Inukshuk Profile

Basics 
Where do you live? I live full time in an RV (40’ motor home) so wherever the RV is sitting when the sun goes down is home. Winter in Florida typically. Summer of 2018 will be split between Gunflint Trail (mid-June to mid-July) and Ely from mid-July to approximately November 1st.

Approximate number of previous nights spent canoe camping?
50+ but not for a few years. Last trip was a 4 day solo kayak the length of the AuSable river in Michigan. I was in the Army for 20 years, I am used to camping.

Do you have the gear or use an outfitter? At this time, fall of 2017, I have some gear. I will have all my own personal gear by spring of 2018. Do not have a canoe, plan on renting. I am fine with renting any and all gear appropriate for a fun, safe and enjoyable experience. Already have SPOT, GPS, etc.

Preferred/Typical party size?  4 or less
What length of trips do you do/available to do? Overnight to 14 days.
Preferred season? Summer and Fall
What % of the trip do you travel/base camp? Mixed - if the fish are biting why leave? 
What difficulty level do you go for?
Whatever it takes to get to where I want to go. I am 64 but and it sometimes takes me a minute but I am a ‘never quit’ kind of guy. Prefer to do things in a steady manner but not afraid to do a major project. Ideally, I would like to start out with a 1 – 5 day trip in late June or early July from Gunflint and work up to a 5 – 10 day trip. I will be in Ely mid-July until approximately 1 November.
What area of the park are you most familiar with and do you want to spend time there or explore new areas? It’s new area to me. I am open to suggestions.   

Paddling 
Bow or stern preference?
I tend to prefer the stern but typically defer to experience. If the person I am with knows more about it then they get to pick. 
What is your paddling rhythm? Steady wins the race. I tend to paddle the same pace all day and don’t try to kill myself.
Paddle the shoreline or beeline? Both. I have been on big water in bad weather.
How nasty of water are you comfortable paddling in? I'm not a risk taker-in cold weather/water. I prefer a ‘wait it out’ style. This is an activity being done for fun. Why endanger yourself unless there is an emergency?  I am not afraid of nasty water, I just prefer to make the best choice depending on the conditions.
Do you have strong navigation/map skills? Exceptional skills. Very experienced at Land navigation.

Portaging 
Do you usually single/double/triple/or? portage?
Have not done a lot of portaging.
Do you carry everything on your back, or a lot of hand carry?
I tend to have one single pack with everything in it. 
How well do you handle the mountain goat portages?
If I can go at my pace, I expect I will be fine. Again, not all that experienced at it so not wanting to promise something I can’t deliver.
How well do you handle the boot sucking bogs? You can always wash everything. You do what you need to do.

Camping Style 
Would you rather cook or wash the dishes? Either. I believe in doing my fair share and a bit more. If both people do that, things usually work out fine. I am comfortable cooking and cleaning is fine also.

Fresh or dried foods? I’m flexible. I typically go with freeze just for convenience since I am fairly cost indifferent.
Cook over a fire, or over a stove?
Fish on the fire. All else stove.  I am open to suggestions and comfortable either way.
Cook breakfast or breakfast bars? Boil water for a freeze-dried meal or oatmeal, some fruit, maybe a power bar or something. Coffee in the morning is a requirement!

How many fish meals do you like to have during a trip?
I can eat fish a lot of meals.   
Hang the food pack or ground it?
Hang seems to be the recommended method.   
Axe? Saw? Both? Saw only is what I have read as the best choice.
Sit around campfire all night OR wake at crack of dawn? (or both) Evening meal clean up, set gear for the morning, a few minutes watching the fire and call it a night.
On a travel day, what time do you like to hit the water?
Up early, coffee, eat, crap, clean. Rather spend the time fishing than laze around camp in the morning. Also up for *early* wake up, go fish, come back for a late breakfast/early lunch. 

Fishing 
How much time do you like to spend fishing? I want time in the BWCA/Quietco for two reasons: Fishing and being outside. I fly fish avidly. That doesn’t mean I have to fish every minute of every trip but I doubt I’d go on a trip without a fly rod unless it was a quick 1 or 2 day ‘out and back’ to see something specific.

Which species do you like to go after? Normally I am a ‘catch and release’ only type of guy. In the BWCA I am a ‘catch and filet’ kind of guy. Not all that fussy about species.   
How much tackle do you bring?
2 rods/reels and a couple of fly boxes.
Are you good with a fillet knife? Oh my yes.
Misc 
Do you have any medical conditions to be considered? I am 64 and a Type II diabetic. It is easily controlled with meds. I take pills in the AM and PM. Never had any problem with it, never stopped me from doing anything. Would have no qualms about a 14 solo trip.
Level of alcohol consumption?  If I took a 6 pack on a 10 day trip I would return with 5 beers. 
Smoker? Yes and I try and be considerate about it. I step away from common areas. I do NOT discard butts. I pack them out. 
Is photography high on your list? Somewhat. I have some DSLR gear I would like to take after getting a few trips under my belt. I would consider doing a photo trip and skipping fishing. I’m flexible about this.

Do you like to go after pictographs?  I will certainly check them out if I'm in the area. 
Do you like to go after waterfalls?  I am flexible 
Do you like to go after the northern lights? 
Seen them. I would wake up to view them. I am also OK with ‘if we see them, we see them. If not, that’s OK also’ style. 

Personality 
If the bugs are bad, will it ruin the trip for you?
Bug spray solves that issue.   
What weather conditions are difficult for you to deal with? Sudden violent thunderstorms. I tend to err on the side of caution about seeking shelter on land instead of racing a squall to the shore. That doesn’t mean I paddle for the beach every time the wind blows, it just means I’ve been caught out enough to be alert. Riding a storm out on land doesn’t bother me. Getting wet is just part of the experience. I like the German attitude of “There is no bad weather, just inappropriate clothing”.


If we've got a problem, would you rather discuss it or bury it?
Discuss it. I doubt much could come up that could not be worked out.
Other than illness or injury what events or conditions would make you want to quit a trip early and head home?  Hmm …. That’s a puzzler. Probably not much. Maybe a paddling companion that doesn’t respect the environment or repeatedly does dangerous things like try and pet a bear.  I’m pretty flexible so I’m not sure of what might be bad enough to cause me to pull the plug on a trip. Certainly not typical events like wet, cold, wind, rain or such. Maybe a major wildfire? I haven’t really thought this one out. 
ADDED BY ME:
Additional info: Spending time in the BWCA and Quetico areas appeals to me on a deep level. Going solo doesn’t bother me but the wife is not happy about such an idea and a 2-person trip is usually more enjoyable. The first thing I think of is taking turns paddling while the other guy fishes. At age 64, I am retired, an experienced outdoorsman and frequently described as a ‘handy guy to have around”. I am a very experienced fly fisherman.

The money for food and renting gear, tows, drop offs, etc. doesn’t concern me much. I’m not looking for a full-blown guide. I am however looking for someone with experience and my budget allows for me to cover, within reason, whatever expenses occur. I understand some folks are on tight budgets. Maybe there is someone who has experience and time but is limited by budget. A situation like that could benefit both of us. They get to do more and/or longer trips than they would normally and I get someone to go with. Again, going solo doesn’t bother me but I’d rather go with someone.  Just trying to make it as much fun and as safe as possible. Maybe some young flat belly with time who wants to go but must watch pennies. Maybe some experienced old fart that realizes his budget for a 3-day trip can turn into a 10-day trip if we go together. I’m flexible and I am going. Maybe we should talk?