Not Your Average Camping
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” - John Muir
Every year, Andy and I make it a point to take a group of friends on a canoe-camping trip up to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, situated on the Minnesota-Canadian border. The BWCA is a 1,090,000 acre protected wilderness area located within the Superior National Forest, containing some of the purest water in the world. Combined with the Superior National Forest, it contains 20% of all fresh water in the entire National Forest System.
We were first introduced to this serene and precious wilderness by my cousin, Josh, and his wife, Kate, who took us on a trip about 5 years ago. Kate warned us ahead of time that this is not your average camping trip. There would be little to no “comforts” on this trip. No cellphone service, no air mattress in your tent, no outhouses. You’ll be sleeping on the ground, with nothing standing between you and any curious wildlife except for a thin piece of nylon fabric. You will not be relaxing at one campsite—no—we’ll be on the move every day—tearing down camp each morning and setting up in a new location each night, in order to complete the route. You also can’t wear normal clothing. No cotton allowed! Quick-dry clothing only. Wool socks, Gortex, fleece, or polyester. Remember to bring your Keens water shoes. Oh, and don’t forget to pack light! Everything you bring will need to be carried on your back (and your front), including your canoe.
The Boundary Waters is made up of 1100 lakes and hundreds of miles of rivers and streams, but about 80% of the area is forest. Much of our travel is done by canoe, paddling across deep, pure, remote, glacially formed lakes. But, depending on your route, on average around 25% of your travel is by land—trekking through the wilderness to get from one lake to the next—known as “portaging.” This also means you need an expert navigator who knows how to read a map and operate a compass. Remember—no cell service or gps when in the Boundary Waters.
There’s no doubt that this is not the type of “vacation” for the faint of heart. It’s certainly intimidating, but even more so rewarding. It takes a great amount of planning, physical well-being, and a solid mental state to make it work. But after experiencing the beauty, solitude, and majesty of the Boundary Waters, we were hooked.
As I mentioned earlier, Andy and I make it a point to get back to the Boundary Waters every year. We started coordinating our own trips now that Josh and Kate have since moved away and started a family. I’ve taken on the role of route planning, meal prep, researching, booking permits, camp chef, and navigator. Andy has become the ox. He’s the muscle in the paddle, the lumberjack, the ultimate fisherman, the pack mule, the fish filet-er, the fire starter, and he’s in charge of all the gear (sometimes he even does the dishes). Together, we have evolved into a solid team. Not one of us could do it without the other, and that’s precisely how we like it.
When in the Boundary Waters, you need to have a system that works—not only for the nature of the environment you’re placing yourself into, but for you personally, as well as your group. Josh and Kate had their own system which we learned a lot from, and then altered to fit our desires and needs. They were very weight and space conscious—freeze dried food and a strict, set packing list with no extras allowed. We loosened up a bit on a few aspects and brought a couple of additional “luxury items” that we didn’t have when on the trip with Josh and Kate. For example, Flex-light aluminum camp chairs are now a must-have; truly a back saver after paddling and portaging heavy packs all day. Much better than hunching over a log around the campfire—plus, they only weight about a pound each and pack up real small.
We also spruced up the menu. Goodbye and good riddance, freeze dried food! Helllllloooo you delectable ribeye, you. Bring on the mac n’ cheese, quesadillas, REAL potatoes, scrambled eggs, sautéed veggies, and pancakes! Your food pack may be heavier, but we all agree that it’s so worth it. Besides, the more ya eat, the lighter the pack gets ;)
Cooking and eating good food in the wilderness has become one of our favorite parts of the entire experience. There’s just something about it. Honestly, you deserve it and your body NEEDS a quality meal in order to keep going. Protein, carbs, veggies, and fat. All wonderful things. Add in some boxed wine, and you’re golden.
You might be wondering how we keep food like this with no refrigeration. The ribeye’s get devoured on night #1. We vacuum seal fresh vegetables the day before our trip, and they keep pretty well like that. Items like tortillas (in place of bread because bread goes smoosh), pancake mix, pasta, and potatoes keep anyways. Fresh eggs from our chickens require no refrigeration if left unwashed. But it does get to a point where we run out of meat. And this is when it gets good. It’s every one of our Wisconsinite selves favorite meal… FISH FRY! Since the Boundary Waters is known for its pristine fishing opportunities, there’s never any shortage of fish to fry. Andy takes care of fileting the day’s catch—Northern Pike have the best flavor; Walleye make the best filets. In the meantime, I whip up the beer batter and get the oil hot. With the squirt of a lemon, it’s the best beer battered fish fry you will ever eat.
Not everyone is cut out for this kind of trip—for living out of a canoe for a week and roughing it out in the elements. For being okay with not seeing any other humans for days. For truly appreciating and respecting the wilderness. For keeping a positive and determined attitude when things go south, because there will always be a few bumps on the trail.
A Boundary Waters trip will very much test relationships between group members. We are extremely selective on who gets to go, and we feel blessed to have a handful of solid, driven individuals who join us on our journeys. Everyone tends to naturally fall into their role.
Experiencing the wonders of the BWCA really bonds you to one another. You lean on each other. You develop this particular kind of friend-love that you don’t have with the others. It’s not weird, it’s great. Andy and I have such appreciation for our Boundary Waters comrades.
There are a lot of perks to living in the wilderness for a week. You feel more purposeful. The things you do are more intentional. Life slows down and you become present. No more hustle and bustle—just, survive and enjoy. You become in tune with the land—with the wind, water, wildlife, weather, and with God.
Your senses heighten as you take in the earthy smells of cedar, pine, wet leaves, dirt, ash. Clothes smelling of campfire smoke and deet.
Run your fingers through unwashed hair. Feel the grit under your fingernails and the freedom of a makeup-free face. Dip into cool, pristine waters. Feel the pine needle-carpeted floor beneath your feet.
Taste the lush, wild blueberries; the juicy, freshly caught fish as it melts in your mouth. Indulge in a fresh drink of the mineral-rich water.
Watch the sun sink below the pines, radiating pink and orange across the big sky. Gaze at the billions of stars overhead. At dawn, if you look closely, you see a moose cow and her calf taking a morning dip across the lake.
Listen to the water lap against the side of your canoe, and the whoosh of your bent paddle plunging into the lake; the lovely and soothing song of the White Throated Sparrow, and the eerily enchanting call of the Loon.
If you haven’t already figured it out, this wilderness holds a special place in mine and Andy’s hearts. Heck, we even got engaged there.
But this sacred place is in danger. The Boundary Waters is currently under threat by sulfide-ore copper mining. Industrial mines have been proposed on the edge of the wilderness, within the BWCA watershed. Pollution from these mines will flow directly into the heart of the Boundary Waters, and research states that even one single mine will continually pollute the wilderness for 500+ years.
As I stated above, the Boundary Waters contains some of the purest water in the world, and 20% of all fresh water in the U.S. National Forest System. It also borders Lake Superior which is the largest and least polluted of the Great Lakes. It would be a shame to spoil such a precious natural resource that has been protected for so long.
But the fight isn’t over yet! And you can help. The Save The Boundary Waters campaign was organized by local residents who are dedicated to creating a national movement to protect the pure water, clean air, and unspoiled forest landscape of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its watershed from toxic pollution caused by mining copper, nickel, and other metals from sulfide-bearing ore. To learn more, sign the petition, or donate, visit savetheboundarywaters.org.
This blog post is dedicated to Josh and Kate. We love you guys, and are grateful for your introducing us to such a precious place. Cheers to your new adventures in Alaska ♡
