BWCA 21

 In June/July of 2010 I went on a father-daughter canoe trip with a large group to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in Northern Minnesota.  After that trip, I thought to myself that it was possibly my last BWCA trip, as I wasn't getting any younger.  When Isaac approached me in January of this year and said he was reserving permits for a September trip and would like me to join the group, I was hesitant.  It sounded very enticing and he had invited a great group of men, but could I keep up with the youngsters?  And would harvest start early this year?

I decided that I would be involved.  How could I pass up an opportunity like this?  Plans were made for the week after Labor Day, and as summer drew to a close, I started assembling my gear.  We had a good summer weather-wise, but to the north and west a drought was in progress.  Three weeks before the trip, the park was shut down because of forest fires.  We were disappointed, but made some alternate plans for a trip to the U.P. to canoe and camp.  Over the next two weeks, the BWCA received a couple rains, and a week before our departure date, they opened the park back up for canoe campers!  The only restriction was no campfires; we would have to do our cooking on camp-stoves.  The trip was back on.

We met in the church parking lot at 4:30 in the morning and loaded our gear in Isaac's RV.  Because of a last minute cancellation, only five of us were able to make the trip.  Eleven hours later we were in Ely, Minnesota.  We picked up our permits at Piragus Northwoods Company,  ate amazing burgers at Stoney Ridge Resort & Cafe, and then camped in the RV at Fall Lake Campground, Superior National Forest, for the night.  We were up bright and early the next morning and after a quick breakfast, we headed for our entry point to begin our wilderness adventure.

Unloading the RV and horse trailer at the Lake One entry point.

Canoes are loaded and in the water and we are ready to go!

We base camped on Lake Three, and then explored and fished from there.

In the past Boundary Waters trips that I have been on, we used outfitters to supply our gear and food.  That meant besides fresh meat on the first day and a little fresh fish, we mostly ate dehydrated foods.  Not so with Isaac.  We had mostly fresh food and along with the bountiful fish we caught, we ate very well!

The camp kitchen.

Ribeye steaks from Bittner's on the first night!

Matt frying fish and Isaac making bannock.

Since we had extra bacon, why wouldn't you make bacon wrapped fried fish fillets?

Fresh fried fish, fried potatoes, and bannock.  

Shore lunch.

I forgot how dark the nights are in the Boundary Waters.  There is very little light pollution like there is at home, therefore we were able to sit out on the rocky shore at night and star gaze.  The constellations, the milky way, a couple planets, and falling stars were all clearly visible and vibrant.  Also, I forgot how beautiful the sunrises and sunsets can be in the north country.

Our voyageur having his early morning coffee on the rocky shore, watching the sun come up.

We caught plenty of fish on this trip, mostly northern and smallmouth.  I spent a lot of my time fishing for the elusive walleye and didn't catch any.  Others caught a couple small ones that weren't keepers.  We had more than enough for a couple of fish fries.

Daniel catches the first fish.

Daniel was our master fillet-er.

The fresh fish fillets ready to be breaded and fried.

We saw our share of wildlife also.  It is always a highlight to see some of the iconic Loons, and hear their eerie calls.  We saw several bald eagles and their nests, we surprised a beaver that slapped his tail at us, an otter swimming, and even a snake swimming that bumped into the other canoe.  Once while fishing in separate areas, the other canoe saw a bobcat or lynx swim across a channel and slink up into the woods.

All too soon, it was time to tear down camp and start back to civilization. 

At the last portage.

 We enjoyed great weather, good fishing, beautiful scenery, and good fellowship.  I enjoyed being away from the busyness of life and out in nature.  I proved to myself that I can still handle this kind of trip and would be ready to go back again.  Although I definitely think I will be too old when my grandsons would be ready for a Grandfather - Grandson trip!

But there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.             Isaiah 33:21