In the second session, two rounds of trips go out, the first being 4-6 days long, and the second being 8 or more days. This second round is where the real adventures start, and this year is no exception. A few days ago, two groups headed for Lake Superior (known as the Grand Portage trip) and one deep into the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada. These trips will cover a wide range of lakes, traveling 100s of miles over the course of 10 days. They’ll paddle into some of the most remote areas in the region and set foot in areas people simply don’t go.
For the younger and less experienced campers, trips tend to stay a little closer to home and the familiarity of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. But that doesn’t mean they’re not in for an adventure. Several trips will explore the border lakes between the U.S. and Canada, paddling along the “Voyageur Highway” as it known locally. This is the route the french Voyageurs used to take to reach the interior trading posts. This includes the larger lakes of Basswood, Lac La Croix, and Crooked Lake. These lakes are often the destination of people’s vacations that they’ll plan out a year in advanced!
So regardless of age and destination, campers are in for a wilderness adventure. And these groups don’t just push for miles each day. They’ll stop to enjoy every waterfall along the way (weather depending), lash their canoes and create a sailboat, or learn to build a survival debris shelter. One group has boasted that they’re going to try and cook an apple pie on the trail… we’ll need pictures to believe them of course.
Though the weather has certainly challenged some of the groups already with a bit of rain these past few days, the moisture has brought cooler weather and lighter winds, assuring easier travel. Check out our gallery on SmugMug!
