In May of 1992, my father and I went to the Boundary Waters together with seven other people (students and faculty of Northern State University, the college I attended.) Our trip lasted 10 days, went 85 water miles, and 15 portage miles. We travelled up into Canada to Silver Falls and Cache Bay. The ice had only recently broke. The water was crystal clear. And we froze our BUTTS off. We actually canoed through snow squalls on the last day out! But we saw the true beauty of the area and decided we wanted to go again. Thus begins the story...
1993
We sit down and determine we could go to the BWCA for 7 days, travel 1 or 2 days in, set up a base camp, and allow people to do whatever they want for the next 3-4 days. At the end of which, we could canoe out and come home. We get everything together, apply for permits, and have a list of people ready to go. Unfortunately, we did not require a deposit, or the entire fee due until time of the trip. The last few months before we were to go, almost everyone cancelled. Thus, we learned lesson #1: Deposit required by February, total balance due shortly after. You cancel, you lose your $$. Thank you for paying for OUR trip. Yes, we didn't get to go that year, no we didn't like it!
1994
We're smarter now. Deposits are in, people are signed up. This year, things go well. We stop over in Ely for shopping, etc, then we're off on a week of peace and quiet. Oh yeah, forget the fact my jeep blows up and we have to rent a car in Fargo to get to Ely and back.
1995
Another successful trip. The time in the Boundary Waters is good. Everyone has a nice time. Only this year, lets forget the fact that my power window goes out on my Buick on the way up at 3:00 am and it's raining. Lets see, think this was the year that there was a bear in the campground where we left our vehicles while we were out in the "bearless" wilderness :)
1996
The year of my wedding. My wife and I spend our honeymoon up here with, I dunno, something like 7 other guys. It's her first REAL camping adventure. The first half the trip it rains on us. When it's not raining the bugs are vicious. Learned lesson #2 this year: never plan a trip in a low-lying area. Watch for those marsh symbols on the map as we plan our trip. Amazingly, I convince my wife to return in '97. For once, no CAR TROUBLE, thank the Lord! Oh, we also insert a stop in Duluth this year on the way up. Not that much further to go and very beautiful scenery.
1997
Once more we go to the Boundary Waters near Ely. We also continue the tradition of stopping in Duluth on the way up. Unfortunately, we restart the tradition of car trouble, this time in Ely as we are heading home. It was an easy fix once we found a radiator repair shop. This year the weather was great, campsite was great, people were great. It was fantastic. I learned my personal lesson #1 here: Don't forget to include your wife in things. Sorry honey, I still feel bad about that. Thus I promise 1998, I'll be better.
1998
Well, this year we went through Grand Marais and up the Gunflint Trail. Yes, we did stop in Duluth, and boy, the Duluth Pack Store sure is nice. They're in a new building you know! No car trouble this year (thank you Lord). We ended up with 7 people, down from a list of 12 earlier in the year. Regrettfully, I have to note we will not return to the east side. We did not have the wonderful experience we were hoping for, so we will be returning to Ely. Weather held for us, a few cloudy days, but only a little sprinkle of rain. We left just before the fires started (good timing.) I had some difficulty finding good pictures this year. My wife says I was trying to hard. I hate it when she's right! 1998 did give us some excellent shots though, especially of a moose we came upon. More of "lessons for future trips"...have fun and let things come to you.
1999
We missed the exit we wanted, so we hit Duluth at the end of the trip instead of the beginning. Had a good trip. Easy routes with one tough portage. Water levels seemed quite high for August. The wife was sick for the first half of the trip. I had a toothache for the last half of the trip. That didn't work well for us. Had great weather, saw lots of birds, but also lots of mosquitoes. Had a new camera this year, so the pictures weren't quite as good. It didn't help that the developer thought my night shots were underexposed and tried to make them come out like daylight shots! No car trouble! Guess it was a pretty good year considering!
2000
Whahoo! We finally remembered the Wahpeton exit! Had breakfast in Breckenridge. That small town's changed some in the last couple years. Had a good trip. Easy routes with one tough, ugly portage with lots of mud and knee-high air pockets. Water levels seemed low, but they may have been normal for September. The brake master cylinder went out on us, continuing our automotive misfortune! After almost hitting an Intrepid in a small town and a Durango in Duluth, then running a stop light or two in Virginia, we stopped there to fix it! Had ok weather, one day of rain and one day of blustery winds. We saw lots of birds, including getting within 80 yards of a bald eagle! Best of all, NO mosquitoes. Lots of algae in the water though :( The pictures were great this year, very tough to narrow down. On the return trip, the starter went out in Duluth right in the middle of downtown! So much fun!@$# Guess it was a pretty good year considering! Looks like we'll be going up in early September again next year.
2001
I wasn't able to attend. They had breakfast in Breckenridge. That small town's changed some in the last couple years. Had a good trip. The only information I received was that dad forgot to load film in his camera, so no pictures. We met them in Ely and put them in the water. They went through Snobank Lake to Disappointment Lake in early September again. This is becoming our preferred time of year to enter.
2002
The wife wasn't able to attend, she was recovering from L5-S1 spine surgery. She let me go without her however (I think it was to get me out of her hair.) Drove from Minneapolis, MN to Aberdeen, SD Friday with only 3 hours of sleep. Replaced a water pump at home before we left on the Jeep. Got another 3-4 hours sleep and left the house around 2:30-2:45am Saturday morning. Left Aberdeen around 3am. Had breakfast in Breckenridge again and lunch in Duluth. We just missed the tanker beached in Duluth. Took Hwy 2 to Ely where we shopped Saturday night. We put in late Sunday morning on Mudro. Had a good week on Boot Lake and were back at Chainsaw Sisters enjoying a pop by 10:30am. Back in Ely by 1:30pm where we were able to catch the wolves out at the Wolf Center and able to view a movie on wolf re-introduction in Yellowstone. Had to weld the canoe trailer at the outfitters as the wind was SOOO strong coming to Ely. It broke welds everywhere! The trip home also was windy and broke welds. At one point near Fergus Falls the canoe trailer had the left wheel off the ground several times...up to 5"! Should have some great pictures of storms, eagles, loons, and sunsets.
2003
The significant other wasn't able to attend again, her back just isn't ready. She let me go without her (I think she knows it's better than trying to stop me.) Drove from Minneapolis, MN to Aberdeen, SD Friday. Nothing like adding 12 hours to your drive time! Got 3-4 hours sleep and left the house around 2:30-2:45am Saturday morning. Left Aberdeen around 3am. Had breakfast in Breckenridge again and lunch in Duluth. We stayed at a different bunkhouse south of Ely. It was nice, but we'll most likely return to CCO. We put in late Sunday morning on South Kawishiwi River. Had interesting weather on Gabbro, some good - some bad. Back in Ely Friday afternoon where we attended the annual fall festival and enjoyed DM Rootbeer! Should have some great pictures of clouds, stars, and sunsets.
2004-2005-2006
No write-ups at this time. Webmaster was unable to attend these years.
2007-2008
No trip these years :( Let's look toward next year.
At the present time, we leave Aberdeen, SD around 3:00am on day one. From there we go to Ely. We stay at Canoe Country Outfitters on the first and last nights so we get a meal not cooked over a fire, good (warm) shower, and soft bed. All this, plus travel, permits, and camp fees are added up to determine cost. That runs around $200.00. THIS IS FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK OF CAMPING, CANOEING, AND ANYTHING ELSE WE WANT TO DO. There are the meals on the road to and from the Boundary Waters, as well as any souveniers, personal supplies, etc we decide to buy on the trip. We usually go in late summer, but work to accomodate as many people as we can. We require the deposit of $100 by February 1st to reserve a slot on the trip (this is NON-REFUNDABLE even though we are all friends, see 1993 trip again for why!) Amazing how things change since 1994. That first trip cost $100.00, now it's double to pay for gas!
Are you thinking about taking your friends to the BWCAW? Feel free to use this as a guide for your planning. If you would like some help planning your own trip for you and your friends, please E-Mail me (Mike Thelen) at aotiel@nvc.net or John Thelen at jtthelen@nvc.net we'll help as much as we can.
As always, thank you for visiting my site. I hope you return often and bring friends.
Comments or suggestions Email always welcome.