"The trip to the Boundary Waters was wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Thanks for the perfect trip: talented guides, beautiful wilderness, great women, delicious food." MMatthews, Fairbanks, AK
Highlights:
- Paddling in the BWCA, the premiere canoe wilderness
- Sunbathing and swimming in pristine lakes
- Learning or refining paddle strokes and canoe camping skills
- Hearing the wild call of the loon echo around the lake
- Watching for otters, beaver, and moose visiting the many bogs nearby
- Discovering that portaging isn't nearly as bad as you thought and well worth it for the magnificent places it takes you
After the summer crowds have left, the quiet beauty of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) rewards paddlers who explore the winding rivers, scenic lakes, and deep woodlands of this protected area. In September the air is crisp and the fall colors are starting. On our autumn canoe journey, we travel through a chain of lakes, picking a route that fits our desire to balance seeing as much as possible with having time to relax. Please join us for a wonderful autumn adventure!
This trip is for: any woman in basic good health. Beginning canoeists are offered the training they need to build new skills with confidence. More experienced paddlers have ample opportunity to improve their techniques and learn new wilderness living and traveling skills.
Accommodations:
- one night at a campground right outside the BWCA
- five nights camping in designated campsites, each with a pit toilet and a firegrate, and sleep in two or three woman tents.
Maximum group size: 7
Trip price: $995 (deduct $50 for registration by 5/7/08). $200 deposit.
Trip price includes:
- experienced guides
- BWCA permits
- meals and snacks from dinner on Sunday through breakfast on Saturday
- all group canoeing and camping equipment
- transportation from Duluth to Ely is available on a cost-share basis
Trip starts: at 1 pm at our outfitters store in Ely, MN. If you need transportation, plan to be ready to leave Duluth, MN at 10 am
Trip ends: at noon at the canoe landing. If you need transportation, you can plan to be back in Duluth, MN by 3 pm and fly out after 4pm (we may adjust this once fall flight schedules are known)
More information: a summary of all this information, packing list front and back, and general information (must have Adobe Acrobat Reader)
For pictures from previous trips, click here.
To learn more about Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, visit www.friends-bwca.org.
Register for this trip or Contact us for more information
Itinerary
September 7: The trip begins at 1 p.m. Sunday at the outfitters in Ely. We have a brief orientation and then drive together to the campground, where we set up our first campsite, review some paddling and safety skills, and share a welcome dinner. If you are taking advantage of the shared transportation from Duluth, plan to leave about 10 a.m.
September 8 - 12: In the morning we travel to Lake One, where our paddling adventure begins. During our journey, we learn the rhythms of paddling and portaging, closing our days with a hearty meal, stories around the campfire, or an evening paddle to do some stargazing. Our food is delicious and there's plenty of it. The exact route will depend on the desires of the group- we may choose to try to pack in a lot of miles or to set a more leisurely pace. Some days are full and we travel far, while others are downright restful. We also plan for a layover day, when we stay at one campsite for two nights.
Sometimes people ask what do we do if some women want one kind of trip and some the other. The answer is that we find a campsite around lunchtime. Those who want to paddle more can then spend the afternoon exploring the area around there while others can choose to relax in camp.
September 14: On Saturday we return to the canoe landing by noon. Usually we stop by our canoe outfitter for a hot shower and then go into the town of Ely for lunch at the Chocolate Moose. There is a great store right next to the restaurant (Piragis Outfitters) that is a good place to get souvenirs or all of the gear that you just learned you need. You can plan to be back in the Duluth by 3:00 p.m. that day.
Register for this trip or Contact us for more information
