Wilderness Wander

Posted byGary FultzPosted inabundant life, accomplishment, adventure, Boundary Waters, Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness photos, Build Faith, BWCAW, camp fire story, camping, canoeing, canoeing adventure, communion with God, expectations, Fishing, fishing adventure, Gary Fultz, Gary Fultz Blog, goals, God in Nature, Nature, Nature and Inner Peace, Outdoor Cooking, outdoor scenery, perspective, Photography, quality of life, relationship building, relationship with God, solitude, spiritual adventure, victorious living, wilderness adventureTags:, , , , , , , , , , ,

55 miles and 25 portages in a canoe in the wilderness. Trip #72 for me. I guess I qualify as an old guy carrying a canoe (portaging) or paddling through the rugged wilderness known as the Boundary waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I marked our route taken and took a picture. I did not keep track of all the miles covered looking for campsites that only exist on my very outdated map.

Our little group of 4 experienced challenge, growth, pain, exhilaration, great conversations and life lessons seen in nature. I hope to mull these over for a while and explore how to put some of this into worthwhile telling, seeing and hearing. For now a pre-taste is all I can offer in a few pictures. Enjoy. Click for enlarging and forwarding on slide show. You need to be on the word site to make pictures work.

A physical challenge. Deeply spiritual. Senses overloaded. Relationally priceless. My grandson will remember many life lessons and experiences for his whole life. A part of my life will continue through him long after I am gone. The ripples from one side of life continue to the other shore.

Gary

More to come

Published by Gary Fultz

Outdoors Man, Hunter, Fisherman, Guide, Writer / Author, Photographer, Public Speaker, Musician, Song Writer, Story Teller, Follower Of Jesus. Love God and family and total strangers

45 thoughts on “Wilderness Wander”

  1. Thanks for bringing Aron! Sounds like he had a blast. He was proud of some of his photos and definitely proud of that trout. Following in grandpa’s footsteps!

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  4. Beautiful share Gary. Sounds like your journey was rigorous (I cannot imagine portaging as something I would plan to do) and full of joy, insight and lasting blessings.

    I love your point about the ripples in time. Great photos…that is quite the fish caught!

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    1. Thanks Suzette. Yes, that lake trout was about 6 pounds. Filled us for breakfast. I hooked a pike over 20 lbs and my grandson a pike over 15 pounds. No pictures but good memories. I knew you would catch the ripples in time concept.

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  7. Wow. At first, I wondered why anyone would embark on such a journey. But then:

    “challenge, growth, pain, exhilaration, great conversations and life lessons seen in nature.”

    And

    “Deeply spiritual. Senses overloaded. Relationally priceless. My grandson will remember many life lessons and experiences for his whole life. A part of my life will continue through him long after I am gone. The ripples from one side of life continue to the other shore.”

    When God calls us, and we go, then He blesses.

    Thanks for sharing. ♥

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    1. Pure risk-taking nature adventures trigger me, Kathy. They call and say “I dare you to explore me”. After a few trips I discovered the potential value of bringing others into an untamed world. Countless people I know have had life altering decisions (for the good) on trips like this. I have learned that the one with the map, matches and food pack (me), has the most power for good or evil…plus the most responsibility to be trusted by the others.

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    1. You are right Bruce. No bars on cell service in most places either. It was brought home to everyone when the high winds kept us on an island in a big lake most of a day…thus the picture of cooking in the dark that night when we were able to travel and make camp in the dark. adversity creates some great memories sometimes.

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  10. Awesome canoe trip! Your grandson, who is blessed with a wonderful grandfather, was fortunate to get a close-up look of God’s glorious creations. Hopefully, none of them included a bear! I look forward to your future posts showing how you both connected with nature. 🙂

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    1. No bear this time Nancy. Other trips come with bear stories. One trip had three separate bear stories. At some point all seven of our grandchildren hope to have their own trip with grandpa and possibly grandma as well. Life lessons on every level are there in nature, on the trail and in the canoe. There is time to talk far deeper and broader than can happen on a holiday visit

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  11. Incredible adventure! Something I will never do – canoe averse!! But what a wonderful experience for your you and your grandson! I wish I had had the opportunity to know my grandparents. I never knew my grandfathers as they were long gone before I was born. Both of my grandmothers died when I was very young – before I could ask good questions – before my questions went beyond what might be in a suitcase . How I would treasure such an experience – a connection and insight to my parents only they could provide – not to mention wisdom for living! Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Our grandkids seem to know how fortunate they are Erika. They talk about all their friends lack of family. I have actually taken some “canoe adverse” people to the BWCA. I went the route of extra-large Kevlar canoes for safety, feeling secure and hauling packs (more of a late in life decision). When the water is cold we hug shorelines and watch out for white-capped winds on the lake. But I do understand those who might need a big boat on the water. I hope to stay healthy long enough for my youngest grandchildren to go with me. I do have a son who now leads groups into the wilderness…the ripples of another generation is fun to see.

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  14. My son did a canoeing trip through the Boundary Waters when we was a Boy Scout. I do believe he learned many life lessons on this trip. I look forward to more of your posts about this experience and more of your beautiful pictures.

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    1. Fun fact Betty. On this particular trip, we entered the BWCA in the same lake as the boy scout camp. The scouts know how to focus on life lessons and learn from the fails. They don’t let the kids lasso swimming deer and get the ride of their life over the lake and into the woods…True story out of that camp.

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  16. Scenes of priceless memories that,, Lord willing, your grandson will treasure and share with his children and grandchildren someday.Gary. Thanks for sharing these glimpses of the joy of wilderness fellowship with me.Gary.

    Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!

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    1. Truthfully AJ, a traveling trip in that rugged country is no small endeavor. It’s not for people who need their comforts. I was fortunate to have a couple young and strong guys willing to double pack portage. They were fortunate enough to have someone who cooked well, could read a map, had been there before and could show them how to navigate heavy white caps on the big lakes. Plus I knew several fishing spots.

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  19. I might have enjoyed this lovely experience 60 years ago. The lakeshore already there at that time in history. But I probably wouldn’t have had a great teacher and leader like you to help me over the humps and make sure I didn’t starve to death or get eaten by wild animals. Thanks for sharing JDB

    jdb

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    1. I’m sure you would have enjoyed a trip like that John. It is a kind of trip that tests the body…any weak points can get stressed fast. I have not mentioned the great mosquitoes and black fly hoards yet. The food was great and fresh fried trout is a prelude to heaven.

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  20. Boundary Waters is a beautiful part of God’s creation. I still remember going there as an early teen with my Boy Scout Troop for a two week experience canoing. The outfitter who we got our gear from said, “If a bear comes around you can scare them by lighting off some fireworks if you have any.” Of course a group of boys 13 to 15 were giggling because we all brought some. Came in handy one night

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    1. I’m sure it worked. Now our culture would frown heavily on fireworks and the rangers would give out a fine. Leave it up to young teens for bear solutions. I have had several different bear in camp through the years…They love to claim campers food.

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