BWCA – A PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE : (Part 3 of 3 part series)
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area – BWCA located within the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota offers adventure, wilderness, canoeing, portaging and camping opportunities can be a perilous wilderness adventure.
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“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.”
Edward Abbey
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) located within the Superior National Forest in Northern Minnesota offers adventure, wilderness, canoeing, portaging and camping opportunities. These wilderness adventures should NOT be entered into lightly. Careful planning alongside skilled guidance from others of experience or a professional outfitter’s preparation and route plan are essential to a successful outcome. Even the most skilled, prepared, experienced travelers can experience peril! We did, so be sure to read all three parts of this exciting adventure!!
Our family has been traveling within the BWCA for 20+ years. This hiking (portaging) trip into the wilderness involves navigation of a series of lakes. We fish to eat, and move camp as we go. My first trip was the first summer after I married my husband in 1997. His family had already learned the “smart way” to experience this rugged wilderness through other’s expertise as well as through trial and error. Each year a new way to be smarter or wiser evolves in the group of no more than 9 people and 4 canoes (permit restrictions). From lighter more efficient packed gear, to tastier and easier food ideas, each year we discover new ways of improving the ease of the trips. Greater enjoyment is found through ease of packing when portaging a lighter, smarter pack!
Another BWCA Adventure can be found here: CLICK HERE!
Late July-early August of 2020, we joined forces with my husband’s brothers family once again to return to Adams Lake, a favorite spot for all of us! We departed in the evening on a Thursday and drove through the night from Michigan to Minnesota to arrive at Kawishiwi Lake entrance point #37 at day break.
If you have not read Part #1 of this series then click here to read: BWCA-PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE: (PART 1 OF 3 PART SERIES)
If you have not read Part #2 of this series then click here to read: BWCA-PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE: (PART 2 OF 3 PART SERIES)
PROLOGUE:
I’ve been asked what is so perilous about this adventure… If one has never ventured into the BWCA on a circuit of wilderness over the course of several days then this may very well be a legitimate question because until you experience it, you just really have no idea what you are in for…
Well, to answer this question one must consider the perils of nature first and foremost. Horrific storms have been known to blow into the BWCA from out of nowhere and blow massive trees over on campers. Wind storms have been known to take canoes right up off land and hurl them into the lake stranding campers. Lightning strikes have sparked forest fires that have burned thousands of acres and trapped people in the wilderness.
Awareness of your surroundings and ALWAYS tying off your canoe are paramount. So many things can go wrong when you are 3 days away from your vehicle that is parked 2 hours away from civilization and no cell signal! One miss-step as occurred to our group in Part#2 of this series can alter the entire “planned trip” if leaving to seek medical attention is required. We chose to wait and see how the deeply cut injury fared with bandaging instead of stitches once the blood loss was controlled because we were in such a remote area.
The BWCA can be a dangerous place for BOTH those that are unfamiliar with it AND for those that are experienced…as the story indicates.
This series is aimed at the multitude of novice adventurers flocking to the BWCA. Many have no idea what they are getting into when they venture into wilderness for the first time. Many are not mindful of the trash that is being left behind or the natural wonders that are being destroyed by their lack of stewardship.
Peril does not ONLY necessitate a rogue bear harassing a food pack, severe storms or fire….injuries that require medical attention and alter a trip suffice. Even experienced travelers in the BWCA can experience different degrees of peril, hence the warnings of this post!
PART 3:
BWCA – A PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE
DAY 5 – MOVING BASE CAMP TODAY: FROM ADAMS LAKE TO AMBER LAKE – (approximately 10 miles)
We awoke very early, barely light out, everyone is well seasoned and knows what is expected from the group. Each is responsible for breaking their part of camp and packing their backpack accordingly. The food pack comes down out of the trees and rope rigging is packed away by Charles. The water purifier station and kitchen supplies are drained and packed away by Galen, hobbling on his injured foot. Each retrieves the items that have been carried for community use.
Hot water is boiling in the kitchen area for coffee/cocoa and oatmeal. All rotate to eat while packing up camp and completing morning routines. Hammocks are stowed, tents taken down, and a thorough sweep of the site is completed to ensure that we LEAVE NO TRACE on the earth of our presence here (other than cut firewood for the next traveler that may arrive late in the day and in need of a fire.)
We paddle south out of Adams Lake to the 90 rod portage that will take us back to Beaver Lake. This is the cool portage with the natural stair steps that will be leading down hill this time!
From here we paddle the long length of Beaver Lake around the corner campsite and head towards the Trapline Lake 30 rod portage to take the 60 rod portage on the other end of Trapline Lake into the Kawishiwi River. From here we will paddle approximately 4 miles on the Kawishiwi River into the shallow, narrow entrance of Amber Lake (carved out by beaver movement to keep depth clear.)
Amber Lake campsite must be one of those secrets that no one who discovers shares because it is such a find to keep to yourself! It is fairly unheard of to have such a luxurious sand beach this long (without the customary jutting rock typically found in the BWCA everywhere!)
The campsite is long and mostly water front with an amazing view of this pristine lake complete with a set of beautiful swans off in the distance.
Once we arrived and made camp at this amazing location (set up hammocks/tents, reinstalled our rope pulley system for food storage in trees, set-up water purifier station, and foraged for firewood), ate lunch, and cleaned up, cooled off with a swim, disinfected and rebandaged the wounded…it was nap time or fishing time or whatever one wanted to do for the afternoon. I chose to read on the shore, in the sunshine with the spectacular view. This afternoon was about relaxing!
We had a beef stew (rehydrated beef) over instant mashed potatoes for dinner planned, so fishing was purely recreational this afternoon!
Nature along the way on this trip is amazing! So many beautiful creations that God shares with us, if we only look around and take them in… Do you take time in your travels to reflect on the smallest beauty surrounding you?
“I believe the world is incomprehensibly beautiful an endless prospect of magic and wonder.“
Ansel Adams
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.
Which of all these does not know
that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In His hand is the life of every creature
and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:7-10
I set my hammock up along side my husband’s on the shoreline of the campsite next to the water.
Galen went fishing until almost dark. He is a die-hard fisherman with injuries and all! Catch and release is his game!
The sunset was spectacular, the night peaceful, and the sunrise beautiful from my hammock!
BWCA – A PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE
DAY 6 – DAY TRIP FISHING: FROM AMBER LAKE NE ON THE KAWISHIWI RIVER (towards 40 rod portage northwest of MALBERG LAKE) – (approximately 10 miles-round trip)
PANCAKES for breakfast again this morning with bacon! What a treat in the wilderness! It is a fabulous luxury!! The guys had gone out early fishing on the misty lake morning to catch and release and had success!
A group vote commenced to determine that today we would fish the Kawishiwi River length northeast away from the pictographs. It would be a leisurely day of fishing for our dinner, and we planned a lunch to eat mid day to take with us! It was a restful enjoyable day.
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Check out the lure he made! -
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The groups stringers after a day of fishing!
It was a great day, made even better by the fish dinner and sunset! After dinner and an inspection on the wounded looking for signs of infection, we all transitioned to consider what must be done to prepare for the morning.
This was our last night sleeping in the BWCA as we have a BIG FINISH tomorrow that requires a VERY EARLY START! We crawled into our tents/hammocks for one last time on this trip…
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PIN IT #2 -
PIN IT# 5 -
BWCA – A PERILOUS WILDERNESS ADVENTURE
DAY 7 – THE BIG FINISH: FROM AMBER LAKE TO KAWISHIWI LAKE PUT IN (approximately 24-25 miles)
Like that well oiled machine that we discussed, we broke camp in record time and departed Amber Lake before 7am.
We set a grueling pace led by Jacob and Josh (BIG STRONG FOOTBALL GUYS) like we were in an endurance race! It was a great work out! We were moving at a swift pace. The canoes were actually throwing a wake from the momentum of the kayak paddles thrusting us swiftly through the water! From Amber Lake we backtracked through the Kawishiwi River to the 67 rod portage (the mudhole) into Malberg Lake.
From here we paddled the length of Malberg Lake. The water was very low. Last year we stopped here to play in the waterfall off to the right of this 24 rod portage. We sat down and allowed the water to cool us off as it rushed over us like a natural jacuzzi. You can see from the photos that there is no water in that area now.
After completing this portage into Koma Lake, we paddled the length and navigated our way to the other end of Koma where a series of portages and short paddles began. First, a 127 rod portage awaited us followed by a short paddle leading to a 48 rod portage that again was followed by a short paddle, and finally a 19 rod portage to open up onto Lake Polly.
Lake Polly was a definite dividing line for people. We noticed that not many people traveled north past Lake Polly probably because it is significant work to portage past this point. So, we naturally began to encounter more people on Lake Polly. After a week of seeing no other people, this was odd. We paddled the length of Lake Polly about 3 miles to reach the 95 rod portage at the southern end. Here we encountered a group DOUBLE PORTAGING their gear to Townline Lake. They obviously noted the rate of our movement, as we SINGLE PORTAGE, and drifted off to the side on Townline Lake to allow us to move past them prior to the next 189 rod portage at the end of this short lake that opened up on Kawasachong Lake.
From this point the remaining obstacles to paddling to the finish are 3 beaver damns. Once these are completed it is just a lot of paddling!
After the three beaver dams Square Lake feeds into Kawishiwi Lake river. It is a pretty paddle as shown below.
We were able to complete this paddle in just under 4.5 hours. We were sweaty and ready to cool off with a dip in the lake after we loaded our gear into the vehicle and secured our canoes atop our vehicles.
Jacob and Josh completed the trek 10 minutes prior to us! We tried to catch up to them for the last three lakes, but they were unstoppable in their determination to finish strong.
We tried to move swiftly at the launch as we had a 12 hour drive still ahead of us to return back to Michigan. Our first stop was 1.5 hours down the road in Two Harbors, MN for Pizza and pop at a favorite restaurant.
God travels with each of us daily, not just when we feel close to Him in nature! Start your day talking to Him. Share your burdens, ask for His guidance, plead with Him for wisdom. Put on your protective “armor” each day. Earthly distractions overwhelm. Let God’s grace be a comfort daily. Seek an inner-stillness quest!
Take God along with you throughout each day, don’t shut Him out by not including Him in your life. Especially in these crazy COVID days, seek His guidance, comfort, and peace. His grace IS ENOUGH!
We were truly blessed to have this experience again this summer. What a great respite from hand sanitizer and masks! It was such a blessing to get off the crazy COVID train for a short period and feel normal!
Are you able to figure out a way to keep your sanity amidst all the angst of COVID? Where have you been? What have you done to provide a respite from this ordeal for your family? How are you doing coping?
Leave me a reply below. I really would like to hear from you!
Inspirationally Yours,
Barbara
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BIO: https://www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com/about-us/
About Me
A 1993 graduate of Michigan State University, Barbara earned a BS in Social Science Pre-Law. She is a Business Manager/HR Director. Her passion is travel, discovering new places, experiences, cuisine, cultures while enjoying temperate climates. Barbara is a newly transitioning empty-nester who became a travel blogger. She’s a great photographer, talented writer, and has a great family to highlight in her high school/college athlete football sons.
WEBSITE: www.inspirationaltraveladventures.com
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Barbara Robinson
TRAVEL BLOG🛩 * ADVENTURE🛶 * INSPIRATION🌞 Thanks for exploring our travel blog! We hope to assist you in your next adventure through learning from ours! We are transitioning empty-nesters perpetually seeking our next luxury snorkeling adventure! Daily God’s awe inspiring inspiration surrounds us with all of His natural beauty in every direction if we but slow down to observe. Take a moment each day to ENJOY!
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67 Comments
Holly
What an amazing adventure you had! Things have been difficult for everyone and staying positive and see the beauty in the world around us is the best way to get out of the funk.. great pictures and series!!
Jenna
This looks like a beautiful and peaceful place to relax and get away from city life!
Barbara Robinson
Yes, although we do not live anywhere near a big city. I can imagine it would be a huge transition for some!We live in a resort, rural setting, mostly people with second homes on the lakes enjoying their privacy and acreage.
Linda Egeler
Such an awesome family adventure! That’s an incredible spider web photo. And I love the Edward Abbey quote at the beginning.
Alice
I love how incorporate the Lord in your story. His creation is beautiful! Living in northern Wisconsin I see His beautiful artwork everywhere. Thanks for a great story.
Britney
Wow, you got some beautiful nature shots! Sounds like you guys had an awesome adventure. And I love how everything is broken down with each person with their own set of responsibilities. I’m sure it makes for a well-organized trip. Thanks for sharing your expertise❤️
Chantelle
I have loved this adventure and I love even more how you remember to keep the Lord close to you as you enjoy the beauty he has created
Kristin
Very true words about nature being majestic but needing to be respected. The wilderness is the wilderness! What an amazing adventure, however, for those properly prepared.
Lisa Manderino
This trip was incredible! I can just see how much work it takes to pull off a trip this great!
Megan
what an awesome adventure! I’m sure it took lots of planning, sounds really incredible! How fun you could take others this time!
Erica Pittenger
I have loved folllowing this adventure! I am so jealous! I hope to do overnight hiking soon, our kids are still too young. You are inspirational! We have been hiking more and are loving the break from masks as well. I long to be in the woods all week until I get my wish granted on the weekend! Virginia has some great trails. We spent this past weekend learning about High Birdge and the relation to the Civil War. It was so cool! Thank you for you post, it was wonderful!
Barbara Robinson
Thank you for your words! I would love to explore Virginia! From what we’ve seen when traveling through Virginia, there are many beautiful mountain areas begging to be explored! I’d love to learn more about the available trails for hiking!
Debbie
Just being away from civilization is perilous to me! Enjoying reading about your adventures tho and love that you stop and take in God’s beauty wherever you go.
Sydney Delong
What a gorgeous trip! Your pictures are amazing, and I’m sure don’t even begin to show the beauty of nature around you!
Maria
What a journey!! Your photos are beautiful, and it looks like such beautiful territory there. I think it’s wonderful that you got away from it all and just basked in Gods creating!
Sabrina DeWalt
What a fantastic adventure!
Maggie
Such incredible photos! Love this post!
Leeandra
This looked like an amazing family trip!
Alexis Farmer
Looks like an awesome trip! Love the pictures! Makes me wanna be on the water.
Nissa Haight
What an amazing journey! To have a family to explore with and go on these types of adventures is a rare gem. These memories will last a lifetime!
Barbara Robinson
YOU are correct! I am thankful for my family! Great reminder!
Beth
We did a lot of camping growing up but never anything as adventurous as this wilderness camping – hat’s off! And what gorgeous flower, spiderweb and sun shots.
Kate
Looks like it would a fun family trip.
Bonnie
I loved reading about your trip. Wondering if sleeping in a hammock is more comfortable than a tent?
Barbara Robinson
REMARKABLY YES!!!! It took convincing for me to commit to this idea, but I awoke so refreshed, not stiff, not needing tylenol! 🙂 Best of all if you lay a bit diagonally in these Hennessy Hammocks designed for wilderness camping (with built in bug screens) you actually have a flat surface, belly sleeping is possible if your ridgeline is tight enough! Side note: my husband and I slept so well the last few years the joke is it is hard to go back to our bed once we return home! 🙂
melissa
What an amazing adventure. I have enjoyed reading your posts and living vicariously through you! It must be wonderful to be so close to nature and see so much untouched land and water. (P.S. Your canoes are beautiful!)
Donna Garrison
What an experience for everyone. Spending time in nature and testing ones limits really is a gift for all involved. I may have missed it, but what type of fish can you catch out there? My partner is an avid fisherman and can be convinced to go almost anywhere if there is fishing involved.
Barbara Robinson
Predominantly we were easily able to catch bass, pike, and walleye. These lakes are work to get to…so only canoes or kayaks make it there…no boats with engines allowed..so these remote lakes do not see a lot of fishing…easy to catch dinner and they are fighters cause they are kinda big!
Carey
My husband and I have talked about doing a camping hike similar to this. We are close to Appalachian trail and would thoroughly enjoy it. Everyone we talk to who has hiked it said they prepared for a year prior to setting out.
Jen
I used to go on kayak/canoe trips but haven’t in a long while. Reading this makes me miss it! It really is a good covid activity…giving me ideas!
Chelsea
Wow. You guys got some great group photos during this! As for what we’ve done or where we’ve been during this, we were able to stay at a family member’s place in the Sequoia National Forest. It was comforting knowing it was his house, rather than a hotel. With three little kids, that’s just easier for us. But otherwise, we just take a lot of day hiking trips!
Barbara Robinson
I WILL see the giant sequoias one day! That is on my list!
Lisa
What an incredible adventure! I can’t wait to get away soon.
Lindsey Marie
This looks like the perfect adventure – everything I love to do! Thank you so much for sharing. I think it’s time I plan my next adventure!
Alyssa
Looks like a great adventure for anyone who loves the outdoors!
Kendra
Gorgeous pictures! I’m so impressed with how well you all push through the difficult moments and just really enjoy the experience of these trips!
Barbara Robinson
This was the first time in 20 years that we actually were seriously considering departing for medical help. I was worried he was going to lose his toe from lack of blood circulation remaining. He is healing well now!
Emily Ackerman
You pictures are awesome! It must be so fun to have such a well documented trip!
Ramae Hamrin
Oh my goodness! I love all your photos! I live in northern MN but have only been to the Boundary Waters once, believe it or not, and it was way back in the 1990’s! It’s such a gorgeous, majestic area, and I have such good memories. I would love, love, LOVE to go back some day! Enjoyed your post so much.
Barbara Robinson
Thank you! I enjoy your posts as well! Love your yard makeover! So very glad your health is improving!
Danielle Ardizzone
You always have such great pictures – they really capture the experience!
Amanda
What a incredible adventure! This looks like a remarkable place. I’m kinda jealous!
Ashley
Wow, I have never heard of these, how cool! I’m pinning it!
Sara
How cool to have a waterfront campsite all to yourselves!
Suzan | It's My Sustainable Life
Remote camping is one thing I have not experienced…yet anyway 🙂
Cindy Mailhot
I am ever so glad there doesn’t appear to be injuries in this leg of the adventure. The picture of the spider web is really cool. You are having quite the trip.
Lisa
Such an incredible adventure!
Pam
The coordination and planning for this type of trip amaze me. But, in the end, what an incredible family memory!
Beth Shields
I love your application of Job in what you were seeing. How perfect. Its not just about the creation but the Creator! I have enjoyed your series. The pics are great and the story fun to read. Thanks so much.
Marinne
Your adventures are incredible! I love your sunset photo with the canoe… just beautiful!
Shirley
What a wonderful adventure! From the pics it looks like everyone had a grand time.
Lori Nielsen
What a great adventure! It’s awesome to get out in nature, especially on the water!
Adrian Pottinger
Phenomenal pictures
Tricia Snow
I guess great adventures bring great risk! I am glad you made it out alive!
Stacy
That looks amazing. The part with the strong storms blowing in and knocking over trees scared me
kmf
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for showcasing the beautiful state of Minnesota. What an adventure! You are truly a Boundary Waters expert!
Amy
Looks like you and your family had a great time. Full of adventure and beautiful scenery.
Annette
Such an adventure!!! It’s exciting to see the pictures and text to get the “whole experience”. Do you scrapbook or save your adventures (pictures/text)? Such great memories!!!
Barbara Robinson
No. Unfortunately I am not a scrapbooker! 🙁
Cindy Moore
What an amazing adventure for your family! Thank you for taking all of us along with you.
Missy
I would love to camp in a hammock. As long as the weather was comfortable – not to hot and not to cold. 🙂
April Key C. Rode
What a great adventure! I love riding the kayak. MY hubby is so good in navigating it this is a good place for it. Love your family adventure!
Debbie
I am ready to grab my canoe and my sons and follow your example. Awesome and inspiring. I have been too much of a homebody this year and I really need to get out on the water. Even if it’s by myself. Love your photos and scenery!
Tammi Kaeberlein
What a beautiful adventure! I just did something similar but only for a single night and I’m wishing it had been more. Such incredible photos and memories. Thanks for the inspiration!
Barbara Robinson
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post! We love BWCA wilderness adventures!
nia
Looks like a great family adventure full of fun memories and beautiful pictures!
Barbara Robinson
Thanks!