father and two sons, 11 and 13. I say attempt in jest, we are all looking forward to it, and all are far less green then the two of us were last year. More hands will make portaging and camp chores much easier too! And in the meantime, my now 13yo has grown 8 inches and is going to make a MUCH larger contribution when it comes to paddling and portaging! It was amazing to see how much a few days in the wilderness can change a person, and especially a young person. It almost broke him; but he persevered and definitely learned he was stronger than he thought. Congratulations on a memorable trip! Oh, and don't fix the pictures. I thought the upside down one fit perfectly with the story line :-). All the best! |
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marky |
As one who is blessed to actually live in MN and be only hours from a BWCA trip, I'm so glad you were able to experience and appreciate it, despite the difficulties along the way! |
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CharChar |
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wildernessjoe |
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AdamXChicago |
The right attitude can sure get you through a lot. AdamX |
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boonie |
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TomT |
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Mocha |
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OldHiker |
Trip Name: Plans meet reality, 4 southerners visit the BWCA. Entry Point: 23 Click Here to View Trip Report |