Has anybody here been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness?

[MontanaMama]

My kiddo, Owen, graduated from high school last weekend. He and his 4 best pals left yesterday morning for the Boundary Waters Wilderness of MN. He will be gone for 10 days or so. I am missing him terribly, but, at the same time I am so excited for him. This is a rock solid group of boys…all raised in the outdoors. I don’t at all worry about their skill sets…they’ve all lived their lives hunting and fishing here in MT. They are not likely to run into a grizzly bear like they might here at home. I’ve talked to a lot of folks who have done this off grid adventure and they say it’s just fabulous.

Owen is my only child. I don’t mind telling you that he’s just a wonderful kid. Smart. Funny and he gave a tRumper hell today in Ely, MN. That’s my baby!

Have any of you been to the Boundary Waters? It sounds like an amazing place.

[GenXer47]

1. the loons are unforgettable

Great fishing, nice little waterfalls here and there. Full visibility of stars and nice quiet sleeps.

[MontanaMama]

4. I so hope he hears the loons.

He’s an angler…lives to fish. He drug around a fishing rod before he could walk. I think he will have a blast!

[Celerity]

26. Voices: Common Loon

[MontanaMama]

47. My husband and I used to do fly in fishing trips

in northern Alberta in the summer. The loons were everywhere. Their song is so haunting. We have them here in MT too but I don’t live near a lake where they are.

[Easterncedar]

2. Haven't been yet, but hope to

A friend went years ago, and had a fantastic time. Happy paddling to your Owen!

[MontanaMama]

6. Thanks!

They took a canoe and will rent one at the put in. Even though he’s far away, I think this trip will be less risky than one might be here in Montana. Smoother water and smaller predators.

[mzmolly]

3. I have.

Last edited Mon Jun 12, 2023, 09:24 AM - Edit history (1)

It's stunningly beautiful.

Sounds like you did well raising Owen. I hope he and his pals have a great time!

[MontanaMama]

9. Thanks mzmolly.

I hope he has the BEST time. I hear it is quite beautiful….a different beautiful that Montana…but that’s the whole point.

[mzmolly]

32. I've never been to Montana,

but it's on my bucket list.

[Brentos]

5. Yes!

I spent 3 weeks every Summer at Shig Wak Resort just north of Ely! (new name these days). I would love to go back...the best memories ever!

[MontanaMama]

10. I guess I'd like to go too!

I’m kind of a snob about Montana…it’s stunningly beautiful here and yet, I know there are so many other gorgeous places. I am thrilled at the thought that these boys will have a bond from this trip that will last forever.

[elleng]

7. Yes, many years ago.

It is/was a great trip, me, my brother, my first husband and his young son, and our young Bedlington Terrier.

Dramatic. First time I ever heard a loon.

Thanks for the memory!

[MontanaMama]

11. Oh my gosh!

Last edited Mon Jun 12, 2023, 10:34 AM - Edit history (1)

We’ve got loons here at home but I don’t think Owen has ever heard one. I really hope he can hear/see one on this trip. I’m thrilled that he’s doing this. We put off/canceled orientation at Montana State University so he could do this. Between you and me, this was an easy trade off.

[ShazzieB]

22. He's going to Montana State?

Cool! My husband and I spent some time in Bozeman a few years ago, and I fell in love with the place. Very cool town and the campus is nice, too. Loved the Museum of the Rockies, which is the reason we were there. Mr. B especially enjoyed the dinosaurs.

[Mme. Defarge]

8. Have not had the pleasure

but have read all of William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor books which are set in that locale. Wonderful descriptions of magnificent landscapes and waterways.

[MontanaMama]

12. Bookmarking for that literary referral.

I would love to read about it.

[Mme. Defarge]

13. If you happen to be a mystery fan

you will not be disappointed.

[MontanaMama]

14. Oh I am!

Owen will be interested too. Thank you.

[Mme. Defarge]

16. Krueger won the Edgar award for best mystery

in 2014. It was a stand alone novel, Ordinary Grace, which I read and then wanted more from this writer. I do not think you’ll be disappointed.

[ShazzieB]

23. I've read some of those and loved them!

I really need to read the rest of the series.

[Easterncedar]

27. Sounds like perfect summer reading. I'll check them out, too.

Thanks!

[Easterncedar]

28. I have a lovely independent bookstore to order from

New or used books, they always come through!

[Easterncedar]

66. Thanks for the tip!

My hometown book store sent me two from the used mystery section. I’m really enjoying Ordinary Grace. One of those you look forward to getting back to when the chores are done. Great writing.

I appreciate your turning me on to this writer very much. I’ll be looking to read them all now.

[Ocelot II]

15. It's a beautiful place. True wilderness.

There are black bears, no grizzlies, but there are plenty of wolves (which leave people alone). Lots of mosquitoes and black flies so he should bring bug repellent. The loons at night are a spooky but magical sound. I went camping there one winter, got in on cross country skis and slept in a tent. It was fun until I had to leave the sleeping bag and tent during the night to go pee in the snow. It’s better in summer even with mosquitoes.

[MontanaMama]

18. I sent Owen well prepared for mosquitoes.

He and I share the propensity for getting bit. The back flies are a nightmare…and he has a head net but he will probably have to fight them… he’s got his own tent for sleeping and I really hope that will be an escape from them. We don’t worry at all about wolves, they’re all around us where we live. This group of boys has grown up in this small neighborhood where black bears are always underfoot….the school dumpsters are in bear cages. They’re not at all concerned about them but I hope they are still wary. Bears are wilder when they aren’t in your ‘hood so to speak.

[ShazzieB]

24. Black flies are nasty little beasties!

I haven't been to that part of Minnesota, but we had a run in with those flies once on a trip to northern Wisconsin. Awful! Mosquito bites are itchy, but those fly bites hurt! I hope the bug repellent works on them for your son.

[VGNonly]

17. I've been there 3 times.

My buddy lives in Ely, we can paddle into the BWCA from his house.

[Tetrachloride]

19. caution regarding ticks.

[MontanaMama]

35. Oh man.

Always…I hate those things. Good reminder.

[Tetrachloride]

38. use long plastic bags for socks. get a couple dozen from the stores.

and garbage bags or a poncho.

[Prairie_Seagull]

76. HI MTmama,

What I have relied on in my years of hiking the backcountry is and kids probably hate this. Over the calf white tube socks, shorts and stay the fuck on the trail. Good luck telling 18 yos this but one has to try. Hiking in a pack is a safe thing, get them used to checking one another for tics in camp in the evening at minimum. Hike early rest in the evening. I spent many of my boy scout days in AZ. (tick and other creepy) capital of the world.

Sounds like they know their shit so many bases already covered. Get son to take lots of pics for us. haha

On Edit- Make sure of good first aid kit and at least 2 good pairs of tweezers and blister kit.

[MontanaMama]

82. Hi P_S

I sent the child with a good first aid kit that included a new package of moleskin. They ALL used it for blisters and or hot spots on their hands from rowing and schlepping their canoes to various portages. What I forgot to send was Benadryl and my kiddo did in fact have a major histamine reaction to all the mosquito bites he got on day one despite being drenched in bug spray. Thank goodness one of his pals had some in his first aid kit. On day 5, he had a brush with poison ivy...also a Mama fail because I forgot to warn him about that. He did wash quickly with soap and water and used cortizone and benadryl to counteract it and he got away easy and the rash never formed into blisters.

I won't even get into the ticks...they all were picking them off each other all week. Yeah...tube socks and teenagers. Not gonna happen...not cool enough for them!!

[GusBob]

20. Many times

This time of year bring bug spray!

[MontanaMama]

36. I sent him well packed with bug spray!

I can’t handle mosquitos and black flies…he will do better than I.

[2naSalit]

21. I have not...

But I know several who have. It's good he's going now before it's ruined. It will stay with him his whole life, that's what I have seen with those who have been there.

[MontanaMama]

37. That's my hope.

That it will be a memory that stays in his heart and that of his friends their whole lives. This posse of boys have known each other since preschool.

[2naSalit]

40. Should be a great trip for them!

They'll discover a lot about themselves at a very important time.

[MontanaMama]

49. That's the goal.

This is the week that we were scheduled for freshman orientation in Bozeman. When the boys started talking about doing this trip, it took days for Owen to talk to us about it. He finally did and told us he was having second thoughts about starting school in Bozeman, and that he really wanted to take this trip. His dad and I hands-down supported him taking this on instead of doing orientation. I know I’ve mentioned to you before about how I feel about him attending school in Bozeman anyway. It wasn’t hard to make this choice. I am so glad he’s doing this.

[2naSalit]

56. I'm sure it's the better choice.

The bozone is just weird. I never have felt comfortable in or about the place even though I go there, out of necessity more often than I like... I mean, that's where the Costco is.

[Mister Ed]

25. Yes, many times.

It's been chilly here in southern Minnesota these last two days, so I guess it's likely to have been very chilly in the BWCA. But Montana boys will be prepared for that, and will handle it well.

Could I ask what their entry point was, or what route they've planned? Or would that be too much detail to share publicly on the internet?

[MontanaMama]

39. I'm not 100% sure of the exact point of entry..

But the last ping where I can see his location is Cloquet Line Rd? I’m completely unfamiliar with that area but it appears there is a parking spot and a short walk to the put in. That’s all I can see with the location app.

[Mister Ed]

52. Magic 8 Ball says the picture is unclear...

...but from that road, I think they must have been headed for Entry Point 22/23 (Mudro Lake).

I can't offer much insight because I've never camped or traveled in that part of the wilderness. They might have gone north at first to camp on Horse Lake or Fourtown Lake, or they might have headed east onto Jackfish Bay, the westernmost part of the sprawling, popular, heavily-traveled Basswood Lake. I would have chosen to go north, myself, to be away from the permitted motorboat traffic on Basswood. But over the course of ten days, they'll be able to travel quite far if they choose to.

[MontanaMama]

53. So question...

Do they circle back to where they put in? Is there a shuttle service that takes a vehicle for you to a take out? I never thought to ask these questions! The location app photo, it appears there’s a parking area that holds about twenty vehicles. I guess since it’s a canoe only area, they can circle back because the water is calm. I’m embarrassed I don’t know more about this, I just let my kid go!

ETA: Upon review of the location app photo, it appears they put in near Pickett Lake.

[Mister Ed]

57. Ah, then my guess was correct.

That parking lot at the east end of Pickett Lake is for Entry Point 22/23, for Mudro Lake. Pickett Lake lies outside of the designated wilderness, while Mudro Lake, to the east, lies within.

Campers almost always circle back and return to their point of origin, although the local outfitters do offer shuttle services for those who plan a more linear route. Most often, a "loop" route is planned so that the campers can take in new vistas as they return, rather than just retracing their path on their way back to their car.

Another option, which Mrs. Ed and I favor, is "base camping". We travel a ways into the wilderness until we find an especially nice campsite, and there we stay for most of the trip. Instead of breaking camp each morning and making camp each evening, we spend our days relaxing in our hammocks, reading books, and listening to the gentle rustling of the pines. I satisfy my urge to explore by taking day trips in the canoe.

Your young men are sure to return with some interesting stories. At this time of year, those stories are likely to include tales of being set upon by ferocious swarms of mosquitos and biting flies. They may encounter a bear or two, but the Eastern black bears of the region are much more docile and much less to be feared than the grizzlies of the west.

[BlackSkimmer]

59. I love these tips.

I love paddling. Have to give it a visit.

[MontanaMama]

60. This is wonderful info!

Thank you so much. I know next to nothing about this area and its opportunities. We are neck deep in black bears where we live...they're all over the place. These kiddos are probably more comfortable with them than they should be but its part of being so used to them. The dumpsters at their grade school are in bear cages as the school was a half mile from the wilderness boundary. We call it "growing up Montana"!

Based on your post and that of other DUers...I think I'd like to take this trip too!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

29. never heard of it. Looks pretty in this youtube

[MontanaMama]

42. I'll watch that!

I never thought to look on YouTube. Thanks!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

50. there are more videos of the place on youtube. I look up EVERY PLACE on youtube

[moonscape]

46. Thanks for this!

[usajumpedtheshark]

30. Many times

I was born and raised in Minnesota.I spent my high school and college summers paddling the BWCA and the State's eastern waterways. One of my favorite authors, Sigurd F. Olson, helped draft the Wilderness Protection Act of 1964 and was deeply involved in obtaining wilderness status for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. He taught college in Ely, Minnesota, and spent his summer months as a canoe guide.

“Wilderness to the people of America is a spiritual necessity, an antidote to the high pressure of modern life, a means of regaining serenity and equilibrium.” - Sigurd F Olson

[MontanaMama]

43. I love this.

Thank you for the post. Wilderness is close to this Montanan’s heart. I live about a mile from the trailhead of the Rattlesnake Wilderness where wolves and grizzly bears roam. These kids have grown up hiking and fishing it. I don’t think they know how fortunate they are. I know they’ll remember this trip forever.

[Emile]

31. Yes, it's been about 30 years ago. Beautiful area.

Later years we would drive as far north in Ontario one can drive and launch my boat with camping gear and go another 20 miles to an island. Now that was fun!

[NickB79]

33. No grizzlies in Minnesota, just black bears

The most dangerous animal would be moose protecting their young. Oh, and mosquitoes. Pack lots of strong bugspray!

We're heading up to Duluth and Lake Superior later this week for a couple of days of hiking and sightseeing. Weather should be absolutely perfect this week, 75F and sunny.

If he's experienced in the Montana wilderness, the North Woods should be no problem.

[MontanaMama]

44. These kiddos should do just fine...it will be a bonding experience for sure.

They’ve got different skill sets…my son hasn’t done much backpacking but he’s a crackerjack angler. They will help each other out as needed…and yes! The weather looks good. They all know to steer clear of moose. Personally, I’d rather come across a grizzly bear than a cow moose with a calf.

[llmart]

34. I have not been there but...

PBS has a show hosted by Baratunde Thurston called "America Outdoors"and one of his episodes featured the Boundary Waters. I'm a passport member of PBS (I love everything PBS does), so I can watch any show whenever I feel like it. Since this is an older series it may be locked to people who aren't members. I only pay $5 a month and it's well worth it.

[MayReasonRule]

41. Spent Two Weeks In The Boundary Waters Canoeing Fishing & Camping In 1980

It remains as a singular experience in it's own right still to this day. It's a true wilderness experience, it's not a place to be without proper guidance and preparation.

We had two chaperones that had spent their summers mountaineering, hiking and wilderness boating.

All of my contemporaries had a great time as well.

It's relatively pristine beauty is truly a sight to behold while adventuring in nature.

[MontanaMama]

45. I can't wait to hear about his trip and see his photos.

Two of these five boys have done this trip before with adult chaperones. They were all raised camping and fishing here in MT. It’ll be interesting to hear how the cooking went, however.

[MayReasonRule]

48. Lol, Yep Fishing Is A Must Foraging Can Be Useful As Well - Pancakes & Powdered Eggs Get Old Quickly

[riversedge]

51. I have camped the area several times and always catch fish for supper. Quiet, yet

something to do for all. Plan on going later this summer.

[MontanaMama]

55. Your post and those of other DUers

make me feel like I should go. It sounds amazing. I hope you have a great trip!

My kiddo lives to fish. This should be right up his alley. Before he drifted out of cell/text range, he’d caught three northern pike at the put in.

[Marthe48]

54. My then future son-in-law took my daughter camping there

and proposed to her. He has friends who live (or lived) there and I think my daughter and son-in-law went back to visit after they were married. Yes, beautiful, and sounds like people look out for each other. Hope he and his friends have a great time. Happy graduation!

[BlackSkimmer]

58. That's on my bucket list.

Keep us posted!

[MontanaMama]

61. I will!

I hope the child (he's 18 now so not actually a child) comes back with great photos.

[progressoid]

62. 45 years ago!

It was beautiful and fun. He'll have a blast.

[MontanaMama]

63. Oh I hope so.

He did get a short call out this afternoon at their first lake stop. He said the black flies were horrific, and that it was hot and humid… At least by a Montana kid standard. They had caught a couple of northern pike for dinner, and they were all excited about that. Pike are his favorite fish to catch. I don’t anticipate hearing from him until they are close to being out of the area. He did say it was absolutely beautiful and, I have to say, those are big words coming from a native Montanan.

[progressoid]

64. Yeah, Minnesota does have an insect issue sometimes.

After a while you get used to it.

[Ocelot II]

65. The Minnesota DNR has just issued a no-campfire order for the BWCA - it's very dry right now.

Hope your kid & friends have food they don't have to cook.

https://www.twincities.com/2023/06/13/campfires-banned-in-boundary-waters-fire-bwca-drought/?utm_email=F41D54DD8379D3B503B12356B2&lctg=F41D54DD8379D3B503B12356B2&active=no&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.twincities.com%2f2023%2f06%2f13%2fcampfires-banned-in-boundary-waters-fire-bwca-drought%2f&utm_campaign=stpaul-don%27t-miss&utm_content=alert

[skip fox]

67. Been on a 10 day canoe outfitted trip with my dad and loved it, ca. 1963.

The next year we came down from the Canadian side.

Paddled up on a feeding moose once.

Best times with my dad ever.

[MontanaMama]

71. The photos my kiddo brought home

are lovely. It’s a gorgeous place. The fishing was good and the bugs were terrible! Owen took video of the army of mosquitoes attempting to get in his tent and, well, let’s just say I couldn’t have weathered it.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

68. MontanaMama, is he back? There was an accident in the BWCA and it reminded me of this thread.

[MontanaMama]

70. He is home safe and sound!

Thank you for asking. I am thrilled to have him home.

I didn’t hear of this accident! Do you know where it was?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

73. Gillis Lake; an 18-year-old man is missing and presumed drowned after his canoe capsized.

[MontanaMama]

74. Oh no.

I’ll go look it up. I can’t imagine a family losing a child that way.

Thank you for your thoughts about my kiddo.

[Emile]

69. Biting flys and mosquitoes are terrible up until

late September. Bring lots of bug spray.

[MontanaMama]

72. The boys took lots of bug spray

and it was still a disaster in terms of mosquitoes and black flies. The kiddos will remember it forever though!

[a kennedy]

77. Ya know, we haven't had any mosquitoes due to the hot, and no rain weather........

not that they shouldn’t bring the spray, it’s just bugs might be less active this year.

[Emile]

78. I didn't know Minnesota was dry too. We're in a extreme drought

here in Western Indiana. I have lived here since 1976 and I can honestly say I have never seen it this dry. I hate to think about what it's going to be like in August!

[a kennedy]

79. I know, totally despise August anyway, and now......we're ALL gonna die of heat related deaths.

I kid, just sheesh it’s gonna hell. 🤬 🤬 🤬

[MontanaMama]

80. The mosquitos and black flies were horrific

according to my kiddo. I saw a photo of his back...he was bitten through a long sleeved fishing shirt and his entire back was covered with bites...well over 100 bites. If that was bugs being inactive, I would not want to be there when they are active!

[a kennedy]

81. OMGAWD........wow.....sorry for him.

[MontanaMama]

83. We don't have bugs like that here in the mountains.

We've got grizzly bears and I swear to gawd I'd rather have predators than swarms of biting insects...but that's just me.

[shrike3]

75. Husband canoed it solo years ago

When he was young and fit. He didn't arrive at his expected time and so the search party went out. He was fine, had just been taking his time, and he was quite chagrined that his mellow trip had cost taxpayers money.

It was a remarkable experience and I hope your kiddo had the best time.