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:, , , , , , , , , , ,

Four of us. two canoes and 4 packs for 6 days. 55 miles and 25 portages in the wilderness. Trip #72 for me. Trip #1 was 45 years ago as I write this. I guess I qualify as an old guy portaging and paddling through the rugged wilderness known as the Boundary waters Canoe Area Wilderness. I marked our route and took a picture. In these 1,090,000 acres of wilderness area, I have paddled, skied, snowshoed and fished over half with various groups. I have stories, some of which I can share.

Like most trips, Our small group of 4 experienced challenge, growth, pain, exhilaration, great conversations and life lessons seen in nature. Our stories will keep rippling out with time.

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.

Highlights include fresh fried lake trout, being pinned down on an island in a big lake with high winds, rounding a corner into a jaw dropping sunset, making camp and cooking in the dark. At least 100 more highlights. Oh…and seeing the diving rocks again and camping with a 16-year-old grandson on a campsite his mother camped when she was 16…oh yes, the stories-ripples continue…

More to come

Gary

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

47 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!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  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!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    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.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  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. ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    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.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    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.

      Like

      Reply

  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. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    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

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    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.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  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.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    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.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  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!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    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.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    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.

      Like

      Reply

  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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    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.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  22. I’m late to this amazing trip, but I remember it well, Gary…and those ripples continue. I think of all the lessons learned on those boundary waters~ I think adventures in nature will always be something I long for~ even if I can only experience them through your lens. It’s because you see with the lens of the Lord. All of it. Creation, canoeing, camping~ it’s beyond that to the milestone and mundane of just floating to fighting~ one minute all is fine, the next you may be foraging to find food. Laughter to exhaustion. Rain to sun. And I thought a ten mile float is a long day! Most of my adult life has involved rivers! Oh to have such an adventure! And with your grandson too!! God bless you!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I’m glad you can imagine beyond the words and stories Karla. Yes, you would enjoy one of my wilderness trips in a healthy body, but your mind is putting you alongside as well. I don’t have the river experiences…somehow drift fishing without the portages sounds really good as I get older.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment