Twelve people on a canoe trip makes for a rather different trip than two or three people on a trip.  Even though it meant one and a half food packs, eleven packs total, and five canoes, we survived and had a pretty good time all told.  I couldn't help being a little nervous as the comfort and enjoyment of the canoe trip (the first for several of our crew) was at least somewhat dependent upon me.

( Many pictures below the cut )

It was a great trip, and probably the last trip that the family is going to be able to all make together for several years with mom and Burnell going to Egypt.  Next time, Sarah will have to make it, and so will our little boy and maybe even other little children too.  A houseboat might be a nice welcomed change, though.

Simple pleasure - lots of good memories
Peace

Some time last year, family started talking about a canoe trip with as many people attending as possible.  As a former canoe guide, I volunteered to plan and lead the trip.  I've said several times over the last few days that if I didn't want to do this, I wouldn't want to.  But that being said, planning a trip for 12 (twelve!!!) is much more hectic than planning a trip for two or three.  Though we are only out for three nights and four days, the amount of food we are taking is unreal. 

I am actually delighted that so many people are able to make it on this trip.  As far as spouses and significant others go, everyone in the Peterson/Fistler/Olson/Atkins clan is going to be there except for Sarah.  Being as she is rather pregnant, though, I suppose it is wisest that she isn't out in the middle of the wilderness.  Twelve people, though.  That's a big group.

Twelve concerns me in a couple ways. First, as I haven't been to Voyageurs before, I don't have any idea how large the camp sites are.  Joe says they're pretty big with many tent pads, but since we have five  2-4 person tents, one 1 person tent, and one hammock, I am concerned that there will be enough tent pads.  One thing about being part of a family that includes adults and young adults (as opposed to kids) is that couples tend to want to stick together and often don't particularly want company in their tents.  The four-person tents could hold three people without too much trouble.  Four would be a bit cramped, though, and would necessitate splitting people up or adding guests.

Also, twelve people meeans a lot off stuff.  People actually did pretty in packing minimally.  Even though people packed pretty well, we still have eleven packs.  Eleven packs!!!  That's on top of five canoes.  I certainly don't have a problem carrying a smaller pack and a canoe at the same time, but I'm not going to expect everyone carrying a canoe to do the same thing, nor for every person carrying a pack to carry two packs on the portages... especially since I understand a couple of our group members are unable to carry much due to one thing or another.

We'll have a good time though.  The first paddle stroke is really the best.  That means we are finally moving, and we have a whole wonderful trip in front of us.  I'm really looking forward to it.

simple pleasure - being done packing
Peace

Sarah and I got back home last night around 10:30.  It seems a little strange being back in the city after being up in the woods for a few days.  We got to my family's place in Wrenshall in the mid afternoon yesterday, showered, and then we all went out for giant greasy burgers and beer at The Anchor in Superior - perfect post-canoe trip food.  But I'm starting at the wrong end of the story...

( trip report, with pictures )

Ok, I'm not crabby, but I'm not enjoying myself while packing for our Boundary Waters trip.  My ADD-ness isn't really helping at the moment and I feel kind of like I did when I needed to be working on my research paper.  Just about anything seems preferable right now.  There is still a lot to do - find out if there is a fire ban (which will influence the menu for the first night), grocery shop, repackage food, find my sleeping bag compression sack, inventory/restock spice kit, Santa Clause my list, hopefully get everything to fit into two packs, roof rack on the car....

Sarah suggested that we get started packing this weekend, but I've never liked packing early for anything.  It makes sense, and for trips like this it would probably help, but it's just one of those quirks I have.

So I am done packing for tonight I think.  Time to read some James Herriot then fall asleep listening to the Twins Game and soothing British voices on the BBC.

Simple pleasure - going through gear
Peace

Sarah and I just made an entry point reservation for the Boundary Waters at the end of this month.  We spent a bunch of time looking at different entry points and possible routes.  Being as that the time we wanted to go isn't that long from now, many of the points were already full.  I wanted to go in Mudro, but it was full.  Little Indian Sioux was full.  Stuart was full.  We did Moose River last year.  There are always permits available for Fall, it seems, so that's where we are going.  We talked about going somewhere east of there, but without talking with people who have been there or doing a bunch of research I am a little leery about visiting new water.

Without having someone to pick us up at a different entry point, we had to figure out a loop route to do.  We talked about going up into Basswood to Crooked, then down into the Fourtown/Horse area then back into Jackfish Bay and out Fall, but that would be a pretty long trip for 4 nights - more than twelve miles each day.  It's a route that would allow us to see lots of great things, but it's almost too much.

So the plan is to go from Fall over to Jackfish Bay, Sandpit, Tin Can Mike, Horse, Horse River, Crooked to see the Pictographs, Basswood River, then Basswood back to Fall.  It'll be a nice route through a few pretty nice areas.  Tin Can Mike is a very pretty little lake and the Horse River is fun.  My concern about the river though, is that the water might be a bit low requiring getting out of the canoe and pulling it through shallow/rocky areas.  When water is up, there are some fun little narrows/chutes to paddle through, but low water could make it a bit difficult.  The pictographs up on Crooked are always nice.  Hopefully we can get to that area early enough not to have to worry about finding an open campsite.  Basswood River is a nice paddle as well, though I don't think I've ever gone upstream on that river. 

Yeah, I'm pretty excited about this.  It'll be a lot of fun, and now I get to start thinking about packing, food, and gear over the next couple weeks.

Simple pleasure - watching obscure Olympic events
Peace