This was our first trip to the BWCA. We brought 2 adults and 4 kids (ages 6-11)! We purchased the Complete Outfitting Package with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters to make sure that we had everything we needed and to keep the trip as simple as possible from a packing perspective. It was a FANTASTIC experience!
The Voyageur staff was very professional and really took the time to go over the equipment, route, and maps with us until we felt comfortable. They also put us up in a nice rustic cabin and served a great pancake breakfast to get us going with a strong start. All of our equipment was in excellent condition and packed perfectly. The food was generous, well-packed, labeled perfectly, and really good. When we returned from our BWCA adventure, the staff had our car pulled up for easy loading, took care of all of the equipment immediately, and offered us towels and a shower.
I have done lots of camping trips before, but have never been outfitted by a company. This is really the way to go. I HIGHLY recommend VCO for their professionalism, high quality of gear, level of support, and the convenience.
Name: MB
City: Minneapolis
State: MN
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
We've heard from Boy Scout Troops who have outfitted with the Sommers Boy Scout Base and they have said our equipment is much nicer and the prices for outfitting with Voyageur are less expensive. The quality of equipment is important when you're out in the wilderness and any little discount helps when it comes to how much a BWCA trip costs especially for Boy Scouts who often have to fundraise for all of their money.
Another reason Boy Scout Troops like us is that we're located at the end of the Gunflint Trail. Moose Lake where the Scout Base is located is quite busy and and our location is less hectic. Scout Troops love to be made to feel special and at Voyageur we make them feel very special. We provide each Scout with a map, t-shirt and patch when they choose the complete outfitting package.
Unlike the Boy Scout Base or other Boy Scout destinations you don't need to reserve your space at Voyageur three years in advance of your trip. You can reserve now for a trip this summer or you can even wait until April or May to let us know. Chances are there will be plenty of permits available for your Scout Troop to camp in the Boundary Waters.
We love to outfit all types of groups and individuals at Voyageur and we'd love to see you all this summer. If you know of a Boy Scout Troop that might be interested in a BWCA canoe trip then be sure to tell them about Voyageur, we'll take great care of them.
Kevlar canoes are great for BWCA canoe trips when there is going to be alot of portaging. They are lightweight for carrying and make portages much easier for those without alot of strength and endurance.
It's also great to paddle a kevlar canoe when you're planning to travel alot. The kevlar canoe is made for speed and paddlers in a kevlar canoe can get places pretty quickly. Their streamlined design and almost weightlessness make paddling a kevlar a breeze.
There are however a couple of times when you may not want to paddle a kevlar canoe in the Boundary Waters. For an inexperienced paddler the kevlar canoe may feel less stable than a wider canoe. If a beginner is looking for a solid, safe canoe then an aluminum or royalex canoe may be a better choice. Also, if a person isn't planning to portage at all then the advantage of the lightness of the kevlar canoe no longer becomes important. And if a person is planning to spend alot of time fishing then the royalex or aluminum canoe allows more room for gear and could be the better choice.
I prefer to paddle and portage kevlar canoes and for most people they are the best canoe for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. However, you don't have to have a kevlar canoe to enjoy the BWCA even if you're planning to portage. Some folks swear by their 100 pound sturdy boats and as long as you're in the Boundary Waters that's all that really matters.
So after consulting with a friend, we decided it would be a great weekend getaway for the husbands and two deals were purchased. What is nice about going through an outfitters, is that they give you everything that you need for your trip, including canoe, tent, sleeping bags, cooking stuff, and even all the meals. You just bring your personal items and fishing poles!
Last Thursday, my friend and I made the 7-hour trip north to the Boundary Waters. The first night is spent in a bunk house at the Outfitters, where they give you instruction on the equipment and how to survive in the Boundary Waters without getting eaten by a bear or losing all your equipment in the middle of a lake.
The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, they headed out for the wilderness. We spent the next 2-1/2 days canoeing, fishing,
cooking over an open fire, playing Camp Cards and reading by flashlight.
We had a little bit of stormy weather, which was not fun. Although we protected all of the food supplies by hanging it in a tree (like we were taught at the Outfitters), there was no sign of a single bear. Or coyote. Or eagle. Or even squirrel. Apparently all the wildlife in the Boundary Waters takes their vacation in August. Including the fish. My friend caught 4 fish the whole time. Me, I caught none. Zero. Zilch. Nada.
We did see some incredible sunsets though.
It was a great weekend of male bonding. We learned a lot and would definitely do it again.
The people at Voyageur couldn't have been better and we would definitely go back to them again.
Name: Carl
City: Chaska
State: MN
Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
The International Falls Newspaper wrote a great article about the guys and their Voyage in today's edition.
Day 20 of the Hudson Bay Expedition Almost off of Lake of the Woods
Share your Adventures with SpotAdventures
The trip of a lifetime, By EMILY GEDDE, Staff Writer
The longest trip Will Tanner has ever been on lasted five days. This summer, he will exceed that trip by 75 days.
Along with three others who call themselves the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew, Tanner is embarking on an 80-day, 1,400-mile canoe and portage trip from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay in what the foursome call “a trip of a lifetime.”
“I made a list of pros and cons and then I was like, ‘heck yeah,’” Tanner said of his decision to go on the journey.
Tanner, Andrew Spaeth, Adam Maxwell, and Mike Swenson, all 23 years old, are now leaving their cell phones and the life they knew behind for almost three months to take on the wilderness and develop a true appreciation for nature and everything that comes with it. The mission of the Voyageurs Hudson Bay Expedition is to promote the continued protection of the scenic waterways of Minnesota and Canada through experience, education, and outreach.
Planning the journey
The idea for the trip that brought the crew through Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, and Baudette this week, started last fall when Maxwell came up with a plan to spend his summer in the wilderness.
“I wanted a big adventure,” he said.
Maxwell approached Swenson, his friend and co-worker, to see if he’d be interested in planning a canoe trip that would take them around Minnesota and Canada and into the unexpected. The two wilderness buffs had previously worked together during the summers at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters north of Grand Marais, Minn., at the end of the Gunflint Trail. They decided this summer would be the perfect opportunity for the adventure since the outfitting store was celebrating its 50 year anniversary.
Mike and Sue Prom, who own the business, offered their full support for the crew and their journey.
“They are part of our family,” Sue said of the Voyageur crew. “Any dreams of our crew are our dreams, too. Anything we can do to help any of them along the way in life we want to do, especially if it involves a wilderness adventure we would love to be a part of.”
With the stage set, Maxwell and Swenson brought Spaeth and Tanner on board to complete the crew they would spend 80 days with.
Sponsors were lined up and donations were made and the crew launched their canoes in the waters of Lake Superior at Grand Portage May 23.
A rough start
After almost eight months of planning, setting sail came as a relief for the Voyageur crew.
“After planning so long, it is such a relief to finally be out here,” Tanner told The Journal Tuesday.
However, the group agreed, the first two days tested their physical abilities.
“We took Grand Portage, which is an 8.5 mile portage that is basically all up hill,” Spaeth said. “We had to carry our canoes and packs the entire way. It is one of the most difficult things I have ever done.”
Spaeth added that while paddling the Pigeon River, which is located in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the crew had to wade waist-deep through the cold water steering their canoes and gear.
“The water (in the river) flows towards Lake Superior and we were going against the current,” he said. “In the first two days, we kind of got thrown into the trip head first.”
Maxwell agreed. “Those first few days were interesting.”
Developing a routine
After spending almost three weeks on the water, the four young men agree a routine has noticeably set in.
“This is starting to feel very natural,” Tanner said with a laugh.
“This is becoming more of a lifestyle than a vacation,” Swenson added.
Each morning, according to Maxwell, morning light gets the crew moving and if the weather will allow them, they will spend about 10 hours paddling each day.
They experienced their first thunderstorm while paddling Rainy River Tuesday morning and have had several days of rain so far.
“We just don’t want wind,” Maxwell said. “Wind is way worse than rain for what we are doing.”
During the day, the voyageurs eat oatmeal, granola cereal, and pancakes for breakfast; trail mix and candy bars in the afternoon; and freeze dried foods for dinner.
“I think 60 out of the 80 nights we have freeze dried foods that Richmoor Foods donated to us,” Maxwell said laughing. “They actually aren’t too bad, but our favorite is the Hudson Bay Bar. It is basically as many calories as you can stuff in a little bar.”
They also fish several nights out of the week to fill their plates.
While paddling, Spaeth, Maxwell, Tanner, and Swenson rotate partners every day.
“It helps us get to know each other better every third day,” said Tanner who came into the crew not knowing his three counterparts as well as they knew each other.
Tanner added that while daily entertainment mostly consists of conversation between canoes, singing fills the air every now and then, too.
“You find out who can sing, who can’t sing, if it doesn’t matter,” he joked. “I’m a song singer — good or bad.”
Each night, the group sets up camp, sometimes in the backyards of people who live along their route.
“People in International Falls and along Rainy River have been super hospitable,” Spaeth said. “One night the people whose yard we stayed in came down and had s’mores and a beer with us.”
Evenings and windy days also bring out a running cribbage tournament between tent mates.
Tanner said that as of Tuesday, he and Spaeth were beating Swenson and Maxwell 11 games to 10.
Keeping in contact
The Voyageurs Hudson Bay Expedition crew have equipped themselves with a SPOT locator device that sends a satellite signal to the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition website every 10 minutes updating those who are following their journey.
“It’s super exciting to watch their progress and wonder what the scenery they are seeing is like,” said Prom of keeping tabs on the group.
“It makes the trip really cool for us and for everyone we meet along the way,” Spaeth noted.
The crew say they spot each other if they’re not paddling side by side by the pink paddles they are using.
“We’re paddling with pink paddles to raise awareness for breast cancer,” Spaeth explained. “We’re really proud to do that.”
The men have also had two planned stops, including one in Baudette, to pick up food and supplies and make a phone call or two.
Their last stop to refurbish their supply will be in Pinawa, Manitoba. The food collected on that stop is expected to last the final 43 days of the expedition.
“The last leg our journey won’t be very populated,” Swenson said. “I think it’ll be kind of nice.”
A life changing experience
Each crew member shared similar feelings that this trip would change their lives forever.
“I already have more of respect for the wilderness,” Spaeth said.
“Oh man, it is so great to be on the trip,” Tanner added.
Swenson said that in the modern world, people are constantly bombarded by so many things, but for him to be able to leave that and go into the wilderness is such a rare opportunity — especially for this amount of time.
“I think it’ll be hard to adjust back to normal life when this is said and done,” he said.
The trip is scheduled to conclude around Aug. 10 when the crew reaches York Factory, a former settlement and trading post located on the southwestern shore of Hudson Bay in northeastern Manitoba. From there, the four men will board a float plane and then a train to Winnipeg where friends will transport them back to Voyageur Canoe Outfitters where a celebration will await.
“It’ll be a big one,” Swenson said of the party.
The four have no doubt in their minds that their bond will be as close as ever once the trip is over.
“I kinda went on this trip with three strangers, but I already have made three of my best friends,” Tanner said.
“I love that every day I wake up and I’m in a new place,” Swenson said. “This is just awesome.”
Spaeth said once he returns home he will “figure out my life, I guess.”
And Maxwell calls the experience “as good as it gets.”
The four voyageurs together encourage anyone who is thinking about a trip like the one they’re on to take advantage of the opportunity because it may only come around once.
“This kind of trip is possible if you want to make it possible,” Tanner concluded. “Find the people who know how to do it — or think they know how to do it, and buddy up with them. You can become the person you want to be.”
Meet the members of the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew:
Will Tanner
Although Tanner has not been a part of the Voyageur Canoe Outfitters crew, he has lived and worked on the Gunflint Trail just three miles away at Wilderness Canoe Base as a canoe trip guide and stayed through the winter. He graduated from New London-Spicer high school and from St. Olaf College in Northfield in 2010. Tanner said he is ready to experience a sense of timelessness on the canoe trip — free from the scheduled hours of the day and is looking forward to discovering the state of mind an 80-day expedition produces.
Andrew Spaeth
Spaeth has been a part of the Voyageur Canoe Outfitters crew since he graduated from high school in 2007. He’s been a key employee who most guests know by name. He is originally from Montevideo and graduated from Bemidji State University in 2010. Spaeth says he is looking forward to the pure adventure, amazing fishing, and being away from his cell phone and e-mail while on this canoe journey.
Mike Swenson
Swenson was a crew member at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters for the summers of 2006 and 2007 and then went to work as a canoe guide at Sommers Boy Scout Base in 2008 and Wilderness Canoe Base in 2010. He is from Plymouth and graduated high school from Maple Grove. In 2010, he graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and is currently working as a chemist. While he is on this journey this summer, he said he wants to find a place that is truly wild.
Adam Maxwell
Maxwell started working for Voyageur Canoe Outfitters in the fall of 2007 and has worked every summer since. He’s contributed to the success of Voyageur over the years through his dedication and hard work. He was a frequent guest who came up to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for canoe trips with his uncle. He’s originally from Crystal Lake, Ill., and is attending Lake Superior College in Duluth. Maxwell says he is most looking forward to the sense of true adventure, where paddling and camping will become a way of life.
For more information or to track the journey, visit http://blog.canoeit [3].
com/blog/voyageur-canoe-outfitters, www.voyageurhudsonbayexpedition.com [4] or search Voyageurs Hudson Bay Expedition on Facebook.
The best thing about the chair I brought into the Boundary Waters with me was I didn't have to carry it. That's because the sleeping pad I brought along could also be used as a camp chair. This double duty piece of Boundary Waters equipment only weighs 21.6 ounces and was very comfortable for both sleeping and lounging around the camp. It's longer than most camp chairs so you can either double it up for extra cushion underneath or use the extra length to protect your legs from the ground.
Now that I've experienced the luxury of having a camp chair in the Boundary Waters I doubt I will ever not bring along a sleeping pad that can be used as a chair. It was great to be able to relax around camp and not worry about puncturing a self inflating mat in the process. The Crazy Creek Lounger even worked as a wilderness yoga mat.
If you're in the market for a new sleeping pad for your BWCA canoe trips then look no further than the Crazy Creek Powerlounger. You won't be disappointed with the versatility or comfort it can provide you in the Boundary Waters.
There's no better place to relax and get away from it all than at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. There are no telephones or televisions in the cabins to distract you and in the silence you can completely unwind. Cell phones don't work on the Gunflint Trail and only if you must will we allow you to check your e-mail and there's no surfing the web on our limited internet access.
Sitting on the deck, lying on the dock or finding a nice rock to stretch out on you're sure to find the peaceful surroundings comforting. There aren't any bugs to bother you and there are very few people on the Gunflint Trail in late October and November.
Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center will be open until mid-October. It's an incredible museum that people have really enjoyed visiting since it opened on the 4th of July. Hours can be spent watching the films, reading the books and hiking the trails.
Canoe trips can be experienced well into the fall. When the visitor numbers dwindle the wilderness experience is doubled. Without the assurance of another group around the bend fall paddlers must be cautious and knowledgeable about cold weather conditions and safety.
In October boat and motor camping can be enjoyed on Saganaga Lake. Set up a base camp for fishing or for just camping in the wilderness. You can bring along quite a bit of equipment when you've got a boat to haul it around with. If you're interested in renting a canvas tent and stove to stay warm then let us know, we can set you up for your ultimate comfort while camping.
An afternoon paddle and watching the sunset on Saganaga are just a couple of the things you can experience while vacationing at Voyageur this Fall. Come see how wonderful it is for yourself.
Mention this blog and ask for a special lodging package rate for new bookings in October and November. You'll be glad you did.
At Voyageur Canoe Outfitters we love to introduce people to the Boundary Waters. The experienced paddlers who come year after year are fun too and we often learn things about the area from them as well. However, our complete outfitting package is designed for someone who has little or no gear or someone who doesn't have time to pack up all of their own gear.
We prepare the canoe packs with everything needed for a canoe camping trip into the Boundary Waters. Sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tent and tarp provide a comfortable sleeping experience in the wilderness while items like a stove, fire starter, cook kit and all of the food ensure hunger is not a problem while out camping. Guests choose a combination of fresh and freeze dried items from our expansive menu and we make sure it is packed and ready for them upon their arrival.
We like to ease our guests into the idea of canoe camping in the BWCA by inviting them to spend the night before their trip in one of our private bunkhouses. That way we can spend some time with them at a trip routing session going over all of the information necessary to enjoy a BWCA canoe trip. We show them the equipment they will be using, tell them how the food is packed and go over the map and route with them. Then if any on the water practice is needed we can show them that too.
Outfitted with a canoe, paddles and life vests guests spend the night at Voyageur before getting their fill of pancakes on the morning of their departure. Staying across the river at Voyageur is quite similar to camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. You can only get to the other side by paddling a canoe and without telephones, cell service and television it feels quite remote. Some guests enjoy spending their days paddling and hiking yet like a roof over their head at night. A bunkhouse stay is a perfect way to get comfortable with the Boundary Waters experience.
We know you will enjoy your Boundary Water's experience and hope you will make Voyageur a part of it. There's still time to come paddle this season so give us a call today. 1-888-CANOEIT
A Boundary Waters canoe trip outfitter can help you get into the canoe country wilderness more often and for more time. If you're short on time then let an outfitter pack all of your necessary gear for a Boundary Waters or Quetico Park canoe trip. When you leave the work to the outfitter you can spend your time paddling the wilderness waters.
A BWCA canoe outfitter has all of the necessary canoe gear for a camping trip into the wilderness. The canoe camping equipment is usually top notch and in good repair since it is used often. It's great to be able to just show up at the canoe trip outfitters with your personal items and have everything else ready for your canoe trip.
Most outfitters will provide a list of what is included in their outfitting package as well as a recommended Boundary Waters' pack list for you. Here's Voyageur Canoe Outfitter's recommended list of items to bring into the BWCA.
- *One loose fitting T-shirt (cotton)
- *One long sleeve shirt (cotton)
- *One warm long sleeved shirt (fleece or flannel shirt)
- One pair of shorts
- One swimsuit or swimshorts
- One pair of lightweight cotton or windbreaker pants (fast drying)
- One pair warm pants (wool or quick drying)
- A few pair of socks and underwear (remember you can wash them)
- Two pairs of shoes (one pair of Teva or wet shoes, one pair of tennis shoes, moccasins or Goretex boots)
- *One rainsuit (both pants and jacket used for windbreaker on cool days)
- *One hat wide brimmed for sun or rain protection)
- In the spring or fall - add a set of wool or goretex clothing, hat, gloves, wool socks and warm boots.
- * A flashlight or headlamp (one per tent)
*A good pocket knife - *Sunscreen
- *Camp Towel
- *Mosquito repellent
- *Lip balm
- *Head nets
- *Sunglasses
- *Camera and extra film
- *A good book
- *Fishing gear
- Pillow case (fill with clothes and use as a pillow)
- *Camp pillow
- *Deck of cards
- *Notebook and pencil
- *Day pack or fanny pack
Here are a few of my favorite items to bring along on a Boundary Waters Canoe Trip.
- BWCA Camp towels are lightweight, absorbent and dry quickly
- SteriPens- purifies 16 oz. of water in less than a minute
- Travel Pillow Case- or any pillow case to stuff clothes into and use as a pillow
- Headlamp- keeps hands free and is much smaller than a normal flashlight
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