Thinking about a Boundary Waters trip with my son and maybe my girlfriend and her son. Curious for feedback on your experiences and how to go about planning a trip? I have some mobility issues and am concerned about portages, etc.... Also curious about what you'd recommend for timing. I'm thinking early to mid September. Thinking it might be less buggy, and less crowded, but hoping it might still be possible to get in the water. How did you decide on which outfitter to use, getting permits, your route, gear, etc...? May be too late for this year, but I've never been and it's a bucket list thing so even if I can't this year, I'm thinking future years.
Apologies…
I just saw this…
Having spent 17 days there back when I was a teenager my advice is: don’t do it…
While it’s a beautiful place, with great fishing (if you like pike), it turns into conditions that would make a Marine DI smile when you affect a portage…
Seemingly, every biting, blood sucking, insect living in North America makes their home there and as soon as you step out of your canoe they all do their utmost to make you their personal entree… Ticks, No See-ums, black flies, horse flys, along with any other of type of bug that might think they can make a meal of you, plus a uniquely vicious breed of mosquito that’s evolved to be able to feed off bear and moose with their primary breeding grounds being the marshes you’ll be portaging through…
Add a 65 pound canoe, a couple of paddles draped over your shoulders, and a 50 plus pound pack on your back and you’ve set yourself up to experience a sort of misery that would make the Marquis de Sade wish he’d thought of it…
Literally nearly anywhere else would make for a better vacation experience (in my opinion)…
Pro Tip: If you do go don’t wear sandals when portaging…; you don’t want to become one of the horror stories about leeches laying their eggs in your leech wound hidden under the sandals strap…
@76-1 Ha Ha, not what I was expecting! Honestly, I think the bugs can be mitigated by the season. I was planning on early September and from what I understand, bugs are much less then. But, you're review does give me pause. I have mobility issues, and the portaging is a concern. My plan was to pick a route with few portages and maybe just establish a base camp and stay. I know that won't get me to the best backcountry sights and fishing, but it's my reality this year. Maybe I'll put it off a year and see if I can get some of my mobility back. Thanks for the post though! Important to consider all sides when planning a trip like this.
On my bucket list is the boundary waters.
Now after 76-1 ... I think I'll find a guided boat fishing trip on some more open water near the ( boundary of the? ) boundary waters lol.
@openwheel In fairness, I'm not sure 76-1's review is totally fair, although it's great to consider the challenges so a trip like that is not overly romanticized. But, I think a lot of his issues could be planned for or around. I think by going in the first 2 weeks of September, bugs will be greatly minimized. I don't know anyone who portages up there in sandals. Boots or muck boots are the standard based on what I've read or heard. Most of the canoes are a much lighter kevlar or composite that are <50lbs.
But, it did make me reconsider if this is something I really want to do. I've at least decided not to try it this year and put it off so I can see if I can improve my mobility and fitness and not have to rush planning. Isle Royale would be a cool substitute with (I think) fewer portage challenges, but still great back country sites, including possibly moose and wolves, and great fishing. As it is, I think I'm going to do a multi-night canoe trip, maybe back to the Big South Fork this fall.
If you leave for Isle Royale from Houghton or Copper Harbor, Michigan, you would be right near me. I sometimes have seen the boat heading out, when Im driving in to work. Welcome to come hang out!
Some folks from work do Isle Royale every few years. They really like it. Hike, camp, catch some fish.
@openwheel I haven't looked into Isle Royale, but watch an adventure guy on youtube who just did a week up there through the interior and then back around on Superior. Harrowing in a canoe. Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald would be playing in my head the whole way! Looked awesome though and he caught some whopper lakers, pike and a brook trout.
If I get up there, I'll definitely look you up! That would be fun!