RE: [Paddlewise] Boundary Waters Region

Mark,

The BWCAW is a great place to paddle.  In my opinion kayaks are not the best
choice for this area.  I base my opinion on the problem with portages.  In a
canoe gear is packed in large bags, typically one or two per person, while
in sea kayaks we tend to pack our gear in lots of little drybags.  Even if
you bring an empty large bag to transport your gear the portages will take
longer to do.  In addition sea kayaks are not designed to be portaged.
There are a few lakes and routes in the BWCAW that do not require 3-4
portages per day, some of them are the larger lakes where motors are
permited, so you would have to be willing to put up with the noise and
sometimes hostility of motorboaters.  Another problem is that parties are
limited to 3 boats or 9 persons.  With solo kayaks this effectively limits a
group trip to 3 people.  Next to the BWCAW is Voyageur's National Park.
Inland Sea Kayakers had a trip to Voyageurs NP last year and we are doing
another trip in August of this year.  A description and photos are on our
website, http://www.isk.canoe-kayak.org/.  Other options in the area are
going into Quetico, a Canadian park with fewer restrictions than the BWCAW
or, paddling on Lake Superior.

The windstorm last year did knock down lots of trees and the question is
when will the fire happen  not if it will happen.  Most of the BWCAW was
untouched by the storm, the difficulty is that the areas that were hit were
among the most popular.  The biting insects can be a problem, there are lots
of breeding areas in the BWCAW.  

Dana
   >-----Original Message-----
   >Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 01:25:16 -0000
   >From: "Sailboat Restorations, Inc." 
   ><sailboatrestorations_at_worldnet.att.net>
   >Subject: [Paddlewise] Boundary Waters Region
   >
   >I'm sure I'm revealing even more of my ignorance (which is 
   >monumental), but
   >I was wondering if I could get a little guidance on the 
   >Minnesota area
   >Boundary Waters region.  I never even knew about this area 
   >(please note, my
   >background is in sailing, not paddling), until the last few 
   >weeks.  I
   >stumbled on a magazine dedicated to the area, and then ran 
   >across an article
   >in Canoe & Kayak mag about it.  It looks like a tremendous area for
   >paddling.  Are there any list members who live or paddle in 
   >that area?  If
   >this is a dumb question, please forgive me.  As I've 
   >indicated before, I'm
   >relatively new to this sport and still learning.  Thanks.
   >Mark L.
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