This was a presentation I prepared for a class assignment. My husband and I worked on this together, using our knowledge of helping others prepare for a Boundary Waters adventure as well as guiding them and/or taking them on a trip as our guests.

1. JoyceMallery

2.  The Boundary Waters Canoe Area, located in northern
Minnesota and “covers about 1.3 million acres and extends
nearly 150 miles along the International Boundary adjacent
to Canada's Quetico Provincial Park and bordered on the
west by Voyageurs National Park.
 The BWCAW contains over 1200 miles of canoe routes, 15
hiking trails and approximately 2000 designated campsites.
Wilderness offers freedom to those who wish to pursue an
experience of expansive solitude, challenge and personal
integration with nature.
 Because this area was set aside in 1926 to preserve its
primitive character and made a part of the National
Wilderness Preservation System in 1964, it allows visitors
to canoe, portage and camp in the spirit of the French
Voyageurs of 200 years ago.”
JoyceMallery
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3. Let’s Get Started
 How many people and how many canoes will be in
the party?
 Where do we want to go and for how many
days/nights?
 What will we eat?
 What should we bring?
(Clothes, supplies, equipment)
 Should we hire a guide or an outfitter?
 How much will it all cost?
JoyceMallery 3

4. How Many People and How Many
Canoes Will Be In The Party?
 First, we must look at how many people will be going?
 There are rules to go by in determining the maximum
number of people in a party.
 The maximum is 9 and does include adults and children.
 How many canoes?
 Unless you have a three man canoe, where up to three
people or three adults and one to two small children can
be in the canoe; it is usually recommended two people
per canoe, or two adults and one small child per canoe.
 The maximum number of canoes per party or group of people is
4.
JoyceMallery 4

5. Where Do We Want To Go and For
How Many Days/Nights?
Because the Boundary Waters covers over 1.3 million
acres, this might be a difficult decision to make at first.
There are a few questions you could ask such as:
1. “How many days/nights do we want to plan for?
2. “How many portages do we want?
3. “Do we want to plan on staying in one place and then plan
for “Day Trips” from there?
Once these questions are answered, you could look at a map
of the entire area and begin planning from there.
**I recommend an easy access, only a few, if
any, portages, staying at one campsite, and planning “Day
Trips” from there if this is a first or second trip in, or if
you have several inexperienced paddlers and/or campers.
JoyceMallery 5

6. What Will We Eat?
First, you must determine the likes and dislikes of
the members within the group.
Second, you should plan on an amount to spend or
budget for the food.
Third, when planning menus, remember the more
you portage and paddle, the more calories and
energy you will need and consume.
**Food is packed in a food pack, separate from the
gear and equipment and will be hung in a tree to
prevent bears from wandering into camp.
JoyceMallery 6

7. A Sample Menu For Nine People On A
Seven Day Trip
 BREAKFAST  DINNER
 
 Day 2---Eggs {1doz}, Herb Potatoes, Summer  Day 1---Hamburger Helper Stroganoff, Dehy
Sausage, Dehydrated {Tomatoes, Onions, Peppers} Hamburger, Mixed veggie’s
 Day 3---Oatmeal, Breakfast bar  Day 2---Bear Creek Creamy Wild Rice Soup, Brown
 Day 4---Pancakes, Cheese Potatoes Rice, Mixed veggie’s
 Day 5---Oatmeal, Breakfast bar  Day 3---Bear Creek Navy Bean soup, Bulger Wheat, Mixed
 Day 6---Hash Browns, Summer Sausage, Dehydrated veggie’s
{Tomatoes, Onions, Peppers}  Day 4---Pasta Roni Tomato Parmesan, Dehy
 Day 7---Oatmeal, Breakfast bar Hamburger, Mixed veggie’s

 Day 5---Angel Hair Pasta, Salmon, Peas w/white sauce
 LUNCH  Day 6---Bear Creek Tortellini soup, Med. Egg noodles, Mixed
veggie’s


 Day 1---Ramon noodles, Granola bar
 DESERT
 Day 2---Granola bar, Dried fruit, Nuts, Jerky

 Day 3---Roman noodles, Cheese stick, Sausage stick
 Day 1---Cheese cake, Oatmeal Bannock
 Day 4---Cheese {Sharp Cheddar}, Sausage
{Thuringer}, Crackers {Triscuit, Club}  Day 2---Chocolate Chip cake, Corn bread
 Day 5---Roman noodles, Granola bar, Jerky  Day 3---Smores, Damper
 Day 6---Granola bar, Dried fruit, Nuts, Sausage stick  Day 4---Triple Berry cake, Three Cheese bread
 Day 7---Ramon noodles, Granola bar, Jerky, Cheese stick  Day 5---Cheese cake, Indian Herb bread
 Crystal Light, Coffee, Teas  Day 6---Poppy seed cake, Corn bread
JoyceMallery 7

8. What Should We Bring?
 Packing For Your Trip  Fishing Tackle Packing List (Suggested)
 General Packing List  Two-piece spinning rod in 6-1/2 to 7-foot length
 Rain jacket and pants...essential!  Spare rod tip and super glue
Freshly oiled spinning reel with fresh 8-pound line
 Two pair of shoes (water shoes and hiking boots) 
 One back-up rod and reel for the party
 Two or three pair of heavy socks  Polarized fishing glasses
 Two pair of long pants (NO jeans!) (Zip off, quick dry  Depth locator (optional)
pants work best)  Small tackle box
 Two or three t-shirts  Pliers
 Two or three pairs underwear  Stringer
 Two pair of shorts or swim trunks (Shorts not needed  Leech locker and/or worm box (Only if you are bringing live bait)
if you have zip off pants)  Lindy-rig and slip-bobber set-ups
 One long-sleeved shirt  Split shot sinkers, small hooks
 One sweatshirt or long jacket  Lead head jigs; Mr. Twister jigs and spinner baits
Casting spoons like Daredevil
 Personal toilet articles 
 top-water lures like Rebel Popper, Tiny Torpedo, Hula
 Wide brimmed hat Popper, Jitterbug, and Rapalas
 Small towel  Steel leaders
 Camera  Crank baits like Shad Rap, and other Rapalas
 Paperback book  Spinners like Mepps
For the fly angler:
 Add gloves, stocking cap, long underwear and an extra 
sweater for spring or fall trips  Two-piece fly rod (8 weight)
Single action fly reel
 Don't forget clean clothes and a towel for your trip 
home (Leave in your vehicle)  Floating weight-forward bass line
Twenty pound backing
Please leave your


Tippet spools
radios, walkmans, guns, fireworks, flares and large 
knives at home  Dry flies
Streamers like Wooly Buggers
 **Please bring your Drivers License to obtain your 
Poppers
entry permits 
 **Please bring your Fishing License (it is required)
JoyceMallery 8

9. Additional Items To Bring
Personal Items Community Items
 Sleeping Bag and Sleeping  Pots, frying pan, and cooking utensils
Mat  Tin Foil
 Large Contractors Bag to  Spices
keep pack dry  Camp Stove, Fuel, and Waterproof
Matches
 Flashlight or headlamp
 First Aid Kit
 Extra batteries for lights
 Bear Ropes and Pulleys
 Bug spray (100% Deet works  Tents, Dining Fly, and Rain Fly
best)  Water Filter
 Sunscreen (essential)  Dish Soap and Scrub Pad
 Covered mug and water bottle  Bear Spray
 Life Jacket  Ax and Saw
 Camera (digital works best)  Tarps
JoyceMallery 9

10. Joyce Ludwig
SHOULD WE HIRE A
GUIDE/OUTFITTER?
HERE IS A PRICE TABLE FROM
SAWBILL OUTFITTERS
Complete Complete Food Food Only Complete Complete
Outfitting Outfitting Only “Plus” Equipment Equipment
“Plus” “Plus”
3 Days/2 Nights 9 People $192/person $267/person $96/person $129/person $123/person $183/person
4 Days/3 Nights 7-9 People $256/person $356/person $128/person $172/person $164/person $244/person
5 Days/4 Nights 8-9 People $300/person $425/person $150/person $205/person $190/person $290/person
6 Days/5 Nights 7-9 People $360/person $510/person $180/person $246/person $228/person $348/person
7 Days/6 Nights 9 People $385/person $560/person $196/person $273/person $245/person $385/person
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11. Joyce Ludwig
SHOULD WE HIRE AN

OUTFITTER? (CONT.)
Complete Outfitting includes a lightweight 17' Wenonah Royalex canoe (59 lbs) or 17' Grumman aluminum canoe (65 lbs) with
adjustable, padded carrying yoke; paddles; Extrasport paddling vests; Eureka Timberline tent with rain fly, waterproof floor and
no-see-um netting; poly tarp with ropes; folding saw; Exponent backpacking stove with fuel; freshly laundered Polarguard sleeping
bags; 3/4 length Thermarest self inflating sleeping pads; nested cook kit with cooking and eating utensils; folding water carrier;
first aid kit; 80' heavy duty bear rope w/pulley; one waterproof map per canoe; lightweight trail food (menu planned to your
specifications); all miscellaneous supplies for cooking, dishwashing, etc. (see Sawbill's Food Preference form); Granite Gear
Traditional canoeing packs with padded shoulder straps and hip belt for all your food, equipment and clothing;
expert, personalized route planning assistance; any instruction or advice needed; free camping on your first and/or last night in
the Sawbill Lake National Forest Campground; free transportation to or from Kawishiwi, Baker, Homer, Brule or Hog Creek entry
points if desired; and a hot shower with towel at the end of your trip. Complete Outfitting “Plus” includes a 17' Bell Kevlar canoe
(42 lbs), or a 18.5' Wenonah Minnesota II canoe (42 lbs), (Kevlar three person and solo canoes are also available) with
adjustable, padded carrying yoke and Sawyer laminated wooden paddles (bent or straight shaft); Extra sport paddling vests;
lightweight ALPS dome tent with rain fly, waterproof floor and no-see-um netting; nylon tarp with ropes; folding saw; Exponent
backpacking stove with fuel; freshly laundered Techloft sleeping bags; full length Thermarest self inflating sleeping pads; Crazy
Creek chairs or Therma-loungers (makes a chair out of your Thermarest sleeping pad); nested cook kit with cooking and eating
utensils; folding water carrier; first aid kit; 80' heavy duty bear rope w/pulley; waterproof, topographic canoeing maps;
lightweight, gourmet trail food (menu planned to your specifications); all miscellaneous supplies for cooking, dishwashing, etc. (see
Sawbill's Food Preference form); Granite Gear canoeing packs with suspension systems and hip belts for all your food, equipment
and clothing; expert, personalized route planning assistance; any instruction or advice needed; free camping on your first and/or
last night in the Sawbill Lake National Forest Campground; free transportation to or from Kawishiwi, Baker, Homer, Brule or Hog
Creek entry points if desired; and a hot shower at the end of your trip.
 Food Only includes all meals and miscellaneous items (matches, soap, t.p., etc.) packed in a Duluth style packsack, ready for you
when you arrive. You choose your menu from a wide variety of choices. See Sawbill's online or printable food preference selection
form for details.
 Food Only "Plus" includes all of the above with an expanded, gourmet menu packed in a Granite Gear "Superior 1"pack. See
Sawbill's online or printable food preference selection form for details.
 Complete Equipment includes everything from Complete Outfitting except food and miscellaneous supplies (matches, dishwashing
soap, t. p., etc. - See the food preference selection form for a complete list of miscellaneous items that you should plan to bring.)
 Complete Equipment "Plus" includes everything from Complete Outfitting "Plus" except food and miscellaneous supplies.
 Nonprofit groups exempt from Minnesota sales tax receive a 10% discount on outfitting.
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12. Joyce Ludwig
SHOULD WE HIRE AN OUTFITTER?
(CONT.)
 Youth 17 years and under get a 10% discount off prices above if accompanied by two full
paying adults. No other discounts apply.
 What to Bring: Your clothing should be layered and sufficient to deal with temperatures ranging
from 90 degrees to freezing. Reliable rain gear (we sell a variety in our store).
Comfortable, lightweight hiking boots are the best footwear for travel and tennis shoes or
moccasins for camp wear. You should also bring a flashlight, fishing equipment, personal
toiletries, medicines, sunglasses, sun screen, hat and camera.
 If a member of your party cancels, please tell us right away. If we pack for a person and are
not informed of the cancellation before your arrival, plan to pay for that person.
 BWCA Wilderness Entry Permits are required by the U. S. Forest Service. The entry permit
allows you to enter the BWCA Wilderness on a certain date at a particular entry point. You can
check permit availablility and reserve a permit yourself on the web at: www.recreation.gov or by
calling toll free 1-877-550-6777. If you prefer, we can reserve your permit for you. Fill out and
return our Permit Reservation Application or give us a call, whichever is most convenient for you.
 Deposits - $50 deposit per person is required to confirm your reservation. Full refund will be
made if you cancel more than 5 days before your scheduled arrival at Sawbill.
 The balance is due on the day your trip begins. There is no refund if you return early from your
trip.
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