Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Superior National Forest, MN
September 13-21, 2024
Co-Trip Leaders: John Carlson and Janice Windes
Type of Trip: Canoeing/Camping
Trip Cost/Deposit: $996/$500
Cancellation Date and full payment: June 30, 2024
Wilderness Level: 4
Trip Difficulty: Less than 50 miles paddling total; less than 10 miles paddling one day max; BWCA is always cool with waves; Estimated 20+ portages, longest less than a mile; terrain includes hills with rocks and roots
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
Level 3: Applies to backpacking trips in which we hike with 25-35 pound backpacks. In one day, we can hike up to 7 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 5 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged trails. For a Level 3 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack.
Group Size: 6/6 Maximum/Minimum
Adults Only
***Before registering***
While considering your participation in CIWC trips, be aware that some trips will involve shared transportation, lodging, and other activities. Each participant is encouraged to evaluate your comfort level with such arrangements based on your health condition, vaccination status, and unknown COVID positivity rates at the time of the trip. Members are encouraged to review the COVID waiver as a part of this evaluation.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is over 1 million acres of wilderness where the glaciers left behind rugged cliffs, canyons, gentle hills, towering rock formations, rocky shores, sandy beaches and thousands of lakes and streams, interspersed with islands and surrounded by forest. This unique area is located in northeastern Minnesota along the Canadian border. Join the crew for a week-long early fall trip paddling and portaging lightweight Kevlar canoes through this amazing wilderness enjoying the water, beautiful scenery, wildlife, and ending our days with the milky way stretching out overhead like a blanket. This trip will be a combination of canoeing and portaging (hiking between bodies of water). This is a level 4 trip due the remoteness of the area and physical requirements to paddle a canoe and carry gear and canoes.
Who Should Participate in this Trip:
This trip will be suited for those new to the Boundary Waters or those with canoe tripping experience. The route is planned for a beginner friendly group. However, you should have some backcountry camping experience. At times we will be two days or more from a road access. You will need to be a good physical shape in order to carry weight over portages and be able camp in remote places over the better part of a week. See prerequisites below. If you want to experience wilderness travel at its best, you’ll want to go canoe camping in the Boundary Waters. If needed, Introduction to Canoe Camping can be your qualifying event.
Prerequisites:
- Introduction to Canoe Camping or similar experience (check with leaders)
- Ability to Carry 40-45 lb. Packs and Canoes Over Portages.
- A pre-trip meeting may be necessary to go over gear needs, packing requirements and trip logistics in general.
The two day ride up will allow for a relaxed drive, overnighting at a Wisconsin hotel providing an opportunity to organize personal and crew gear saving time at the outfitters in Ely. We’ll also may have time to stop in Duluth and have more time in Ely before bunking down the night to get a good night’s rest before hitting the water. After we come off the water we’ll get showers at the outfitters, eat lunch in Ely and start the two-day drive back home.
Questions may be submitted to ciwcinfo@gmail.com.
All trip participants must fill out and submit a CIWC Medical Form and Long Waiver Form.
Effective on all trips, there will be a $50 nonrefundable registration fee. This fee will be assessed to those who sign up for a trip, get on the roster and then later cancel. Even cancelling before the cancel date. Those who never make the active roster (i.e. those who stay on the waitlist) will NOT be charged the $50 cancellation fee.
