Going off into the wilderness

[Steve Foss]

Hey all, I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow for a three- or four-day backpacking trip along the 30-plus-mile Pow Wow Trail in the BWCAW.

I'm co-authoring an Ely area hiking guide book for publication next spring featuring 20 Ely and nearby hikes, with the Pow Wow being the most ambitious of the mile-by-mile guide sections. The plan at this point also is for me to be the sole photographer featured in the book.

The hike will be a good test of wilderness and hiking skills built up over the last 20 years. I plan to be back Friday evening at the latest, and have told my wife and co-workers that if I don't report back in by Saturday noon to send out the cavalry. See you all in cyberspace then. Hope I can get some decent pics to post, too, if I don't break a leg or camera or get lost (the Pow Wow is legendary for being hard to navigate at some points) or become moose, bear or wolf bait.

I'm leaving most of my photographic kit behind since weight is a premium, and my camera pack weighs about 40 lbs when full of all my gear. For photo gear, I'll be taking only the Rebel XT w/battery grip, four camera batteries, the Canon 100-400L and Canon 17-40L, 430EX flash and spare flash batteries, and of course 8 Gb of cards.

See ya later!

[finnbay]

Good luck, Steve. Weather sounds like it's going to cool down some.

[Steve Foss]

Yeah, Ken. Lows in the 30s and highs in the 50s make perfect weather for this kind of thing. Not even packing any bug spray. Just pepper spray.

[finnbay]

Make sure you aren't wearing any "moose musk". Might make the bulls jealous!

[Steve Foss]

After a couple days on the trail I might smell a bit like a musky moose myself.

I did see a fresh monster rub/scrape from a bullwinkle right in the middle of the Agassa trail a couple weeks back. Much as I want good shots of bull moose, I don't want to be so close I need a wide angle lens!

[chaffmj]

Catfish,

Have a good and safe trip. I'll be looking forward to seeing some more great pics when you get back.

Chaff

[brassman]

good luck, I hope to see some of your high quality work posted on here, don't get lost and have a good time.

[Finns]

Good luck, good shooting and be safe.

Finns.

[jonny_redhorse]

We wanna see some moose pics ....well...at least I do ....don't forget the "steel lighter" for those wet morning camp fires (Hey!...I've been watchin survivorman! )....have fun on your trip Steve...wish I was going with! ....sounds enjoyable!kinda thing I'd like to do before I

"buy the farm"

[Steve Foss]

Thanks, guys. Jonny, my Gander Mtn. survival butane lighter and a refill tube of butane are ALWAYS in my kit when I hit the woods. They weigh little but are worth more than their weight in gold.

[Dan Thiem]

Good luck Steve and I'll be waiting for those pictures! Sounds like a heck of good time to me.

[dukhnt]

Best of luck Steve! Can't wait to see the photos.

[MN Shutterbug]

Good luck and Godspeed. Sounds like quite an adventure.

[WCS]

Have a great time and be safe. I am looking forward to seeing some of the photos and hearing the stories.

[mmeyer]

Have a great time Steve. We're all jealous

.

[Jim Almquist]

Good Luck Steve and make sure to have some fun and enjoy the journey.

[Steve Foss]

Alright, I'm outta here, guys.