likely—within the same trip. Hope for the best, but be psychologically and physically prepared for the worst.
When planning your route, make sure you are not overly ambitious. Consider all members of the group, and plan to travel at the speed of the least experienced or weakest paddler. It’s a good idea to plan a layover day for every three or four days of travel. You’ll have more time to fish or relax. If you encounter rough weather, you won’t have to worry about taking unnecessary chances just to stay on schedule.
Plan to make camp early enough in the day to assure finding an available campsite. Most wilderness visitors are there for solitude, quiet, and respite from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day urban living. Each person wants the sensation of being the first and only person in an area. To accomplish this objective, consider campsites that are off the main travel routes and in back bays. These are used less often and offer a better opportunity for privacy. Firewood is usually more plentiful, and you will have a better chance of avoiding “problem bears” where few others camp.
Respect for other wilderness visitors starts before you ever leave home. The first portage is no place to learn how to get a canoe up on your shoulders. Practice picking up a canoe and other canoeing skills before you start your trip. Know who is responsible for each pack, each canoe, and each piece of miscellaneous equipment before setting foot on a portage trail. Accountability reduces the possibility of leaving something important behind. It also reduces the amount of time needed on each portage, thus alleviating possible congestion on some of the trails.
Equipment, Clothing, and Food
Outdoor equipment continues to evolve and improve. Manufacturers have improved the technical performance of tents, sleeping bags, stoves, lights, canoe packs, and most of the other pieces of gear you will consider bringing with you. A major trend to reduce weight across these product categories has had a definite impact on the load paddlers have to bear while portaging. Imagine reducing the weight of all your gear by 20 percent without leaving anything at home. And don’t worry that lightweight will be less durable. Most reputable manufacturers market gear that will hold up for many seasons of paddling.
Carry and use a small stove and fuel to cook your meals. Stoves heat more cleanly, quickly, and evenly than campfires. Leave the limited amount of dead wood available for a small after-dinner campfire. Axes and hatchets are not necessary. There is plenty of suitable firewood that can easily be broken or cut with a small camp saw.
At least one person in each canoe should carry a duplicate map and compass and know how to use both. Although most maps are printed on water-resistant, tear-proof materials, a waterproof plastic map holder that can be attached to a canoe seat for quick reference is a good investment.
And, by all means, practice packing before you leave home. Remember that everything you pack will have to be carried on portages—by you.
CLOTHES: Clothing needs may vary somewhat from season to season, but always plan for extremes. Layering is the most efficient method to stay warm and dry. Think of your clothes as pieces of equipment rather than camp fashion. Leave the cotton T-shirts at home and replace them with shirts made from synthetic fabrics that wick moisture away from your body and keep you more comfortable in varying temperatures.
GOOD RAINGEAR is essential, and it can also serve as a windbreaker on cool, windy days. Bring two pairs of footwear—boots for portaging and water shoes for paddling, shore side, and around the campsite. A pair of pants with zip-off legs is quite practical in the BWCAW, where temperatures may vary considerably from early morning to mid-afternoon.
FOOD: Since cans and bottles are not permitted in the Boundary Waters, foods will have to be repacked in plastic bags or in other plastic, reusable containers. If possible, pack and label each meal’s ingredients together in a single large plastic bag to make meal preparation easier. Also line your food pack with a large and durable plastic liner to protect the contents from moisture. When sealed tightly at night, this may also help to contain the food’s aroma so it will not attract animals. Consider purchasing the insulated food packs, sealable plastic barrels, or hard-sided plastic cases that are available at outdoor equipment stores. Each type has strengths and weaknesses. Compare models and think through your experiences with portaging and hanging food at the end of the day when making your decision.
If your collection of equipment has seen better days, visit an outdoor specialty retailer near your home. While these stores aren’t as large as big-box sporting goods chains, employees at specialty outdoor stores usually have better product knowledge and can help you select the most appropriate gear for your trip. On the Internet you can find manufacturer’s websites, consumer product review sites, and community forums that can be helpful resources when you are selecting equipment.
Dinner!
Maps
The skillful use of a map and compass is an important part of ensuring that you will have a safe and enjoyable BWCAW experience. Even veteran paddlers can find themselves in unfamiliar terrain when they venture too far away from a frequent check of a detailed map.
Since including detailed maps is out of the scope of this book, we strongly suggest that you acquire the appropriate water-resistant topographic maps published by the W. A. Fisher Company. Thirty-two “F-series” maps combine to cover all of the BWCAW and Canada’s Quetico Provincial Park. The scale is 1.5 inches to 1 mile, and there is sufficient overlap to provide foolproof transitions from map to map. Designated USFS campsites are identified by red dots on the maps, which are updated annually. A disclaimer on each map reads, “This map is not intended for navigational use, and is not represented to be correct in every respect.” Nevertheless, these maps are published specifically for canoeists and are remarkably accurate and detailed.
The discussion of each route outlined in this book indicates which maps are needed. Maps can be ordered from:
W. A. Fisher Company
P.O. Box 1107
Virginia, MN 55792
(218) 741-9544
McKenzie Maps, which are also topographic (scale 2 inches to 1 mile), offer an alternative. They also provide excellent detail and use similar red dots to identify campsite locations. Some routes described in this book require as many as three Fisher maps but only one McKenzie Map (and vice versa). When such is the case, it is pointed out in the introduction to the route. You can order McKenzie Maps from:
McKenzie Maps
8479 Frye Road
Minong, WI 54859
(800) 749-2113
You can purchase both of these map series from outfitters, outdoor specialty stores throughout the Midwest, and from the companies’ websites.
Choosing a Wilderness Route
Any group entering the BWCAW must have in its possession a travel permit, which shows that they have been granted permission to enter through one of the 71 designated entry points. Thirty-six of those entry points are located in the western half of the Boundary Waters. Of those, 27 are canoeing entry points described in this book:
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