Boundary Waters Canoe Trip

[SnoManX]

Hey, I'm taking my first canoe trip to the Boundary Waters in a couple of weeks and wondering what necessities I need to bring to camp for a week.

What size pack do I need? 5500 cu in or larger?

Do I need to bring a pistol or pepper spray for bears?

So far I have:

- tent/sleeping bag - compass/map

- hatchet/leatherman - 5 gal collapsible jug

- 100ft of rope - flashlight/headlamp

- mess kit w/silverware - rod/tackle

- rain gear - first aid kit

- suntan lotion/bug spay - lighter/flint

Any other necessities I need to bring? What's the best type of food to take on a trip like this? Anything you have forgotten and wished you would have brought along?

Thanks.

[fishing tech]

Toilet paper, garbage bag to keep everything dry inside your pack, comfortable hiking boots(don't want to roll an ankle on a portage), ivory soap, it floats. It has been 20 plus years since I have been up there but you will love it. Hope you have a great time, nothing better then catching a big fish and being able to see the hole time. The water is crystal clear. We would tie are cups to the canoe and when you got thirsty just dip it and drink. Good luck.

[Powerstroke]

Although many people still dip for water in the middle of large lakes, if you plan on being on smaller lakes or rivers than I would consider a water filter. I think 5 gallons is probably too big. Look for a 2-5 LITER container. Our group of 4 uses about 5 gallons a day and that includes while tripping.

Are you gonna cook over the fire? I would make or buy some fire starters in case the wood available isn't very dry. Otherwise, get a cookstove, especially since fire bans can be sudden.

I would say no to the pistol or the spray. In general bears are not vicious and wouldn't attack unprovoked. Just keep a clean campsite and you'll be fine. I've been doing BWCA for almost 15yrs and never even seen a bear. You'll lose more food to chipmunks and raccoons than a bear.

For food, we bring whatever we want. It depends on how much cooking you want to do. We do use a lot of freeze dried or dehydrated meals since they are easy and light. They still taste great so there is no compromise. Last year we had fresh food for 3 days, ate some fish we caught and had a few dehydrated meals too. Experiment at home and see what oyu like anbd how hard they are.

Look for a checklist from a camping store, book or an outfitters HSOforum. You can print it off and use as a guide.

I'm leaving for the BWCA on friday. I'll let you know about the trip when I get back.

[nofishfisherman]

Cook Stove is important since getting a fire started in the rain isn't much fun when you are starving and wanting dinner.

It might be true that ivory soap floats but I am pretty sure you aren't allowed to be washing in the lake. Not even biodegradeable soap is allowed to be used in the lake itself. All dishes and yourself need to be washed 150 feet away from the shore.

Make sure you have a system figured out for hanging your food packs. Make sure they are 10 feet off the ground or more and that they are 10 feet away from a tree or large branch. There are several ways to do that, might try a google search for diagrams of ways to do it. And make sure you don't hang the pack right in the camp, get it away from you a little ways in case a bear does try to get creative with it.

You can actually nix the bug spray if you want, I never use it up there. But make sure you bring a head net. The mosquitos come out around sun down and they are THICK, long sleeve shirt and pants with a head net is your only relief, wind breaker material is the best to have on since the weave of the fabric is tight enough they can't bite through, cotton won't keep them from biting.

A water purifier is a must have. You can drink out of the lakes as is but its not a great idea. The water is clean of pollutants but mother nature as some pretty nasty little bugs of her own that are 100% natural to the lakes. You pick up one of those stomach bugs and you will really be in bad shape.

As for size of pack, you'll want a food pack and a gear pack probably. Depending on group size maybe more then one food pack. Just get one big enough to fit your gear into, but remember you will be carrying these all over the place to don't get carried away. Double portaging or double packing will be a decision you'll have to make so pack accordingly.

No need for a pistol, pots and pans will do the trick.

For food I would bring things that can cook just by boiling water. Vigo rice and bean mixes are great, dehydrated things are great, your normal gorcery store has lots of options that can be cooked just by tossing it in boiling water.

There is a HSOforum totally dedicated to the BWCA and planning trips, you might want to do a google search to find it and check it out. Lots of great info there from people who have done 100's of trips each. I am not sure if I can post the link but if you do a google search for BWCA its the first site listed.

[fishroger]

A good sleep pad, good rain suit, water filter, collapsible water bag, A 12 x 12 ' tarp for setting over the eating-table area is essential just in case it rains.Do not leave food laying around especially in tent, Never have had problem with bears, although it can happen, no need for firearms or pepper spray, either hoist the food up over a branch or pile pots and pans on top of pack to alert you. digital camera, sharp knife, good hand saw (collapsible), Fanny pack for ID, permit, sunglass,etc, one fishing rod is enough, but I bring two just in case one breaks which easily can happen. If you want fish for dinner leeches are the ticket when their stubborn. I get at least 1/2 # depends how many people are fishing. Slip bobbers, hooks, jigs, and rapalas are about all you need for tackle. Good fillet knife. Dont skimp on food, your always more hungry outside, But plan well so you dont bring too much. A good duluth pack is essential. You dont need alot of clothes this time of year. I like dry socks and underwear and there not heavy like jeans. Wear a pair of jeans and bring one.Make sure to put clothes and sleeping bag in plastic garbage bags or 1 gallon plastics bags in case it rains or you swamp canoe. Nothing worse than wet clothes and sleeping bag. Good biodegradable soap is nice. A lantern is a luxury but kind of nice if you want to play cards, etc, good, sun block, flashlite. They use too have a CHECK LIST ONLINE AT THE BOUNDARY WATERS JOURNAL HSOforum.

[WalleyeGod]

SnowmanX:

I will add - a folding camp shovel and TP. The shovel for the obvious reason with TP but also for digging out rocks or other obstructions for the tent area and other useful purposes.

We use a good waterproof bag (like our other bags for clothes, etc.) for the food bag and hoist it up off the ground with a rope over a tree branch that sticks out a few feet from the tree and then up about 10' off the ground. We usually would do this when out fishing and at night.

Zip lock bags come in very handy as we use them for just about everything we need to keep waterproof as well. From matches to food items and everything in between. Then everything is put in waterproof bags again. You can't be too cautious when it comes to try in keeping things dry.

I have went to lightweight pants and shirts (both short sleeve and long sleeve) that breathe well and dry quick when getting wet.

Definately a water filter, water bottle and collapsible water jug.

Depending on what you are fishing for but we bring some/alot of jigs and have went to gulp stuff for bait and have had good luck with it. We have and still bring some salted minnows and used to bring leeches too at times. Crankbaits have been fun for us at times as well. We use portable depth finders to give us depth anyway to get us in the ballpark as we usually fish for walleye.

This has gotten plenty long here. If you are in Fergus much I would certainly be willing to meet with you. This will be a very fun and interesting trip you are about to embark on. Good luck and enjoy.

WG

[swamptiger]

I have one of the small candle lanterns sold by Cabelas - works good and doesn't require much space or fuel.

You can hang your grub in a tree if you want - it won't keep it away from the bears however - they are excellent tree climbers. The important thing is to keep the camp and dishes/pots & pans clean and keep your food well away from your tent area - bears are always looking for something to eat - that's the only reason they would come into your camp.

[nofishfisherman]

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You can hang your grub in a tree if you want - it won't keep it away from the bears however - they are excellent tree climbers

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Thats why you hang the pack in the middle of two trees. You can't hang it from a tree branch and have it right next to the tree if you do that of course the bear will climb up and chow down. You need to have it atleast 10 feet in the air AND atleast 10 feet away from the tree or large branches.

Pardon the crude drawing but this is roughly how I have done it in the past and have yet to lose any food to animals. A bear won't be able to reach the pack from either tree and it can't climb out to it on the rope.

[swamptiger]

Sorry, I'm inclined to agree with Cliff on this one. Cliff Jacobson HSOforum

Bear are very cagey critters, and I don't believe a rope will stop them from taking your food. (note the photo of the bear going after the bird feeder)

It might keep some other critters, such as racoons out of the food, but I think hanging it in a tree is more likely to attract a bear, because they have such a keen sense of smell. I'd rather put it in sealed containers under a tarp, and leave it in the shade somewhere away from the tent. To each his own, I guess...

[nofishfisherman]

For every 1 person that says you shouldn't hang your food there are probably 100 people that say you should do it.

Really I am not worried about bears, other critters are more likely to get into your food and hanging the food will prevent it. My boss had a weeks canoe trip ruined beucase they didn't hang their food pack and racoons tore it apart and ate everything. Hanging it would prevent it.

I also can't imagine that hanging the food would actually attract bears.

[WalleyeGod]

Cliff actually suggests not using the same tree as everyone has been using so he didn't actually say not to tree the food pack. I say tree the food pack. I don't want to belittle the bear thing here but we are giving the impression that the camper will encounter bears. Maybe but most likely not. I have encountered bears only on a portage. She did not like my presence any more than I liked hers. We both went a different way. Other canoers have had problems primarily because food is left out when gone from camp or at night when things have been left out as well. Put the food in the food pack and hoist it off the ground and up and away from critters including any potential bear visits. This should alleviate most issues.

If you find bears present in the area or are aware that they potentially are around ie. foot prints, move to a different lake/campsite/island. I remember a boat tow out one year and another party talking about the bears, they didn't change anything from the 1st visit of the bear and low and behold the bear came back for a 2nd visit and munched some more. They were down to next to nothing for food with 4 days left of their trip. A little common sense will go a long way. We will camp on an island most times. This will normally take care of any bear visits. Yes, bears can swim but you have just eliminated a great deal of the potential issues.

One of the biggest things you don't want to have happen is the bear getting into your hsolist strawberry kiwi and not having anything to go with the smirnoff.

Don't get caught up in all this bear talk. They are just looking for a snack. Just apply some good common sense and be careful with the food pack, put it up and you will be fine.

Have a great trip.

WG

[nofishfisherman]

yeah I think the bear talk is a little over done most times. You do need to take precautions but chances are you won't ever see one. If you want to worry abou anything I would worry about the little critters they are far more common and can unzip food packs if given enough time.

[SnoManX]

Thanks for all of the info!!! I'm going up with 5 other guys who have made this a yearly trip for the past 4 years, so there is alot of experience in our group. But I like to be well informed and didn't want to look like a bumbling greenhorn with these guys.

[WalleyeGod]

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Thanks for all of the info!!! I'm going up with 5 other guys who have made this a yearly trip for the past 4 years, so there is alot of experience in our group. But I like to be well informed and didn't want to look like a bumbling greenhorn with these guys.

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Well, there you go. Experienced fellow paddlers in the group. You have it made. We should have asked that and thought about that before in that was there someone in the group with experience. Most always the best way to go. Pretty soon you will not be a green horn either. Prepare to be wowed.

I will add for the stuff, two mosquito head nets. It was mentioned earlier but just in case one gets torn or lost. They don't take up any room and are cheap. The mosquitoes will be nasty. We have needed to wear them portaging and they get caught in tree brances/twigs, whatever, and get torn. A spare will be appreciated.

Again, good luck.

WG

[swamptiger]

Don't forget to bring a clean pair of underwear in case you really do get a bear in your camp...

[fishroger]

Theres usually lots of mini bears(chipmunks) that like to dig holes in your trail mix or bread and dump in it. Red squirrels can be a nuisance too. Have a good trip. All my fellow canoers have heart problems or bad backs, etc. now, and all the young studs are trying to make $ in the cities. Will be going to namakan-kab in August for an easy trip, can use boat and bring some luxuries.