Читать книгу Boundary Waters Canoe Area: Western Region онлайн

52 страница из 90

When planning your route, make sure you are not overly ambitious. Consider all members of the group, and plan to travel at the speed of the least experienced or weakest paddler. It’s a good idea to plan a layover day for every three or four days of travel. You’ll have more time to fish or relax. If you encounter rough weather, you won’t have to worry about taking unnecessary chances just to stay on schedule.

Plan to make camp early enough in the day to assure finding an available campsite. Most wilderness visitors are there for solitude, quiet, and respite from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day urban living. Each person wants the sensation of being the first and only person in an area. To accomplish this objective, consider campsites that are off the main travel routes and in back bays. These are used less often and offer a better opportunity for privacy. Firewood is usually more plentiful, and you will have a better chance of avoiding “problem bears” where few others camp.

Respect for other wilderness visitors starts before you ever leave home. The first portage is no place to learn how to get a canoe up on your shoulders. Practice picking up a canoe and other canoeing skills before you start your trip. Know who is responsible for each pack, each canoe, and each piece of miscellaneous equipment before setting foot on a portage trail. Accountability reduces the possibility of leaving something important behind. It also reduces the amount of time needed on each portage, thus alleviating possible congestion on some of the trails.