Memories of My First Canoe Trip by Al Weber


Recently a friend and I began reminiscing about authors and camping. I mentioned, "Sigurd Olson" who lived and wrote of the Minnesota, Boundary Waters Canoe Area in the 1930's. This prompted some really good memories of that area.
 
My, "first" real canoeing and camping trip. I was fifeen years old and along with three  "Hi-Y" friends decided to go canoeing up in Ely MN. "The Boundary Waters Canoe Area.. This was the summer of 1947.

Two friends (brothers) had been Boy Scouts, so, "they kinda planned our trip". We needed tents, sleeping bags,air mattress, etc. So, where does one go shopping on a very limited budget? The Army/ Navy surplus store. Yep, I remember we bought used Air Force mummy down bags (with lots of tape patches). "Two man" Mountain tents of coated nylon. White on one side and green on the other, (wanted to keep dry you know). Patched rubber air mattresses, and a few other items.

  We rode the Greyhound bus up to Ely MN (18 hours?). Visited and ate in many small town cafes in WI and MN. Always, the friendly gal asking, "what'll ya have, hon?"

We arrived and stayed in a motel (5 bucks/ nite). Went to our outfitters, "Wilderness Outfitters", the next day for the rest of our gear needed for our two weeks.

Then, the four of us went grocery shopping, (without a list I think)!! Imagine the amount of food the four of us came out with!

  We went back to the outfitters and began to organize and pack everything. (No freeze dry stuff available back then). Think we slept in their warehouse with our packs and canoes that night. Must have had at least 100 pounds of canned goods, plus, flour,coffee, oats, fresh meats, etc.

  The next day we headed out. This was our first time ever paddleling (17' Grumman canoes).

Our outfitters enjoyed watching those, "Chicago boys" zig zag across Fall lake in their loaded canoes. Probably thought we'd never return. Our biggest  challange was figuring out where we were. Our maps were good, too, showed every island on all the lakes. That was the problem, every island blended into the shoreline behind. Everything looked the same, Green Trees. 

After a few missed goals we made it to our first planned campsite, (we thought). Anyways, we "made camp". The tents went up, drainage ditches dug, canoes on shore, fire pit arranged. Food began to appear from the huge canvas packs. Pots were soon boiling. Steaks on the grill. What a life!

After dinner and clean up, we sat around the fire listening to all the strange forest sounds. The stars overhead seemed closer than I've ever seen them.

 "It's been a big day we better get some sleep", someone said.

We crawled into our tiny mountain tents. Spread out our fluffy down sleeping bags on our fully inflated air mattress.  Closed the tent opening and even tied the vent closed, (just in case it rained), we were snug as bugs in a rug.

  Now it was dark and those forest sounds seemed louder.

I kept rolling off my air mattress into Russ. (Lesson #1, blow up air mattress partially for best comfort). Finally, out of exhaustion I fell asleep. The next morning, I felt water running down my face!

As I looked around I could see feathers all around me, stuck to the wet walls inside our tent. We didn't realize that a tent needs to breath or vent out the moisture we generate while breathing, or moisture appears. (Lesson #2 always be certain that your tent can breath).
  

  Day two (of 12)
We began our tent site cleanup and sleeping bag patching. (did anyone bring tape, band aids)?

Breakfast of bacon and eggs, hot coffee. Canoes were loaded, checks of any gear left behind. We reviewed our maps and were determined to find our,"portage" without any problems.

  Headed north on, Newton and Pipestone lakes, to Basswood lake. I remember that this was one big lake. We stopped to register with a Canadian Ranger on an island. Then continued our voyage North, missed a few turns but found our "Portage" to the next lake.

  We then found out that most of these portages are all Uphill. Those food packs were killers. Who brought all these heavy can goods? How many trips did we make? Many, tripping on the same rocks on each trip. 

  We hurried to make camp before dark as we wanted to eat as much food as we could, to lighten our loads. After all, "we could always catch fish to eat". (Lesson #3 never count on eating "off the land, or lakes").

  Days three and four 
  The next morning we continued our travels North. Each day blended into the next and we became stronger paddlers, and more confident, "woodsmen". We had not seen another party of canoeists in our travels. We did meet up with a Boy Scout group on about our 4th day. They were breaking camp and heading back.  A bear had come into their camp the previous night. Tore a hole in their tent and walked across some sleeping Scouts to get at some snack/food. (lesson # 4 , Never, ever, keep any food in your tent). We parted with some of our canned goods, and the Scouts were happy.

  Day five
The meeting with the Scouts and their leaders gave us some concerns. If a bear came into a camp of a dozen noisy kids, what would one do with a small party of four? We stayed at a great campsite that we found. There was a log table and benches. This was a place to enjoy, rest up and, "goof off". Pretty soon the unloaded canoes were racing around with four naked guys, hollering. The canoes flew, without our all our gear.

As we paddled back to camp, we saw some movement, a bear had found us. (this campsite was probably listed with all the bears as a good place to eat).

We shouted and banged our paddles on the canoe sides. Was the bear concerned? Nope! He looked up for a minute and continued to investigate our camp site. Our food packs were hanging from small trees but he found enough snacks and garbage around to be happy. When the bear left we came ashore, got dressed and looked around. He sure left a mess.

Fortunately, the tents and sleeping bags were not bothered, he  went after the jars of peanut butter and jam on the table, and the bags of bread.

  We began to plan our defenses for the night. Cleaned up all traces of food after dinner and stored our food bags in tree branches. Strung up rope with pots and pans hanging around our tents as an early alarm. (remember, WW II had just ended and, "we were being attacked").

I remember that one of the brothers slept with our camp hatchet in his hand all night. The next day we continued on our way to Lake Agnes. We stayed on an island that night. (Lesson #5, Do not use air mattresses as floatation toys, all were leaking air, and we were now sleeping on the hard ground).

  Days 6~10
On Lake Agnes we swam (it was cold), fished (caught a few) and explored (found Loon's nest and were chased by both parents). We ate up most of the food except what was needed to return to our starting point on Fall Lake.

  Days 11 and 12
  Heading back, we organized and packed up our gear, cleaned up our campsite and headed back to civilization. Now, the "portages" were all down hill! The canoes no longer zigged, but went (almost) straight as we paddled. We all had a new found confidence with this Widerness experience.
 
Note:
  Today, "The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness" (BWCAW) is a part of the "National Wilderness Preservation System", established in 1965. This area along with Quetico Provencial Park in Canada is visited by many canoeing enthusiasts each year. The same canoe trip today would require paid permits and following all rules and guidelines (no cans allowed, for one). Al Weber

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Ely named state's best hometown
Ely bestowed a special honor in Minnesota. From the Ely ECHO:

by Tom Coombe

Just in time for the busy tourist season, Ely has landed another honor that could help in bringing even more visitors to the area.

Minnesota Moments magazine has named Ely its 2010 "Best Hometown" award winner.

The community will be featured in the magazine's July/August edition, set to be on newsstands in July.

The feature in Minnesota Moments, which has circulation of about 10,000, is just the latest in what has been a long list of awards, recognition and acknowledgments for Ely.

All seem to have a common theme - promoting Ely as a destination point and a haven for outdoor recreation.

The publicity only helps Ely's efforts to promote the region, according to Linda Fryer, the Ely Chamber of Commerce's administrative director.

"With all of them, the recognition is great," said Fryer. "And it seems like every time we get named it's a different demographic, so that certainly helps us."

This marks the third year that Minnesota Moments has named a top hometown in Minnesota.

Cities are chosen by magazine staff, based on nominations submitted by readers of the magazine.

Fryer said she had "no clue" the recognition was coming but that it carried extra significance given that it was reader-driven.

According to a news release issued by the magazine, the award is "presented to a town that typifies what Minnesota is all about: solid citizens, great businesses, wonderful recreation opportunities."

Ely follows previous winners Cold Spring (2008) and Hutchinson (2009) in receiving the honor. Minnesota Moments is based in Cold Spring, located in central Minnesota.

A three percent local lodging tax generates over $200,000 annually and is used to market the Ely region across the upper Midwest.

Those dollars have been used to pay for advertising as well as off-the-wall marketing spoofs including Ely's Obsessive Compulsive Fishing promotion and elaborate April Fool's Day spoofs that have included a fictitious Ely Olympic bid, a "sale" of Ely to Canada, and giving Dairy Queen naming rights to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

But according to Fryer, recognition as a top fishing town by Field of Stream Magazine or MSN's selection of Ely as one of America's best outdoor towns, brings additional free publicity.

"It helps us get the word out about Ely to people we might not necessarily get to through our advertising," said Fryer.

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the pants are back!!!