Who is the craziest Ice Angler/Winter Camper?

[bsherck]

Those pictures are awsome. For anyone who's traveled in the BWCA during winter months, it's not uncommon to find old shelters peppering lakes and camps! Oh, and our "icebox" igloo builder was a little more primitive that you hi-tech piece of equipment. As I remember, it was a box about the size of a marine battery box and we'd just stuff and stack it....

[Fly2day]

Some friends of mine and myself went about 2 years ago to the BWCA for a few days to do some winter camping/fishing we had built an igloo to stay in using the shovel and huge pile of snow method, and it is pretty warm we went up in Feb and it was pretty cold at night ( below zero at night) and stayed pretty warm. This year we are planning another trip, but this time we are bringing tents and heaters for that extra comfort!

[waterbound]

I've done some pretty crazy winter camping...a couple years back I was on a trip with the Boy Scouts for the weekend. Friday night it was about 30 degrees and we were walking around without shirts setting up camp and a fire and all. The next day the temps started dropping pretty fast at about 10 am and it was -30 or so by the time I went to sleep with a windchill at least 15 degrees colder. Did I forget to mention that we were sleeping outside, each of us wrapped in our sleeping bag and a tarp?

[magicstix]

Duffman, Did you have 6 people on this trip?

I've thought about the winter camp in the BWCA, but had wondered how I'd take all my stuff. one seems to drag along items that don't get used or are unnecessary too often.

That does look like a lot of fun. And the scenery is beautiful.

[herefish101]

Sounds like a blast, i'v been to the bwcaw quite a few times, a few of those as early as fishing opener, but building a snow fort and sleeping in it, that sounds like the trip of a lifetime. do you go in with an outfitter? or load up some packs and sleds throw on some snowshoes and go? how far in do ya go? I'm going to have to do a few searches and make a few phone calls on this, i wanna do it!

[Rick]

I'm looking forward to seeing this show.

Surface Tension (Frank) does a regular Lake Trout ice fishing trip to Gunflint and camps out overnight on the lake.

The Burntside Bash also had a few who camped out in an old Army Tent. Steve Foss and Frank head that one up.

Good Luck Bill.

[Powerstroke]

Here's my '09 solo BWCA winter trip

[rcatcherman]

All I know is it looks cool! But I will feel better off in my wheel house.

[Duffman]

Duffman, Did you have 6 people on this trip?

I've thought about the winter camp in the BWCA, but had wondered how I'd take all my stuff. one seems to drag along items that don't get used or are unnecessary too often.

That does look like a lot of fun. And the scenery is beautiful.

Yep 6, but we had another 48 folks pulling sleds (pulks) by our camp on a Sunday, unreal. I've only had one winter trip up in the BWCA where I have not encountered people.

I used to bring the kitchen sink, but every year I cut back on more and more. Last year I made a list of everything I brought, and when I got home I circled everything I didn't use. We'll see if those items make it next year.

Winter camping....dream big, plan small.

[Swill]

sweet set up powerstroke! Looks like a blast. I must do that sometime. Were ya deer hunting?

[L_Cappo]

i camp in my sleeper on lotw lol 28 days stayed on the lake we are tring to beat that this winter.

[Powerstroke]

I was ice fishing. I thought about bringing a shotgun or .22 to try and live off the land.

[magicstix]

Powerstroke, Your 2 sleds there, what kind of weight in each and do you pull them tandem or single and hopscotch each sled? How far did you travel, miles? how many days on the trip?

[grate8]

i am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mr. Wizard]

Two of us did a lake trout trip with great north outfitters a couple years ago on Pipestone. (check out Canadian Forum) Guide took us in and set us up at an outpost cabin. Coldest night was -47, high for the 4 days was -25...no wind! A lot of ingenuity needed to keep the sleds and everything working. Great fishing and we still talk about the adventure. Ready to go again but too much work and not enough time left to play.

[Duffman]

I was ice fishing. I thought about bringing a shotgun or .22 to try and live off the land.

What, did you bring the hound for wolf bait?

He/she doesn't look too happy. Like...."this ain't fun papa, can we go home now"

Solo winter trip? Now we're talking crazy. Nice pics Powerstroke.

[Powerstroke]

I was hoping my dog would pull a sled. We had been practicing at home and he did well with 40-50lbs in the otter sled, but once we got up north he wouldn't do it. All he wanted to do was "hunt". I appreciate that, but it wasn't what I wanted him to do.

That's how I ended up pulling the freight train. I would estimate 40-50lbs in the otter and another 50-60lbs probably on the other. The trip was about 2 miles one way, but I had to leap-frog several times on some nasty hills. I have a couple pics of that, but they don't do the terrain justice because the snow doesn't show the steepness. I figure I did 4-5 miles on the snowshoes one way. On the lake and most of the portages I would pull them tandem. I found the setup in the picture worked best.

It wasn't meant to be a solo, but my buddy backed out. I later found out it was cause he wasn't to trusting of the hot tent and he didn't really enjoy our cold tent trips. I decided I was gonna go hell or high water and I did. It never stopped snowing the entire 3 days. It was reasonably warm which actually created a challenge for staying dry.

I'm not sure if I want to do solo again in the winter. I liked it alot, but the camp chores take up a lot of time, especially with a wood stove. I'm sure I will though. If its the difference between solo or not going, I'm going every time.

Also, I definitely over-packed also. I bet I could lighten that up by 30lbs and streamline the packaging. I need to build or buy my own sled.

[tonkapat]

Powerstroke that is quite a load for one guy. I have spent about 20 nights winter camping in the bwca. Usually sleeping in a tent. Very peaceful out there. The longest distance I have covered is 8 miles each way on a 3 day trip. Hopefully skis and a new lightweight tent will bring that number quite a bit higher. We usually arrive late evening and hike into the night, couple hours sleep and its lake trout time. Can't believe its next week already. By far my favorite time of year.

[Powerstroke]

THe BWCA lake trout is my goal, but so far that hasn't happened. The basic setup I used was very good. I need to cut out some gear, some clothes and get a smaller winter sleeping bag. My greatest problem was space, not weight.

[tonkapat]

Powerstroke your wall tent and stove alone are around 30 35 pounds? When I travel that heavy I try to keep it under 5 miles. More than welcome to join us so you don't have to run solo.

[Powerstroke]

Thanks tonkapat. I'll keep it in mind. Its weird to think that is 35lbs, but on a nice sled or pulk its not too bad. I know I brought too much kitchen gear and I was using a zero degree sleeping bag made for two people so I could double it over or under me. The bag is more bulky than heavy, but either way its too much. I have a 20* bag that I use with a fleece liner, but I want to get a good -20* or -40* bag for real winter camping. I could cut 6-10lbs off of the sleeping bag alone.