![]() Ely Chamber of Commerce, includes a list of outfitters."Even if the parent is more bored, a kid who isn't scared and exhausted will be more likely to want to return."įollow Ann Wessel on Twitter following can help in planning a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: "You want this trip to be positive," Schiefelbein said. Four days and three nights might be the longest you'd want to consider with young kids. But a trip with kids must be structured around their interests and abilities. The BWCAW shouldn't be a kid's first camping trip. "Most kids can handle it" might not describe your kid. "You don't just have to eat hot dogs and peanut butter sandwiches."Īsk the outfitter to describe what they think a young paddler might be capable of. It's just how it's prepared," Nelson said. "You can eat just about anything you want in the Boundary Waters. What's the cut? What's the ratio of fresh food to dehydrated? Just as a tent is not a tent, a steak is not a steak. What's the tent's capacity? (A four-person tent might comfortably fit two.) Does the rain fly extend down far enough to be useful? How much does it weigh? (Lightweight doesn't necessarily mean high quality.) Is it an expedition-style tent or one best-suited for car camping? To what temperature are the sleeping bags rated? How often does the outfitter swap out used for new canoes? How much does it weigh? What brand is the canoe? If it's something you've never heard of, you might want to do a bit more research. Swimming is best from July 4 through Aug. Weather is generally warmest July through early August. Fishing is better June through early July. The wilderness is less populated in May and September. There's no time of the summer that is perfect in all ways. Paddlers with the flexibility to pick a launch date based on permit availability have the best chance of landing a more remote starting point. Do they really? "That means you're going to be all alone," Schiefelbein said. Honeymooners often say they want solitude. Over-estimating the distance a party will cover is one of the most common mistakes LaTourell sees. How many options does the outfitter present? How long are the portages? Planned routes should map out longer or shorter trips in case the weather kicks up or paddlers start to flag. "Some are absolute death marches at the beginning," he said. Not all entry points are the same, Schiefelbein advises. Schiefelbein doesn't put too much stock in guidebook recommendations, which depend upon the author's interests, skills or timing.įollowing are some of the points to consider in an initial conversation with an outfitter. Those choices depend partly on habitat, season and distance. "I personally don't have a problem, if somebody's wish list gets too big, in telling them that," Schiefelbein said. They just can't have everything all at once. The range of options allows paddlers to carve out a custom trip. Kristina Reichenbach, Forest Service public affairs officer, said 280 overnight permits are available for all entry points throughout the BWCAW. Cloud.) The Forest Service's Kawishiwi Ranger District in Ely manages 24 of the 89 BWCAW entry points, and has a daily quota of 97 overnight permits. (Ely is the focus here because it has the BWCAW resources that are closest to St. The Ely Chamber of Commerce lists 24 outfitters. "Is your outfitter listening to your needs? Do they make recommendations based on your skills, or just a canned approach?" Nelson said. ![]() Steve Nelson, 64, started Spirit of the Wilderness in 1999 after a corporate career he's promoted the BWCAW at Midwest Mountaineering's Outdoor Adventure Expo. He started North Country Canoe Outfitters in 1984, launches 250-325 parties a year, and serves on the Ely Chamber of Commerce's tourism board.įellow Ely Chamber member Bob LaTourell, 44, of LaTourell's Moose Lake Outfitters, maintains a fleet of 120 canoes at the business his grandfather started in the 1940s. "I think what most people tend to overlook is being able to articulate why they want to go on the trip," said John Schiefelbein, 66. But "paddling in the woods" doesn't really narrow it down. Three Ely-area outfitters who spend part of their time promoting the BWCAW said the key lies in clearly defining the sort of a trip you want, and then gauging how well an outfitter listens. Choosing a Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness outfitter can seem as daunting as choosing from among 1,200 miles of canoe routes and 2,000 campsites within the 1 million-acre expanse of lakes and boreal forest.
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