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I landed on your video, saw how long it was and thought “no way I’ll watch all of this, let me scrub through and see if there’s anything interesting.” 1.5 hours later, I watched the whole thing. This was phenomenal. Great video. Thank you!
Isn’t it an amazing journey? I really want to go back. It even surprises me that I’ll sit through that long of a video but keeping the scenes short as possible and changing it up often while also bringing the peace and solitude out makes it all work. Good conversation too. Thanks for watching it through Donn.
I could only watch part of a BWCA video that was 97% music. Yours is much better. 1. You must check out the Amok hammock. Totally different then any other hammock. Check out "Lost Lakes" youtuber. It is where I first found out about this hammock. It is so so so so comfortable. Its a bit of work getting into a sleeping bag. 2. Maybe check out Quetico Park on Canadian side of the boarder. Even less people there . 3. Anderson outfitters on Crane Lake. Is a great guy. Its a 2hr plus boat ride from crane lake to the east side of Lac La Croix. Sleep next to rapids leaving MacFee. Just south of there is Iron lake. Big waterfall "Curtain Falls" entering. One nice waterfall exiting and a separate rapids leaving. 3. We have lots of stories. Big fish, little fish, storms, hail, wind, rainbows heat, cold, loons otters, moose 4. Those eagles watching you are waiting to be fed. We have tossed them a few fish. Make sure your camera is rolling before you launch the fish on shore. Trust me. You will miss the video if you don't. 4. Mosquitoes usually only are out for about 45 minutes at sunset. Then they go way. The loons also call at sunset. 5. Next trip go in early June . Sbass are spawning right next to shore. Topwater is a blast. Favorite lure Rebel teeny pop-r. Orange mouth. Cast it right next to shore. And work it, s l o w l y
I know this message is long after your video. However it was so good that I felt it warranted a comment. I've canoe Quetico several times and was never disappointed. It rained a solid week once but was great. Thank you fellas for sharing your experiences with us it brought back many memories. I'll be 69 in a couple of weeks and can't wait for more experiences just like yours. God bless and be with you.
Thanks for watching Denny. It's been a while since this trip, as you mentioned, but it is still one of my most popular videos. It was a remarkable trip.
One of the best videos I've watched on the BWCA. A great wealth of information from you three. I took my first, and only, trip to the boundary Waters in 2011. It was in late July and the weather was extremely hot the entire 6 days ( 90+ every day). It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. We were three men, two canoes and lots of extra gear for comfortable camping. We ended up making 48 portages because of all the gear that we took. Double tripping every portage. I was 63 years old and out of shape and had no idea how difficult it was going to be. Many of the portages were very elevated and extremely Rocky. I did a lot of videotaping along the way and promised I would never take another trip into the Boundary Waters but, after being home, it hit me that it was one of the best things I've ever done. I am now 74 and considering taking another trip. Thanks for the video and sharing your experience with us.
You bet! I can understand that kind of difficulty. Imagine if it rained the entire time. I have met people that mentioned that. I think if you are smart to go lightweight as much as possible you can go in a single trip per portage. I would love to go back and likely will down the road. I loved it.
I very much enjoyed this video. The last time you do something you won't realize that it's the last time you're going to do it. Time slips away and suddenly you realize you're not going as much, or maybe that you won't ever to again. I was reminded of this as you interviewed your comrades during this trip. Just keep going as long as you can.
OK it's time to clear up the bent shaft paddle controversy. The paddle is my personnel paddle, after we started planning the trip I watched Scott's paddle adventures. I commented to him that he would be great on the trip but we'd have to work on his paddling skills. His response was that he was a great paddler............well a teachable moment. Love ya Scott
Thanks for sharing your adventure. Enjoyed every minute, great scenery, stories and guys. Those old “geezers” would give any teenager shivers portaging that canoe. Thanks from the UK 🇬🇧
I love that you included your conversations especially talking about past trips. It really made me feel like I was there with you guys. Which with the BWCA being closed right now due to the pandemic is really needed!
4XPEDITION it’s open for day trips but nothing more. And doesn’t make any sense to me either, but I guess it’s more about necessary resources if someone has an emergency out there. Hopefully it’ll open up soon though!
A scout myself I spent a week one summer a Charles L Sommers Canoe Base the trip we took was breathtaking I would do it again in a heartbeat. I totally appreciated the Northern Tier Grace at the toast.
I can relate to Dana’s story, I too went through the Boy Scout base BUT I did make my first trip at 16 years of age. I was 37 and had never been a canoe before but a close friend of mine got the Boy SCOUT troop we worked with the try a trip to the BWCA. I no idea what to pack so I pack everything including the kitchen sink. After we arriving at the B.S camp, I left half of my gear in our vehicles. It was definitely a learning experience for me and since then I’ve made somewhere 15 or 16 trips over the years. The last several years I and 3 others close buddies try to make a trip years are so together. I also say “ Once you have been by the BWCA bug you WILL return again and again and again”. I very much enjoyed your video.
you guys just did a trip exactly backward/opposite way me and my friends did few years back...great vid...going to have to plan another trip after seeing this...thx.
Back in the 80's I went to the BWCA with my Father, both of my Grandfather's, my brother and my two uncles. Great weather in May, lots of fish and up close with a couple of bears and moose. So glad to have the memories of a trip with the my amazing family.
Its time to return to the BWCA. Check in with Anderson outfitters on Crane Lake. He can get you to Lac La Croix in a couple of hours. And get you all the gear you need
Hi guys we enjoy your videos with a lot of melancholy. It is like coming home.In the late 80s and 90th we spent at least 10 septembers in the BWCA starting from the nice family LaTourell.So we know every square meter of the area all portages all campsites on US and Canadian side..Due to old age we only can watch your videos from our home in Germany.Thank you
Nice trip guys. Dave has a Eureka Sentinel.... Vintage early 1980s! I have one of these in Navy blue. Awesome awesome tent. Has served me well for 4 decades.
Gearing up for my first trip in about a month here. We got four 18 year olds, a 19 year old, and a 21 year old. Three 18 year olds have a little experience, but this video helped me prepare a lot. Thank you.
Enjoyed the video very much. Fifteen days until my 5th BWCA trip, 3 solo and 1 with my older son. Best part were the interviews. Reflection is what the trips are very good at providing. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. Agree. The interviews were something new I've been integrating into episodes. I think that adds a lot of value. Have a great trip!! Where you putting in?
Thank you so much for putting this video together. I am 33 and I know I can still have plenty of BWCA experience left in me. You guys are not old, you are BWCA Elders! Much much respect!
@@golfish8589 I've actually been back to the BWCA in 2020,2021, and This past September in 2022! Great trips. Its a little rough doing portages as I get older but I hope to still get more trips as the years go on! Thanks for asking!
48 minutes in and I had flashbacks from my childhood... swarming mosquitoes outside the tent on the Sawbill trail in the early/mid 80s... Very loud! Even got flooded out inside the tent one year after 2 straight days of hard rain and had to cut the trip short. Weird... I still keep going back for more of those magestic memories that outweigh the tough ones. I know they aren't for everyone, but I've never been wet from rain in a hammock with a solid tarp over it, and being on the ground with all those uncomfortable rocks in my back or side... never again. Hammocks all the time when trees are available.
Good perspective about the rain and a hammock. I love it up there. I was just in Moab UT and came across a tent that was sitting in a foot deep of water. Somebody had a really bad night. I posted it on the 4XPEDITION Instagram account. You should check that out. It looked like a flash flood.
It really was a great trip and Scott did a super job with the Video. I have to clear up one point, the outfitter had my credit card on hold for any damages to that 3K canoe soooo that's why I insisted on carry it. With that being said I have to admit I am a bit of a control freak. LOL
Catch and eat all the fish you want to, I’m not a fan of sportfishing just to catch a fish and throw it back! I am new to canoeing, and I can’t wait to get on the water from my very first trip, maybe I can get the bravery enough to come up to that neck of the woods and try those waters! Thanks for an excellent adventure I felt like I was there with you
Talk about memories...I've been on the same trip you are on. You might want to try turning the bent shaft around the right way. It will help . Great video guys
Great video! I believe you captured the essence of the BWCA and the tradition. I’ve been going up for 33 years - will begin paying it forward to my boys soon. Thanks again for sharing and hope you get to visit again soon.
4XPEDITION my boys are 5 and 3. The rule is that they must know how to swim. My BWCA buddies kids are a bit older and they will have their first trip this next spring with us. No longer will it be just he and I - time to move the tradition forward.
@@mstarksoUpperLipOutdoorsi know this is 5 years old. I hope you got your boys to the BWCA by now. If not , don't wait any longer. You said they need to learn how to swim first. Our number one rule is. Always wear your lifejacket. Have it in before you put the canoe in the water
I just watched your video, twice actually. Being from Minnesota it was a great treat to watch and see the wonder and beauty that is displayed there. I've been to BWCA multiple times and loved every second of it. Thanks again for the video.
Great video! Love that area of the bwca. We have been twice to that area in a MN4. That thing is a beast for sure to carry on portages, and a ton of work for the stern paddler to steer through those tight turns of the rivers. But oh is it nice out on the lakes when you get everyone paddling together.
What a GREAT video. Fabulous! My family went up here every year from when I was 4 years old. When i was in Jr. High my family moved. So sad as I haven't been up there since. This was almost 35 to 40 years ago. Fond memories I had up there. Makes me want to bring my Family up from South Florida! Thank you again.
Thanks Denise! Really appreciate the positive support! You really, really should. Such a great family experience I would imagine. Saw several families out there enjoying the wilderness.
This was the perfect video to watch on my day off here in late January. I was searching for a BWCA video to watch today just for fun, and I came across several that I couldn't get past the first 5 or 10 minutes, mainly because I don't want to watch endless shaky GoPro video with not much tying it all together. When I first saw this one in the search results and that it was almost an hour and a half long, I had very low expectations that'd I'd finish this one either. But I watched right to the end and loved the whole thing! Really nice job capturing what it's like being up in the BWCA, and also shooting and editing it in a way that was very watchable and interesting. Like another commenter mentioned, the interviews are gold. Really looking forward to getting up there again this summer, and a video like this really helps to keep me motivated, especially this time of year.
Good video, I have done that route several times. The swans were awesome. I also really appreciated the interview segment with your two canoe mates. There perspective was really appropriate to add to your video. This past September I also celebrated my fifty year anniversary coming to the BWCA. I got my start through YMCA Camp Widjiwagan.
I’ve recently got the BWCA bug...been watching lots of vids! ❤️ your trip! having grown up in northern Minny (Iron Range), the BWCA IS the culture! Last time I went on a trip...late 70s-early 80s as a teen/college. Hoping to plan once I retire and move back to Minny! I really enjoyed your trip...Thank You!
Hi Carli. Cool that you watched and don't wait too long to go. Don't wait until you retire. My recommendation is to make it a priority and go. It is worth the exception. And, you never know what kind of time you have on this planet. Cheers to you!
Oh man. You are going to love Minnesota and Wisconsin and the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Note also, that in Wisconsin you must check out Door County. I have a video on my channel about Door County. Check that out. It is the cape cod of the midwest.
Awesome video. This was the same outfitter and almost the same route we took back in the summer of 2018. Piragis, can’t say enough good things about them.
HI Guys, Great video. wanted to comment that we bought our canoe from Piragis outfitters. We got a 17 ft Wenonah. Great canoe. Look forward to do the BOundry Waters some day. John
2 years later, but hey! Very nice video. I'm a 65 yr old Canadian, and I see that Dana uses the Canadian stroke instinctively. Being from his generation, I get it totally. Life was special then, and if only we can maintain those values through a canoe camping experience, then, why not? As you said, there is no border wall there, only canoes and campers who drink the same water and feel the same sun and breeze. I am glad to have been part of our neighbourly walk, though politics have shaken those values drastically. Peace my friend. Hope to see you in these waters some day, and share a bannock and a few stories.
Hello there Marcel. I have to say that the BWCA and Quetico bring out this sense of nostalgia the entire time. It is the pace of life that I prefer. I appreciate your comment Marcel. I really hope you felt the sentiment of the story I tried to create. I feel a journey such as this would reshape anyone who embarks to a more appreciative respect of nature. Best to you sir.
I'm getting ready to do the same route you completed in this video. Excellent work! I ended up watching the entire thing. I'm incredibly excited and found this video refreshing and extremely helpful for little nuggets of wisdom as we plan our trip.
Incredible video and beautiful scenery and all shot from your iPhone. You are obviously experienced and terrific at editing. Enjoyed it from start to finish. This trip is on my bucket list.
Awesome video. Beautiful scenery. Leaving for our 3rd consecutive year to Ely, MN on Labor Day weekend for 9 days. Taking our kayaks to Bear Head Lake and backcountry sites at the park while we are there. Actually had a wolf visit our backcountry site on Blueberry Lake two nights in a row last year. It was storming, my son said it camped under his hammock for about 15 minutes the first night. I saw it's silhouette on my wife and my tent the next night. Planning on attending the Harvest Moon Festival in Ely while there. Last year there were 178 vendors selling there goods as well as demonstrations by the locals such as canoe building. North American Bear Center is also there. They feed the bears around 5pm, we caught the feeding period. Very cool.
Hey there Stephen! Thanks for checking in and sharing your experiences! I fell in love with the area myself while visiting on this trip and will most certainly be back. Have a great trip!
Oh man I should not be watching this right now. It gives me a physical ache in my chest, longing to go back up, but it is only February. I go up every year, just me and my dad. I absolutely adore the Boundary Waters, and I have so many cherished memories. I have always want to bring a phone/camera, but have never wanted to ruin our experience. For us, it is all about leaving everything behind, and living only in the then and now. No time, no responsibilities, no deadlines. We never go on motorized lakes, it ruins it. We always go to the rare places if you will, the ones where you have to search for portages for seemingly hours, and hack out the fire grate. It's a blast, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Thanks for the video!
Great share! It’s funny how views of this video have skyrocketed once winter in Minnesota came. Makes perfect sense! I agree with you about tech in a place like that. I often leave my tech behind when I go on adventures. I only capture some of them for this channel. Recall the movie Walter Mitty the scene where Sean Penn doesn’t shoot the photo of the Snow Cat after waiting hours to get the shot. Some adventures are meant to stay pristine and private. I filmed this one to capture the stories of the gents that invited me along. Best to you and stay sane in that cold weather!
Motorboats are only seen on a small portion of this route. Lac la croix is amazing. I did this route in 2019 as well and had an awesome time. When you guys planned on going from your first camp all the way through lac la croix I was thinking to myself "no way will they get that much paddling done on day 2" haha :) we had a storm chase us on lac la croix and we were 3 in 1 canoe as well. Capsizing would have been awful. Also when you filmed those seagulls on the islands right after you entered lac la croix .. one of those seagulls attacked us. Dive bombed us like 30+ times for getting to close to the island. (You guys got closer, so be happy you didn't get attacked. Lol)
Absolutely loved this, 28 now and went back with scouts when I was 15. I've been looking at getting a jon boat and was watching videos and got back here, now I want a single person canoe and to go back up there. Already have a white water kayak, touring kayak, and 18 foot canoe though lol, might have to trade a couple in.
Loved your video. Save the small talk about eating yur fish, mankind is given all the beasts of the earth to consume, bible says so. I planted those raspberry bushes at the crest of Devils Cascade portage way back in 1986 glad to see they are still thriving there is also Asperagus.
I work at Piragis...I enjoyed your video very much! Interesting all the way till the end too. You did an excellent job capturing what the Boundary Waters is all about. One of my favorite videos so far...Thank you for sharing!
just a tip..the best way out of la croix is to take the boulder river, which is very nice, out of la croix.the entrance is a tricky find at boulder bay.take the long carry at the north east tip of agnes.it's level!! no rocky shore,just a swamp landing with a well used path and your over in one easy carry into a small bay.i used the several portages across the lake but you have to load and unload several times and deal with a rocky path and a up hill before the way into the la croix.
Did the Minnesota outward bound in 1980. It was the toughest thing I ever loved ! Wish I could go back thre again. We used 17 foot Grummans,, a bitch to carry. I never could master the one man lift. Such a beautiful place to visit. I'm loving this video. Thankk you ☺☺☺
I always wanted to do Outward bound as a kid. So much so that I sent one of my sons on one of their adventures to the Cascade range a number of years back! Thanks for watching!
I got into a Suzuki accident with a deer once. We probably both could of just said motorcycle. Having fun, awesome video! Bwca my favorite place In the world$
I have watched a lot of bwca video's, and I want to tell you this is one of the best i've seen ! hope you make it back the old guy's telling story was the best part , you need to catch a walleye or lake trout and cook em up .
That was all on me, I love catching Bass and find them to be a perfect size for a meal for 3. I live in the Walleye capital of the world, and Northerns are slimmers.
A little late on the comment but I’ve been going to the bwca yearly for 8 years now and the comments about people wishing they could go again or people that haven’t been able to go for a long time saddens me. I am truly blessed to have all the gear and to live only 40 minutes from the nearest entry point. There is no other place on earth quite like this!!
Man, that makes me want to go back to do another canoe trip. I have been up there twice, and I have stories. The first was a car camping trip to the edge of the boundary waters with my ex in Grand Portage. I remember seeing lots of black bears at the dump in Ely I think. That was in the 80's. About 16 years ago, my daughter (age 10 at the time) and I traveled to Quetico with a gentleman friend who had been there when he was 18. Our trip was in late April or early May in order to avoid the blackflies. I think we put in at Gunflint Lodge but I don't remember the name of the lake. Our first night the mosquitos were bad and something (the Maymaguishi?) turned over our canoe. The next day it began raining and soon the water was beginning to fill the canoe. We found an island and took cover in the tent. We had to put rocks INSIDE the tent to keep it from blowing away with us in it. My friend and my daughter became feverish from exposure to the elements and I wasn't sure we would make it back alive. Eventually the next morning, the wind and rain had stopped. We had originally planned to canoe one lake and portage to another lake but the weather didn't permit. We turned back and ended our trip in sunshine. My friend caught a large fish which we fried over the fire just like you did. Back at the lodge I purchased a cassette tape of loon music which I still have and listen too. Your video brought back all those memories and more. I would love to go back again with someone someday soon.
Sounds like a pretty intense 'vacation' ha! Ya, from what I understand from the gents I went with, every trip is very different. "There was the trip when..." came up a lot. We didn't see any bears or Moose but I've definitely had bears in camp before. This trip we were fortunate enough to not have many black flies. Just the skeeters. Thanks for sharing your stories Michelle! Glad to have you a part of the community!
I think the best entry point to the BWCA is up past Grand Marais on the Gun Flint Trail. Ely's good but more people and motor boats. I recommend where Big Knife lake meets Little Knife.Never saw anyone in my two trips there. Just my friends and I feeling like we were the only people on earth.
Really enjoyed your video. I especially liked - found funny - when, at minute 14, the guy with the “hashtag” cap said, ‘Never go camping with old guys’ then started paddling with his bent-shaft paddle facing in the wrong direction. I love self-effacing, ironic humor.
4XPEDITION Funniness aside, You do a good job with the video (I’ll have to check out the others). The storyline, videography, narration; never as easy as it may look. Cheers.
I should say, the Sioux Hustler trail is smaller/ harder to see vs the portage trail is a well beaten path so I thought maybe you would not have noticed it
Who gives a damn if you were sport fishing it’s fun. I’m not sure about hunting just for horns or fur but for eating it’s healthier for you than store bought. This was a long vid, much longer than my attention span but I loved it and stuck all the way to the end. Another fantastic job!!
Hey Josh! Thanks so much, man. I really appreciate that feedback. This is by far the longest episode I've posted to the channel and thought that if I kept the clips short with a lot of transition and variety I could keep attention spans long enough. So, thanks for that confirmation. And, I agree about the hunting and fishing. I just knew that someone would post a comment about it so I decided to cut that off at the pass. Cheers!
On second thought, we put in at Pickerel Lake in Quetico. Gunflint Lodge is in Grand Marais, MN and we stopped there on my first trip to the edge of the BWCA.
Great video! im from Norway and ive seen videos from canada several times and though "wow the climate in canada is identical to Norway , the forest looks exactly the same!" , the scenenrey in this video is basically ideentical to norway , alittle bit warmer it seems !
My friends and I plan on taking this same route this summer been planning it since I saw this video about a year ago. Anything you wish you guys had done differently? Like which day you did what stretch or any gear you wish you had?
Not sure if anyone else commented on your paddle but you were holding it backwards most of the time. The paddle blade will stay much more vertical if you turn it around.
When is the best time to go? Never been just learning about this place and would like to do a trip next summer probably with my son and his friends. Amazing video by the way!
Hey there Troy! The best month is July. This is because July is the month with the least amount of Mosquitios. And, as you saw in the video, July still has lot of those 'lil buggers. I truly loved this adventure. Truly. In fact, it is one of the few places left in the USA where you can feel as though you are still an explorer...often not seeing anyone for two or more days on entire lakes...completely alone.
@@4XPEDITION Thanks! July! Just answered my question! I'm a Brit living in Italy. Virtually no opportunities for canoe adventures even remotely like BWCA in Europe...perhaps up in Scandinavia? With my now wife, as total 'canoe virgins' (but v.experience mountaineers), we rented a canoe from REI in Anchorage and did a 5-day canoe trip on the Kenai Peninsula. Profoundly beautiful. Took us the whole of the first day to stop zig-zagging! We had bin liners, sandals and rubber kitchen gloves! So, so green! The guy in the shop had to help us tie the canoe on the roof of our hire car. I was hooked! I've been hooked ever since! That was nearly 20 years ago. Since then I've been wanting to get to BWCA. Now I have a 6-y-o son. Desperately hoping we can get there next year. Have taken copious notes while watching your inspirational video. The call of loons entranced me in Kenai. One of the most magical sounds in nature!
I wouldn't agree, I love catching bass they are #1, Northern are slimmers, I filet them with 6 cuts to get rid of all the y-bones and still would prefer bass. I live in the walleye capital of the world so I eat them ever other day. Soooo this is all on my love of catching bass and eating them.
My granite gear superior one broke on the 3rd portage in this route. Strap separated from the bag. Returned it and ordered from frost river. Seems the new granite gear isn't nearly as durable as the old.
What did you do for water?Down here in Florida we have the 99 mile waterway at ten thousands islands Everglades on the south west side that would be a trip.Peace and quiet there too,I hope I can try it some time but not go to far.That place looks like a great area no noise.
Hi Julian. Water filtration. Remember, this is all freshwater. In the video if you watch at the first camp you see me filling up a big blue bag full of water from the lake. Once full, just hang it in a tree and let gravity provide the pressure.
@@4XPEDITION I have to look at that again,I do not know if you remember but along time ago we had acid rain somewhere in the USA and I do not know how that affected lake water.
I saw a recent documentary on that and felt devastated. The BWCA is an unbelievably stunning and special place. I understand the folks needing to work up there. I really do. I just can't imagine that the mine companies will be able to control the pollutants. I live in Arizona. Here, Copper Mining is one of the main resources and revenue. I filmed down in Patagonia Arizona recently, down there the habitat and ecology is very sensitive and they are having the same issue with a new mine wanting to open up and likely destroy the fragile ecosystem.
@@4XPEDITION The problem is the copper mining won't be sustainable like iron ore mining was. When the copper is gone, so are all the jobs and it will be bust like the Iron Range. Guess who will be stuck with the clean up? The tax payers get to pay that while the shareholders are getting paid. I was born & raised in the Twin Cities and would love to come back and enjoy this. I'm now living in Germany.
@@quietcorner293 I tell ya, the BWCA and the Quetico are astonishing really. And, I feel your concern. Much of the way society conducts itself is not sustainable. What is the link for the donation?
@@4XPEDITION Here it is. I didn't think I would watch a video like this for an hour and half but so far I've seen about an hour of it. Due to having MS, I'm not sure how much of this adventure I could do. I can walk alright but it gets harde as I get exhausted. savetheboundarywaters.org/
Great video. What did you use for your camera? I also noticed a solar charger - what items did you have that required juice? Heading up there in 3 weeks with my 13yr old daughter. Was a staffer at Canoe Base in Boulder Junction back in the 70’s
Thank you for all the extra effort to bring all of us along! I made an offer on a home just outside the border of the boundary (waters) yesterday...awaiting a final answer. Since I've never been to the BW it was GREAT to experience a bit of it through you. Also, is James McAvoy your little brother? Cuz... he's very handsome and you look related! ;)
Awe, I am totally envious! I love BWCA. The paintings are located on the Quetico side of the border on Irving Island. Hard to say exactly on the lake but basically, it is on the Lac la Croix but on the eastern end just southeast of Kelsey Lake (which is on the U.S. side). Across the water way to the Southeast you will see Irving. Google Kelsey Lake MN.
Hi everyone! Thanks for your comments! I wanted to let you know that we have set up a Patreon membership program where you get 4X swag for your contributions. Your donations will help me to keep evolving the 4X brand and video episodes. If you subscribe to philosophies that intersect with what we strive for with 4XPEDITION, then consider helping us by taking a look at our membership packages: www.patreon.com/4xpedition
I landed on your video, saw how long it was and thought “no way I’ll watch all of this, let me scrub through and see if there’s anything interesting.”
1.5 hours later, I watched the whole thing. This was phenomenal. Great video. Thank you!
Isn’t it an amazing journey? I really want to go back. It even surprises me that I’ll sit through that long of a video but keeping the scenes short as possible and changing it up often while also bringing the peace and solitude out makes it all work. Good conversation too. Thanks for watching it through Donn.
I could only watch part of a BWCA video that was 97% music.
Yours is much better.
1. You must check out the Amok hammock. Totally different then any other hammock. Check out "Lost Lakes" youtuber. It is where I first found out about this hammock.
It is so so so so comfortable. Its a bit of work getting into a sleeping bag.
2. Maybe check out Quetico Park on Canadian side of the boarder. Even less people there .
3. Anderson outfitters on Crane Lake. Is a great guy. Its a 2hr plus boat ride from crane lake to the east side of Lac La Croix. Sleep next to rapids leaving MacFee.
Just south of there is Iron lake. Big waterfall "Curtain Falls" entering. One nice waterfall exiting and a separate rapids leaving.
3. We have lots of stories.
Big fish, little fish, storms, hail, wind, rainbows heat, cold, loons otters, moose
4. Those eagles watching you are waiting to be fed.
We have tossed them a few fish. Make sure your camera is rolling before you launch the fish on shore. Trust me. You will miss the video if you don't.
4. Mosquitoes usually only are out for about 45 minutes at sunset. Then they go way.
The loons also call at sunset.
5. Next trip go in early June . Sbass are spawning right next to shore. Topwater is a blast.
Favorite lure Rebel teeny pop-r. Orange mouth. Cast it right next to shore. And work it, s l o w l y
I know this message is long after your video. However it was so good that I felt it warranted a comment. I've canoe Quetico several times and was never disappointed. It rained a solid week once but was great. Thank you fellas for sharing your experiences with us it brought back many memories. I'll be 69 in a couple of weeks and can't wait for more experiences just like yours. God bless and be with you.
Thanks for watching Denny. It's been a while since this trip, as you mentioned, but it is still one of my most popular videos. It was a remarkable trip.
Get in contact with Mark at Anderson outfitters. He will get you back into the BWCA or Quetico
One of the best videos I've watched on the BWCA. A great wealth of information from you three.
I took my first, and only, trip to the boundary Waters in 2011. It was in late July and the weather was extremely hot the entire 6 days ( 90+ every day). It was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. We were three men, two canoes and lots of extra gear for comfortable camping. We ended up making 48 portages because of all the gear that we took. Double tripping every portage. I was 63 years old and out of shape and had no idea how difficult it was going to be. Many of the portages were very elevated and extremely Rocky. I did a lot of videotaping along the way and promised I would never take another trip into the Boundary Waters but, after being home, it hit me that it was one of the best things I've ever done. I am now 74 and considering taking another trip. Thanks for the video and sharing your experience with us.
You bet! I can understand that kind of difficulty. Imagine if it rained the entire time. I have met people that mentioned that. I think if you are smart to go lightweight as much as possible you can go in a single trip per portage. I would love to go back and likely will down the road. I loved it.
I very much enjoyed this video. The last time you do something you won't realize that it's the last time you're going to do it. Time slips away and suddenly you realize you're not going as much, or maybe that you won't ever to again. I was reminded of this as you interviewed your comrades during this trip. Just keep going as long as you can.
So true!
OK it's time to clear up the bent shaft paddle controversy. The paddle is my personnel paddle, after we started planning the trip I watched Scott's paddle adventures. I commented to him that he would be great on the trip but we'd have to work on his paddling skills. His response was that he was a great paddler............well a teachable moment. Love ya Scott
However, you both wouldn't have made it to shore without my power paddling the last hour of every day! Bouya!
@@4XPEDITION Really you can keep believing that.......LOL
Thanks for sharing your adventure. Enjoyed every minute, great scenery, stories and guys. Those old “geezers” would give any teenager shivers portaging that canoe. Thanks from the UK 🇬🇧
Glad you took the time to watch, Nathan!
I love that you included your conversations especially talking about past trips. It really made me feel like I was there with you guys. Which with the BWCA being closed right now due to the pandemic is really needed!
Hey there Elizabeth! Thanks for watching. I didn’t realize it was closed. Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me why. Social distancing is the norm there.
4XPEDITION it’s open for day trips but nothing more. And doesn’t make any sense to me either, but I guess it’s more about necessary resources if someone has an emergency out there. Hopefully it’ll open up soon though!
Resource wise that does make sense I guess. Also outfitters are probably closed anyway.
Elizabeth.Jillene ...its totally open no restrictions
Adam Gerner yeah I’m glad it reopened!
Great job on this video full watch and subscribed hope to do my first trip in the bw this fall👍
Awesome! Thanks for watching and best of luck on your paddle there. It is amazing.
Do not apologize for catching and eating the fish !!!! Great video !!
Thanks!
Eat bass all day! Small mouth are actually invasive, introduced in area by man.
A scout myself I spent a week one summer a Charles L Sommers Canoe Base the trip we took was breathtaking I would do it again in a heartbeat. I totally appreciated the Northern Tier Grace at the toast.
Only a guy who knows the BWCA can appreciate the NTG.
I can relate to Dana’s story, I too went through the Boy Scout base BUT I did make my first trip at 16 years of age. I was 37 and had never been a canoe before but a close friend of mine got the Boy SCOUT troop we worked with the try a trip to the BWCA. I no idea what to pack so I pack everything including the kitchen sink. After we arriving at the B.S camp, I left half of my gear in our vehicles. It was definitely a learning experience for me and since then I’ve made somewhere 15 or 16 trips over the years. The last several years I and 3 others close buddies try to make a trip years are so together. I also say “ Once you have been by the BWCA bug you WILL return again and again and again”. I very much enjoyed your video.
Very interesting story, Wayne.
you guys just did a trip exactly backward/opposite way me and my friends did few years back...great vid...going to have to plan another trip after seeing this...thx.
Cool!
Back in the 80's I went to the BWCA with my Father, both of my Grandfather's, my brother and my two uncles. Great weather in May, lots of fish and up close with a couple of bears and moose. So glad to have the memories of a trip with the my amazing family.
Its time to return to the BWCA.
Check in with Anderson outfitters on Crane Lake. He can get you to Lac La Croix in a couple of hours. And get you all the gear you need
This is a great video thanks. I came over from the UK 18 years ago for a 6 day trip. It was the most amazing experience. Such a beautiful place
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi guys we enjoy your videos with a lot of melancholy. It is like coming home.In the late 80s and 90th we spent at least 10 septembers in the BWCA starting from the nice family LaTourell.So we know every square meter of the area all portages all campsites on US and Canadian side..Due to old age we only can watch your videos from our home in Germany.Thank you
Great video n adventure
Glad you enjoyed it Smokin!
Nice trip guys.
Dave has a Eureka Sentinel.... Vintage early 1980s! I have one of these in Navy blue. Awesome awesome tent. Has served me well for 4 decades.
The bwca is no joke! So true. I’m from north mn and this is a great video!
I take that as a great compliment as you are from that area. Thank you!
Gearing up for my first trip in about a month here. We got four 18 year olds, a 19 year old, and a 21 year old. Three 18 year olds have a little experience, but this video helped me prepare a lot. Thank you.
Awesome! Where you putting in and taking out?
How did the trip go 3 years ago?
Have you gone back?
Enjoyed the video very much. Fifteen days until my 5th BWCA trip, 3 solo and 1 with my older son. Best part were the interviews. Reflection is what the trips are very good at providing. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. Agree. The interviews were something new I've been integrating into episodes. I think that adds a lot of value. Have a great trip!! Where you putting in?
Thank you so much for putting this video together. I am 33 and I know I can still have plenty of BWCA experience left in me. You guys are not old, you are BWCA Elders! Much much respect!
Thanks!!
Did you make it to the b dub this summer?
Don't wait to go back. Life can throw you obstacles at any time
@@golfish8589 I've actually been back to the BWCA in 2020,2021, and This past September in 2022! Great trips. Its a little rough doing portages as I get older but I hope to still get more trips as the years go on! Thanks for asking!
@@slimc3769Check out Anderson outfitters on Crane Lake. He will get you out to Lac La Croix. With no paddling or portaging
48 minutes in and I had flashbacks from my childhood... swarming mosquitoes outside the tent on the Sawbill trail in the early/mid 80s... Very loud! Even got flooded out inside the tent one year after 2 straight days of hard rain and had to cut the trip short. Weird... I still keep going back for more of those magestic memories that outweigh the tough ones.
I know they aren't for everyone, but I've never been wet from rain in a hammock with a solid tarp over it, and being on the ground with all those uncomfortable rocks in my back or side... never again. Hammocks all the time when trees are available.
Good perspective about the rain and a hammock. I love it up there. I was just in Moab UT and came across a tent that was sitting in a foot deep of water. Somebody had a really bad night. I posted it on the 4XPEDITION Instagram account. You should check that out. It looked like a flash flood.
It really was a great trip and Scott did a super job with the Video. I have to clear up one point, the outfitter had my credit card on hold for any damages to that 3K canoe soooo that's why I insisted on carry it. With that being said I have to admit I am a bit of a control freak. LOL
Ya, but we love ya Dana!
Hey Dana was the rapids you guys bypassed on portage #4 coming from Lower Pauness in to the Sioux Hustler?
You did well even as a duffer! U r lucky the wind did not trap you! Big water trip.
Catch and eat all the fish you want to, I’m not a fan of sportfishing just to catch a fish and throw it back! I am new to canoeing, and I can’t wait to get on the water from my very first trip, maybe I can get the bravery enough to come up to that neck of the woods and try those waters! Thanks for an excellent adventure I felt like I was there with you
Thanks Richard! I loved that trip and the BWCA caputured a part of my hear forever.
Outstanding, Thanks for taking us along.
Thank you!
Talk about memories...I've been on the same trip you are on. You might want to try turning the bent shaft around the right way. It will help . Great video guys
Thanks for watching, Gerald.
Take a drink every time he says "rod" LOL. Great video...
Super video, thank you! Like how you stop and look at the beauty along the way.
Thank you James!
Please, take me with you. Beautiful, beautiful .... I cry with joy to see the beauty there is. I love you guys.
;56 in and commenting. What a sweet trip.
I want to go back really bad!
Best video on TH-cam. Thank you Scott
GREAT VIDEO
Cool thanks!
Great video! I believe you captured the essence of the BWCA and the tradition. I’ve been going up for 33 years - will begin paying it forward to my boys soon. Thanks again for sharing and hope you get to visit again soon.
Awesome! How old are your boys? And, thanks. Really try hard to capture the experience. Thanks for checking in!
4XPEDITION my boys are 5 and 3. The rule is that they must know how to swim. My BWCA buddies kids are a bit older and they will have their first trip this next spring with us. No longer will it be just he and I - time to move the tradition forward.
Memories last a lifetime. Look forward to hearing about 'em. Cheers!
Very great story, I love this.
@@mstarksoUpperLipOutdoorsi know this is 5 years old. I hope you got your boys to the BWCA by now.
If not , don't wait any longer.
You said they need to learn how to swim first.
Our number one rule is. Always wear your lifejacket. Have it in before you put the canoe in the water
I just watched your video, twice actually. Being from Minnesota it was a great treat to watch and see the wonder and beauty that is displayed there. I've been to BWCA multiple times and loved every second of it. Thanks again for the video.
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it, Jeff! It sure is a stunning place.
Great video! Love that area of the bwca. We have been twice to that area in a MN4. That thing is a beast for sure to carry on portages, and a ton of work for the stern paddler to steer through those tight turns of the rivers. But oh is it nice out on the lakes when you get everyone paddling together.
We cruised across Lac la Croix even in big waves.
wow since 2018 and now seeing you the first time, a big load of gears
Glad you found it!
love n d house
@@4XPEDITION so welcome
One of my all time favorite places! Glad you were able to experience what the BWCA has to offer.
Thanks Kelly!
What a GREAT video. Fabulous! My family went up here every year from when I was 4 years old. When i was in Jr. High my family moved. So sad as I haven't been up there since. This was almost 35 to 40 years ago. Fond memories I had up there. Makes me want to bring my Family up from South Florida! Thank you again.
Thanks Denise! Really appreciate the positive support! You really, really should. Such a great family experience I would imagine. Saw several families out there enjoying the wilderness.
This was the perfect video to watch on my day off here in late January. I was searching for a BWCA video to watch today just for fun, and I came across several that I couldn't get past the first 5 or 10 minutes, mainly because I don't want to watch endless shaky GoPro video with not much tying it all together. When I first saw this one in the search results and that it was almost an hour and a half long, I had very low expectations that'd I'd finish this one either. But I watched right to the end and loved the whole thing! Really nice job capturing what it's like being up in the BWCA, and also shooting and editing it in a way that was very watchable and interesting. Like another commenter mentioned, the interviews are gold. Really looking forward to getting up there again this summer, and a video like this really helps to keep me motivated, especially this time of year.
Awe great to hear that you enjoyed it so much! It really is a great video. I watched it again myself a couple weeks ago. Appreciate the comment!
Did you get a trip in yet this summer?
@@thesupercooladventureshow6080 Who you asking, me or Seven Dogg?
@@4XPEDITION you
Good video, I have done that route several times. The swans were awesome. I also really appreciated the interview segment with your two canoe mates. There perspective was really appropriate to add to your video. This past September I also celebrated my fifty year anniversary coming to the BWCA. I got my start through YMCA Camp Widjiwagan.
Fantastic! 50 years! I love the BWCA. Thanks for commenting!
I’ve recently got the BWCA bug...been watching lots of vids! ❤️ your trip! having grown up in northern Minny (Iron Range), the BWCA IS the culture! Last time I went on a trip...late 70s-early 80s as a teen/college. Hoping to plan once I retire and move back to Minny! I really enjoyed your trip...Thank You!
Hi Carli. Cool that you watched and don't wait too long to go. Don't wait until you retire. My recommendation is to make it a priority and go. It is worth the exception. And, you never know what kind of time you have on this planet. Cheers to you!
Did you make it back to Minnesota and the BWCA
Looks like you had a great trip! Awesome friends to share it with!
Thanks Todd! Glad you liked it!
Thanks Scott! My job is moving from the Boston area to Minneapolis next year so am really looking forward to an adventure in the Boundary Waters.
Oh man. You are going to love Minnesota and Wisconsin and the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. Note also, that in Wisconsin you must check out Door County. I have a video on my channel about Door County. Check that out. It is the cape cod of the midwest.
Have you made it to the BWCA
@@golfish8589 I did, it was an awesome adventure.
@@greggm7056when is your next trip. Reservation open up soon
Awesome video. This was the same outfitter and almost the same route we took back in the summer of 2018. Piragis, can’t say enough good things about them.
Agreed!
Glad I was born in such a pretty state
It just might be disappearing if that mining goes bad as it almost always does! 🤔
Really well done, enjoyed it a great deal!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Used to love the Boundary Waters until I started adventuring into Canada will never look back
Awesome video. Going at the end of July and I feel like I’ve already been.
Wonderful! Enjoy every single minute of the bliss that is BWCA.
HI Guys, Great video. wanted to comment that we bought our canoe from Piragis outfitters. We got a 17 ft Wenonah. Great canoe.
Look forward to do the BOundry Waters some day.
John
Hey John! Love BWCA and Ely, MN. Good luck!
2 years later, but hey! Very nice video. I'm a 65 yr old Canadian, and I see that Dana uses the Canadian stroke instinctively. Being from his generation, I get it totally. Life was special then, and if only we can maintain those values through a canoe camping experience, then, why not? As you said, there is no border wall there, only canoes and campers who drink the same water and feel the same sun and breeze. I am glad to have been part of our neighbourly walk, though politics have shaken those values drastically. Peace my friend. Hope to see you in these waters some day, and share a bannock and a few stories.
Hello there Marcel. I have to say that the BWCA and Quetico bring out this sense of nostalgia the entire time. It is the pace of life that I prefer. I appreciate your comment Marcel. I really hope you felt the sentiment of the story I tried to create. I feel a journey such as this would reshape anyone who embarks to a more appreciative respect of nature. Best to you sir.
@@4XPEDITION I certainly did feel that sentiment. It still resonates even now. Take care.
Have a great time... Looks like fun to me!
Thanks Don!
I'm getting ready to do the same route you completed in this video. Excellent work! I ended up watching the entire thing. I'm incredibly excited and found this video refreshing and extremely helpful for little nuggets of wisdom as we plan our trip.
I look forward to being able to do that trip again. So serene, incredible solitude, so quiet at sunset. What month fo you go?
This is an amazing video. This should have at least a 1 Mil views!
Thank you Berry! I agree!
Incredible video and beautiful scenery and all shot from your iPhone. You are obviously experienced and terrific at editing. Enjoyed it from start to finish. This trip is on my bucket list.
Thank you for that great feedback! Glad you enjoyed!
Definitely! You gotta make it up there!
Awesome video. Beautiful scenery. Leaving for our 3rd consecutive year to Ely, MN on Labor Day weekend for 9 days. Taking our kayaks to Bear Head Lake and backcountry sites at the park while we are there. Actually had a wolf visit our backcountry site on Blueberry Lake two nights in a row last year. It was storming, my son said it camped under his hammock for about 15 minutes the first night. I saw it's silhouette on my wife and my tent the next night.
Planning on attending the Harvest Moon Festival in Ely while there. Last year there were 178 vendors selling there goods as well as demonstrations by the locals such as canoe building.
North American Bear Center is also there. They feed the bears around 5pm, we caught the feeding period. Very cool.
Hey there Stephen! Thanks for checking in and sharing your experiences! I fell in love with the area myself while visiting on this trip and will most certainly be back. Have a great trip!
And, hope you subscribed. Cheers!
wonderful job. brings back a lot of memories.
Oh man I should not be watching this right now. It gives me a physical ache in my chest, longing to go back up, but it is only February. I go up every year, just me and my dad. I absolutely adore the Boundary Waters, and I have so many cherished memories. I have always want to bring a phone/camera, but have never wanted to ruin our experience. For us, it is all about leaving everything behind, and living only in the then and now. No time, no responsibilities, no deadlines.
We never go on motorized lakes, it ruins it. We always go to the rare places if you will, the ones where you have to search for portages for seemingly hours, and hack out the fire grate. It's a blast, and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
Thanks for the video!
Great share! It’s funny how views of this video have skyrocketed once winter in Minnesota came. Makes perfect sense! I agree with you about tech in a place like that. I often leave my tech behind when I go on adventures. I only capture some of them for this channel. Recall the movie Walter Mitty the scene where Sean Penn doesn’t shoot the photo of the Snow Cat after waiting hours to get the shot. Some adventures are meant to stay pristine and private. I filmed this one to capture the stories of the gents that invited me along. Best to you and stay sane in that cold weather!
Motorboats are only seen on a small portion of this route. Lac la croix is amazing. I did this route in 2019 as well and had an awesome time. When you guys planned on going from your first camp all the way through lac la croix I was thinking to myself "no way will they get that much paddling done on day 2" haha :) we had a storm chase us on lac la croix and we were 3 in 1 canoe as well. Capsizing would have been awful. Also when you filmed those seagulls on the islands right after you entered lac la croix .. one of those seagulls attacked us. Dive bombed us like 30+ times for getting to close to the island. (You guys got closer, so be happy you didn't get attacked. Lol)
Absolutely loved this, 28 now and went back with scouts when I was 15. I've been looking at getting a jon boat and was watching videos and got back here, now I want a single person canoe and to go back up there. Already have a white water kayak, touring kayak, and 18 foot canoe though lol, might have to trade a couple in.
Thanks for watching Chris! Nothing wrong with investing in the things you love to do.
Great video! Thanks for taking us along for the ride!
Thanks!
Another awesome trip! 👍🏼
Thanks Dominix, it was!
Loved your video. Save the small talk about eating yur fish, mankind is given all the beasts of the earth to consume, bible says so. I planted those raspberry bushes at the crest of Devils Cascade portage way back in 1986 glad to see they are still thriving there is also Asperagus.
Very cool you planted those!
I work at Piragis...I enjoyed your video very much! Interesting all the way till the end too. You did an excellent job capturing what the Boundary Waters is all about. One of my favorite videos so far...Thank you for sharing!
Thanks David! Loved the trip and will be back... and will call on Piragis for equipment outfitting. You guys rock!
Best place on the planet to work and live!
just a tip..the best way out of la croix is to take the boulder river, which is very nice, out of la croix.the entrance is a tricky find at boulder bay.take the long carry at the north east tip of agnes.it's level!! no rocky shore,just a swamp landing with a well used path and your over in one easy carry into a small bay.i used the several portages across the lake but you have to load and unload several times and deal with a rocky path and a up hill before the way into the la croix.
Great Video, Really enjoyed it! Would have loved to relax in those beautiful boundary waters!
Thanks man!
Did the Minnesota outward bound in 1980. It was the toughest thing I ever loved ! Wish I could go back thre again. We used 17 foot Grummans,, a bitch to carry. I never could master the one man lift. Such a beautiful place to visit. I'm loving this video. Thankk you ☺☺☺
I always wanted to do Outward bound as a kid. So much so that I sent one of my sons on one of their adventures to the Cascade range a number of years back! Thanks for watching!
I got into a Suzuki accident with a deer once. We probably both could of just said motorcycle.
Having fun, awesome video! Bwca my favorite place In the world$
I have watched a lot of bwca video's, and I want to tell you this is one of the best i've seen ! hope you make it back the old guy's telling story was the best part , you need to catch a walleye or lake trout and cook em up .
Hey there! Thanks for checking in with your thoughts and opinion! Appreciate it!
That was all on me, I love catching Bass and find them to be a perfect size for a meal for 3. I live in the Walleye capital of the world, and Northerns are slimmers.
A little late on the comment but I’ve been going to the bwca yearly for 8 years now and the comments about people wishing they could go again or people that haven’t been able to go for a long time saddens me. I am truly blessed to have all the gear and to live only 40 minutes from the nearest entry point. There is no other place on earth quite like this!!
That's awesome!
Man, that makes me want to go back to do another canoe trip. I have been up there twice, and I have stories. The first was a car camping trip to the edge of the boundary waters with my ex in Grand Portage. I remember seeing lots of black bears at the dump in Ely I think. That was in the 80's. About 16 years ago, my daughter (age 10 at the time) and I traveled to Quetico with a gentleman friend who had been there when he was 18. Our trip was in late April or early May in order to avoid the blackflies. I think we put in at Gunflint Lodge but I don't remember the name of the lake. Our first night the mosquitos were bad and something (the Maymaguishi?) turned over our canoe. The next day it began raining and soon the water was beginning to fill the canoe. We found an island and took cover in the tent. We had to put rocks INSIDE the tent to keep it from blowing away with us in it. My friend and my daughter became feverish from exposure to the elements and I wasn't sure we would make it back alive. Eventually the next morning, the wind and rain had stopped. We had originally planned to canoe one lake and portage to another lake but the weather didn't permit. We turned back and ended our trip in sunshine. My friend caught a large fish which we fried over the fire just like you did. Back at the lodge I purchased a cassette tape of loon music which I still have and listen too. Your video brought back all those memories and more. I would love to go back again with someone someday soon.
Sounds like a pretty intense 'vacation' ha! Ya, from what I understand from the gents I went with, every trip is very different. "There was the trip when..." came up a lot. We didn't see any bears or Moose but I've definitely had bears in camp before. This trip we were fortunate enough to not have many black flies. Just the skeeters. Thanks for sharing your stories Michelle! Glad to have you a part of the community!
I think the best entry point to the BWCA is up past Grand Marais on the Gun Flint Trail. Ely's good but more people and motor boats. I recommend where Big Knife lake meets Little Knife.Never saw anyone in my two trips there. Just my friends and I feeling like we were the only people on earth.
Love that. Great share.
Just did a trip entering from kawishawi lake to Alice Lake... ...best walleye fishing!
Really enjoyed your video. I especially liked - found funny - when, at minute 14, the guy with the “hashtag” cap said, ‘Never go camping with old guys’ then started paddling with his bent-shaft paddle facing in the wrong direction. I love self-effacing, ironic humor.
Glad to entertain you Dennis! And I for one can appreciate your sarcasm! I will admit that is pretty funny. I didn't even notice that! Cheers!
4XPEDITION Funniness aside, You do a good job with the video (I’ll have to check out the others). The storyline, videography, narration; never as easy as it may look. Cheers.
It's all on me, not Scotts fault! LOL
See you in four years, thanx
Good and nice video.
I from Denmark, I would go on a 6 month solo trip.
Alaska, bwca, Ontario...
Oh. There’s the fishing!😆😆🤙🏻🤙🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸
That campsite near the portage at the Devil's Cascade is for backpackers on the Sioux Hustler trail.
You mean the one at the top of the hill overlooking the falls?
@@4XPEDITION yes
I should say, the Sioux Hustler trail is smaller/ harder to see vs the portage trail is a well beaten path so I thought maybe you would not have noticed it
I didn't notice it! Thanks for sharing that!@@MamasBasecamp
Great video, knock it off with the Rod measuring system.
Nobody uses that.
@@kiphilken912 The guys I was with do. But they are old school.
Ha Ha yeah, how many Cubits is that?
Everyone uses rods in the boundary waters.
Great video 👍 sick 💪
Thanks!
Who gives a damn if you were sport fishing it’s fun. I’m not sure about hunting just for horns or fur but for eating it’s healthier for you than store bought. This was a long vid, much longer than my attention span but I loved it and stuck all the way to the end. Another fantastic job!!
Hey Josh! Thanks so much, man. I really appreciate that feedback. This is by far the longest episode I've posted to the channel and thought that if I kept the clips short with a lot of transition and variety I could keep attention spans long enough. So, thanks for that confirmation. And, I agree about the hunting and fishing. I just knew that someone would post a comment about it so I decided to cut that off at the pass. Cheers!
Great video I’m heading up there on the 17 Th of august
You are going to love it if you haven't been before. If you have, you already know you will!
On second thought, we put in at Pickerel Lake in Quetico. Gunflint Lodge is in Grand Marais, MN and we stopped there on my first trip to the edge of the BWCA.
Nice you got to to to Quetico!
Quantico is definitely the cream of the crop!
Scott it's Lucas from Belize buddy. Great video. Looked like a really neat adventure. Really enjoyed watching part of it. Let's catch up soon
Hey Luc! Hope all is well with you. Thanks for checking in. Let me know when you are in the area.
nice film
Thanks!
Great video! im from Norway and ive seen videos from canada several times and though "wow the climate in canada is identical to Norway , the forest looks exactly the same!" , the scenenrey in this video is basically ideentical to norway , alittle bit warmer it seems !
Super cool! I hope to get to Norway to paddle some of the fjords.
Nice video, it plants some seeds for when my son is old enough to make the journey.
Love the name, logo and tag line by the way
That's amazing
Great video! Thanks for sharing. I didn't catch the name of the book you quoted from. What was it?
Hi there. I believe that book was called voluntary simplicity By Duane Elgin
My friends and I plan on taking this same route this summer been planning it since I saw this video about a year ago. Anything you wish you guys had done differently? Like which day you did what stretch or any gear you wish you had?
Gosh, hard to say now... it's been so long ago. I loved every minute of that trip. Lac Lacroix was big waves. Just be careful with that.
Not sure if anyone else commented on your paddle but you were holding it backwards most of the time. The paddle blade will stay much more vertical if you turn it around.
Yep. Defeats the whole purpose of spending extra for a bent-shaft paddle.
It's all on me, not Scotts fault! LOL
When is the best time to go? Never been just learning about this place and would like to do a trip next summer probably with my son and his friends. Amazing video by the way!
Hey there Troy! The best month is July. This is because July is the month with the least amount of Mosquitios. And, as you saw in the video, July still has lot of those 'lil buggers. I truly loved this adventure. Truly. In fact, it is one of the few places left in the USA where you can feel as though you are still an explorer...often not seeing anyone for two or more days on entire lakes...completely alone.
@@4XPEDITION Thanks! July! Just answered my question! I'm a Brit living in Italy. Virtually no opportunities for canoe adventures even remotely like BWCA in Europe...perhaps up in Scandinavia? With my now wife, as total 'canoe virgins' (but v.experience mountaineers), we rented a canoe from REI in Anchorage and did a 5-day canoe trip on the Kenai Peninsula. Profoundly beautiful. Took us the whole of the first day to stop zig-zagging! We had bin liners, sandals and rubber kitchen gloves! So, so green! The guy in the shop had to help us tie the canoe on the roof of our hire car. I was hooked! I've been hooked ever since! That was nearly 20 years ago. Since then I've been wanting to get to BWCA. Now I have a 6-y-o son. Desperately hoping we can get there next year. Have taken copious notes while watching your inspirational video. The call of loons entranced me in Kenai. One of the most magical sounds in nature!
The pike are great tasting, the bass are at the bottom of the taste scale
Ya, probably right about that. I couldn't complain though.
I wouldn't agree, I love catching bass they are #1, Northern are slimmers, I filet them with 6 cuts to get rid of all the y-bones and still would prefer bass. I live in the walleye capital of the world so I eat them ever other day. Soooo this is all on my love of catching bass and eating them.
Granite gear portage packs are made with nylon cordura not Kevlar 1:15.
Good to know
My granite gear superior one broke on the 3rd portage in this route. Strap separated from the bag. Returned it and ordered from frost river. Seems the new granite gear isn't nearly as durable as the old.
What did you do for water?Down here in Florida we have the 99 mile waterway at ten thousands islands Everglades on the south west side that would be a trip.Peace and quiet there too,I hope I can try it some time but not go to far.That place looks like a great area no noise.
Hi Julian. Water filtration. Remember, this is all freshwater. In the video if you watch at the first camp you see me filling up a big blue bag full of water from the lake. Once full, just hang it in a tree and let gravity provide the pressure.
@@4XPEDITION I have to look at that again,I do not know if you remember but along time ago we had acid rain somewhere in the USA and I do not know how that affected lake water.
@@porkfied Well, so far I haven't grown any appendages out of my forehead so coast is probably clear. :-)
@@4XPEDITION Too funny.
I wonder what you think about the copper mining issue?
I saw a recent documentary on that and felt devastated. The BWCA is an unbelievably stunning and special place. I understand the folks needing to work up there. I really do. I just can't imagine that the mine companies will be able to control the pollutants. I live in Arizona. Here, Copper Mining is one of the main resources and revenue. I filmed down in Patagonia Arizona recently, down there the habitat and ecology is very sensitive and they are having the same issue with a new mine wanting to open up and likely destroy the fragile ecosystem.
@@4XPEDITION The problem is the copper mining won't be sustainable like iron ore mining was. When the copper is gone, so are all the jobs and it will be bust like the Iron Range. Guess who will be stuck with the clean up? The tax payers get to pay that while the shareholders are getting paid. I was born & raised in the Twin Cities and would love to come back and enjoy this. I'm now living in Germany.
@@4XPEDITION BTW I donated $20 to Save the Boundary Waters." They are trying to stop the mining.
@@quietcorner293 I tell ya, the BWCA and the Quetico are astonishing really. And, I feel your concern. Much of the way society conducts itself is not sustainable. What is the link for the donation?
@@4XPEDITION Here it is. I didn't think I would watch a video like this for an hour and half but so far I've seen about an hour of it. Due to having MS, I'm not sure how much of this adventure I could do. I can walk alright but it gets harde as I get exhausted. savetheboundarywaters.org/
Great video. What did you use for your camera? I also noticed a solar charger - what items did you have that required juice? Heading up there in 3 weeks with my 13yr old daughter. Was a staffer at Canoe Base in Boulder Junction back in the 70’s
Awesome about being a staffer and that you are going soon! I used my iPhone to do 100% of the filming. I charge my phone, headlamp, and thats about it
Thank you for all the extra effort to bring all of us along! I made an offer on a home just outside the border of the boundary (waters) yesterday...awaiting a final answer. Since I've never been to the BW it was GREAT to experience a bit of it through you. Also, is James McAvoy your little brother? Cuz... he's very handsome and you look related! ;)
Nice! Did the deal go through? Also, he's my OLDER brother. ;-)
Oh I'm so excited! I'm leaving in 3 days for my yearly trip, going in on entry point 14 as well!
Which lake are those Indian paintings on?
Awe, I am totally envious! I love BWCA. The paintings are located on the Quetico side of the border on Irving Island. Hard to say exactly on the lake but basically, it is on the Lac la Croix but on the eastern end just southeast of Kelsey Lake (which is on the U.S. side). Across the water way to the Southeast you will see Irving. Google Kelsey Lake MN.
@@4XPEDITION thanks so much! My dad had been to the BWCA over a dozen times and still not seen them, so that's our goal this year!
Let me know if it happens for you!
Did u bring a fishing pole?
Did you watch the video?
Just so u know the bend in paddle goes forward.
Can't blame Scott, that's all on me lol
This may be a silly question. I’m from PA. Do you have to worry about bears out that way?
In the Boundary Waters... yes...that and Moose. Remember, BWCA is located near the Canadian border.