Hey hey!, Look at my notes about my trip last year during the first two weeks of October,99, on the Little Indian Sioux River/Bootleg Lake. This was my First BWCA trip! I wasn't sure what the weather would be like exactly- though my folks lived in the area a few years back. I knew it could be a bit extreme! They told me that one year they got a big snow storm at the end of the month of about 30 inches(!) and that they didn't see the ground again until spring!!! So it isn't out of the question that you'll see some form of frozen precip. One day early on my trip it was cold, windy, with a low overcast, and only an occasional hole in the cloud cover by later in the morn.- then I thought I'd pack up and get ready to move in case it started to clear up by midday, but just as I was finishing up, here comes a mild sleet!! So I then decided to unpack again and settle in again for the rest of the day and night. I'd try again early in the morning if it was good travelling weather. Next morning it was absolutely clear, cold and calm, Beautiful!!!!! I got going and found ice in the margins along the river until mid morning, then it had warmed a lot and the wind was still very slight. The sky was so blue and the tamaracks so golden! The water temp was around 50 degrees F. I sure was carefull not to dump in along the way but wet shoes on portages were a treat from the mid day heat and exhaustion of portaging. If you're travelling alone, I'd recommend travelling as light as possible to cut down on the tonnage to haul on portages!!! I brought a bit more food than I really used. But I'd've killed for a case of beer at one point-Thirst is a bigger problem!! Stay hydrated!! I had plenty of clotheing, wool, etc. . Just be sure you can stay warm enough to sleep well. An air mattress , or good soft thermarest pad is a big help in insulating your underside from the cold , rough ground!!! Just make sure you tie your tent and gear down well in case the wind picks up during the night, (you'll be able to relax and sleep with confidence!). This year I'm going to return to areas adjacent to last years haunt. However I'm going to be out during the last three weeks of September to try to catch some more colors in the trees. Since I'll have 3 weeks, I'll be able to travel a bit more liesurely. Hopefully I will have time to fish for some dinners too!! I'd like to get camp set up earlier too, sice trying to beat the quickly fading sun is NO FUN! BEST OF LUCK TO YOU !!!!

Posted by guy smith on July 30, 2000 at 03:28