Boundary Waters
Boundary Waters - Level 2 Trip
2006
Information gathered from the updates in 2006
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Red Crew
Garrett Daniel
Route: |
White Crew
Brad Compton
Route: |
Blue Crew
Phillip Dodge
Route: |
Green Crew
Spencer Boucher Route: |
What I would do differently, next time:
- I would rent as little as possible (canoe and food from the outfitter) and bring as much backpacking gear as possible to keep the weight down.
- I would rent Kevlar canoes.
- I would take less food.
- I would not use the Eureka tents that require stakes
- I would unpack ALL the gear from the outfitter and repack it, leaving behind things we probably won't need.
- I would practice flat water and white water canoeing with the crew before the trip
- I would get into better physical shape before going
Note: Aluminum canoes weigh 60-70 lbs for lightweight canoes, 75 lbs. for typical canoe; Kevlar canoes weigh 38-45 lbs.
Great Tips of What We Did Right:
- Bring a collapsible saw
- Left the fire grate behind (no grates on fire pits in Canada)
- Brought 50 ft of nylon rope per person
- Used synthetic fabric in clothing
- Brought tons of Trail Mix to snack on
- Tennis shoes and socks were standard footwear
- Brought a nylon tarp
- Brought a throw rope (maybe a kayak rope next time)
- Brought aluminum foil and spices to steam fish
2006 Costs:
This is based upon 5 day trips with 6 adults. All prices vary with length of trip, number of children and adults, what gear is provided, and the quality of the gear. Also, so places offer discounts to start on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
A complete package is everything except your clothes, toiletries, camera and fishing gear. They will supply tents, sleeping bags, pots, plates, food, packs, etc. You can also rent any part of the complete package for less.
Typically $50 to $70 a day for complete package...
- Econo packages (canoe, food and cook gear) are around $40 a day
- Kevlar canoes can add $8 to $20 a day to the price
- Fly-ins can add $140-200 per person (one way)
- Bunk rooms are sometimes $12 a night extra
$120 per group of four to pick up a crew at Duluth Airport (110 miles, 3 hours). $160 and up to rent a standard size car for one week at Duluth Airport.
Park fees: BWCA charges $10 per adult and $5 per youth (under 18) for a trip and a $20 permit for the group. Quetico charges $11 per adult per night and $4 per youth, and a $20 permit for the group (Canadian fees are subject to approximately 9% tax and are in Canadian dollars). You can pay on the border with VISA or Mastercard. You need to a customs clearance to enter to enter (a Remote Area Border Crossing Pass -- RABC) well in advance of your trip for $30 per adult or family.
Our outfitter got the permits and was able to get 48 people into Canada. They were much more successful than we would have been. Obviously, the sooner you ask, the better.
In Ely you can purchase fuel for your stove (you cannot pack fuel on an airline - sometimes you cannot pack a stove). There are several sporting goods stores and souvenir shops. There are several restaurants and fast food available in Ely and a grocery store.
REMEMBER: No can or bottles (except fuel and medicine) are permitted in BWCA and Quetico Park. 9 people (max) to a crew and 4 boats (max) to a crew. No firearms in Quetico Park. Dogs are permitted in both parks, but must have current rabies certificate in Canada.
Books
- The Boundary Waters Canoe Area : The Western Region by Robert Beymer
- The Boundary Waters Canoe Area : The Western Region by Robert Beymer
- Paperback 5th Bk&map edition Vol 001 (December 1993) Wilderness Pr; ISBN: 0899971652 (out of print)
- Boundary Waters Canoe Area : The Eastern Region by Robert Beymer
- Paperback - 160 pages 3rd Bk&map edition Vol 002 (May 1991) Wilderness Pr; ISBN: 0899971245
- Paddler's Guide to Quetico Provincial Park by Robert Beymer
- Paperback (1997) W A Fisher Co; ISBN: 0933287003
- Boundary Waters Canoe Camping with Style by Cliff Jacobson
- Paperback (1995) ICS Books, Globe Pequot Press, ISBN 1-57034-007-2 (2nd Edition out in 2000)
Outfitters for Boundary Waters and Quetico Park
The outfitters are very competitive. They offer different gear, different foods and service different areas in BWCA. Shop around for the outfitter who meets most of your requirements. Recommendations are very helpful. We selected Cliff Wold's because of the quality of the food. We were pleased with his boats, equipment and service. The food was exceptional. We would definitely use Cliff Wold again.
Duane's Canoe Outfitters
with a listing of scout and youth group rates)
3145 Highway 21
Babbitt, MN 55706
800-729-2710
www.explorebwcaw.com
Big Lake Wilderness Lodge
3012 Echo Trail
P.O. Box 359
Ely, MN 55731
800-446-9080
www.biglakelodge.com
Boundary Waters Canoe Outfitters
1323 E. Sheridan St.
PO Box 447
Ely, MN 55731
800-544-7736
www.boundary-waters.com
Canadian Waters
111 E. Sheridan Street
Ely, MN 55731
800-ALL-BWCA
www.canadianwaters.com
Canoe Country Outfitters
629 E. Sheridan Street
PO Box 30
Ely, MN 55731
(800)752-2306
www.canoecountryoutfitters.com
Canadian Border Outfitters
P.O. Box 117 - Moose Lake
Ely, MN 55731
800-247-7530
www.cbo-ely.com
Cliff Wold's Canoe Trip Outfitting Company
1731 E. Sheridan St.
Ely, MN 5573
218-365-3267
www.cliffwolds.com
Deer Ridge Outfitting Co.
P.O. Box 247
Ely, MN 55731
Hill's Wilderness Trips
2030 E. Sheridan St.
Ely, MN 55731
Jack & Toni's Fall Lake Wilderness Trips
P.O. Box 780
Ely, MN 55731
800-365-3788
www.digitmaster.com/resorts/jtbwca
Jordan's Canoe Outfitters
1701 HWY 1
Ely, MN 55731
800-644-9955
www.jordans-outfitters.com
La Tourell's Resort & Canoe Outfitters
P.O. Box 239
Ely, MN 55731
218-365-4531
800-365-4531
Lodge Of Whispering Pines
P.O. Box 327
Ely, MN 55731
North Country Canoe Outfitters
474 Kawishiwi Trail
Route 1, Box 3000
Ely, MN 55731
(218)365-5581
www.boundarywaters.com/ncco.html
Northwind Lodge & Canoe Outfitters
P.O. Box 690
Ely, MN 55731
218-365-5489
800-280-1078
White Wilderness
2198 Echo Trail
Ely, MN 55731
Wilderness Adventures, Inc.
943 E. Sheridan St.
Ely, MN 55731
218-365-3416
800-THE-BWCA
www.TheBWCA.com
Wilderness Outfitters
1 E. Camp Street
Ely, MN 55731
800-777-8572
www.wildernessoutfitters.com
Boundary Country Trekking
7925 Gunflint Trail
Grand Marais, MN 55604
800-322-8327
www.boundarycountry.com
Clearwater Canoe Outfitters and Lodge
355 GunflintTrail
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-
800-527-0554
Explore Canoe Country
Box 1342
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-387-2075,
800-650-5180
www.canoecountry.com/explore
Golden Eagle Lodge and Cabins
Gunflint Trail
468 Clearwater Road
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-2203
800-346-2203
www.golden-eagle.com
Gunflint Northwoods Outfitters
143 S. Gunflint Lake
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-2294
800-328-3325
www.gunflintoutfitters.com
Hungry Jack Outfitters
318 S. Hungry Jack Rd.
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-2275
800-648-2922
www.hjo.com
Nor'Wester Lodge and Outfitters
7778 Gunflint Trail
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-2252
800-992-4386
www.boreal.org/norwester
Old Northwoods Lodge and Canoe Outfitters
7969 Northwoods Road
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-9464
800-682-8264
www.oldnorthwoods.com
Rockwood Lodge and Outfitters
50 Rockwood Rd.
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-2242
800-942-BWCA(2922)
www.rockwood-bwca.com
Seagull Canoe Outfitters
12208 Gunflint Trail
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-2216
800-346-2205
www.seagulloutfitters.com
Superior North Canoe Outfitters
Earl & Anita Cypher
84 Sag Lake Trail
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-4416
800-852-2008
www.canoesaglake.com
Tuscarora Canoe Outfitters
193 Round Lake Rd.
Grand Marais, MN 55604
(800)-544-3843
www.tuscaroracanoe.com
Voyageur Canoe Outfitters
189 Sag Lake Trail
Grand Marais, MN 55604
218-388-2224
888-CANOE-IT
888-226-6348
www.canoeit.com
Way Of The Wilderness
947 Gunflint Trail
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Wilderness Waters Outfitters
P.O. Box 368, W. Hwy 61
Grand Marais, MN 55604
800-325-5842
www.wilderness-waters.com
Lacroix Outfitters
P.O. Box 475 Hwy 53
Cook, MN 55723
888-600-2842
www.lacroixoutfitters.com
Sawbill Canoe Outfitters
4620 Sawbill Trail
Box 2127
Tofte, Minnesota 55615
218-387-1360
www.sawbill.com
24 Apr 2010 MSS