Thanks for responding Tom.
Our family has been camping since we were married 18 years ago, though we have never done primitive camping (I have 3 daughters, need I say more). We use a pop-up camper. We always go to state or national parks (Perot, Pattison...in Wisconsin, Whitewater, Gooseberry...in Minnesota, Custer, Yellowstone are just a few.) We love to hike, bike, and canoe.
I bought my first canoe (a 17' Wenonah Jensen) about ten years ago and usually use it solo to paddle the Mississippi, Wisconsin, Kickapoo, and La Crosse Rivers. I have also paddle on Lakes Michigan and Superior.
I just bought a Minnesota II for the purpose of going to the BWCAW. My daughter and I have been studying "Path of the Paddle" by Bill Mason. I thought I knew what I was doing when it comes to handling a canoe, but I sure am learning a lot from that book. Now I'm enjoying paddling even more.
My daughter, Amber, is the middle of my three. I chose to take her for her camping (and other) work ethic and willingness to "work" when we go paddling. She' almost as excited to go as I am.
I have been reading, no, studying Beymer's books as well many good web sites. I have decided (maybe foolishly) not to use one of his routes, but rather make up my own, by taking pieces a couple of his.
We are not afraid to portage but have no desire to "bushwack." (One of the entry points we are considering is Angelworm, with it's 2+ mile portage right off the bat. I would say we are looking for solitude more than anything. The two areas I have been considering center around Cummings Lake and those around entries 14, 18, and 20. We want to do some fishing, but that's not a major objective. Seeing some Indian Pictographs would be nice, but again, not the top of the priority list.
I'm afraid I'm getting way to lengthy here, so I'll leave it at this. Thanks for your help and guidance. Any and all comments would be greatly appreicated.

Posted by Paul on September 24, 1999 at 08:48