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.
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
After our family trip to the Minnesota North Shore and a day trip to the Boundary Waters last summer, I was excited to see a Living Social deal at the end of the summer for an everything included Three Day Boundary Waters Canoe Trip, good for one year.
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.
We set up base camp on Gneiss Lake in Minnesota's Boundary Waters and went portaging up the Granite river to go fising for the day. It was overcast and no wind - great for BWCA fishing or paddling. We were catching lots of Smallmouth all along the way and stopped for lunch a few rapids up on shore. I cast my top water popper out from the bank and boom, got a hit, set the hook only to find the lure and leader gone from my line. That was a bummer - Northern must have bit above the leader and cut the line. We went up another rapids and continued to have a blast catching fish. A few hours later as the sun was setting, we decided to turn back towards camp and shoot every rapids. Two rapids down we were enjoying the beautiful scene when my canoe partner points out something in the water...it was the top water popper I had stolen by a fish 5 hours earlier floating in the middle of the glassy lake two rapids down stream. UNBELIEVABLE! I snatched it up and rigged it up and caught many more fish. I also hooked myself in the arm with it the next day flinging it from a tree. You could say I developed quite the relationship with that lure on this Boundary Waters trip. Stuff like that just doesn't happen anywhere. Chad and the Voyageur Canoe Outfitters were great to us. I hope to be back to the BWCA next year.
Name: Chris City: Peoria State: IL Voyage: Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
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 are a group of over achievers. It shouldn't be suprising that they have already paddled to Lac La Croix when their itinerary doesn't have them there until the 5th of June.
The paddling crew has planned for days they won't be able to paddle due to weather. It's the wind in their face that is causing them the most trouble this canoe trip so far. Today the winds are steady in the high teens with gusts up to 30 miles per hour out of the West and WNW. That's the direction the Voyageur Crew is attempting to paddle and Lac La Croix is a large body of water that must have huge waves rolling today.
Lac La Croix makes Saganaga look small and it's 8500 acres larger than Basswood in the BWCA. It stretches 28 miles along the Minnesota/Ontario border and covers 34,070 acres and it's the largest of the Boundary Waters Lakes.
Saganaga is a large BWCA lake and today our tow boat drivers saw what she can do in the wind. It isn't a pretty sight unless you like waves coming over the sides of your boat or canoe. The wind pushes water one way, the waves move another and islands divert the waves in yet another direction. It's better to sit and wait for the waves to calm down rather than try to canoe a wilderness lake on a windy day.
More about Lac La Croix courtesy of the First Nation Website.
Our Community:
Lac La Croix which translated means “The Lake of the Cross” in the french language originated from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. However, to the Ojibway people, it is traditionally known as Zhingwaako Zaaga’igan meaning “Lake of the Pines”. Zhingwaako Zaaga’igan “Lake of the Pines”, is made in reference to the pines that surround the lake and are believed to provide protection to the community. To the Anishinabe people, the pine plays a significant role in the overall cultural practices, especially during times of harvesting fish and game for spring and fall feasts. This traditional process also includes honoring the spirits and the spiritual connection of Zhingwaako Zaaga’igan with expressions of gratitude and respect for the protection they provide. Historically, the forests were once dense with a limitless amount of pine and the respected elders of the community considered the lake and it’s natural environment as sacred to their people. The Anishinabe people of Zhingwaako Zaaga’igan continue to be guided by the inherent cultural practices and values passed on through many generations. To this day, they continue to maintain a spiritual connection and belief in the preservation of the natural environment. Lac La Croix First Nation is an Anishinabe community with a membership of 400+ people with approximately 300 persons residing in the community. it is located in Northwestern Ontario, approximately 95 km east of Fort Frances. Access to the community is by Flanders Road, an 80 km long all-weather road accessed by Highway 11, approximately 40 km west of Atikokan. The community is affiliated with Grand Council Treaty # 3 within Treaty # 3 territory.
Everyone feels good when they know they are doing their part to take care of Mother Earth. By participating in the Ham Run Half Marathon or 5k Fun Run you are showing your support to a race dedicated to implementing green initiatives.
Our Cup Free Racing reduces the amount of waste produced because there aren't hundreds of paper cups strewn about the roadway.
We reuse our racing bibs and banners from year to year so we're not wasting precious resources.
Any plastic, glass, aluminum, tin, cardboard or other recycleable materials generated at the Ham Run are recycled.
We replenish the nutrients in the earth by composting food waste from the Ham Dinner at the end of the race.
Trees are planted for each participant as a way to restore the pines trees in the Superior National Forest.
Along with doing good for Mother Earth you'll be helping support wellness and fitness in Cook County. Young runners are able to participate in the Little Runts Run free of charge and area non-profits are able to earn money for their group by volunteering to help at the Ham Run Half Marathon. The Ham Run takes care of the planet and the people by promoting fitness and outdoor recreation.
We hope you will tell your family and friends about the Ham Run and head up to the Trail Less Traveled on Sunday, May 1st, 2011. If you need a place to stay then Voyageur Canoe Outfitters can help you out. In addition to bunkhouses there are cabins and lodge units available for the race weekend.
Just call 1-888-CANOEIT for help.
Thank you to our wonderful Sponsors of the Ham Run 2011!
There's a fresh coating of snow on the Gunflint Trail today and it's looking more white than green outside. No worries though, Minnesota's Greenest Race will be here before we know it. The Trail Less Traveled was completely snow free yesterday and will be again soon. The temperatures are expected to be in the 50's this week and with a little luck we'll have an average high temperature on Race Day in the 60's. No matter what the weather brings be ready to enjoy your run along the rugged and scenic Gunflint Trail.
Being a cup free race is just one of the Green Race Initiatives theHam Run Half Marathon is implementing again this year. Participants will be given a HydraPouch to use at the Aid Stations along the Race Course. Water and Gatorade coolers will be equipped with HydraPour Valves to ensure a speedy fill. The HydraPouches work great and if you aren't familiar with them then be sure to watch their video online or try them out at Packet Pick Up at the Senior Center in Grand Marais on Saturday the 30th of April.
We still have openings at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters for lodging the weekend of the Ham Run Half Marathon. A camper cabin is not heated or insulated but is equipped with bunks with mattresses for your overnight stay. For just $20/person you can bring along your sleeping bag and pillow and spend the night. There are other lodging options to choose from so give us a call if you need help finding a place to stay. 1-888-CANOEIT
We need your help in growing the Ham Run Half Marathon and 5k Fun Run. We have almost as many volunteers as we have runners and we would love to have twice as many runners. We hope you'll spread the word about our race and invite your friends and family to join you on the Trail Less Traveled this Sunday, May 1st, 2011.
Thank you to our wonderful Sponsors of the Ham Run 2011!
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.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has gotten a bad rap for its bugs. I personally don't think the bugs are bad in the BWCA. I think there are plenty of mosquitoes, gnats and other nasty insects in abundance elsewhere but people just don't notice them because they don't spend any time outside. Our bugs in the Boundary Waters don't normally carry diseases, lethal bites or deadly stings, they just have a tendency to "bug" people who are outside 24-7 on a canoe camping trip.
If you're looking to avoid bugs in the Boundary Waters altogether then I like to suggest visiting us from November to April. These six months you'll rarely see a bug. Of course you won't be able to paddle the canoe country during these months either.
The next best time to avoid bugs in the canoe country is as soon as the ice goes off of the lakes. The ice usually leaves the lakes of the Boundary Waters during the last week of April or first week of May depending upon the size of the lake and the thickness of its ice. This isn't a guaranteed bug free time in the BWCA but there should be a an open window for bug free paddling especially if you're trying to avoid mosquitoes.
There are over 50 species of mosquitoes in Minnesota and just a little over half of them bite. Not all of them bite humans and each have their own unique life cycle. Some species need specific conditions such as length of daylight or water temperature and these conditions usually can't be met immediately after ice out.
The first mosquitoes to arrive in the BWCA are usually the big, slow ones that don't bite. It usually isn't until the end of May when the biting mosquitoes arrive in numbers. Mosquitoes continue to hatch throughout the summer until we get a good frost but the numbers dwindle quickly and considerably by the end of June. Each month after there are fewer and fewer mosquitoes in the BWCA to contend with and with a little common sense and preparation you'll barely be bugged by them.
Although mosquitoes fly about during the day they most actively feed at dusk. If you can be in your tent before that then you can listen in comfort to their buzz as they descend to the forest floor. If you do happen to be outside then you'll want to protect yourself with clothing, a headnet and some type of mosquito repellent. If you are outside then they will find you because they detect their meal of blood by the carbon dioxide we exhale and the heat we give off. Unless you are better than I am at not breathing and altering my body temperature they are going to find you in a hurry.
Compared to the mosquito the other bugs of the BWCA don't receive much attention. Some folks are worried about the biting flies and I'm never even sure what they mean because I am rarely bitten by a fly. The first biting flies on the scene are what I usually call gnats because they are so small. They sometimes arrive earlier than the mosquitoes because they lay their eggs in moving water that thaws before calm water ice. They peak in the early part of June and since they only produce one generation a year they are almost obsolete after that. A sheet of bounce in a cap, wearing light colored clothing and only going outside at night will keep you safe from these daytime swarming insects.
There are so few biting flies in the BWCA that are out for such a short time most people don't even know about them in spite of their existence. Size and speed at which they fly help distinguish a Horse Fly from a Deer Fly. I can always tell when a Horse fly is attacking my paddling partner in the Boundary Waters. Since they like water, legs and wet skin I'll feel the canoe shift abruptly from movement before I hear the sound of a hand slapping skin. Horse flies fly faster than Deer flies and normally escape the palm of my partner's hand.
Deer flies are more annoying than anything as they buzz around and around your head until you grab them from the air. I can usually pluck them out of the sky, throw them to the ground and stomp on them before they have time to react. Both the Horse and Deer flies appear around July, only produce one generation and are only out during the daytime.
The stable fly is a biter that produces more than one generation and both the male and female bite so they are more abundant than the other types of flies. They too are more of an annoyance(just ask Rugby) and we refer to these flies as ankle biters because that's where they tend to get you when you're trying to set up your tent. As with all bugs they tend to prefer some people over others and luckily for me they don't like me as much as the rest of my family.
The last Boundary Waters bug of any concern is what we call "Jaws." The real name is the No See Um and when I first saw this in print on a product that had "no see um netting" I thought it was a joke but they really do exist. If you've ever been bitten by one then you won't deny their existence because for such a little insect it packs a good sized hurt. It maybe isn't so much of a hurt as it is a shock that you are feeling pain yet you can't see anything. They are so tiny they are difficult to see and the slightest breeze will carry them away so most people don't get to experience them. They are usually around for parts of June and July and only come out on calm nights.
There you have it, the best time for bugs in the Boundary Waters. By the end of July the bugs are barely an issue in the BWCA and in August and September you probably won't know there are any at all. So if you're wondering when a good time to visit the Boundary Waters is when there aren't any bugs now you know. But if you ask me when the fishing is good then that's a different story altogether.
There are alot of good reasons to get outside on the Gunflint Trail today, two of which are it's National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day today. Northeastern Minnesota is full of public lands that are perfect for hunting and fishing so the Gunflint Trail is the perfect place to celebrate these two events. Resident angler at Voyageur Canoe Outfitters Josh Prom will no doubt celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day by fishing and hunting if he has his way. The grouse are abundant on the Gunflint Trail and just the other day he went hunting for the first time. After missing the first grouse be got the next three he shot at and didn't want to quit. We're lucky to live where we're surrounded by public lands and waters we can recreate on. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is less than a mile away. It's all set aside for folks who want to paddle and camp on public lands. In recognition of National Public Lands Day I may just have to get out and do some canoeing and fishing. There are places all over the United States sponsoring activities today. Check out the National Public Lands Day website to find out what is happening near you. And maybe next year we'll see you on the Gunflint Trail for one of these special days.
National Public Lands Day 2010 celebrates service and recreation on public lands while educating volunteers about the effects of climate change on our parks. NPLD engages a diverse audience of adult and youth volunteers to get to outdoors and improve their lands, whether at the grandest national park or at an urban park in their neighborhood.
NPLD inspires a new generation of volunteers committed to service on public lands. The event also encourages volunteers to explore and enjoy America's natural wonders through outdoor recreation. After working hard, volunteers can take a hike, a swim, a bicycle ride and get healthy in America's backyard.
Experience the real wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on Saganaga Lake this October. This vast wilderness lake has more than just beautiful islands and abundant wildlife it is teeming with fish as well.
October is the time to fish these wilderness waters for the trophy you have always wanted to catch. The Minnesota State Record Walleye was caught in Saganaga Lake and no doubt there’s a record breaker out there in the depths of this BWCA Lake. Monster Northern Pike are also swimming in these waters just waiting for your lure to pass by so they can strike it.
Camping in the Boundary Waters in October can be a bit chilly but not when you’re camping in style. A canvas tent protects you from the elements and the wood stove keeps you nice and toasty. Sleeping on cots keeps you off of the cold ground and keeps you comfortable while camping in the BWCA.
The use of a boat and motor in the Boundary Waters is only allowed on a few special lakes. Saganaga Lake is one of the lakes you can use up to a 25hsp motor on. Using a boat and motor will get you to your fishing spots faster and allow you to explore the hidden bays on this beautiful island studded wilderness lake.
If you really want to treat yourself then consider taking a guide along with you on your Boundary Waters Fall Trophy fishing and camping trip. Otherwise let us pack all you need for a wilderness adventure and we’ll send you on your way.
Probably the biggest factor of whether you have a great Boundary Waters experience or a not so wonderful one is who is going into the BWCA with you. You can paddle alone or bring 8 other people with you for your Boundary Waters Canoe trip. Determining who you are going to paddle with should be the first step in planning a wilderness canoe camping trip. Chances are if a person annoys you on land then he or she is going to drive you crazy on a Boundary Waters canoe trip. As owner of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters we talk to alot of people who tell us their trip would have been better if so and so would have stayed home. Don't try to convince yourself you can handle the annoying laugh or the bad jokes of someone who is going to be on the canoe trip with you. Chances are it isn't going to bother you any less when you're out in the canoe country. Just like on the playground there are some people who play well together and there are some who do not. Don't invite people to go on a Boundary Waters trip if they can't get along with each other at Thursday night softball. Try not to ask two hard-headed individuals along or 2 of the laziest people you know. You'll end up either being bossed around or doing all of the camping work yourself. If you really want to cover alot of Minnesota's wilderness territory on your trip then don't ask your 4 year old son to go with you. Paddling 150 miles and portaging 4 miles in the BWCA might be ok to do with your fit friend but not one who isn't in shape. Don't forget to think about what type of canoe trip you want to take before you invite people along. When all you want to do is find the nearest Boundary Waters campsite and relax in a hammock then don't ask your friend who can't sit still long enough to watch a movie along. Chances are you won't spend much time in your hammock if they aren't able to entertain themselves either. Think about what type of Boundary Waters trip you want to take before you invite other people along. If you want to spend time fishing then invite an avid angler on your canoe camping trip. Your Boundary Waters experience will be much more enjoyable if all of the people who are with you are on board and get along.
According to the Friends of the Boundary Waters, "Sulfide mining has decimated water supplies, killed fish, destroyed entire landscapes, and left taxpayers holding the bag for expensive clean-up operations almost everywhere it’s been done before. Now, the sulfide mining industry has set its sights on northeastern Minnesota, including many areas at the very edges of the Boundary Waters." Then why on earth would anyone want to put the famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area at risk? There are over 1000 lakes in the BWCA that would be at risk along with numerous other lakes in the area's watershed. There are thousands of people who enjoy paddling, camping and fishing in the lakes of the Boundary Waters. There are families and businesses that exist to cater to the visitors of this unique wilderness area. Any amount of risk to the BWCA is too much. The Friends of the Boundary Waters have oodles of information about the proposed mining project and I encourage you to watch their video and read their website.. I've done some digging, no pun intended, of my own and have learned a little bit about the new partnership between Duluth Metals and a Chilean Mining Company called Antofagasta. Together they will be known as "Twin Metals Minnesota LLC ("Twin Metals") and have reached a 130 million dollar agreement to work together on this mining venture. Unfortunately for the Boundary Waters these companies have found what they are calling, "The Duluth Complex that hosts one of the world's largest undeveloped repositories of copper, nickel and PGMs." The company likes Northeastern Minnesota not only for the large deposits but also for the location. The deposit located near other mining areas with railways leading to the Great Lakes. From the Great Lakes the shipping opportunities are ideal and endless.
While mining companies may be seeing dollar signs the Friends of the Boundary Waters would like to see Stop signs. Does Governor Pawlenty see dollar signs, question marks or Stop signs when it comes to mining near the million acres of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness? He met with the Chilean Ambassador on August 3rd to discuss the issue.
We already have something far more precious than nickel in Northeastern Minnesota, it's called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Can mining beneath a lake adjacent to the Boundary Waters not cause pollution or other environmental concerns? According to the Friends of the Boundary Waters the answer is "No." But when the potential exists to make boatloads of money you can bet this debate will go on for a long time to come.
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