Planning completed, packs in the boat, last minute gear checklist done, pockets checked for permit and fishing license. Pushing off, first strokes of the paddle. Elation, anticipation, exuberance...

Last morning of the trip. Last walk around the campsite assuring leave no trace principal. 3-4 hours paddle out. Melancholy, peace of mind, recharged soul. Slow progress through the water on the way back to civilization. Soaking it in as much as it fits in your heart and mind.
Wishing it would never end.....

Which day do you cherish more?

I am always "in tears" inside my soul during the last day. Often wishing that it's going to be never ending last day paddle! I find myself planning the last day more than first, to make sure it is most memorable for me.

I just keep trying to think about that beer and shower back in Ely... Helps with the last day blues.

quote bkebs: "I just keep trying to think about that beer and shower back in Ely... Helps with the last day blues.
"

And burger

quote nicek: "Planning completed, packs in the boat, last minute gear checklist done, pockets checked for permit and fishing license. Pushing off, first strokes of the paddle. Elation, anticipation, exuberance...

Last morning of the trip. Last walk around the campsite assuring leave no trace principal. 3-4 hours paddle out. Melancholy, peace off mind, recharged soul. Slow progress through the water on the way back to civilization. Soaking it in as much as it fits in your heart and mind.
Wishing it would never end.....

Which day do you cherish more?

I am always "in tears" inside my soul during the last day. Often wishing that it's going to be never ending last day paddle! I find myself planning the last day more than first, to make sure it is most memorable for me."

I used to get that feeling the last day on trips years ago ...but I don't anymore...I know it won't be long and I'll be up there paddling again.

quote mooseplums: "

quote bkebs: "I just keep trying to think about that beer and shower back in Ely... Helps with the last day blues.
"

And burger"

I don't know how you can add to that

quote maxxbhp: "

quote mooseplums: "

quote bkebs: "I just keep trying to think about that beer and shower back in Ely... Helps with the last day blues.
"

And burger"

I don't know how you can add to that"

And deep fried mushrooms appetizer at My Sister's Place in Grand Marais.

I love the emotions on both sides of the trip - I love the excitement and anticipation of driving north to MN, seeing the changes in landscape from Wisconsin to Minnesota and then loading up the canoe and dipping the paddle into the water on the first morning! Nothing beats that feeling!

But - on the other end of the trip - I'm usually excited about coming off the water - getting a hot shower and real food - then telling friends and family all about my trip - and sharing pictures. The more I tell my story - the more I re-live my trip.

Obviously, the last day is bittersweet. I make sure that I get up extra-early, say my 'so long for now' to the white horses if they're marching through. Savor the memories of another great experience. Don't rush through it, if possible. Mark the calendar for the next one.

quote alpine525: " then telling friends and family all about my trip - and sharing pictures. The more I tell my story - the more I re-live my trip.
"

You must have some very patient friends. Mine ask about the trip but don't really want to hear about it.

They're both good days for me....I love the anticipation of the pre-trip process, and *most of the time* I'm happy leaving. The only time the truly bittersweet feelings hit is the last trip of the year for me. Then I know I've got a while 'til the next trip comes around, if it ever does.

quote OBX2Kayak: "

quote alpine525: " then telling friends and family all about my trip - and sharing pictures. The more I tell my story - the more I re-live my trip.
"

You must have some very patient friends. Mine ask about the trip but don't really want to hear about it."

I am blessed with very patient friends, so perhaps alpine525 is also. I make a photo book after each trip and I usually have several friends who are anxiously awaiting the new volume. One elderly friend (yes, even more elderly than I, LOL!) sits and looks at/comments on each and every photo.

Actually, the first day is often a very mixed day for me emotionally. I am so glad to be there, and as alpine525 said, I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip north. We come from south central Michigan, so the changes in the countryside as we approach the canoe country get me into the "up north" spirit in a big way. But I am also apprehensive: "have I forgotten anything?" "will I be able to handle everything that a canoe trip entails?" "will we have good weather?" "will we have health issues?" As we have aged, these things seem to have made the start of a trip more full of doubts and fears for me. Still, once we are loaded up and the paddle is in the water, once I get a "feel" for the lake and hear the sounds of the canoe country, smell the smells of the forest, I begin to relax and most of that apprehension goes away.

The last day is always difficult. In 1992 we planned a 22-day trip. It didn't end up being the journey that we laid out when we were back home; once we got on our way our route was changed, and we had to make some adjustments due to weather and some health considerations. But it was a fabulous three weeks in the BWCA. It was the trip of a lifetime! And all of the time we were on the water I kept thinking, "This time, when we get to the end, I will be satisfied. I will feel full, and I won't have that empty feeling when we get to the final landing. I'll be ready to leave."

Not so. We ended our trip, as it had begun, with the portage from Lizz to Poplar Lake, headed for Rockwood Lodge. We camped on Caribou the last night so that it would be an easy morning, thinking that we would just wake up, pack up, and get to the car early--make it to Grand Marais for lunch and be on our way towards home. We awoke to a lovely morning on Caribou, misty, with a loon calling out on the lake. Spartan1 built a little junk fire and made coffee before he called me to see the morning mist. I snapped this photo of him under the tree with his coffee as I exited the tent:







Then after we had our coffee we went back in the tent and snuggled for a bit before we got out for a leisurely breakfast. It was the first warm morning we had had--that happened to be the coldest June on record for Minnesota in many years (they told us at Rockwood Lodge when we got back that some of the people in CABINS even left because it was too cold!) and it was the first time in 21 days we hadn't worn our wool shirts.

We finally broke camp, and made the portage back to Lizz, and eventually to Poplar. On the portage from Lizz to Poplar I was in tears all the way, both trips. After 22 days I still didn't want it to end. Spartan1 found me weeping at the end of the portage and he said, "Why don't we paddle around on Poplar Lake for awhile yet?" So we did. We ended up paddling up to the dock at Trail Center, and went up to the restaurant, all grubby after three weeks in the BW, to order malts and burgers for our lunch!

Finally, we paddled S L O W L Y back to Rockwood and ended our "trip of a lifetime" in the afternoon.

It was our first trip off the Gunflint. There have been many more since, but none better than that one. (13 Moose!) And I learned then that I am never ready to leave the BWCA.

It is entirely possible that I have made my last canoe trip. Health limitations are now dictating a less active scenario for me; it may be that a cabin stay with day trips will be all that I can do. So when we ended our trip (which was aborted early) in 2013, I wasn't planning the next one in my mind. That was a first.

But no matter what, the memories are fabulous. And the canoe country is still there, to enjoy in whatever way I am able. Life is good.

Enjoy it all while you can.

i guess im not much of a romantic, once the trip is over i cant wait to get home. perhaps i take it for granted that ely is only four and a half hours away.

quote schweady: "Obviously, the last day is bittersweet. I make sure that I get up extra-early, say my 'so long for now' to the white horses if they're marching through. Savor the memories of another great experience. Don't rush through it, if possible. Mark the calendar for the next one.
"

"White and/or wild horses", always said goodbye too.

I guess I don't think you need to choose. We experience emotions of a broad spectrum and all are important. WE have those emotions for a reason and it is through those emotions that we encode memory, learn, and grow. Accept and embrace what comes your way it is the true evidence that you are human and experiencing all that life has to offer in the moment. The journey is the destination.

Chross

I love the first day of the trip.The excitement of seeing all my research and planning come to fruition is very rewarding. I am like a kid on Christmas day. The last day of the trip is pretty much just the opposite. No matter how long the trip has been it is never long enough.Before I am back to my exit point I am already looking forward to my next adventure. I am fortunate to be able to do 3 or 4 trips a year. I am planning a month long solo this August. Never been on that long of a trip before. Hope I can handle it.

The first day of my annual trip is about 355 days with a big whoosh as we shuttle to our EP, wherever that is. The last moment at the EP after the trip is bitter sweet. But that is OK. If I was glad for it to end I wouldn't go back.

First day high on expectations. Last day high just thinking of the beer that I have stashed and waiting for me. (Heineken tastes pretty good even warmish)

While I appreciate and share the OP's feelings, I try to relish every minute of a trip (life is short!) On the paddle out, I'm looking forward to beer and food at the TC or Ely Steakhouse and sites to see on the drive home.
ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "
First day high on expectations. Last day high just thinking of the beer that I have stashed and waiting for me. (Heineken tastes pretty good even warmish) "

I had previously figured that canoe trippers had better taste than the Average Joe/Jane. You've forced me to reconsider that opinion!!

Just kidding, of course. :)

Well said Nicek. Maybe it is just me but is it harder to live 1000 miles away from the BWCA and not know how many years it might be until you return?

Another thing I think about while in the BWCA is that the paths I take and things I see are places that I will more than likely never see again in my life. Maybe that is what makes it more depressing for me.

As you get older and paddle with your friend etc.. who probably has been your canoe partner most of your life.
The last day is filled with memories of many great sites and experiences and thinking how many trips are left. Just waiting for the next trip.

Don't worry I got a few years left and with pride I will still act like no teenager is going to pass me on any portage. Not Yet.

I wonder what I would of done without a BWCA

quote carmike: "

quote HighPlainsDrifter: "
First day high on expectations. Last day high just thinking of the beer that I have stashed and waiting for me. (Heineken tastes pretty good even warmish) "

I had previously figured that canoe trippers had better taste than the Average Joe/Jane. You've forced me to reconsider that opinion!!


Just kidding, of course. :) "

Whoops. I had a senior moment. Scratch Heineken, don't drink that anymore. Prefer warm cans of Schlitz

quote Spartan2: "Actually, the first day is often a very mixed day for me emotionally. I am so glad to be there, and as alpine525 said, I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip north. We come from south central Michigan, so the changes in the countryside as we approach the canoe country get me into the "up north" spirit in a big way. But I am also apprehensive: "have I forgotten anything?" "will I be able to handle everything that a canoe trip entails?" "will we have good weather?" "will we have health issues?" As we have aged, these things seem to have made the start of a trip more full of doubts and fears for me. Still, once we are loaded up and the paddle is in the water, once I get a "feel" for the lake and hear the sounds of the canoe country, smell the smells of the forest, I begin to relax and most of that apprehension goes away.

The last day is always difficult. In 1992 we planned a 22-day trip. It didn't end up being the journey that we laid out when we were back home; once we got on our way our route was changed, and we had to make some adjustments due to weather and some health considerations. But it was a fabulous three weeks in the BWCA. It was the trip of a lifetime! And all of the time we were on the water I kept thinking, "This time, when we get to the end, I will be satisfied. I will feel full, and I won't have that empty feeling when we get to the final landing. I'll be ready to leave."

Not so. We ended our trip, as it had begun, with the portage from Lizz to Poplar Lake, headed for Rockwood Lodge. We camped on Caribou the last night so that it would be an easy morning, thinking that we would just wake up, pack up, and get to the car early--make it to Grand Marais for lunch and be on our way towards home. We awoke to a lovely morning on Caribou, misty, with a loon calling out on the lake. Spartan1 built a little junk fire and made coffee before he called me to see the morning mist. I snapped this photo of him under the tree with his coffee as I exited the tent:








Then after we had our coffee we went back in the tent and snuggled for a bit before we got out for a leisurely breakfast. It was the first warm morning we had had--that happened to be the coldest June on record for Minnesota in many years (they told us at Rockwood Lodge when we got back that some of the people in CABINS even left because it was too cold!) and it was the first time in 21 days we hadn't worn our wool shirts.

We finally broke camp, and made the portage back to Lizz, and eventually to Poplar. On the portage from Lizz to Poplar I was in tears all the way, both trips. After 22 days I still didn't want it to end. Spartan1 found me weeping at the end of the portage and he said, "Why don't we paddle around on Poplar Lake for awhile yet?" So we did. We ended up paddling up to the dock at Trail Center, and went up to the restaurant, all grubby after three weeks in the BW, to order malts and burgers for our lunch!

Finally, we paddled S L O W L Y back to Rockwood and ended our "trip of a lifetime" in the afternoon.

It was our first trip off the Gunflint. There have been many more since, but none better than that one. (13 Moose!) And I learned then that I am never ready to leave the BWCA.

It is entirely possible that I have made my last canoe trip. Health limitations are now dictating a less active scenario for me; it may be that a cabin stay with day trips will be all that I can do. So when we ended our trip (which was aborted early) in 2013, I wasn't planning the next one in my mind. That was a first.

But no matter what, the memories are fabulous. And the canoe country is still there, to enjoy in whatever way I am able. Life is good.

Enjoy it all while you can."

I am going to do these trips as long as I can. Thank you for your insight, beautiful take on BWCA tripping.

quote PINETREE: "As you get older and paddle with your friend etc.. who probably has been your canoe partner most of your life.
The last day is filled with memories of many great sites and experiences and thinking how many trips are left. Just waiting for the next trip.

Don't worry I got a few years left and with pride I will still act like no teenager is going to pass me on any portage. Not Yet.


I wonder what I would of done without a BWCA"

I feel you PINETREE

quote PINETREE: "As you get older and paddle with your friend etc.. who probably has been your canoe partner most of your life.
The last day is filled with memories of many great sites and experiences and thinking how many trips are left. Just waiting for the next trip.

Don't worry I got a few years left and with pride I will still act like no teenager is going to pass me on any portage. Not Yet.


I wonder what I would of done without a BWCA"

I feel you PINETREE

I'm always happy to leave, but am thrilled to begin, so both ends are good.

quote Spartan2: "...It is entirely possible that I have made my last canoe trip..."

I always enjoy reading your posts, Spartan2, and this line really struck me. I am middle-aged and in good health (so far!), but I know the day when I am no longer physically able handle a BWCA trip will come at some point and I've wondered when and how it will arise...

For that reason, I guess the beginning of the trip is better for me because I never know for sure that I'll be back again until it actually happens.

quote Spartan2: "Actually, the first day is often a very mixed day for me emotionally. I am so glad to be there, and ... I am also apprehensive: "have I forgotten anything?" "will I be able to handle everything that a canoe trip entails?" "will we have good weather?" "will we have health issues?" As we have aged, these things seem to have made the start of a trip more full of doubts and fears for me. Still, once we are loaded up and the paddle is in the water, once I get a "feel" for the lake and hear the sounds of the canoe country, smell the smells of the forest, I begin to relax and most of that apprehension goes away."

I've had similar experiences, but in reverse. For my first few trips, the excitement and anticipation and anxiety built up for days ahead of time, to the point where I couldn't eat or sleep the day before we put in. There were times when I made myself physically ill, just from the stress of entering the unknown.

But much like you, once we hit the water, all of the stress and worry just evaporated. With the first pull of the paddle, my mind was left wonderfully clear. There was just the appreciation of the wilderness, the attention to the wind and the sky. The focus on the task at hand, and the anticipation of the first night's fire. And, of course, the ravenous hunger due to the day's fast I'd just put myself through!

Fifteen years later, and there's very little worry left. I trust my partners and my gear because they've proven themselves in tough spots. I've had to improvise for items left at home; I've had to treat minor injuries to friends, family, or canoes. I've learned the hard way what happens when you pitch your lean-to on an anthill, or leave food where the critters can find it. Now I have a quiet confidence that comes from knowing what to expect, and knowing that we'll likely survive the unexpected as well.

Sometimes, I miss the anxiety. Sure, it was misery at the time, but the thrill of doing everything for the first time, well, that's hard to revisit. And while my group says I've got trip planning "down to a science," for me it sometimes feels less like science and more like a chore. Best chore a guy could ask for, but still...

As for the last day? That hasn't changed. I have a cozy home and a lovely wife waiting for me back in the world, and there's nothing like a bit of wilderness therapy to make one appreciate not just the costs of living in the "civilized" world, but also the benefits. A cold beer, a hot shower, a soft bed and a hard roof gain a whole new meaning when I've been without for long enough.

Interesting comments, Squid.

For me, perhaps after fifteen years I felt as you did. Now, after 42 years of canoe-tripping, I am back to the anxiety. :-(

And I have my husband with me always, so I think the feeling of going "home" isn't quite the same. He has always been my tripping partner. Wherever he is, that IS home.

But of course the hot bath, the soft bed, the roof over one's head. . .sometimes those are treats worth anticipating, too. :-)

I love the excitement of starting a trip - paddling or other. Did I forget anything? Will there be storms, open sites, bugs, moose everywhere? I love that feeling, even if on a trip I've been on before.

I usually make the last days memorable by making them physically very hard (or allowing the weather to do that for me). That way I always feel like I am ready for it to be over and in to town for food and beer! That's when I start taking notes for my next trip....

quote schweady: "Obviously, the last day is bittersweet. I make sure that I get up extra-early, say my 'so long for now' to the white horses if they're marching through. Savor the memories of another great experience. Don't rush through it, if possible. Mark the calendar for the next one."

I echo what schweady and nicek have said. The first day is generally a blur until I settle into the rhythm of the trip. The last day tends to leave more of an impression on my head, heart and soul.

Hans Solo

First or last, which do I cherish more? The technical definition is that I think I enjoy every moment of it exactly the same. However, the anticipation of the first day always makes that day the "money" day for me. It isn't often that I'm like a kid on Christmas morning at 4:30 am anymore. Every possible thing can go wrong on that initial morning, but the first time you shoulder your canoe or the moment that paddle first dips into the water all is forgotten. I can paddle and portage for twelve hours that day. The world is new again. Everything else is irrelevant. By the end I'm ready to be done. I breath in the final day, but I look forward to a hot shower, a cold beer, tasty burger and getting home to see the wife and kids.

I can't wait to get on the water. Then when camp is up I always get an intense feeling of anxiety. It's not fear. I think it's just the dramatic change of pace. I'm usually this way until we move again the next day. Then I just settle into the rhythm of the trip.

Usually I am ready to leave at the end. After a hot shower, shave my teeth and brush my face, and a greasy meal, I am ready to go right back.

I cherish everything in between.

Our church men's trips began in 1988 and, over the years, some of our group regulars have since stopped coming. Well, some have passed on, but others -- now in their seventies -- have decided that they need to get their wilderness fix in a different, gentler way. The guy who first organized our trips before I took over the role is getting to that point, too. Hard to imagine cooking meals over the fire without him. I turn 60 just before our next scheduled trip and envision making many, many more trips but it makes you think. Sometimes makes you want to increase the number of trips per summer. Sometimes makes you exercise. I hope I don't think too hard about 'last day' during our next time out.

quote schweady: "but it makes you think. Sometimes makes you want to increase the number of trips per summer. Sometimes makes you exercise. I hope I don't think too hard about 'last day' during our next time out.
"

I didn't mean to be a "downer". We haven't been able to do more than one trip a year, with the exception of one year. Exercise worked for a long time; and at some point maybe it isn't the answer anymore. But when that "last trip" comes, it isn't always as terrible as you might think. It's all a matter of perspective. Just enjoy the days--all of them--from the first day of any trip to the last moment. And treasure the memories.

quote Spartan2: "Actually, the first day is often a very mixed day for me emotionally. I am so glad to be there, and as alpine525 said, I have thoroughly enjoyed the trip north. We come from south central Michigan, so the changes in the countryside as we approach the canoe country get me into the "up north" spirit in a big way. But I am also apprehensive: "have I forgotten anything?" "will I be able to handle everything that a canoe trip entails?" "will we have good weather?" "will we have health issues?" As we have aged, these things seem to have made the start of a trip more full of doubts and fears for me. Still, once we are loaded up and the paddle is in the water, once I get a "feel" for the lake and hear the sounds of the canoe country, smell the smells of the forest, I begin to relax and most of that apprehension goes away.

The last day is always difficult. In 1992 we planned a 22-day trip. It didn't end up being the journey that we laid out when we were back home; once we got on our way our route was changed, and we had to make some adjustments due to weather and some health considerations. But it was a fabulous three weeks in the BWCA. It was the trip of a lifetime! And all of the time we were on the water I kept thinking, "This time, when we get to the end, I will be satisfied. I will feel full, and I won't have that empty feeling when we get to the final landing. I'll be ready to leave."

Not so. We ended our trip, as it had begun, with the portage from Lizz to Poplar Lake, headed for Rockwood Lodge. We camped on Caribou the last night so that it would be an easy morning, thinking that we would just wake up, pack up, and get to the car early--make it to Grand Marais for lunch and be on our way towards home. We awoke to a lovely morning on Caribou, misty, with a loon calling out on the lake. Spartan1 built a little junk fire and made coffee before he called me to see the morning mist. I snapped this photo of him under the tree with his coffee as I exited the tent:








Then after we had our coffee we went back in the tent and snuggled for a bit before we got out for a leisurely breakfast. It was the first warm morning we had had--that happened to be the coldest June on record for Minnesota in many years (they told us at Rockwood Lodge when we got back that some of the people in CABINS even left because it was too cold!) and it was the first time in 21 days we hadn't worn our wool shirts.

We finally broke camp, and made the portage back to Lizz, and eventually to Poplar. On the portage from Lizz to Poplar I was in tears all the way, both trips. After 22 days I still didn't want it to end. Spartan1 found me weeping at the end of the portage and he said, "Why don't we paddle around on Poplar Lake for awhile yet?" So we did. We ended up paddling up to the dock at Trail Center, and went up to the restaurant, all grubby after three weeks in the BW, to order malts and burgers for our lunch!

Finally, we paddled S L O W L Y back to Rockwood and ended our "trip of a lifetime" in the afternoon.

It was our first trip off the Gunflint. There have been many more since, but none better than that one. (13 Moose!) And I learned then that I am never ready to leave the BWCA.

It is entirely possible that I have made my last canoe trip. Health limitations are now dictating a less active scenario for me; it may be that a cabin stay with day trips will be all that I can do. So when we ended our trip (which was aborted early) in 2013, I wasn't planning the next one in my mind. That was a first.

But no matter what, the memories are fabulous. And the canoe country is still there, to enjoy in whatever way I am able. Life is good.

Enjoy it all while you can."

Reading this post connected me with a state of emotions that usually only the wilderness can connect with...

I am bringing my loved ones to this same area this summer and it will be their first trip in. I am so looking forward to being the beginning of many trips for us in the future, and passing on the passions it evokes to my children for them to carry through life. I hope to some day 50 years from now be sitting and remembering all that the North Woods has offered to us.

Despite your inability to have these experiences in the same manner, please never stop writing about them here. Thank you for your message.

quote Spartan2: "

quote schweady: "but it makes you think. Sometimes makes you want to increase the number of trips per summer. Sometimes makes you exercise. I hope I don't think too hard about 'last day' during our next time out.
"

I didn't mean to be a "downer". We haven't been able to do more than one trip a year, with the exception of one year. Exercise worked for a long time; and at some point maybe it isn't the answer anymore. But when that "last trip" comes, it isn't always as terrible as you might think. It's all a matter of perspective. Just enjoy the days--all of them--from the first day of any trip to the last moment. And treasure the memories."

Not a downer at all. Just life. Makes one want to live it fully, sure.

Thank you all for the replies. I feel privileged to share may emotions with you.

quote mooseplums: "

quote nicek: "Planning completed, packs in the boat, last minute gear checklist done, pockets checked for permit and fishing license. Pushing off, first strokes of the paddle. Elation, anticipation, exuberance...


Last morning of the trip. Last walk around the campsite assuring leave no trace principal. 3-4 hours paddle out. Melancholy, peace off mind, recharged soul. Slow progress through the water on the way back to civilization. Soaking it in as much as it fits in your heart and mind.
Wishing it would never end.....


Which day do you cherish more?


I am always "in tears" inside my soul during the last day. Often wishing that it's going to be never ending last day paddle! I find myself planning the last day more than first, to make sure it is most memorable for me."

I used to get that feeling the last day on trips years ago ...but I don't anymore...I know it won't be long and I'll be up there paddling again."

+1

This first day/last day emotion question seems to me like asking a kid what he likes best; Christmas eve, or the Sunday night before school starts again.

Last year on my first day, I caught myself taking the whole thing for granted...somehow I was not savoring every step and paddle like I usually do. BWCA has great meaning to me because I always trip with family and I did not start until late in life so the whole thing was really mystical and distant to me for many years. I quickly changed my attitude!

On the last day we always pray at camp before departing. Everyone gets a little misty eyed--my son never wants to leave.

This was a good thread!

quote ron1: "This first day/last day emotion question seems to me like asking a kid what he likes best; Christmas eve, or the Sunday night before school starts again."

Haha--well put!

quote nicek: "Planning completed, packs in the boat, last minute gear checklist done, pockets checked for permit and fishing license. Pushing off, first strokes of the paddle. Elation, anticipation, exuberance...

Last morning of the trip. Last walk around the campsite assuring leave no trace principal. 3-4 hours paddle out. Melancholy, peace of mind, recharged soul. Slow progress through the water on the way back to civilization. Soaking it in as much as it fits in your heart and mind.
Wishing it would never end.....

Which day do you cherish more?

I am always "in tears" inside my soul during the last day. Often wishing that it's going to be never ending last day paddle! I find myself planning the last day more than first, to make sure it is most memorable for me."

+1 Great write up, I start feeling sad about it being over on the second to last night, depressed that I will have to sleep in my bed the next night rather than out in the serenity of the wilderness...I would take a sleeping bag in the wilderness over a king size bed in the city any day...

Wow, great responses full of the range of emotion that accompanies a BWCA trip. For me , as for many of you, the planning and anticipation is a big part of the fun of the trip. After 25 plus trips I still have anxiety as we put in to begin the trip but it slowly melts away as the first day wears on. As one poster said I have confidence in our experience and abilities to handle anything that comes up and in our equipment to keep us comfortable and happy.

Unlike ecpizza however, my trip is made upon finding that perfect (or decent) campsite, getting tents set up and water ready, and finding myself with the ultimate leisure time on my hands. Taking a walk through the woods behind the campsite with my camera, setting up the fishing rod to see what I can catch, or just pulling up a comfy spot on the rocks with a cup of coffee and a smoke to contemplate what it's all about...to me that's when a BWCA trip comes into it's own. Far from being the source of anxiety it is the reason I go. I like paddling and portaging but the time in a well prepared and comfortable camp is the ultimate relaxation and the time to really enjoy the trip. Perhaps that is why we have trended toward basecamp trips the last few years. Contrary to the popular saying..." it is not the destination but the journey"...I enjoy the journey but the destination is where the spirit of the BWCA and my ability to totally immerse myself in it comes alive.

The last day is melancholy, torn between the sadness of the trip ending and getting back to the familiar and safe lives that we lead. If I thought it was my last trip ever, I think I would approach it differently. I dread the day when I have to deal with that. But even then the memories of the many trips and the wonderfully fulfilling moments I have felt would comfort me.

I'm currently planning a trip this summer. I've read every trip report for the portage I've been eyeing up to take. I'm just wound, its like a kid going to the candy store excited. To me there's only one place in the world like it, the bdub. Serenity... peaceful... completely away from the everyday life of hustle & bustle. I've been in a canoe that rolled going out in white caps that were 3ft in the hopes of leaving a day early to surprise the wife when I got out, it was a weekend trip with a buddy, which brought to my attention how blessed I really am to have a happy & healthy family.

I'm the guy going in with the anticipation and a bit of anxiety of what if's... but after a couple paddles on the water that disappears & its suddenly heaven, until your map reading skills get questioned.. :)

I've learned to enjoy every waking second that I get the privilege of experiencing. It's not everyday for me to have this kind of peace & you are your only destiny. If you want to hang out at camp all day & do absolutely nothing that's your destination that's ok & there's nobody to tell you different, if you want to wake up at the crack at dawn, to catch the early bite, that's completely your decision & both are what the bdub is all about. It is whatever you make it. I try to do both.

The day out, well, pretty much sucks for me. I am in complete denial the night before, enjoying every waking moment, but that last day just blows. The continuation of secluded from everyday life is pretty darn sweet. I feel I could live there for a long time. As we are paddling out.. it gets pretty darn slow... that's how I knew my wife was feeling the same the lst time we paddled out together. We have pretty busy lives like the rest of you but this is our time to really & honestly "get away" its the only place we know. The cell phones don't work, the phone isn't ringing, I have no customers calling they need this or that done asap, not worried about getting money in our account cuz bills are due.. That seems to disappear when we are there, it's pretty dam awesome.

so when we get out, we usually load up quick then stand at the shore, have a beer that we had on ice when we left, but the luke warm beer tastes pretty darn good as we stand there and stare at the lake or portage entrance & reflect on our journey. We instantly talk out "next time?" this or "next time" that.

We both have it in our blood, which I knew she would, I knew I just needed to get her there once & she'll be hooked. I believe that I have no longer made a trip there with just my buddies, she won't let me go without her, which I have done about 5-6 times prior.

There's just no better place in my eyes.

quote nicek: "Planning completed, packs in the boat, last minute gear checklist done, pockets checked for permit and fishing license. Pushing off, first strokes of the paddle. Elation, anticipation, exuberance...

Last morning of the trip. Last walk around the campsite assuring leave no trace principal. 3-4 hours paddle out. Melancholy, peace of mind, recharged soul. Slow progress through the water on the way back to civilization. Soaking it in as much as it fits in your heart and mind.
Wishing it would never end.....

Which day do you cherish more?

I am always "in tears" inside my soul during the last day. Often wishing that it's going to be never ending last day paddle! I find myself planning the last day more than first, to make sure it is most memorable for me."

Beautifully said!
How can one not be a romantic when it comes to their passion!
I myself find the last day to be a great day of camaraderie. I always feel the group come together. Usually from knowing that the experience is about to come to an end, and that it will be some time until we all get to share in it again.

I have a good life! But I seldom feel the joy in daily life that I feel when in the BW. Maybe it is the relaxation, maybe it is my love of open water, or it might be the longing for a more simple existence.

Thanks for the great write up.

"Which day do you cherish more?"

The first day for me; I love the anticipation! Much as I try I am one of those people that just can't relax my mind...even if I spent a month in the BWCA all I'd be thinking about on the drive home is "Dang, I have to go to work tomorrow!" I always hear how refreshed most of you are after your trips and I am envious. I'm fine and enjoying life while I'm there, but when that last strap is cinched for the drive home I almost get a sick feeling and start thinking about a return trip. That's why I picked the first day.

First day for me is a mixture of anxieties of homesickness (since marriage and kids) and excitement. My usual yearly trip is with a group of guys who have been going for almost 20 years now. This is for the most part, the only time of the year I see some of them, so its great to be out doing what we do together again. We have a great group and we all know what the other is bringing so supplies are never really a worry.

Last day is, honestly, lets get out of here. I look forward to a hot shower, a cold beer and a burger at our usual end of trip stop, editing my photos, and seeing the wife and kids. A whole new perspective on life has been gained. And though I miss the BW when I'm not there, it's always nice coming home. I feel my kids are now old enough to go, and in fact I am heading in with my son for his first time this year. My one hope is that he and his sister hold as much appreciation and respect for the wilderness as I do.

Great post! This speaks to what makes the BWCA so beautiful.

Its a place you must respect, so its normal to feel some trepidation the first day. As the trip goes on the beauty sinks in and the worries disappear. It seems the desire to not leave is equal to the how much I connect with the place. Seems to get stronger with every trip.

The only consolation on the last day is to commit to return as often and soon as I can.

Thank God I live in Minnesota!

It has to be the last day. The first few days are spent getting the rat race out of our system and getting into the flow.

This was really driven home to me a few years ago when my daughter in law made her first trip with us to the BWCA. At the beginning she was very apprehensive, but that gradually subsided. She was amazed at how happy it made my son to be out there. As we coasted in to our final landing she had tears in her eye because she didn't want it to be over.

Great thread. I share many of the same emotions on first and last days: the anticipation and wonder of exploration on the first, the ""time to get out of here" on the last. All of it is filled with wonder.

The day I generally find the most emotion, though, is the day somewhere in the mid- to late part of the trip when we "make the turn," that is, stop heading in and start back to civilization. After 20+ trips the turn is almost always obvious to me and exceptionally poignant.

Wow! What an amazing thread, full range of emotions.

7 weeks til my June 8th trip with da boyz. The planning is fun, the packing is fun, the trip up is fun, and the time with the boyz is the best! Every trip is a present. This web-site is a life-saver for me. (without the hole in the middle) the whole experience is the best. Glad I'm aware of it!

I don't know if I can just do first day and last day...

day 0 - excitement, this is the day I've been waiting for for almost 358 days, the day we leave and drive 8 hours to Ely. Escape, no more work, all the gear has been ready for weeks. a little sadness leaving the wife and kids for 10 days. arriving in Ely, water tower, Piragis, Main St, oh how I've missed you all. now it's real.

day 1 - good night sleep, good breakfast, last shower, get some leeches, usually raining, Love It! bring it on. paddle in, hard work, portaging, even harder, getting base camp set up and dinner of steaks and fish over the fire at sunset, ahhhhhhhhh I'm home.

day 2,4,6 - day of rest and fishing all day. explore the base camp lake and see if I'm smarter than the fish. emotion of the day is usually contentment.

day 3,5 - day trip day, explore the next lake or two over, little bit of work, little adventure, different fish? fun days, keeps the trip from becoming boring.

day 7 - the day to pack out, rollercoaster emotions. sad to leave, happy to shower, work to paddle and portage, never in a hurry to paddle and portage out, thankful for the opportunity to experience this place again, feel more alive being connected to nature again. but boy does that blizzard at dairy queen taste really good.

day 8 - the drive home..excited to see the family again, sad that the clock resets to 358 days until the next trip give or take a couple days. life is great!

edit: I forgot about days 9 to about 12, it feels weird eating indoors, for at least a couple days I cook my food outdoors and eat ourdoors as much as possible.

The first day is like Friday night; the last day is like Sunday night.

Great read everyone,

What a wonderful experience sharing our experiences. This world of ours is in need of a conscious awakening. We all get droned out watching the boob tube, playing with our gadgets, plugging in, etc. Filling in the gaps waiting", buying time, until we finally get to be unleashed into the wild. Sounds funny. Nature is the ultimate in bringing awareness. Nature beckons us to come to her and be one with. Think about how often we phase out, or day dream, not being in the present moment, when dealing with our ever day lives, in the land of cars, work etc. Going into the wilderness helps us to revive our senses, our instincts, our present awareness. Being in the moment is the only moment that you are fully alive in. No matter how much you try to remember, all the sights, sounds, smells, from your memory, all you have is where you are at in this moment. We dip into our past with sadness, and look to the future with apprehension/worry, but being in the present moment is where you live your life. It is the beauty of being aware, being fully present.

For me the vacation starts when we cross the mackinaw bridge and get into the upper peninsula, at this point the anticipation builds until the canoe is loaded and we are paddling. For the ending part, I hate to see the trip end but after a week or so with the guys I look forward to getting home to my wife, she smells a lot better.

It is a beautiful thing to share these emotions with many that care.
Thank you for your responses. We all care and deeply appreciate our "wilderness haven". Wonderful emotions overwhelm us during canoe excursions. It truly is as good as it gets.