The Boundary Waters
Casting around for things to do in the Midwest, I stumbled upon the famed Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Having heard about this pristine paradise before, I wanted to learn more. Though the previous mentions of the area had only been in passing, I was sufficiently intrigued. Calling on my Midwest information source- a friend who has lived in Minnesota her entire life- I was able to glean enough details to know I had to see this wilderness wonderland for myself.
The Boundary Waters are, as the name implies, the system of lakes and waterways along the border between Northern Minnesota and Canada. This region falls under the protection of the National Forest Service. It is highly regulated and heavily restricted. Motor boat are allowed on only a small number of lakes, no commercial construction is allowed, only a limited number of permits are issued each day, and strict rules including "pack it in, pack it out" are in effect.
All of this is in an effort to keep the region as nature intended- undeveloped, non-commercialized and under-utilized. Canoes are the main form of transportation, keeping noise and pollution to a minimum. Established campsites have been set up, but they are as rustic as you can get. Once in the region, you can opt to canoe and portage your way to a single campsite, using this as a base camp for day explorations, or you can continue to travel through the area changing campsites as often as you like. This is entirely dependent on the amount of time you have at your disposal and how inclined you are to break camp and set up again each day.
Not owning my own canoe, stove or even tent, I wasn't sure how to make this trip work. Was it worth the money to buy out REI for a long weekend trip? Fortunately, the National Forest Service's Boundary Waters website contains a Trip Planning Guide that thoroughly covers what to bring, what to expect, how to prepare, and, best of all, a listing at the back that provides a directory of stores with official permission to supply, guide and prepare visitors to the area. Plenty of shops have opened in towns along the edge of the Boundary Waters offering full gear rental to anyone interested in spending a few days in peaceful solitude. They will even help you obtain those elusive entry permits. Guides are available, but for the $200 per day fee, I think I'll take the chance of getting lost. Maps are wonderful inventions, and only cost about a dollar.
So now my friend and I are booked for this weekend, to spend three full days soaking up silence, nature and trying to find our souls, so often lost in the cacophony of day-to-day living.
To read more about the Boundary Waters or book your own trip, visit the NFS website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/bwcaw/. In addition to general information on the region, you can also find the Trip Planning Guide, a list of rules and regulations, area maps and more.
