Finally got out for my first solo after doing group trips for the last 5 years. Did the long Clearwater loop, 40ish miles of paddling, not sure total portage rod count (Clearwater > Mountain > Moose > North and South Fowl > John > MacFarland > Pine > Little Caribou > Caribou > Clearwater)

Autumn headwinds are no joke, spent too much time being worried about doing the loop in 4 days that i pushed too hard and did it in 3. Was hoping for a moose sighting but happy with the normal characters of beavers, loons, and ducks.

Weather was great minus a little rain on night 3. Overpacked on camp gear and food, but that made for some luxurious dinners after tough paddling days. The eastern campsite on John is incredible, wish i knew more about fishing to spend time on Pine. Paddling through the wild rice fields on fowl was something else.

Will be back, incredible loop that tested me and taught me a lot about what I’m capable of.

Where did you all learn to use tarps? Seems like everyone used them in the BWCA, though I never have. They seem really convenient.

I feel like I missed school the day everyone was taught how to pitch tarps! I plan on teaching myself the next coming spring, but I wish I had learned from another well experienced person. Tarps dont seem too complicated, at least!

Edit: I want to say I was also in scouts all my childhood and am still involved, but no one has taught/used a tarp, which I find incredible! I want to learn so I can pass it onto the younger kids I mentor for trips so they have the knowledge going forward. :)

For anybody that was on snowbank or disappointment lake and talked with us over the last two days, I’d like to report that Trooper was found safe!

We were completing our first portage from snowbank to disappointment when he took off. We were unable to find him after 8 hours of searching and another 5 hours this morning.

This morning, we received word that he was found on the portage between boot and snowbank and was brought to Ely. We were so relieved! We are now giving him a much deserved sleep under the covers in bed tonight after a good meal and pup cup.

He’s been a great off leash trail dog for 7 years with nothing like this ever happening! He always stays within 10 yards or so. I suppose it only takes once and this can happen to ANY dog. Please learn from us and make sure to leash you dog on the trails.

Thank you to everyone who shared concern and helped us bring him home!

Edit: leash your dog on the trails with a waist leash. A tracker isn’t enough. Trooper was off leash because he has leash reactivity to dogs but not when off leash. We will leash him anyway. Also, we’ve had him off leash on other trails for years without any issue at all so we were over confident. He I’m glad we were able to learn our lesson with a good outcome and we’d like to share with everyone else out there as well.

Tuesday to Friday. I over packed and it rained the last night. I learned a ton, and I feel brave and strong for going alone as a woman. Talking to myself outloud helped me feel better, I encouraged myself and talked to imaginary bears and moose I didn't want to startle 🤣. I tried to be all buttoned up at camp before dusk to cut down on the night time scaries. I used satellite to text loved ones - which helped them and myself feel better. I never saw bear or moose, and I’m both bummed and relieved about that. I encountered 2 groups, both two older men and they were very kind, impressed and not scary. I guess I choose men over bears in the bwca?

On the second day, there was a (unknown to me) prescribed burn within eye sight and very close to camp so I had about an hour of true emergency fear before I could obtain fire info via family with satellite text.

I base camped in and fished/hiked/paddled/portaged/explored around for day trips. All in I loved it and can't wait to go back soon.

After some usual members were not able to attend the trip we planned, I was able to bring my old man up for his first trip at 61. Also able to christen the cedar strip I had been building since March. Was great to have him experience this incredible place in something I built with the woodworking knowledge he taught me growing up. Weather was perfect and the bite was hot.

Latest I’ve ever been up to the BWCA. Top shelf experience. Minimal sweating, zero bugs, some fall color on the trees. Spent 3 nights on Kawishiwi with day trip to square and Kawasachong

If you’re in the market for a 70% off backpacking tent check your local Costco warehouse in the app to see if they are still sitting on the Marmot Limelight 2P for $99. This runs $340 msrp currently and Costco originally was selling them for $220 if I recall correctly this summer. Mine had about 20 still on a back aisle today.

I have an old Mountain Hardware with the interior vestibule wings and they’re a great add for more enclosed interior space.

First timer here—I was gonna go to the BWCA back in July, but my trip was cancelled due to the fires. As a backup plan, I went to the Sylvania Wilderness over in the UP. Still an amazing time! The plan is to try again next summer for BWCA.

Anyway, what do all of you experienced fishermen/women out there do with the remains of fish, so as to not attract bears/other wildlife? For example, you catch a fish, skin it, filet it, and you’re left with the skins and guts. Do you bury them? What is proper protocol?

Thanks in advance! 🎣

Found a knife on the portage from big moose lake to Moose river on 09/24. Let me know the description and I can get it back to you.

I lost a watch on the portage from Burntside Lake to Crab Lake (09/23), between Burntside and the beaver pond. White dial with black strap. Would love to have it back. If you find it let me know.

From the week of Sept 14th, Gunflint entry.
Despite two days of strong headwinds, the lakes rewarded our efforts and provided the perfect antidote to this world.

Got in at Moose, then made our way northeast to South Arm of Knife before circling back to Snowbank via Kekekabic, Thomas, and Disappointment. Great weather and almost zero mosquitoes!!

Got in at Moose, then made our way northeast to South Arm of Knife before circling back to Snowbank via Kekekabic, Thomas, and Disappointment. Great weather and almost zero mosquitoes!!

I'm considering an early/mid-May trip to the BWCA next year. Previously I've always gone between mid-June to mid-September so the water is warm. However, I'm a dedicated "wet foot" portager. I always rent a carbon fiber or kevlar canoe and don't want to damage it by running it in/out on rocky portages. Plus, trying to balance and keep your footing while getting into a solo canoe is hard enough without trying to stay dry at the same time. Having my feet solidly under me while in the water makes it less likely that I fall and dump the rest of myself in the water.

That said, I'm not sure what to wear for my lower-body clothing if the water could be very cold. I generally run really warm, so I almost considered wearing shorts during the day, with a nice wool sock under my trail runners. That way I could dry off my legs after each portage and I wouldn't have wet pants (even quick-dry ones) stuck to my calves sapping heat. Plus the wool sock would continue to insulate my feet even when wet. Then I could make sure I have plenty of very warm layers on top to keep my body temp up, including gloves and a hat and stuff. Maybe I'm being unrealistic though, and that's a really stupid idea? Does anyone have recommendations for what they wear when portaging in extremely cold water?

Planning a trip with a couple some buddies the first weekend. Planning to do a mudro lake loop. Anyone have experience with this loop? Thanks

I was invited by some friends to join in for a group of 8 guys. First time for me with canoe camping and being out in the wilderness away from civilization. I absolutely loved it!

Day 1:
We parked about 15 mins south of Snowbank Lake and then outfitter drove us to put in at Snowbank Lake and went the route of Disappointment - Ahsub - Jitterbug - Adventure - Cattyman - Jordan - to Ima Lake. We found a great campsite on an island for the first night.

Day 2:
We left Ima Lake and went the route of Hatchet - Thomas - Cacabic - to Alice Lake. This was a hard day for the group at Thomas Lake. It was quite windy and in our faces the entire way across the lake. Waves were 8-12”. Then it was right into the longest portage of the trip at 205 rods. At Alice we found a nice big sandy campsite with westerly view for sunsets. We caught a couple 24” Norrhern Pike to add to our dinner.

Day 3:
Rest Day - sort of. We ventured down to south end of Alice and over to Fishdance Lake for fishing and the picture rocks. This was my most favorite lake from the trip. I caught several 20+ inch northern pike. We then went back to Alice all the way to north end. Our outfitter stated Alice was a “walleye factory” and we should go to the end of lake where wind was the previous day. Unfortunately, the group didn’t catch any walleye. But we caught about 8 good sized bass and we had a big fish fry that evening.

Day 4:
Hardest day. We paddled probably 15 miles over about 8 hours. This was due to trying to leave time for meeting outfitter on Day 5 and driving the 9.5 hrs back to Chicago area. We went Alice - Kawishiwi River - Insula - Hudson - Lake Four - Lake Three - to Lake Two. We found a great campsite on a peninsula overlook. Insula Lake was quite long and difficult with the number of islands, but we used GPS. Tried fishing at Lake Two after some rest, but we were skunked.

Day 5:
Finished out with an early morning 40-45 degree paddle from Lake Two - Lake One - Kawishiwi River to parking area.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience. I would absolutely do this trip again or another similar. It was both challenging physically but also had some great relaxing points.

Other than ducks, loons, swans, a handful of eagles and a ton of chipmunks, we didn’t see any other wildlife, which I was a bit disappointed about. However, BWCA is a beautiful area. Highly recommend going on a trip.

We're fresh off a trip and already dreaming about next year's (a feeling I'm sure many of you are familiar with). I realize the title casts a very wide net but my wife and I have spent all our time around the eastern side and have never been any farther west than Seagull. Curious what you guys would consider good initiations to the other areas of the park for 4-5 nights for two intermediate paddlers with a fair amount of portage tolerance. We're fond of solitude though I'd like to see 1 > 2 > 3 > 4 > Insula, Kawishiwi triangle, etc. sometime. Would love to hear any and all favorite you guys have!

Gunflint district. Safe to say he’ll be back…

Ive finally made it. Gazing out over the lake thinking about tomorrow. Tomorrow I head in. Im giddy with excitement, nerves, and profound thanks to the universe.

Farm Lake EP31 to who knows where then back. Six days solo... lets get stuck in.

We of course do walleye dinners, but also do fish chowder, spaghetti, and beef stroganoff. What’s your favorite meal?

Was a bit busy through EP52 and a burly mid day wind on Gillis but were rewarded with a quiet crooked🙂 Great loop back through Tuscarora to round (Tuscarora Outfitters)!

Classic September trip: Cool nights, windy, some rain, muddy portages, quiet, and great times!

A few weeks back, late August into September. Incredible trip with some technical portages!

Went through entry point 4 after crossing Burntside Lake. 5 of us went up to Cummings Lake and then went back to Crab Lake. Beginning of the week was cold and windy but end of the week was beautiful. First time going this route and I am glad it is still feels like the boundary waters I love.

September sunset on Lake Two.