The epitome of serene
Written: Aug 13 '01
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Pros: Clean, well-respected, abundant wildlife, good fishing, nice campsites, inexpensive
Cons: you cannot stay forever
The Bottom Line: If you have a passion for nature this is the place for you. It's a quiet, well respected/protected area with much to offer.
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| teamsporttrac's Full Review: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness |
This was my first visit to the Boundary Waters and it was much more rewarding than I could ever imagine. I went with 3 other couples, so in comparison to most other parties we saw, ours was a little larger. The old saying "there is strength in numbers" became evident on some of the longer portages (over 300 rods) as we swapped gear and equipment along the way to make to portage more bearable.
On day one, it was wet, rainy and muddy. This was when we had our longest (and initial) portage into the wilderness. This was my first exposure and I thought I was doomed! 300 rods of carrying a backpack that is way too heavy (35% of my body weight) was a little much. The terrain of this portage was rocky, hilly, and overgrown. However, this was the worst of the trip. Once this portage was completed, the rest was a breeze.
We were in the Boundary Waters for 5 days, Monday-Friday. We didn't see a single person until Wednesday. Even then, the sighting of another human was rare. But on Friday as we got closer to our final destination (Poplar), we began to see several parties. At the last portage we waited for a church group that had roughly 30 members. I heard that July was one of the busiest months, but it was never obvious until now.
Unfortunately we went at a time of a fire ban due to dry & warm conditions. The fire ban went into effect the Saturday before our trip, and was lifted the Saturday after our trip. Even though we couldn't have campfires, the nights were great. I never knew so much activity happened in the night sky.
Fishing was good. We caught several Pike, a few Smallmouth Bass, and 2 Walleye. We also saw 2 bald eagles,loons (of course), a variety of ducks, beavers, turtles, and a family of 4 moose in the water.
I've never breathed air so clean and saw the sky so clear. While some of the portages may be hard work, the reward is well worth the effort. I know I'm a bit biased since I've never been to another place like this, but the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is awesome - I'm already making plans for next year!
Oh more thing, don't forget rain gear and good boots. Those two things can make or break your vacation.
Recommended:
Yes
Best time to go: June-August
Recommended for: Anybody
Review Topic: Overview
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Epinions.com ID:
teamsporttrac
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Location: Kansas City, MO USA
Reviews written: 24
Trusted by: 3 members
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