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Okay, what does the Boundary Waters have to do with freeing yourself? Well, sometimes it’s not enough to free yourself from your day job, sometimes you’ve got to free yourself from everything. If you like the outdoors, then the BWCA is at the very top of my list of “free yourself” hideaways. Just as a teaser, here is Lake Agnes on a beautiful afternoon in May during one of my “escapes” (click on the picture for a larger version):

This is my list for a spring boundary waters canoe trip

Packs

• 1 gear pack (tents and other gear)
• 1 food pack (could be more depending on length of the trip)
• 1 personal pack (1 or more peoples clothing, etc)
• day pack(s) for short trips

Canoe gear

• Car/Truck racks for the Canoe(s)
• Canoe (check your sticker to make sure it’s current)
• Portage yoke (should be on canoe already)
• Paddle
• Spare Paddle
• 50 ft rope ( to tie off canoe or other)
• Canoe anchor bag (fill with rocks for an anchor)
• Life jacket for each person
• Throwable rescue preserver
• Canoe seat if so desired
• Bungee cords for securing whatever
• Sponge or bailer

Navigation gear

• Maps of all areas to be travelled (Fisher or McKenzie)
• Map case or large ziplock
• Compass for each person
• Whistle for each person
• GPS (with extra batteries)
• Travel log (notebook)

Camping gear

• Tent and Vestibules
• Tent stakes
• Ground cloth
• Rope to tie tent down with
• Sleeping pad
• Sleeping bag
• Camp pillow
• Rain tarp
• Rope for rain tarp
• Bear rope for hanging food pack
• Extra nylon parachute cord (clothesline, re-enforcement, etc)
• Camp saw
• Camp axe
• Camp shovel (for latrine if necessary)
• Garbage bags
• Permits

Cooking gear

• Camp stove
• Lantern with extra mantles(optional)
• Fuel
• Windscreen
• Lighter(s) (I bring 3 )
• Waterproof matches
• Fire starter
• Fire grate if desired (heavy)
• 1 frying pan
• 1 cooking pot
• 1 coffee pot (can be the cooking pot)
• 1 spatula
• Eating utensils
• Reynolds wrap
• Mess kit or cups and plates
• Dish washing gear (camp suds/biodegradable soap and scrubber)
• Naglene water bottles
• Water filter
• Water purification tablets
• Collapsable water jug (5 gallon)
• Paper towels

Clothes (Spring / Summer / Fall )

• Rain gear
• Polar fleece sweat shirt
• Knit cap
• Baseball cap
• Short sleeve T-Shirts
• Long sleeve T-Shirts
• Underwear
• Zip-off pants
• Hiking socks
• Lightweight camp/sleep socks
• Swimsuit
• Stuff sack for all clothes
• Wet boots (in canoe/portage)
• Dry boots (in camp)
• Sandals if warm
• Bandana
• Chamois Towel

Clothes (Cold weather)

• Long underwear
• Warm gloves (dry)
• Neoprene gloves (wet)
• Warm boots
• Rubber boots

Miscellaneous personal gear

• Drivers license
• Insurance card
• Credit card
• Passport (if necessary)
• RABC / Remote access permit (if necessary)
• Personal water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Bug repellant
• Lip balm
• Watch with alarm
• Spare eyeglasses / contacts
• Contact solution
• Belt
• Flashlight / headlamp (plus extra batteries)
• Camera (plus extra batteries)
• Lens cleaners
• Tripod
• Pocket knife
• Multi-tool pliers
• Sharpening steel
• Extra film or memory cards (digital is the way to go)
• Waterproof camera case
• Binoculars
• Cellular phone (although it may not work)
• Bug head net
• Book to read
• Notebook and pen
• Playing cards (for rainy days)
• Nylon hammock (low profile, definitely luxury)
• Camp chair (yet another luxury)

Hygiene

• Toilet paper
• Baby wipes
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental floss
• Deodorant (so that the bears like you)
• Camp suds (mentioned earlier, multipurpose)
• Lotion
• Comb
• Feminine hygiene products

First aid

• Any required medications
• Tweezers
• Medical scissors
• Nail clippers
• Medical tape
• Bandaids
• Gauze patches
• Moleskin (blisters)
• Butterly bandages
• Disposable gloves
• Needle and thread
• Safety pins
• Razor blades
• Topical antiseptic
• Topical antibiotic
• Ibuprofen / Tylenol
• Antihistamine
• OraGel
• Electrolite tablets
• Cortizone
• Antidiarrheal
• Instant ice
• Aloe vera gel
• Petroleum jelly (burns)
• Ace bandage
• EpiPen (for allergic reactions)
• First aid book
• Emergency solar blanket
• Duct tape (first aid for person, tent or canoe)
• Signal mirror

Fishing gear

• 2 complete fishing poles (in case 1 breaks)
• Rod case (or Rod wrap)
• Rod repair kit
• Filet knife
• Canoe friendly tackle box (mine straps to the thwart)
• Tackle (remember, lead heads are heavy and not legal in all locations)
• Hook removers
• Line clippers
• Fishing licenses for region being fished
• Fishing regulations
• Stringer
• Collapsible fishing net
• Portable depth finder (also very heavy and bulky)
• Bait (if legal)

Food

• Breakfast for each day (don’t need for the first day)
• Lunch for each day (every day)
• Dinner for each day (don’t need for the last day )
• Snacks (energy bars, trail mix, etc)
• Drinks (coffee, Tang, Kool-aid, cocoa)
• Fish fry and cooking oil
• Spices

Remember:  Whatever you pack, you carry.  This list is fairly extensive and many items can be cut out

Trip Home

• Clean clothes (shirt, pants, socks, underwear, and shoes) for the last day ride home…AHHhhhhhhh)