NAVIGATION AND COMPASS
12- Bring a compass and know how to use it. ** Take a reading BEFORE you enter the
Woods or begin to cross a huge expanse of water. Remember that magnetic disturbance of as much as 12 degrees exists in the BWCA and Quetico.
13- Take good maps and keep track of where you are at all times.
14- Always bring a set of maps for each canoe.  
15- Always travel together and don't get too far ahead of the group.
16- Always tie your canoe to shore and to a tree when in camp.
17- Bring an extra paddle ....just in case.
18- Stick to the portage trail; use them where they begin and end.  "Short cuts" may be
ill-advised.  We all know running rapids is dumb, but trying to go farther down or up the slow moving river to avoid portaging often leads to bushwhack, turn around or other problems.
19-A stern paddlers’ job is to 'maintain course' in an efficient manner but a good bow
paddler knows they can, and should, apply steering strokes whenever they determine it's necessary.
20- Leave your route plan and day of return with your loved ones at home.
21- Run a rope through all packs and tie to thwart of canoe when worried about potential
capsize or windy paddling.  If you do tip over, your packs will stay with you and canoe.

FIRES AND FOOD
22- Bring several kinds of incendiary devices, so to always be able to start a fire.
23- Have a pack of absolutely water proof matches with you and best if on your person.
24- If you bring an axe/hatchet/saw, make sure it is sharp.
25- Make small fires, not bon-fires.
26- Collect fire wood before dark and put it under the canoe or tarp at night to have dry
kindling in the morning.
27-  Collect some birch bark along your portages.  It is easier to find there and you
will always have a dry supply.
28- Try new recipes at home first before committing to take it on a trip.  Nothing worse
than to discover that supper is some gross concoction that no one will eat.
29- Always hang your food pack.  Best to hang it somewhere the Bear is not expecting it
to be…i.e. NOT above the fireplace, for example.
30- Bring extra food...just in case
31- Double and triple bag your food stuffs.
32- Keep a clean camp, no food out or strewn on ground.
33- Do not dump garbage in the privy. (BW)  Do not dump left over food or scraps in the
water.
34- Use a water filter.  Collect water where it is at least 3 feet deep.  
Never drink out of a beaver pond.  
35 - Always have a plan just in case that bear does come into camp.  Sleep with a big
solid stick, some hand sized rocks to throw, and/or pepper spray.
36 - Don't forget the coffee.
37- When gathering and cutting wood you should wear leather gloves. Also leather
gloves should be used when tending the fire.
38- Bring along a pair of safety glasses and wear them when collecting and processing      
firewood. Wearing safety glasses on portages is not a bad idea either.
39- Follow the recommended packing rules NO cans or glass bottles.
40- NO FOIL in the fire pit.  Take bits of foil out of fire pit and pack them out with you.

FIRST AID
41- Know basic first aid and take along a basic first aid kit.
42- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
43- Know how to identify poison ivy plants.
44- Pack good sun screen and bug repellant.
45-Wear long sleeve shirts on travel days; apply bug spray and roll down sleeves before
landing at portages
46-  If you NEED lenses, take a backup pair.

SHELTER
47- Do not pitch your tent under dead trees or large dead branches.   Consider which way
they lean and where they may land.  
48- Do not pitch your tent down wind from the fire.
49- Have a dependable, water proof, rain fly packed.  Don't skimp on the quality.
50- A southeast facing campsite is generally quieter for wind and weather.  The worst
storms approach from the southwest on hot, humid days.
51- Never camp on the highest campsite on a lake in stormy weather. The results could
     be “shocking”.
52- Avoid pitching your tent in a depression, a drainage valley, or a low flat spot.  
53- Bring along lots of rope.
54- Don't pitch your tent under White Pines on hot summer days...they rain pitch.