Wilderness involves emotions. A wilderness experience is an emotional experience. If a person cannot sense deep emotion while camped on the shores of some placid wilderness lake, hearing the cry of a loon, he will never understand the pleas of those who would save the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
—Charles Ericksen
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How to Plan a Wilderness Canoe Trip
PRE-TRIP PLANNING
A safe, enjoyable wilderness experience starts at home with careful planning. First, ask yourself and all members of your group if you really want a trip into the wilderness—a place where you will find no running water, prepared shelters, predictable weather, or easy travel. There are no signs to direct the way. You must know how to build a fire, administer first aid, read a map, and use a compass. In an area that is unfamiliar and sometimes downright hostile, you must rely on your own resourcefulness for your comfort and perhaps your survival. You must be your own doctor, guide, and entertainer. You must be prepared for accidents, extended periods of rain, and obstacles such as large waves whipped up by strong winds.
Keep your group size manageable. Few campsites have tent pads for more than two or three tents. Some are barely large enough for one tent. If your group is large, plan to split up and travel separately. Better yet, plan completely different routes. You’ll have more pictures and experiences to share when you get home. A small group has much less impact on the wilderness and on other visitors. You will also have better opportunities to observe wildlife along the way.
Vacationing with a group of people is always challenging because of variations in skills, interests, and physical strengths. Get your group together ahead of time to plan the trip. Talk about what each person envisions for the trip. Decide as a group where and when to go, what equipment to take, and what should be on the menu. By addressing these topics ahead of time, the entire group will get a better idea of what to expect from the trip. There will be fewer surprises later to dampen spirits. Consider the positive aspects of a BWCAW canoe trip—sun-drenched afternoons on sky-blue lakes, gentle breezes, magnificent orange sunsets, fish striking at every cast, and a refreshing swim in a cool lake at day’s end. Then consider the dreaded conditions that plague many canoe trips—hordes of hungry flying insects, fish with no appetite at all, long and muddy portage trails, prolonged periods of cold rain, and gale-force winds that make canoe travel extremely difficult or impossible. Both trip scenarios are possible—indeed 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