This July will be my very first trip.My daughter and I will spend
6 days on FP30.I have read this messageboard and I think I'm prepared.However,I realize I'll have a few problems on my first time.From your experience what mistakes did you make on your first trip and how do you solve these mistakes? Thanks for your feedback.

I think most first-timers take too much stuff. Way too much. Years ago, our group spent a layover day at a nice fishing hole close to a portage. We were astonished to see the monster loads people were hauling over that portage. One couple, on their honeymoon, was on a two-week trip, and they had a two-burner Coleman stove, a lantern, I don't remember what all. I think they each walked across the portage four or five times. If the marriage survived that trip, they'll be married 60 years!

i'll second Buffy..too much gear loaded badly in the canoe..
others i can think of are no or poor maps..taking chances in
bad weather..not taking time to enjoy the trip--as in rushing
thru the carrys ---staying to far out in the lake and not seeing
the wildlife and other sites along the shore..not taking time to
find a nice camp but settle for something overused..
if you go easy on the gear and take your time you will have
a good trip..let us know how it works out---

Wearing blue jeans.

Once wet, they get heavy, cold and take forever to dry. Bring Nylon, Wool or pretty much anything other than denim.

Oh, and that "taking too much stuff" one too.

Take the time to go slowly and enjoy. 6 day loops with constant travel are not fun. Relax,, travel light and " pick " the creature comforts you want to bring carefully.

Take the time to go slowly and enjoy. 6 day loops with constant travel are not fun. Relax,, travel light and " pick " the creature comforts you want to bring carefully.

I agree, too much stuff is very common.

Also, a trip plan that is too aggressive I've also seen: no time to just relax one day, and what if you're stuck one day because of high winds, rain, etc.

My suggestion is as you get closer to your trip is post your pack list and let this group go through it for you.

Also, post your trip plan if you plan to move around much.

If you are going with an outfitter, they will probably try to give you too much food. I gained 5 pounds in a week last year, in spite of the most intense exercise I've had in many years and in spite of the fact that we returned nearly a third of our food when we got back to the outfitter.
I had gone on a week-long cruise two weeks before I entered the Boundary Waters. Despite a lack of exercise, I did not gain an ounce. The difference was that, on the cruise, we weren't carrying our food and eating like crazy, trying to lighten the load, as we were in the BW.

These guys have it nailed - too much stuff , too aggresive a trip , poor rain gear ( it does rain up there ), poor quality equipment and clothes. I do hope you have a great trip - but be prepared. Good Luck. Izzy

My first trip was in June of 2006. This year will be my second in June 2008. A few things I will do differently this year will be to not pack so many sets of clothes. Bring some flavor packets for the water. And fish as much as I can.

One mistake we did my first trip was lose the tent stakes that the outfitter provided halfway through. But we resolved that with a hatchet and sticks. I also lost a good fillet knife. Make sure you keep track of your gear haha

bring a game to play together if you have a rain day.
Balance the canoe with your gear so it sits right.
Research the max weight your kid can carry for portages and stick to it. For my daughter it was 25#.
Go over the fishing gear at home, learning how to cast and the particulars of a spinning reel while in the canoe are not optimal.
Get her involved from the get go concerning meal selection.
I have had mandatory water stop and drink times.
Bring a star chart and sit out at night and identify the stars.
Bring good sunscreen and if she is young put it on yourself, make sure you understand DEET limitations with young kids.
Good hat too. Good shoes with spares,sunglasses with spares long sleeve shirts, appropriate length paddle (all very important).
I secretly measured how much TP my daughter used for a week, then X 1.5, I came close to the right amount....don't underestimate that = riot. Vacuum pack and seal to reduce volume significantly.

Questions please feel free to contact me. My daughter trip was one of the best things I have done in my life.

One mistake is thinking you will catch a meal of walleye everyday and therefore don't bring along dinner.

Must chime in with others. Not 1st trip, but 1st one in 15 years was last year. Went up ep16 to Iron with a base camp on our backs. Didn't (or didn't need to) use 1/3 of it really. Another was planning to push 1st day to destination. We were so beat it took the next day to recoop anyway. Stop and smell the roses and fish along the way. We missed best 1-2 days of fishing weather just pushing to an agenda. My motto is "Not to hurry; not to worry" and I should have practiced it better. If a group can arrive at a concensus to "the pace and the way or the 'mood'" they are far ahead of the game imo. :) oth

Like Uncle moose said, leave the denim at home, also use proper fitting footwear with ankle support.
My first trip was in 88 with some friends that had made several trips before, they boiled all there drinking water over the fire, then would wait until it cooled. It was a July trip and we were all dehydrated, so read the filtration threads, get a good filter and drink a lot of water.

In 1993 we took a trip, my wife and I and our 13 year old daughter and 11 year old son. It was a great trip, from Nym through Quetico to Prairie Portage. The mistake was:......we had two Aluminum 70 Lb canoes...........and I was the only one capable of carrying them....Double Portaging with a Pack and 70Lb canoe......Boy was I in shape at the end of that trip!!!

Everyone told us last year that one of the biggest mistakes was to bring too much food. We thought we had limited ourselves pretty well, but still only ended up eating 1/4 of what we brought. We should be able to save 10 lbs. of weight on food alone this year.

Combine the food weight savings, the new tent weight savings, the weight savings from bringing half the fishing gear, half of other misc. gear, and renting a kevlar canoe, we should be able to breeze through the portages.

too much food.

You don't want anything loose in the canoe. You'd be surprised how just a couple extra loose items chews up time at the portages. Ideally everything should be in a pack. Rods and a spare paddle lashed to the canoe. Have a day pack or thwart bag for things you need while paddling. Make sure its closed up before you hit shore. Paddles, PFDs and water bottles are the only loose things you should have when you it shore.

Think through who will carry what ahead of time and make assignments. It will help things go smoothly and prevent items from being left on the portage.

Spare paddle, we had a beaver take one last year. Found where he had chewed the end off while we were sleeping.

The main one that most find out is having loose things to carry over portages. tie in rods, paddles, life jackets, map cases. Another one is not breaking camp early enough to get to where you want. Ive seen too many people wandering the lakes after 6pm looking for a campsite, so be out of there around 9-9:30 at the latest.

Big tackle boxes and enough lures to last several lifetimes.

Trying to fish and travel at the same time. Couldn't cover the miles and didn't catch any fish. Now my rule is when traveling no fishing. Get to camp, set up and then relax, fish or what ever.
Also too much of the wrong gear. But only experience will solve that problem. I know I take stuff some of my canoe mates think is frivolous but on the other hand they have stuff along I think is ridiculous,so it goes both ways. O and by the way I love jeans but sure hate nylon.

Packing of loose items for portaging. Did not have a good system for paddles, life jackets (if not worn), paddling seats, loose Nalgene water bottles. Carabiners work great we discovered for loose items to be able to attached to packs.

Wrapped hard candy. Discovered on the way out that this worked wonders on the kids when handed out when moods were not the best and paddling seemed to go on and on.

Too much fishin' stuff. But I belong to Lures Anonymous so help is on the way. :)

My first time I didn't listen to a guy on a portage who said there was a bear visiting the lake we wanted to camp on. We should have listened.

Also wore canvas high tops and my feet were wet all week. Luckily it was warm. Beware of getting blisters. Bring moleskin for blisters and hand lotion for face and hands. But - the most important item to not forget is.......

Skin So Soft is not bug dope. Bring good bug dope especially for the wife and kids.

Buy a life jacket that fits comfortably so you'll wear it. Resting in the bottom of the canoe it is basically worthless, and you won't want to wear it if it is trying to wear a hole in your skin after a couple of days.

Great replys from everyone, but here are my thoughts:
Bringing too much stuff - you really don't need it.
No denim.
Have good/supportive footwear for portages - 1 of our group wore water shoes (the cheap kind) & got massive blisters! Also bring some dry comfy shoes for in camp.
Practice carrying a load and loading/paddling a loaded canoe before your trip.
Lastly--take time to enjoy the journey! For me, rushing to see how far you can go isn't fun.
Have a great trip!

Make sure that you and whoever you are going with have the same expectations. I went on one of my first trips with a mix and match group of friends and relatives after my wedding. We had all kinds of personality conflicts that made the trip really tough.

With your daughter there will probably not be personality issues, but be sure that the two of you have discussed your expectations about portaging, basecamping, length of days, fishing, wildlife viewing, etc. If you establish a mental list of your priorities it will be easy to enjoy the trip. Also, be flexible. If you are struggling on some of the portages or if you get bad weather you need to have time built in to be able to slow down for a bit.

Layer your clothing and keep in mind it might get cold even in July. I always bring a warm hat and long underwear. Also try and remember to take off your long underwear before you head out on the water for the day. There has been a few occasions where I zipped off my pant legs under noon day sun only to realize that getting cool wasn't going to be that easy.

Also, practice throwing the canoe on your shoulders and carrying it at home. If you are using a heavier canoe, getting it up and on your shoulders at the start of a portage can be a challenge. It is better to get used to doing it at home on level ground than at an uneven and crowded portage landing.

You are getting good advice,

TB

ill agree with Izzy. bad raingear is a huge rookie mistake. in an all day rain or just a downpour, nothing can ruin a trip faster.

Wear socks! Went with a first timer last year that ended with a nasty blister on day one despite warnings. Lucky for him, the first aid kit had mole skin.

These are tremenous replies with very good advice.

Have a great trip.

First trip blunders:
1. Way too many clothes.
2. You can only eat so much Gorp in a day - brought way too much.
3. Forgot a decent garbage bag.
4. Worried about stupid things like will we find an open campsite, etc. - slow down and enjoy the place for cripes sake (reminder to self).
5. Brought a heavy poor quality tent.

Everybody has to have a first trip. That's the part of learning we forget about - it's tough to get it all perfect the first time.

As has been mentioned, there are some key clothing items that really made a big difference in comfort for me - a good pair of water-proof hiking boots teamed up with merino wool socks, quality raingear and no/low cotton content clothing.

Don't go in thinking it's a real wilderness and you won't see people. In most places you'll see lots of people. And don't expect fish to jump into your canoe.

Bring your own garbage bag. Do not use the small gray garbage bag the rangers give to you. The ink/print on that bag comes off when wet, and will stain your clothes and life jacket. Not so cool trying to enjoy a trip and trying to figure what is staining your life jacket.

Every one of these is valid and good info Whitebeard. I just want to tell you ahead of time that there is no better way to bond with your young'uns than sitting around a campfire on a canoe trip. She'll remember this all her life. And so will you! Have a great trip!

If you are buying boots for the trip make sure to wear them enough before the trip to get them broke in. I thought I had my new pair broke in last year but ended up getting blisters on the first day. Have a good plan for the portages. Gear should be in a pack or tied to the canoe. A lot of people forget small items at the portages.

Yoke pads!
Once upon a time, some time ago, I portaged without yoke pads. Seems sort of dumb, but I didn't know yoke pads existed (I used my own gear and didn't travel in places like the BWCA back then, so I didn't see other canoeists with cool things).

Then I saw a pair of pads in one of those fancy catalogs (that supplies you with the kitchen sink), and thought hot damn. I promptly went to my shop and made a pair (using closed cell foam from a discarded life jacket). I was king of the mountain.

So, if you are new to the game make sure you are packing the pads.

Improper shoes.

yep to all of the above

Over estimating how far you can go or want to go. Underestimating the weather.

Test and inspect all your equipment before setting out. Fire up the stove, unfurl the tent, and wear the rain gear in the rain...all before you go.

I agree with everyone...

Since I will be making my first trip to the bw, this has been very helpful.

Thanks

A place for everything...and everything in its place. Keep it organized or you will waste time on portages and lose things. I took some newbies 2 years ago and despite my teachings, they attatched all the little extra items to various parts of their canoe. I portaged it once and it was like a huge "wind chime" with all kinds of gear hangin and clangin off the canoe. We repacked after that and things went smoother. Also, try to keep the same gear/packs in same canoes and do a "head count" after each portage so nothing gets left behind. It is frustrating backtracking for the misplaced daypack.

Leaning over to light an MSR Whisperlite...directly over it.

Dont carry a cooler of beer that had to have weighed 80 pound into the Boundary Waters and tell me you are planning ahead. I was like " wait until you have to haul all that crap out on the last day". We saw this at one portage around EP#30. Four men that were forty years old I guessed and on there FIRST TRIP. ( age doesnt matter but they were not 18 year olds and looking for a party)

-When you need help from other people to pickup your pack and put it on your back, SOMETHING IS WRONG.
-If you are planning on wearing rubber boots the whole trip, SOMETHING IS WRONG.
-When you need other people not in your group to help you portage your stuff beacuse you are taking forever and unorganized, SOMETHING IS WRONG.

They went to the first campsite and setup. Never saw them again and wont have to worry about seeing them this year. They will be in a AOA campsite in Brainard I bet, and if this was you, I think you learned a hard lesson.

Most people are great organized, efficient and respectful on the portages. But it was sad to see this last year. LIFE JACKETS... WHO CARES WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, I WEAR MINE, YOU SHOULD WEAR YOURS.

Top 5 mistakes a newcomer to the BWCA makes:
1. Way too much stuff
2. Way too much food
3. Poor raingear
4. no tarp
5. Poor Fitting shoes
* Bring a set of good long underwear no matter the season

Too much clothes, food, cooking equipment, fishing tackle, too much loose equipment and loading it all high above the gunwales in the canoe.
Not getting your feet wet. (wool socks are wonderful)

My first trip was in the middle of summer, and we definitely did not bring enough water flavor (Gatorade, Tang, Kool-Aid, etc).

I believe that Bassmaster hit on an excellent safety issue for first trippers with how the canoe is loaded. Keep it packed as low and balanced as possible. On our first trip to BW my son and I were entering a larger lake than we had previously been on and the wind was much more of a factor than we had expected. We ended up in a perilous situation nearly getting swamped by wind and waves. When safely arriving at the portage we took pictures. When I look at them now and see how we had loaded the canoe we learned a lot from that experience.

Of course the decision to cross the lake in the first place was a learning experience in itself.

"If it doesn't kill you it can only make you stronger (or smarter)"

I think we avoided a lot of typical rookie mistakes by using an outfitter on our first trip. Brought very few unnecessary items.

Our biggest mistake was underestimating how long it would take to get anywhere on travel days. An outfitter cannot fully prepare you for spotting portages and handling gear. Some portage trails are hard to spot, and then there are the intangibles. Never plan a travel day that you think will last for more than 3-4 hours. The intangibles make a 4-hour paddle last 6, and you have to factor in fatigue, which not only slows you down, but seriously clouds your judgement.

Otherwise, I ditto that about minimizing loose items in the canoe. The proper portage on traveling days is to waste little time tying things up after landing. You want to be able tp start grabbing packs and go.

Don't eat powdered donuts without having water ready to drink. I don't care how hungry you are, just wait for the water. Nearly choked. By the way, triskets aren't any better!

My first trip was last year and I overpacked in the clothes department. Organize your pack and remember where you put those items. It makes for easier access without dumping your pack out.

Don't forget to have a good time. Endless piles of stuff to take care of takes away from what you should be doing, sitting by the fire laughing and drinking a hot cup of brew or fishing or exploring hidden coves or taking pictures to share with us when you get back.

Less bulk = less weight = more time to have fun. Take the essentials and the safety stuff and you, your daughter and your canoe. Get on the water at 8:30 or so evryday and take nice long lunch breaks. Find a camp around 3 or 4, set up the tarp, make water and find GOOD firewood, then relax until dinner time.

My biggest mistake was gathering a big pile of mushy firewood that just made smoke. Beaverwood burns hot and fairly clean. Whatever kind you get should make a crack when you break it and not just sort of bend and snap. Sometimes you have to send the canoe out in search of some decent wood.
Good Fire Bad Fire

Get an early start on your first day so that you're making camp well before dinner time.

Thanks for all the great ideas.I never would have thought about many
of these suggestions

I second what davidm wrote about getting an early start and settling into camp relatively early on that first day of the first trip... On my first self-outfitted trip, my friends and I got a late start out of Sawbill and ended up paddling down some skinny, campsite-sparse lakes (after passing through some bigger, campsite-filled(like Burnt Lake)waters), going by filled campsite after filled campsite on Kelly Lake, Jack Lake, and Weird Lake... we didn't come across anything open until 6:00 or so and it turned out to be a rocky/swampy hole of a site, the northern site on Jack Lake. If we could have done it over again, we would have set up camp earlier!

Raingear, bring good raingear. Not the $1.00 poncho purchased from Disneyland on a cloudy day, bring good rain gear. Did I say bring good rain gear? There's a hilarious picture of us in a downpour wearing the red Coca-Cola ponchos when the fireban was finally lifted last summer.(I believe they came from the Coca-Cola 600 Nascar race 4 years ago)

Have since picked up decent stuff and am looking forward to a downpour this year.

No umbrellas, just good raingear. nuff said....

I agree with nylarc. Raingear. Make it good. You might be wearing it all day while paddling, while setting up the tent, while cooking. Then, going to bed, but having to put it back on the next day....all day again.

Not sure how old your daughter is, but one mistake I made when my kids were young is pushing them too hard for their age. I think in the long run it made them restpect what we have up there, but it was tough on them. Also make sure you both plan the trip together and let her have a lot of input. Lastly I agree too much gear is a huge mistake most newbies have including a group I took up last May. We took everything but the kitchen sink. I think my gf would have taken it if it hadn't been bolted down! A normal trip of 8 hours to LLC took us days. ~

OK since I have a big mouth I have a lot to say. I have brought newbies into the BWCA every year I have gone, except the year I solo'd.

My Main Motto is "if you fail to plan you plan to fail" So try to make a list of things to do and things to bring. I find google docs is a great place to keep this and you can share it with others.

Everyone has said it on here, pack lighter and bring only what you need. I strongly suggest you bring no cotton clothing. Bring smartwool or wickaway socks. They dry quickly and feel pretty good even when they are wet. One of the longsleeve camping shirts that wicks away mosture is good and if it gets real hot you can roll up the sleeves and unbutton a few buttons. If you are fair skinned like me then its nice to roll down the sleeves in the noon day sun and save the sunburn for another time. Now I bring along 3 shirts and 4 pairs of socks for a week. Pair of shorts, swimtrunks and some convertable pants. Thats about it. If something gets soaked you have something dry to put on, and no matter how hard you try you will probably be a bit gamey by the end of the trip. Its ok, you are in the woods.

I have always packed early, and then pulled everything out of the pack for a last minute do I really need this check. Extra TP is ok, it can be packed small and its pretty light. But 4D Mag light flashlights and other heavy items are really just heavy (my brother wanted to bring on on a trip, I have him an led clip light instead). I try to pack everything in a couple gallon ziplocks, you can smash out the air and they are cheap. Then I pack my bags in a larger vacume roll bag that they sell at any camping store. Keeps the bulk down and aids in keeping the water out.

Food is a tricky item, its good to have enough, but bad to have too much or too little. This comes with experience. I went solo and brought back half my food. Last year I took 2 new paddlers and we came out 1/2 day early but were out of food (one of the guys was always hungry, luckily he was the best fisherman, so when he said he was hungry I told him to catch fish and I would cook it.) to start I would say bring some light backup food like ramen (you can get tasty ramen at a good asian grocery, not the college junk) You will get the hang of it after a couple trips. Someones idea to bring hard candy is a great one. I always have lifesavers and hard candy stashed in the food pack, it does come in handy for those grumpy moments. I also pack suprise treats for every meal, M&M's, starburst, Fun size snickers, twizlers. Sure they add weight, but if you pack a couple of your daughters favorite treats she will remember that and the trip in a fun way. I pack all my food in a variety of ziplock bags, then you can seal any food trash in them and then the smell is minimized. Pack a couple extra bags for things that come up.

Trip planning is important, try to be realistic and allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the environment and experience.

Bring a book for yourself and your daughter, that way you have something to do to unwind or if the weather is crappy.

Speaking of crappy weather, even though you can bring minimal cloths, make sure you have a good layering system in the event that the weather turns cold or crappy. Last year we exited on july 14th and the high for the day was 53 and it rained like cats and dogs. Did I mention I forgot my rain jacket, yep I was a bit cold, but had good layers to keep me warm, even if I was soaked.

lastly, read as much as you can off this site, there is a great deal of experience on here and even the most seasoned traveler can learn something. I may not be the most experienced person on here, but I learn smart ideas and tips all the time here.

Basic point
-Pack smart
-Pack Light
-Have some fun and enjoy the experience

Know the rules, there are quite a few in the BWCA. Don't make it the focus of your trip, but make the effort to read about what you can and can't do in BWCA (most are just common sense). If you are caught by a Ranger doing something wrong, just be polite and let him/her know it is your first time and they will probably let you off.

1) plan your trip but don't go overboard and give yourself/group some flexibility
2) bring quality footwear and socks
3) be prepared for varying degrees of weather
4) take an overnight trip close to home or in your backyard to make sure everything is in working order before going to the BWCA
5) using equipment not suitable for your needs (good backpack, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, rain gear, boots, clothing, etc...)
6) overpacking - leave the normal comforts you enjoy at home at home
7) know your level of aptitude for navigation...don't get in over your head
8) know your physical limitations
9) remember that you are in the wilderness
10) be careful loading/unloading your canoe and getting in/out of the canoe
11) most importantly no matter what have some fun

Lots of good advice.

I'll add one comment on shoes. I think I have the perfect system (I imagine that everyone else does too):

- One pair of old, leaky, hiking boots. They will work great for portaging. The water quickly drains out and they provide good toe protection, traction, and ankle support. These shoes will be wet the entire trip.

- One pair of crocks, the ones with solid toes. These will allow you to walk comfortably around camp. If it is very warm, wear them without socks. If it gets chilly, wear them with socks. The plastic crocks and the closed toes will keep your feet dry as you walk around camp or near water.

Do not buy a good pair of high-top waterproof boots. The boots will fill up on the first portage and never drain out. You'll be sloshing water for the rest of the day.

If you are fishing....DON'T leave your lures on your lines while portaging....secure them elsewhere.

GREAT tip rojo!

Good Post.

1. Plan the trip with your daughter. I took my 10 year old son, and since I did all the planning, guess whose fault it was we didn't catch fish, the sun didn't shine, the wind blew - you get the picture...

2. Enjoy the view.

I have been on four trips with "paddlers" that thought prior to the trip, knowing how to paddle was something far to simple for them to bother to learn. One tried to BS me into believing he knew every thing there was to know, he knew nothing. One was so repulsed by the suggestion that she refused to even look at the Bill Mason films I played, she was a total food scavenger the whole trip and never did learn a single stroke. One thought he could figure it out on the first day, there white caps on Basswood. One went through the motions of paddling, but thought she was the center of attention and faked inability and depression to think that the trip was just about her and her "feelings". Read the books by Furtman and Jacobson, watch the Bill Mason paddling dvd and leave anything unnecessary behind, including all that extra emotional baggage. If you are all prepared, you will all have a great trip.

These are things I learned on my first trip:

Learn to kneel while paddling the canoe - it adds a great deal of stability, especially in wind and rougher water.

Decide ahead of time that you are going to get your feet wet, and pull your canoe and gear over the beaver dams and step into the water to get in and out of the canoe.

Do not try to paddle UP even the smallest rapids.

Have an extra paddle secured to the canoe.

If you happen to tip - grab your paddles before they float downstream!!! :)

And don't forget to take lots of pictures!!!

Good point guitar1. On the weekends I lead canoe tours for people of all experience levels and the number one source of contention is paddling technique. Most often the husband will be ruddering in the stern and the wife won’t be able to paddle hard enough to overcome the drag. Then the husband will paddle harder to compensate, but if he hasn’t got the J-stroke down they end up zigzagging all over the place and getting more frustrated. Then they’ll start snipping at one another (at which point I offer some helpful tips) but it sometimes escalates into a pretty heated debate. On a couple of occasions I’ve even threatened to pull them over and make one of them switch canoes with me—and these are grown adults! That usually settles them down enough to listen to my suggestions.

So my advice is to always communicate with your paddling partner in a constructive manner and be open to improving your stroke. Try to strike a balance between nitpicking every little flaw and simply attempting to overcompensate for their poor paddling technique. Remember that learning to paddle (especially in a straight line) is not easy and takes time. I find that the people who have the most fun on my tours are the ones that are always ready to laugh at themselves and are able to enjoy the zigzags while learning how to go straight.

I never thought of learning to paddle. I thought it was pretty simple:

The front person paddles straight and alternates sides when they feel like it.

The back person paddles on the opposite side as the front person. The back person should never use a stopped paddle to steer (there is too much lost momentum).

Obviously, I have a lot to learn. What is the best way to learn to paddle? The Mason DVD?

As I mentioned before, overall I agree about people bringing too much stuff. However, there are a number of things I double up on and put in separate places to make sure I have somewhere in case I get separated from one pack or another: spare glasses, spare meds, matches, etc.

Things you can't do without.

plan to make camp early in the day, if you fail to do that, you may not find a site. Learn to hang a food pack before you go, for the first time. Learn to use a map and a compass. Keep a clean camp, and clean up after yourself before you leave, and follow ALL* the rules.

I will be making my first trip up there this May as well. This is all great advice. One thing noone has mentioned is the bears and moose. Should I worry much about them, or are they generally afraid of people? I'm used to being very cautious from camping in Glacier national park with the Grizzlies. Do I need to be this cautious? Thanks for all the great info!

All of this is great advice. Some points I emphasize due to my own experience would be making sure your footwear is proper. One year I took a pair of running shoes as portage shoes... big mistake. Make sure you have ankle support, easy to turn an ankle on a rocky portage with a good deal of weight on your back. Also, an item I like to bring that hasn't been mentioned is good ol duct tape. You can rewrap some around a small chunk of cardboard to make it fit tighter too, or wrap it around a nalgene bottle. Speaking of nalgene bottles, you want to make sure you have a good method of water purification. Gravity filters, hand pump filters, and iodizing water are all possible solutions. Our first year, we planned on boiling water on the fire... big mistake lol, water tasted like smoke, although we did have some of the iodine tablets for purifying. The problem with the iodine process is that you taste the stuff after the process is complete, which you will want to have kool-aid or somethin to cover. We bring a hand pump filter and a gravity filter, and most the time everyone drinks the water plain after filtering, although kool-aid, tang, crystal light or whatever you choose is good flavoring.

The wool or synthetic wool socks are a great idea, I bring 2 pair of synthetic wool socks which i rotate day to day, as well as a pair of cotton or thick wool socks for around camp only. 2 pair of footwear is a good idea too. hiking boots for portages and sandals(or another pair of shoes) for around camp. Not really any bad advice in this thread, denim and cotton are heavy when wet and best substituted if possible. Fleece is a good alternative to a cotton sweatshirt. Nylon shirts dry well and stay light, although, one cotton shirt isn't so bad in my opinion.

Bears? Well on my first trip we hung our food "duffel" over a "Bear Bar" and a very large black bear came into our camp on the first night and later tore the bag down and ate EVERYTHING.

There are no more bear bars in the BWCA so you need to have your food in an airtight container/pack and then hang it over a strong branch at least 12 feet high.

What I do is first pull it up on a strong branch and then using a second rope swing it out horizontally to another nearby tree. That way it is suspended away from the tree in case you have a bear who likes to climb.

I would mention that some folks don't hang their food but simply put it in a concealed spot away from camp. I did this once for a week by paddling to a small island with my food pack and hiding it in the brush. As long as it doesn't give off any scent this is a great way to do it.

I agree with paddling and learn how before going if you are trying to put distance into your trip.

Mistake we made. We knew how to paddle but had never used the "bent shaft" paddles. Found out, afterwards, we were using them backwards. I am sure it would have made a big difference had we known the proper position of this type of paddle.

Regarding wildlife, IMHO moose are to be more worried about than bears. If you come upon them, give them a wide berth. The most dangerous times are when the cows have calves with them in the spring/summer, and the bulls in late September/October when they are in rut. But even during other times, I would not approach too close. If it's blocking your way, just wait. It will move off pretty quickly if it doesn't feel threatened.

Bears only want your food. The BW only have black bears. I have never had a bear in camp in the BW (at least that I know about). It's the cabins and campsites on the edge of the BW that have the problems. Bears get the press because if they get to your food they get all of it and destroy your food pack. Certain areas have bear problems so ask the ranger or outfitter if there are any problem areas on your route and take precautions. Rarely you'll have an overly agressive bear. Then the best thing is to move to another lake.

The problem food thieves are the "mini-bears" -- chipmunks, squirrels, and mice. Don't leave things out. Hang your pack and/or use a hard pack to protect against them.

Mad Angler, don't over think paddling too much. You're probably doing fine especially if you've been paddling for awhile.

I grew up paddling in my family's Alumacraft. We just paddled it in a way that made the canoe go where we wanted it to. Years later as an adult I learned there were names for the strokes that we were just doing naturally. Who knew that the thing we did to push the back of the canoe away was called a "pry" or to pull it the other way was a "draw". :)

What is a bear bar?? Is that wear the bears all meet up after a tough day at work?

Seriously though, I've never heard of that term before.

DO bring a GOOD 1st aid kit!
I use a many-pocketed womans cosmetic bag I bought at Target for like $10. Stock it with all the essentials. I have more different items in there than I bring for clothing.

Oh...and a "just for my comfort" thing...I bring a little pillow.

A Bear Bar is a wooden pole or branch that was tied between two trees about 15 feet off the ground. This was in the early 80's.

There were also "canoe rests" on the portage trails. These were a 4X4 with an angled support beneath it coming off a tree on the trail. You would lean your canoe against it.

They did away with all these sometime between then and now.

Does anyone know if any of these canoe rests still exist somewhere? I haven't seen one in many years. Also, Remember the nice soggy wooden latrines?

The last bear pole (bar) I saw was about 1990. The last canoe rest was gone earlier than that.

I can't remember, was getting rid of all that part of the 1978 legislation? It seems about right. They didn't really get rid of them so much as not maintain them. After that and they just wore away.

The lake/portage signs, however, were actually removed.

I still occasionally use natural canoe rests. Usually two trees growing very close together forming a V at the right height to stick the bow of my canoe in. When I do it, it is usually with my heavier tandem.

The wooden latrines were pretty gross. I haven't seen a canoe rest in about 10 years. I DID use a bear bar on Alice Lake about a dozen years ago. I thought it worked slick.

For a picture of a wooden latrine see the Sawbill Outfitter's Newsletter archive for July 2005. Scroll down near the bottom.

It was found on Barto Lake.

A follow up to the "no cotton" advice. This is good advice, but you don't need to go out and get a whole new "no cotton" outdoor wardrobe. You probably already have most of what you need:
- Fleece jackets/vests
- Nylon workout/jogging suits
- Wool sweaters
- Windbreaker
- Nylon socks (even "work" socks)
- If you're going to be out in colder weather use "Under Armour" like clothing for long underwear. But if you need to buy, then you can buy the cheaper brands carried by the Targets/Kohls.

Actually, overall as far a buying, just look for sales at the Targets or Kohls in your area. It's all usually pretty cheap.

Regretable first-timer mistake: Pestering my 13-year-old daughter to keep paddling when all she really wanted to do was relax, enjoy the water, the birds and the beautiful BWCA scenery. I should have let her do it. Now, six years later, she recalls the trip with misery and me yelling at her to paddle the whole time. She doesn't go back with us on trips anymore, and I blame myself. Major mistake that I'll regret forever.

Last year I took a group of newbies into Quetico. We portaged Silver Falls, through Dead Man's portage and then base camped in the northern section of Sagnagons. Not a hard trip, but even though I had stressed quite a few times individually and in group meetings, "Don't pack too much stuff, stick to what we discussed" of course everyone loaded down their packs with things they didn't need and just added weight. One guy added so much weight that his pack weighed 80 pounds and by the end of the trip, the shoulder straps were ripping from the bag. His bag is no longer water proof. Also, after we portaged on our way out at the end of the week, his bag was so heavy that it pinched a nerve in one of his shoulders and he had numb fingers in one hand for a couple of months.

It didn't take long during the trip before he and everyone else realized they had packed too much, and coined a new phrase for being over packed. "Stupid Heavy" So now when we talk about last year and our next trip, we discuss not being "Stupid Heavy".

It never hurts to do a night before shakedown. That's when all the extra crap could have been dumped!

Nolanbunch, I did the same thing with my 16 year old brother in 1992. I was all gung ho about fishing Kawnipi and we did some hellish portaging on the way to Agnes from Prairie Portage with way too heavy packs.

It was his first time and I'm lucky the fishing was good cause I don't think he enjoyed all the long days of hard labor. The mosquitos were particularly bad on that trip too. I remember doing a swampy portage and having to throw the canoe down because mosquitos were swarming around my head underneath the canoe. Not fun!

The good news is that I learned from my mistake. I'll be introducing my 16 year old son to the BW this summer and plan for no more than 5 hour travel days with layovers.

and a head net.

I go in august or September and haven't had any bug problems in a long time. I have head nets and we'll probably take them just in case since they're practically weightless.

Lots of good advice here, make the best of it. Some things can only be learned by experience, but that's why you go! Have fun!

Canoe Dude said:

"Speaking of nalgene bottles, you want to make sure you have a good method of water purification. Gravity filters, hand pump filters, and iodizing water are all possible solutions. Our first year, we planned on boiling water on the fire... big mistake lol, water tasted like smoke, although we did have some of the iodine tablets for purifying."

If you learn how to collect safe drinking water in the Boundary Waters, then there is no need for boiling, iodine tablets, or filters. I've been drinking water straight out of the lakes since 1984 on about 16 or 17 week-long trips. My groups have never had any problem with the water. The key is to paddle out into the middle of the lake, roll up your sleeve, and dip your nalgene bottle under water up to your elbow. Use the nalgene bottle to fill a larger 3- or 5-gallon collapsable jug.

The thing you have to worry about is the Giardia spore, and those spores sink to the bottom. If you collect your water near shore, you are more likely to stir up the bottom and get Giardia in your water. This is very unlikely out in 100 feet of water. Sure, you might get chunks of other stuff in your water, but we just call those "flavor crystals." It's the stuff that you can't see that is dangerous. If you CAN see it, then it's good for you! Drink up!

Knothead180 summed it up. You're going to take all of this advice, boil it down and see what happens. But, while you're packing you are STILL going to think, "Well, I've got two packets of oatmeal for every morning, but I've got six leftover... I'll just pack them too, just in case." And you're going to do that with socks, rope, knives, band-aids, dealios, gadgets, underwear, shorts, tackle, etc.

Then you will come out with two unused pair of socks and underwear, a bunch of extra oatmeal, yards of unopened rope and gadgets you never even took out of the pack. Probably enough to fill a small backpack. Take a note of what you went in with and what you came out with. After all of this advice, there are some things that only experience can provide.

Of course, don't apply this rule to unused rain gear and emergency things. :)

Also, buy a cheap rod and strap it to the thwarts of the canoe so you can cast a line while you're paddling or at the portages. Some of the best smally fishing is around those.

Have fun!
Mesaba

My brings too much stuff. My brother in law, my father and I are all packed tighter than a ticks ass, and my brother just can't fit his sh-t in on sock. It is irritating.

I want NO "Flavor Crystals", thank you!

Going on a month long trip, not bringing a belt, and having to make suspenders out of rope to be able to portage. Being a guy, having a pony tail and forgetting to bring any extra thingies to tie it up with and having to beg women for one in portages because you start to look like bigfoot.

Taking too much is the bane of most beginners whether it be canoing, backpacking, hiking, camping, or whatever. If you can't drag your pack from the car to the canoe its time to throw stuff overboard.

For long canoe trips bring toenail clippers. Having your wife trim yours with a fillet knife is just too dangerous.

Use an early start and early camp policy, plan you camp search to start at 2 to 3pm, you tend to get better camps and more time for swimming and fishing.

Don't camp on an island and expect to find firewood without a long paddle, likewise, the best campsites tend to have the same problem.

In the summer, consider wind conditions and cover in camp, find camps that utilize the wind and cover to your advantage. Too much wind exposure and cooking is difficult, blowing away your cooking heat, not enough wind and the smoke stays in camp and mosquitos hang. To little cover is just as bad as well, wet and windy days are chilly, hot days are stiffling if you want to take that nap in tent.

Consider well, the FFLF into you all your plans as well, so you have contingencies to avoid getting to the point where you feel like Proverbs 21:19.

For wintercamping:
Avoid camping on the ice, everything gets soaked, huge mistake my first time. If you can find them, use an existing campsite, shovel down to the ground to get as much snow as possible and put down a small tarp. And of course good south exposure during the day and good wind protection at night tends to be warmer. When not in camp I try to take layers off and keep moving to avoid getting chilled.

Not knowing the rules
My first trip our party of four brought with us some soda and beer in aluminum cans. The weather was warming up in June and we figured that putting our drinks in the anchor bag with some weight would be a good way to get them chilled. Of course we did this overnight, and when us not-so early risers got up at 9am we found out we didn't securely tie up the bag. There were about 20 aluminum cans floating around our site, which was on a highly traveled point. We were able to retrieve all of them and figured no harm no foul(not knowing the no aluminum rule). Later a ranger approached our site and easily found our garbage bags of empty cans, and properly fined us. Lesson learned.

Not bringing more maps. I thought of this one while reading the BWJ and campsite reviews. Thinking about popular campsites and availability in the busy season.

We had two Fisher maps that basically outlined the area we were planning to meander around (we had no set plan). We were in during the busy season - early August.

Campsite availability became an issue one day. When we looked at the maps we had realized we were at the border of the map and would have to figure it out on our own should we choose to venture farther to find a campsite. Luckily, one of the sites we had passed on the way in was still available, so we did not have to do this.

My advise -- If traveling during the busy season and planning to travel near the far edges of the maps you chose to take, consider buying a map of the next area -- you may need it if campsite availability becomes an issue.

Helge,

Your group didn't have a permit? The rules are printed on the permit.

This is pretty basic: On a wet, rainy, cold October trip, I came across a couple of young canoeists on a portage who didn't bring any matches and asked me if I had any spare matches they could have. I gave them some of course.

Another friend of mine told of a time he came across of group of inexperienced campers who were wet and miserable at a BWCA campsite and he asked them "Why don't you make a fire?" and they said they couldn't because it was raining.

starwatcher

My 1st trip, we brought 3 - 8 gal. kegs of beer... not nearly enough!!