It's a new year on the Gunflint Trail and we hope to see you at Voyageur! While it may seem like summer is a long time away it will be here before we know it. Later this month we'll be able to start reserving Boundary Waters permits and we can already reserve Quetico Permits for trips starting 5 months from now.
We're busy at Voyageur talking to folks about their canoe trips to the BWCA and Quetico. We're also taking inventory of what we have and what we need for the new year. We'll be purchasing canoes, gear and it's the time of year we put our outfitting food order in as well.
We hope to see you at Voyageur this new year and wish you all the best!
Normally I trip into Quetico Park, but this year decided to do a Boundary Waters canoe trip with my daughter Sarah and her new husband John. John is a newbie to the BWCA, but an experienced hiker and outdoorsman, who had no trouble with the trip. We did the Saganaga-Knife-Seagull trip for the beauty, and also to get a look at the burned area.
As usual the scenery was pretty and the canoe trip mostly uneventful (other than the nice views), which is what we want--a nice camping trip with no mishaps or major troubles. However, we made our own amusement with "watermelon head."
We dressed a watermelon in its own life jacket for the paddle (so it wouldn't roll around) and make jokes about it, let it go swimming in the lake water to cool off at the first BWCA camp site, then sacrificed it on a tree stump alter, after which we ate it! It was soooo good after a long day's paddle. Probably had to be there to enjoy the amusement.
We did not see any big game, but did find bear claw marks on a white birch tree at one of our camp sites. Fishing was pretty bad or we were just unlucky, but most people we met said they also had little luck that week. That being said, we did catch catch saugers, pike, and bass, but they were generally small and not very many of them.
Once again, as in all previous trips, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters did a wonderful job in assisting with partial outfitting for our Boundary Waters canoe trip. We purchased some last minute items and rented a Wenonah solo canoe due to our odd number, while Sarah and John paddled my vintage 1975 Mad River Explorer.
We had to drive 7 hours to get to Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, so, really enjoyed the bunkhouse stay the night before the BWCA trip, breakfast the morning of, and the showers afterwards.
The staff is always friendly and helpful. Looking forward to our next trip, which will be back into Quetico Park. Hope to have Voyageur be our partial outfitter of choice again.
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.
The dates are set for our BWCA canoe camping tips for Women and we'd love to have you be a part of one. If you have ever wanted to take a Boundary Waters canoe trip then this is the perfect opportunity.
It doesn't matter if you have paddled extensively or if you have never been in a canoe you are welcome to participate in a Voyageur adventure. Our trips are designed so you can learn the necessary skills while you're out enjoying the canoe country with other women. You'll participate in all aspects of the trip including setting up the tent, cooking, cleaning, portaging and of course paddling.
The benefits of the wilderness are many and you'll feel a new sense of confidence after accomplishing a BWCA canoe trip.
Itinerary
You will arrive at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters on the first day of your session to meet the rest of your group and discuss your trip. After your routing session, you will pack up your personal articles and depart for 3 nights of camping and 4 days of paddling in the wilderness. Group participants will return to Voyageur on the 4th day and will spend the night in one of our luxurious Lodge Hideaway units to celebrate their accomplishment. Enjoy breakfast with us in the morning in our main lodge before you head for home with wonderful memories of your wilderness canoe camping experience.
Package
This package has been designed for women by women. This complete outfitting package includes everything you need for a wilderness canoe camping adventure. We provide sleeping bags, sleeping pads, tents, packs, food, canoe, lifevests, paddles and everything you need. You just bring your personal clothing, toiletry items and fishing gear if you want to fish. We send you a trip preparation packet prior to your trip to help you in the packing of your personal items. In an effort to bring awareness to women's health and to promote an active outdoor lifestyle we include a Pink Paddle made by Wenonah Canoe designed by owner of Voyageur Canoe Outfitter's Sue Prom. This is a lightweight, bent shaft paddle made from graphite that you will get to bring home with you.
We are offering three scheduled Women's Trips for the summer of 2012. Each session features an easy route suitable for beginning paddlers and costs $500. To reserve your space on a trip just call us toll-free at 1-888-CANOEIT, tell us the session you want to participate in and secure your reservation with a deposit of $250.
July 2-6th- arrive & paddle on the 2nd, off water & stay in lodge on 5th, depart on 6th.
July 8-12th- arrive & paddle on the 8th, off water & stay in lodge on 11th, depart on 12th.
*July 15-19th- arrive & paddle on the 15th off & stay in lodge on 18th, depart on 19th. *For women 50 and older.
The answer to the question, "How do I plan a Boundary Waters Trip?" is very simple, you just call an outfitter, preferably Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. We can help you plan a BWCA canoe trip within a few minutes of speaking with you.
The benefits of using the services of a canoe outfitter to help you plan your Boundary Waters Canoe Trip are endless. We've been outfitting canoe trips into the wilderness for 20 years and we know the lakes and the routes. We know what type of fish are in which lakes, the degree of difficulty of the portages and the best places to camp. We also know where you are most likely to run into a moose and when you're most likely to see people. We can tell you lots of valuable information about planning a Boundary Waters Canoe Trip but you have to give us a call first.
It's our job to outfit folks into the Boundary Waters and to make sure they have a good time and return year after year. We'll help you plan your Boundary Waters trip, we're ready and waiting to do so. 1-888-CANOEIT
Every year we outfit a fair amount of Boy Scouts for their canoe trips into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. There is a Boy Scout Base over on Moose Lake outside of Ely, Minnesota but we have been told time after time that Scout Troops would rather outfit their BWCA trip with us.
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.
Every once in awhile we'll hear the question, "Why should I paddle with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters?" Our first thought to this question is, "Because we're the best!" And while this statement is true it might sound a bit like bragging so we usually tone it down a little bit.
Our answer to why take your BWCA trip with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters goes something like this. We've been year round residents at the end of the Gunflint Trail since 1993 and have been outfitting BWCA trips since then.
We're 56 miles from the nearest town of Grand Marais, MN and you are already in the wilderness when you begin your trip up the Trail. Just by driving the Gunflint Trail and coming to Voyageur you're farther into the wilderness than some people get on their Boundary Waters canoe trips.
We love what we do and where we live and this shows. Our enthusiasm and love of the wilderness is evident and we want to share this love with as many people as we can. We take pride in being the best there is in BWCA trip outfitting. We're knowledgeable about the Boundary Waters, Quetico Park, wilderness fishing and camping and everything Gunflint Trail.
We have an excellent facility and incredible staff and we provide a one-of-a-kind outfitting experience. We guarantee your satisfaction with Voyageur and the number of repeat customers we have speaks loudly.
There it is in a nutshell. While it may be easier to just say we're the best it's probably better to give the lengthy explanation, even though we really are the best!
If you have your Boundary Waters Canoe Trip for this summer all planned out then you can reserve your permit beginning January 25th, 2012. If you don't have your plans determined then don't worry, there's plenty of time to make your plans especially if you're paddling out of the Gunflint Trail.
The Gunflint Trail side of the BWCA is not as heavily used as entry points into the BWCA near Ely, MN. We'll often have Boundary Waters permits available up until the last minute. However, if you want a particular entry point on a particular day then the sooner you reserve your permit the better.
How do you reserve a BWCA Permit? You can give us a call with all of the information below and we'll do it for you or you can do it yourself. It's quite easy and you can reserve your Boundary Waters permit online or by telephone(1-877-444-6777) When reserving a BWCA camping permit you'll need the following.
Name, address and telephone number of the party leader.
Name of up to 3 alternate party leaders
Number of watercraft(estimated & can be changed) up to 4/permit
Number of adults & children(17 & under) estimated & can be changed upon arrival at your permit pick-up location.
Entry point & Entry Date(these are set in stone)
Exit Point(is not set in stone)
Permit Pick Up Location(Choose us, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters if you're outfitting with us or entering at an entry point near us). By default the permit will be sent to the USFS Ranger Station closest to your BWCA entry point.
Submit payment with a credit card($6 Reservation Fee, $16/adult, $8/youth)
That's all there is to reserving a Boundary Waters canoe trip permit. If you need help determining an entry point or route then feel free to give us a call. We love to talk about canoeing in the BWCA. 1-888-CANOEIT
Granite Gear makes some great gear right here in Minnesota. Their Superior One pack is the ultimate vessel for canoe tripping. This bag is ultra durable and reliable. This summer, I spent 77 days paddling and portaging from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. The Granite Gear pack held up better than I could have ever expected. Over the nearly three month trip, I never lost a buckle, broke a strap, or felt like it was time to take it easy with the Superior One. This bag got tossed onto shore, fully loaded every day. At the end of the trip the pack got washed and it looked almost like new. Basically, these Granite Gear bags are indestructible and the perfect choice for paddling and packing in the BWCA and Quetico. When you outfit with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters you'll be happy to carry their Granite Gear packs across the portages in the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park.
Name: Andrew Spaeth City: Truckee State: California Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
Have you ever spent 77 consecutive days in a canoe? A few friends and I spent our summer between the mesh seat and the portage pads of a couple of Wenonah Champlains. Wenonah makes awesome canoes and the Champlain was nothing but impressive. It's the perfect canoe for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the perfect canoe for any trip! It is obvious that Wenonah got it right when they designed this boat. It has plenty of room for packs, gear, fishing tackle, and even a duffer (or two). The canoe tracked like a dream across the big water of Lake of the Woods and Lake Winnipeg. In the white water on the Hayes and God's Rivers in Northern Manitoba it did exceptionally well! Even though the canoe measures at about 18 feet, it paddles like a 16 footer in the rapids. Easy to maneuver around obstacles and keep pointed down river. Voyageur Canoe Outfitters outfits their BWCA canoe camping trips with Minnesota Made Wenonah canoes. You can test out the Champlain on your next Boundary Waters or Quetico Park adventure with Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.
Name: Andrew Spaeth City: Truckee State: California Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
This summer, some former employees of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters took the trip of a lifetime. We spent 77 days paddling over 1300 miles from Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. Voyageur Canoe Outfitters helped outfit the trip! They provided us with the same great gear that they send with their guests into the BWCAW and Quetico. We paddled the Wenonah Champlain propelled by the one and only pink paddles. Our gear, food, clothes, and all the extras were stashed in theGranite Gear Superior One and 3.5 packs. You definitely need some high energy food when portaging and paddling. VCO outfits groups with Richmor and Alpine Aire freeze dried foods. This stuff helped keep our bodies fueled for those long days on Lake Winnipeg and undoubtedly kept our packs light with the panoply of freeze dried options. High quality products and a once in a lifetime experience. Thanks- VCO- for an awesome trip!
Name: Andrew Spaeth City: Truckee State: California Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
A forecast for sunshine and 50's for Thanksgiving Day on the Gunflint Trail. With the snow melting and warm temperatures it feels more like Easter than Thanksgiving. The temperatures will cool off soon so we'll just enjoy the nice weather while it's here.
Thanksgiving is a reminder for us to be thankful for everything we have. We at Voyageur are very thankful for all of our past guests and readers of our blogs. We thoroughly enjoy outfitting canoe groups into the Boundary Waters and Quetico Park. We love to introduce people to the wilderness waters and share our love of the Gunflint Trail. We are thankful for your support that allows us to live year round in this magical place next to the BWCA.
We hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks to you, we'll be enjoying ours at the end of the Gunflint Trail.
Nothing gives us greater satisfaction than reading about our guests positive experinces in the wilderness canoe country. We take great pride in offering the best service and quality there is in canoe trip outfitting in the Boundary Waters canoe Area Wilderness. At Voyageur Canoe Outfitters we know your time is important and that's why we want to make the best of it when you're depending upon us for a wonderful BWCA canoe camping trip. Want to share your experience? Then please do so on this blog or on Trip Advisor. We'd be very appreciative and would love hearing all about your trip.
This is the first time we soloed in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area since we always went with another couple. We used Voyageur Canoe Outfitters to outfit us and that made getting ready for the trip much easier. We stayed in a bunk house and listened to the rain while we stayed dry. For the next four days, the weather was perfect. Taking the tow boat shuttle to American Point on Saganaga Lake was a great way for us to get to Ester Lake in the BWCA for the first night and we stayed there the next two nights as well. We explored by canoe, swam on lovely beaches, watched sunrises and sunsets. The loons were calling and a big snapper visited our shores each night. The day we left, the water was like glass--even on Saganga! When we returned, our car was parked by the boat landing. The staff at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters couldn't have been more helpful or friendly.
It's always nice to hear positive comments about Voyageur Canoe Outfitters from our guests. I'm not sure why it's even sweeter when it's a celebrity but we thought we would share what Don Shelby had to say about Voyageur Canoe Outfitters.
The endorsement:
"I spend a lot of quality time in the Superior-Quetico. The Quetico is particularly special to me. On our last trip, I asked Mike Prom of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters to find us a remote route. He found one with three lakesand a river with no names. We were alone. Exactly the way I wanted it. When I go into the Quetico, I rely on Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, whether it's a tow or complete outfitting, nobody does it better."
Not much of a paddle on the last day of July for the Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew. But here's an interesting tidbit and a photo of the Voyageur Crew.
Jeremy and Charlie paddled the Red River to Lake Winnipeg and then to God's Lake. They had met Andy at Clear Waters Canoe Outfitting Company when they were picking up their Wenonah Canoe for their trip. This is from the letter they wrote to Dan, the owner.
We are sitting in Thompson waiting for a train to Winnipeg. We have had a brilliant,brilliant trip. I don't know if you have been in contact with Andy. We met them on Playgreen Lake a day south of Norway House. We had just paddled through the night from Limestone Bay because the north shore of Lake Winnipeg was flooded and there was nowhere to stop. We had been asleep about an hour, camped on a tiny rock of an island when they came by and called to us, Andy recognised the canoe. They went on to Norway House and we followed the next morning. They stayed there one night, we stayed three, and thought we were a long way behind them, but we caught up with them at the rapids that enter Gods Lake where they had stopped a day to fish. We all had a couple of good days at the Narrows before they left for Gods River.
It was a beautiful day for paddling again today. The Voyageur Canoe Outfitters Crew paddled 22 miles on Lake of the Woods. They don't have too many miles left to paddle and they'll be off of the mighty lake. The International Falls Newspaper wrote a great article about the guys and their Voyage in today's edition.
The trip of a lifetime, By EMILY GEDDE, Staff Writer
By Emily Gedde
Created 06/11/2011 - 1:00pm
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 Voyageur Hudson Bay Expedition Crew has one less thing to worry about as they prepare for their May departure. They recently picked up their two Wenonah Canoes that Wenonah has graciously agreed to give them for sponsorship of their trip. All of the guys have experience paddling Wenonah Canoes because that's what we outfit with at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters. We couldn't be happier than we are that they will make this expedition in as nice of a ride as Wenonah. THANK YOU WENONAH!
How do you choose your BWCA entry point if you've never been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area before? How do you plan your BWCA entry point if you have been to the BWCA before? Do you take a stick pin and spin yourself blindfolded and stick the pin into the map and wherever it lands you go?
It can be a difficult decision to determine where you want to enter the Boundary Waters. There are entry points throughout the wilderness from as far west as Crane Lake to as far East as the Arrowhead Trail. You can even enter the BWCA from the Sawbill Trail or near Isabella, Minnesota. There are so many different entry points it's hard to know just where to begin.
Even though we are BWCA outfitters at the end of the Gunflint Trail we have paddled all over the canoe country wilderness entering through Crane, Brule, Moose and many other Boundary Waters entry points. While each area is beautiful we are obviously partial to the entry points on the Gunflint Trail.
We have deeper lakes, higher cliffs and of course we can outfit you if you choose to enter on the Gunflint Trail. That alone should help you narrow it down to the Gunflint Trail. Once you've determined that you can think about the type of trip you want to take and how much you want to paddle, portage and fish.
If you're fishing for a particular species then you can narrow the options down even further because not every lake has every species of fish. If you don't want to have to portage at all then you can eliminate quite a few of the BWCA entry points. If you want to hike on a hiking trail while out canoe camping then your options are really limited. How can you find all of this out without spending days reading guide books?
Voyageur has a great trip route finder that will help you pick an entry point into the BWCA. You can enter criteria into the program and it will provide you with trip route options as well as maps. After you narrow it down that way then give us a call or drop us an email so we can talk about your routes. We've paddled the routes and can help you find one that may be more suitable than had you played pin the pin on the BWCA map.
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