Hey everyone.

I am in the midst of planning my first BWCA trip. We have 4 25 year old guys going and we are all newbies to the area. I have spent several hours searching through these forums and have learned a lot. I was hoping that each of you could recommend an entry point and add a personal suggestion or tip you've learned along the way. We are looking for as much seclusion as possible, and canoe-only lakes.

As a side note, I am very confused with the lottery and booking system. I called Duluth today and they recommended that I book on the first-come, first-serve system on Jan 20th. What are your thoughts?

buy two books. robert beymers bwca books. western and eastern versions....read them. thats my advice.

ditto to kanoes. And at this point if you have no clue where you want to enter, apply for a permit after January 20. Go to entry permit application to apply.

Heck, I can't even decide where to go, so it is hard to make a recommendation.

You say you are new to the area and want seclusion. With four 25 year old guys, you should be able to burn up the trail. Seclusion is found where you put the entries behind you on all points of the compass (assuming that north is Canada).

Get a permit for Kawishiwi Lake. Head as straight north as you can go. Study the maps. Maybe set a goal to reach Kekekabic. You will find low use beyond Malberg.

Not knowing where you want to go. Wait till the 20th and reserve

Don't bother with the lottery, but if you and your group have a specific date in mind (regardless of entry point) then I would get a permit early (march timeframe).

On my first trip we allowed the outfitter to outfit nearly the entire trip. My brother-in-law and I learned early on that we had a great deal of food that we would never use and that we had a different taste than our outfitter. Check out the cooking message board and try to create your own food pack. You can get most of what you need at your local grocer. If you are going to fish, watch the amount of tackle. You can way over do on tackle. Bring a good book and one long enough to last the trip. You might check with your buddies on this and trade reads if needed. I learned a lesson on this on a trip with my son. Make check lists and use them when packing.

I also recommend that you look at the Beymer books for route ideas (the choices are endless, and it's fun to look at the books for ideas), and that you not worry about the lottery because you can get a permit for a good entry point later on (as long as you are not hellbent on getting a permit for the most popular points on specific day).

Here's my extra advice - getting to solitude is great and something I also seek out, but be sure to take time as you go to enjoy the journey. Don't just push as far as you go into the interior of the Wilderness if that means ignoring the territory you are passing through on the way. The journey is the destination.

Do you have your own gear, or will you be renting, if renting ,who puts together the food.

-take spare paddles
-know how to use a map and compass, then do so.
-take extra food
-water proof maps for all

route - look for "portage in entry points" not drive the rig up to the side of the lake kinda thing. Generally speaking long portages and portage heavy routes tend to thin the crowd. some people don't want to work for it.

head away from people/popular routes gradually and then back in gradually. nothing is worse than that system shock coming back in.

wake up early, stop early, smell the roses
if "late season" make a point to stay up late and star watch

to second HPD, kawishawi is nice.

check lists have proved to be a vital planning pacvking aid to us, and we use them obsesivly good luck