I’m looking for a small group of like-minded people interested in experiencing the Boundary Waters in a way that is both challenging and restorative.
In particular, this is an opportunity for those who have never been canoeing or spent time in the Boundary Waters, but are healthy, active, and physically capable of taking on a genuine wilderness trip.
You don’t need wilderness experience. You don’t need to know how to paddle. You do need a willingness to learn, a good attitude, and enough physical fitness to handle paddling, portaging, carrying a pack, and putting in some miles on foot.
The Boundary Waters in early September can ask a little of you. There may be late-season bugs, cold mornings, rain, wind, changing weather, long days, wet gear, and some well-earned exhaustion. That’s part of the experience. There is something valuable about meeting those conditions without immediately trying to escape them.
The hope is to spend a few days becoming a little more attentive to what is around us and what is within us. To wake with the light, move with the weather, eat when we're hungry, rest when we're tired, and let the pace of the natural world replace some of the pace we've become accustomed to.
There will be room for conversation and room for silence. Room to reflect without needing to have all the answers. For those who are open to it, the wilderness has a subtle way of bringing awareness to things that are easy to overlook in ordinary life. No particular spiritual belief is expected or promoted; just an openness to being present and seeing what a few days immersed in nature might reveal.
This will be a 3-night / 4-day trip, with limited space to keep the group small. I have some canoes and gear available to share, though both are limited.
This will be a smoke-free and alcohol-free trip. The intention is to step away from the electric grid for a while and reconnect with something a little more elemental: water, sky, fire, forest, movement, stillness, and the natural rhythms of the place.
I’m a seasoned former BWCAW wilderness ranger, and I value harmony, vigor, self-reliance, and respect for the wilderness. I’m particularly interested in bringing together people who may be new to canoe country but have the health, curiosity, and willingness to embrace the experience.
The current dates are September 4–7, 2027. However, the final dates and location will depend on current fire conditions, any active wilderness closures or restrictions, entry-point availability, and permit availability at the time of planning. If necessary, the dates may be pushed back or adjusted to ensure the trip can be conducted safely and responsibly.
No experience necessary. Good physical condition, a willingness to learn, and an openness to the experience are more important.
If you’ve never done something like this before but have felt drawn toward it, perhaps this is a good time to step away from the familiar and see what you find in the quiet.
