Tag Archives: BWCA

All Packed!

Here we go! Last week I tested recipes: granola, meat cheese balls, hot cocoa mix… This week I assembled food I would never otherwise eat… This is seriously calorie dense food. We spent today buying fun new gear at REI and … Continue reading

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No Pictures of Purgatory

In the dark.  Walking on the side of highway 61.  At the end of our 19th day in the woods.  After hiking the historic Grand Portage to Lake Superior.  There was light.  We looked down onto a field of parking … Continue reading

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Crippling Grand Portage

18 days and 238.5 miles we were finally done paddling. We had paddled and portaged in heat, illness, stillness, wind, snow, rocks and ice. There was just a measly 8 miles to walk to hot showers, cold beer, and toilet … Continue reading

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Evil Pigeon River

Arrrrrrg. This story is daunting just to write. The last two days were so epically weak, so tragically hard, yet so stupidly simple, I can’t do it justice. It needs some good cinematography and a soundtrack. Perhaps David Attenborough could … Continue reading

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Raging for the final push

It was a very good day. Day 16, rested and ready.  We were a paddling portaging machine! 8:30am to 6pm, 23.75 miles. It started with a family of swans and included a stop for Amazing Woodsman Willy.

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Rain, tears, and tea on the Gunflint.

The day started with a headwind. After so much portaging the day before we had been looking forward to longer stretches of paddling. A strong south wind made it slow going and quickly sapped the relief right out of it. … Continue reading

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Bluckville in Portage Hell

Imagine a honeymoon in the pristine north woods. Deep clear lakes ringed with low sweeping cedars, majestic white pines, and dancing gold aspens. Secluded, peaceful and potentially very romantic. Which I suppose it was until day 13 and 183 miles … Continue reading

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To the bars!

We woke up determined to move. To hell with the weather radio. We were going to paddle. Dawn was chilly but beautiful. Frosty mornings in the woods have a funny rhythm.  

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Wind and Snow

Two days. We got stuck on a little spit of land with tiny trees and shrubs and a leaky tent for two days. After nine beautiful days of paddling through Voyagers National Park and into the BWCA we got the … Continue reading

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Stillness before snow

The day before the snow was perfect. Everything was clear and still. The sky was a cloudless eternal blue. It was beautifully bright without any oppressing heat. The water was glass. Our canoe glided effortlessly as paddles dipped and pulled … Continue reading

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