How do people get in shape to do a boundary waters trip?

What sort of stretching excercises do you do before and during the trip?

Kyle

Oh, spend the winter X-country and downhill skiing...

Snowshoing with a backpack and carry everyones booze and extra "crap"... and offer to get the fire wood.

Paddle the first open water you can find and as much as you can till the time of the trip.

One spring camp trip with BWCAW gear on a lake you can paddle on to ensure you gear is all in good shape.

That's what I do anyway.
Hex

Ditto to hexnymph's suggestion.

In addition if you have gym time:

Stairmaster
Weight-lifting but not to increase mass as much as to tone and for flexibility
Anything that will help loosen your knees. It is amazing how much knee work there is.
Try to lose the 5 pounds you put on during the winter.
General aerobic and endurance based activity. With that said, I do get ready, but always wish I would have done more. The main thing is make sure your joints and back are ready for the activity. The first portage is not the time to find out your back is not ready for the exertion. It will not only spoil your trip but anyone going with you.

Hey everyone, I have a trip planned for late May and I have started a small diet and jogging on the tread mill for 1/2 hour a day. Do as much leg work as you can get in. Some of the portages can be a pain, up and down, rocky brush covered, muddy.

I don't know if you have access to a gym or not, but something I've used is a lead waited vest. Most gyms have them for pull ups or for push ups. If not consider purchasing one and walk for an hour a day with that on. Even if you wear it while your just walking around your home doing your daily routine it will really help. It's just like a carying a pack or a canoe. Hope this helps.
HBN

On nice days I walk through the neighborhood and next door park with my pack and canoe. I do get some looks from the neighbors, but they are used to it now. Nothing like the real thing to get your self in shape and ready. I would not recommend this if you do not want to get asked about your sanity once or twice. Even by your own family members.

whatever you do if you go on a prolonged trip and paddle 8hr + your neck will kill !!! put pressure on the muscle and hold it ( wetting your hand helps ! )

from experience no matter if you've been in the gym all winter or running every day and fit

paddeling takes yor neck muscles and twists them into knots + portaging only makes the knots sore ! so stretch your neck !
when the pain comes don't think the next day it will be okay because i won't so take it easy or you could do some real damage

after many trips solo and with novices and experts paddeling is easy you could be a fat ass and paddle around at a decent speed but once the pain hits it hits and doesnt go away until a week later.

squats/lunges helps climbing hills with a back pack ! and gain some weight before the trip so your body has enough energy to start the trip and after a week you'll be 5-10 lbs lighter no matter if you eat alot if you're tripping serious you'll only be eating 2 times a day maybe with 1 or 2 snacks

specimen canada