My "not a trip" trip report.

[Rippy]

May 2nd I was on the road early headed for the Ely Minn area to take another solo loop trip in the BWCA. I didn't have a route planned and since it was early yet there were plenty of different entry point permits available, so I thought I would get there and see what I felt up to. I didn't get a Fall trip in last year and mainly wanted to just get up north and take it (the scenery ) in. As I got nearer to my destination something just didn't seem right. I became more and more uneasy about taking a loop trip. For some reason I can't explain I felt concerned about my health and possibly having some sort of an emergency. I have learned to trust my gut instincts so I decided to base camp in a camp ground and take day trips in the area instead of a canoe trip. I ended up on Fall lake in a walk in tent site.

I took a short hike to Kawishiwi Falls and spent some time taking in the view.

The next day I drove to entry point #34 on the Island River and paddled to see some pictographs. The trip was on the edge of a burn area. The pictograph (in the green shaded area) was different from what I was expecting in that it was not ochre.

Island river headed back to the truck. I tweaked my knee on a portage on the way out and was very happy to see the truck. It was windy on the way back in places and I was tired. I am used to taking Fall trips and am usually in better shape by then. I am 57 and it seems that each winter I slow down a little more.

The next day I decided to portage into Lake Hegman and spend the day there. I stopped everywhere that looked interesting and got out and walked around. In this area I found some wintergreen growing and picked some leaves for tea later.

"Chill lax'n" at lunch time with my boots off. My Chota mukluks work good but my feet sweat allot in them.

I found the outlet and walked it to a meadow.

Back at camp my bag chair had broke so I rigged up this hammock chair to relax in. The Forest Service had cut/ thinned a bunch of trees so there were poles available. It was great as I could sit in it and cook on my Coleman single burner.

I decided to get Stabby out and play with him. He worked fine for batoning, and it was kinda fun, but I'm not going to leave my forest axe home any time soon. In fact that was the only time I used Stabby on the whole trip so he will be staying home (unless I happen to be feeling stabby at the time).

Here I am drinking homemade wintergreen tea (I think) and watching the sun go down.

All in all the trip was OK and relaxing. It wasn't the same as taking a solo loop trip. But it was good time spent. I never did figure out why the loop trip seemed like a no go. I am going to plan a Fall trip and see what happens then.

 

[sweeper]

It's looks like it was a great place to relax

 

[clemency]

Listening to your gut is good. Also, love the rigged hammock chair. Once spent a month using wheelbarrows as camp furniture, and your chair reminds me of that. More comfortable than you might think at first.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Good you could get out, Rippy. I haven't yet and may not this summer, given that I have a lot of personal stuff that needs attention.

Beginning around my mid-50's I began going solo on base camping kinds of canoe trips. This allows day paddling with perhaps a portage or two without having to do triple portages with bunch of gear. Sometimes, I move my base camp after a few days to another location. It's not really remote wilderness tripping, but it's enough for me and I do feel relatively safe. I like it.

I feel even safer with the PLB I got four years ago. I carry it even on short day hikes and in my car during daily life.

Stabby certainly motivated a few knife purchases this winter for those of us with no Bronze Age weapon making skills. Good to see him batoning, if not stabbing. Noticed the Husqvarna axe, too.

Breaking a chair is a bummer. How did you attach the horizontal cross-piece to the legs of your DIY chair? I can't tell from the photo.

 

[Rippy]

Breaking a chair is a bummer. How did you attach the horizontal cross-piece to the legs of your DIY chair? I can't tell from the photo.

The nylon cloth piece was pre made and was in the bottom of my day pack. I had forgot that it was in there till I ran across it looking for something else.It is a rectangle with the sides folded over to make a seem. The bottom is folded over and sewn to make a loop big enough to run the cross piece through. The top is folded over 1" or so and sewed to make a smaller loop that the 550 cord passes through. The whole thing folds up small enough to forget you have it in your day pack. The cross piece just hangs and when I sit down I grab it and lift creating a pocket to sit in. Once seated it isn't a issue. The rear tripod pole can be be adjusted back till you feel reclined enough. I sharpened the bottom ends of the poles so they would dig in and not slip.

I hear ya on the base camping style trips and I sure would consider it. I used to feel like I had something to prove. Not so much any more. Just want to get to a quiet scenic place and take it in. Dave

 

[Holmes375]

Looks like a nice time and a great place to be.

I do a lot of base camping-day paddling during the stormy spring season. Gives me a options when the weather go to crap in the mountains. Sometimes I can move a dozen miles from one small lake to another to avoid a nasty thunderstorm. And sometimes it doesn't work

 

[Muskrat]

That looks like a really nice trip.

Every time I trip now I always seem to plan too many miles and while I'm not in a hurry on the water there isn't time too comepletely relax.

Before I started seriously canoeing, it's only been a couple years now, I used to do a lot of back packing. I always enjoyed the trips better when we'd hike out and set a semipermanent camp for a couple days. You can cover so many more miles lightly loaded on foot or by canoe, and it's nice to be free to explore off the trail. Once you get back from a jaunt all your gear is set up and dry and there's time to read or whatever is your pleasure. It's much more of an escape from the world for me that way.

 

[Iskweo]

We do this sort of thing a lot. Base camping for several days is always part of our trips. Labour day has been just his sort of trip for us for a few years. Set up in the park and do day trips around the area.

I have been jonesing to get out for a long weekend but alas I have my own personal back country travel restrictions in place still and it is looking like it may be another month before I can go anywhere.

Fall trips are my favourite by far. I would definitely be up for a loop in BWCA or even up here in the Shield country somewhere. Drop a dime on me if you need company.

Christy

 

[Boatman53]

Wow Dave, I really need a trip like that. I miss the BWCA it's a long way from Long Island,NY.
Jim

 

[Philtrum]

You're smarter than I am. Last summer I realized I wasn't really up for a solo trip. Of course, I went ahead and put together a 10-day trip in the BWCA.

I stayed one night.

Duh.

 

[memaquay]

Pretty good non-trip if you ask me. How did the tea taste? I know you are a hammock guy, but remember if you are camping traditional style to not drink to much tea before bed, or you might drown in your teepee.

 

[Rippy]

You're smarter than I am. Last summer I realized I wasn't really up for a solo trip. Of course, I went ahead and put together a 10-day trip in the BWCA.

I stayed one night.

Duh.

I don't believe I'm smarter than anyone. If you only knew how long it took me to learn to trust my gut. Some hard lessons learned. Good paddling to ya.

 

[Robin]

Relaxing on a sun warmed rock is the best, sometimes it leads to a good nap. I miss that, Thanks for sharing so many nice pictures and your story.

 

[Rippy]

Pretty good non-trip if you ask me. How did the tea taste? I know you are a hammock guy, but remember if you are camping traditional style to not drink to much tea before bed, or you might drown in your teepee.

The tea was actually pretty good. It tasted like a mix of green tea with some wintergreen flavor mixed in. I had cell phone reception there in the campground so about half way through my mug of tea I called home from "the chair" and had my daughter Google wintergreen and hit "images" to confirm that what I was drinking was in fact wintergreen tea. She described the leaves and the red berries and I felt a little more confident about what I was drinking. Then I asked her what it was used for. She started listing headache, joint aches and pains, arthritis, gas. We had a good laugh together on the phone because she had just described my life. That night was the only night of the trip that I didn't stay up and have a campfire. I felt so mellow and relaxed that I just hit the sack and slept like a log till morning. It kinda startled me when I woke up at 6:30 and realized that I hadn't had got up for a piss call during the night. Got lucky this time. By the way, I found that I had to actually boil the (green leaves) to get the goody out of them. Hot water wasn't quite enough in this case.

Finally got the "drown in your teepee (tea pee)"

 

[Rippy]

Relaxing on a sun warmed rock is the best, sometimes it leads to a good nap. I miss that, Thanks for sharing so many nice pictures and your story.

No problem Robin. Thanks for letting us "get together around your campfire".

 

[Seeker]

When I was young and full of testosterone, I just did whatever I had planned.... later in life, I employed (at one point) 16 women in a business known for low wages and high turnover... they were very fragile personalities who ran entirely on emotion and gut instinct; but the gut thing worked; blew my mind when their "irrational" gut/uneasiness about a new coworker or customer later turned out right.... I got smarter, started watching, and learned to listen to my own gut... I've had it tell me a couple times "don't camp here"... and I no longer ask why... I just obey and move on. I don't care "why" anymore either... I just have the faith that whatever got cancelled, I was warned off of for a reason. So, listen to your gut.

I use that kind of chair pretty regularly... You can lash the horizontal pole to the uprights if you want to, or put forks under them, but it's not necessary. I've used mine tied to a tree with forks under the front pole for a hunting seat too.

If anyone cares, the finished dimensions of mine are roughly 24" x 54", with a 4" pocket on the front edge for a pole and a 1" pocket for a rope on the top edge.

 

[Odyssey]

Thanks for sharing this trip Rip. I loved it. Your day paddles were great. Tremendous seeing the pictographs.
I can relate to everything you've pondered and discovered. While it's been said that we can be our own worst enemy, it's also true that we can be our own best friend. Sometimes we have to listen to that little voice that tells us "Whoa there, let's think about this. What do I really need?"
I'm glad you've discovered Wintergreen tea. I find it refreshing in the evening after a long day.

 

[BWCA66]

Great pics, brings back memories o going to the same areas. Did you go to the pictographs on north Hegman? They're pretty good too.

 

[Jim Dodd]

Nice post Rippy !
Enjoyed the photos ! I need to get up to the BWCA this Fall. Want to put a solo to the test, but would be happy to go with others !
Thanks for the Wintergreen tip ! I'll keep my eyes open for some !

Jim

 

[Rippy]

Great pics, brings back memories o going to the same areas. Did you go to the pictographs on north Hegman? They're pretty good too.

I didn't port into North Hegman this time. I have been to see the pictographs there a couple times and they are great! This time I just wanted to spend some time relaxing on South Hegman, specifically near the outlet that leads to Nel's Lake. It just was calling to me so I checked it out. Next time you're near there check it out and walk the stream down a ways. It's a very peaceful restful place. The sound of the water over the rocks was hypnotic and I felt like I could / would go to sleep there if I stayed too long. Normally I would have made a bee line for the pictographs and back to the truck to fit as many things into the day as possible. This trip I worked on smelling the roses. Dave