Category Archives: Boundary Water trips

On My Watch

Wilderness trips are a lot like life

SEASONED

Wilderness canoe expedition #70 for me. The visible part of me made it back to civilization. Reflections from one’s memories shimmer and dissipate quickly unless held onto by my minds pondering hands. I still see the first light stealthily through the thick fog. I replay the invisible swan honks, haunting loons, beaver slaps, eagles chirping,Continue reading “SEASONED”

Slowfoot Connections

Many blogs ago, I wrote about a rarely visited wilderness lake in the BWCA Wilderness of northern Minnesota. My short blog with a couple pictures was found by a podcast pro. I was excited to relive the journey through his “escape with Jay” podcast. I am excited to share this connection. Click on my oldContinue reading “Slowfoot Connections”

Finding Calm

Our little wilderness group found something rare on a huge lake. Calm. Perfectly still water. I have never seen this lake calm. This lake always wants to eat canoes. Usually when navigating these waters we are focused on the next wave, one wave at a time and no time to look around and actually see.Continue reading “Finding Calm”

Gone and it’s OK

My juggling act came to an end this May. Probably for awhile. I’m 300 blog notifications behind and I am spending most of my time outdoors. I will be somewhere between mowing the lawn, planting garden, finishing up our little cabin in the woods and being in a canoe in the wilderness. I have intentionallyContinue reading “Gone and it’s OK”

Old Story Still True

We often know a person (we think) through their writing. Like many, I probably disclose myself in small measured doses through my writing as most of us reveal without even knowing it. I had forgot about this old post. Jack Flacco of https://lookingtogod.org/ pointed me back to a lot of memories from an old postContinue reading “Old Story Still True”

Outside Of Time

I have been gone. A small group of us canoed and portaged lakes and rivers away from knowing what time it is, internet wrangling, home, warm showers, soft beds, cars and most forms of communication to the rest of the world. Do smoke signals from the camp fire count? The wilderness is it’s own entityContinue reading “Outside Of Time”

BWCA Adventure Expectations

I really should leave the page blank as one should embark on a wilderness adventure with no expectations. With expectations at zero and something memorable happens, it’s always a surprise. Being it was not my first trip, I had some expectation baggage, but being human I pretend to have no baggage. I no sooner steppedContinue reading “BWCA Adventure Expectations”

Raging Waters Rescue

This can’t be happening I thought She sat above the small cliff on a bold mossy rock weeping over the angry flooded river scene below. Drenched and weak from her own capsized canoe experience she knew the big man in a back eddy current was floating toward the edge and would soon be taken byContinue reading “Raging Waters Rescue”

Unwinding Time

If I could stop the clock and unwind time. If only. My thoughts as I have been converting old photos, slides and negatives to digital. Reliving feelings, adventures, projects,  kids, parents and siblings. Re-feeling hugs, challenges, adrenaline, splashing water. Re-hearing voices now gone, treasured moments and hard times. I thought I would share this ideaContinue reading “Unwinding Time”