Boundary waters

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LG&M

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My son & I are going to the Boundary waters for a week of canoeing & camping with the boy scout troop. It will be his last trip before he turns 18.
We are using a outfitter, they provide all the gear. Part of me would rather use my own gear. So I am looking for advice from anyone who has been there about what to bring. I tend to over pack because I want to play with my toys.
 
LG&M said:
My son & I are going to the Boundary waters for a week of canoeing & camping with the boy scout troop. It will be his last trip before he turns 18.
We are using a outfitter, they provide all the gear. Part of me would rather use my own gear. So I am looking for advice from anyone who has been there about what to bring. I tend to over pack because I want to play with my toys.
Click to expand...

I've been to the Boundary Waters many times... email me with questions and I'll happily help you out.
 
How soon are you going? As of a few days ago, nighttime temps up in that part of MN were still below freezing. This week, it's warmer, but not "warm" by most folks' standards. Overnight lows are still getting down into the mid 40s. Something to consider if you're going to bring sleeping gear appropriate for the temperatures and will be portaging. Of course, it won't be cold enough to kill off the bugs, which some people will tell you is the worst part of a Boundary Waters trip. If you're still a few weeks/months out, the cold won't be an issue, but the bugs will be worse. The biting flies tend to be the biggest annoyance, although mosquitoes and ticks are to be taken for granted. Treat your gear and yourself with your repellent of choice.

I understand wanting to use your own stuff, but if you don't have gear suitable for the conditions, I'd use the outfitter's rather than buying your own for the trip, unless you get a discount bringing your own. Even then, letting someone more experienced provide the essentials is probably preferable.
 
We will be there the first week of June.
By over packing I mean I want to bring more knives, tools, just gear in general becauesI want to play with it or might want it.
I have been watching the weather forecast & expect lows in the 40s highs in the low 70s. I expect it to rain and if it doesn't well we are canoeing so we will get wet.I am hoping the bugs will not be bad this early in the season but will bring bug juice and a net.
I guess I was just looking for advice. Will a axe be needed? Should I expect the portages well marked & clear of over growth?
Things like that.
From those who have been there what did you wish you had or wish you left at home?
Thanks all.
 
In my mid 60's and have been fortunate to canoe/camp in BW a number of times. My style isn't like everyone's but these are some thoughts I hope you find useful.

Easy to overpack on these trips. Use the outfitter's gear as it will be the best for the job and be "camp tested" to be what you need. All gear you bring will need to be carried so it's up to you how much you want to have along.

Portages are usually detectable and well enough marked depending on how travelled the area you are in is. Have GOOD maps. There is always the chance of a blowdown blocking the trail or flooding to screw up the portage.

I have been applying permethrin to my clothes for a number of years now and ticks are no longer a worry. Usually Deep Woods Off keeps the bugs at bay. I also bring a headnet and seldom use it. My trips are often first week in June.

The hardest part for me has been the right mix of clothes so I could wear the best layers for the temps without having too much. Honestly the stuff I found I carried and never used was the extra clothes I'd bring. Some days I'd have everything on and others only light pants and a tee shirt. Socks (merino wool) and underwear enough to change as you feel appropriate, a couple pair of non cotton pants and a couple of non cotton t-shirts with something long sleeved also. Usually a light jacket using the rain coat as a wind breaker. I'd bring a folding camp sink and would wash up the raunchiest stuff at least once a trip - do this well away from the lake.

Sleeping at night was a mix of wearing barely nothing to a lightweight pair of merino wool long johns. A stocking hat to put on head while sleeping helps to keep the whole body warm on cold nights. Best advice is to get good gore-tex or equivalent rain gear. Don't skimp on that. Second best for me is to have a very good and comfortable pair of waterproof boots or footwear. Protect your feet. Some folks like to wetfoot. I don't prefer that and like my feet as dry as possible - it's inevitable that you will be in wet, muddy, slop, or muck some time or another.

I've brought a large mix of knives over various trips and found I really didn't need all that I brought. A Victorinox Forrester pocket knife was usually enough but I also had a belt knife and a small fixed blade in a PFD pocket along with a folding fillet knife.

If the group has one hatchet that should be enough for wood prep work along with a small saw. We seldom need large pieces of wood for our fires and have yet to bring an axe.

After a couple of trips using a Crazy Creek cushion/chair I finally got a small folding stool and found getting up off the ground was a much better way to sit and relax.
 
LG&M said:
We will be there the first week of June.
By over packing I mean I want to bring more knives, tools, just gear in general becauesI want to play with it or might want it.
I have been watching the weather forecast & expect lows in the 40s highs in the low 70s. I expect it to rain and if it doesn't well we are canoeing so we will get wet.I am hoping the bugs will not be bad this early in the season but will bring bug juice and a net.
I guess I was just looking for advice. Will a axe be needed? Should I expect the portages well marked & clear of over growth?
Things like that.
From those who have been there what did you wish you had or wish you left at home?
Thanks all.
Click to expand...

I would bring a folding saw over an axe... I love axes but they do not come into the boundary waters with me anymore. A good folding saw is quicker, safer and a fraction of the weight. If fishing, I have found a 10 or 12 opinel slim in inox to double as a fillet knife and for food prep.
Other things I deem necessary items:
A microfiber towel... wring it out and its basically dry
lightwight nylon pants with zip off legs... you get wet in the BWCA, these dry fast
A good pair of Keen sandals... double as hiking shoes and can get wet.
a backup stove... I have had a stove crap out on me 20 miles in. I was very happy to have a backup
lightweight bungies... nice to attach things to the canoe during portages (fishing rods, paddles, life jackets)
a good small first aid kit... bandaids advil ankle wrap ect
A hip pack... who cares if you look like a dork in the BWCA? super handy for day trips away from a campsite
ziploc bagies... never know when you need these things
A couple of compression sacks.... great for organizing clothes, makes a great pillow at night.
bug dope... if you think mosquitoes are bad wait until you meet the black biting flies

not necessary but I also bring a small gps and compass, Sangean DT-400W: weather radio... lightweight and is nice to have tunes and weather forecasts...
 
Good advice above.
As for me, I would say be prepared for bug hell. Black flies and Skeets this time of year. I have also seen all four seasons on 4 day trips so heed the "long Johns and fleece advice. An Axe will not be needed, take a hatchet instead and a folding saw. Expect it to rain! Even a cheap pair of rain pants and top are better than nothing, and if your butt is wet while paddlin it will itch, making the day less fun than it could be.
This is one of the better times to fish in the Bdub. Rapalas and spinners is about all one needs. Smallie heaven with Northerns mixed in. I'm assuming the group will be going in through a high use entry point, and portages are well trod. It was and easy winter last year so there should be few, if any downed trees on the trails. As was stated above, You brought it, you carry it. :D
Have a grand trip, and report back with pics!!
Kent
 
Great advice all just what I am looking for.
I will leave the axe the group will have one. I hope it is good. I will bring a folding saw and knife or two.
I have a gortex jacket , hat and a good pouncho. Also I will bring a warmer jacket.
Thanks any more tips will be welcome.
 
We just got back and I am unpacking. Overall a great trip.we went about 35 Miles in canoes and3 over portages. Had rain everyday but the bugs were not bad. I will post some pictures when I can.
 
A few photos of the trip.

Some big water ( for me any way)


Some rivers


Some Camping.


Some Eating





Some great views.
 
Thanks for the report. My son was up for a four day with friends over Memorial day weekend and reported no bugs as well. Thank goodness for cool weather.
What "toys" did you end up bringing?
 
No many.
My BK16, Evans companion,Leatherman surge,Benchmade mini grip. Folding saw. Fire starting gear.
I should have brought a axe the Estwing they gave us was dull.
Wish I was still there.
 
Do you happen to recall what lakes you were in?
I've traveled by canoe without an axe for many years, but now have a GB small forest that I can't seem to leave home.
 
Sure we went in at 16 then Nina moose lake, camped at Agnes lake,. Though Boulder bay and stopped for lunch in Canada and camped on a island in fish snake narrows . Then to Ge-be-on-e-quet lake,green lake,rocky lake and camped at oyster lake.moved on and camped at Nina moose lake the last night and back out at 16.
The axe was not really needed but would have been helpful with the wet wood if it was sharp.
 
Nice run, with some serious miles covered, and less traffic than some of the more popular areas.:thumbup: I have high hopes of going in there this year but we shall see. My son and his girlfriend are going in July to Stuart.

Was the fishing any good?;)
 
If I could I would still be there.
The fishing was good..the catching was not:grumpy:
I only fished a little and landed a Pike about 16" in all the group got 6 I think.
 
Sorry to hear about the fishing; it's usually much better than you describe, even if it's slow.
 
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