Basics
Where do you live? Rockford, IL but only until I can retire and move back to the Southwest
Approximate number of previous nights spent canoe camping? 90-120 nights over the years
Do you have the gear or use an outfitterer? have all my own gear and enough for others but have always used outfitter canoes
Preferred/Typical party size? 4-8 at the most, prefer 4
What length of trips do you do/available to do? 6-14 days, prefer longer trips
Preferred season? mid May or September
What % of the trip do you travel/base camp? like to alternate, this year will be a 12 day trip with one layover day
What difficulty level do you go for? like the difficult trips as much as possible
What area of the park are you most familiar with and do you want to spend time there or explore new areas? have been to most of Quetico and love the entire park
Paddling
Bow or stern preference? either is okay by me, but I do like to take turns
What is your paddling rhythm? in the stern I pretty much take it slow and steady, J stroking and controlling direction with subtle blade control; in the bow I like to be the motor to get a good workout
Paddle the shoreline or beeline? shoreline always, unless it is early and very calm starting out
How nasty of water are you comfortable paddling in? when the water gets rough i prefer to get off the water, that is the advantage of making 10-12 day trips
Do you have strong navigation/map skills? yes, i can find my way anywhere; I have an inate sense of direction
Portaging
Do you usually single/double/triple/or? portage? usually double portaging because I like to take long trips with lots of food
Do you carry everything on your back, or alot of hand carry? on my back; I hate carrying by hand but somehow I always seem to end up with paddles or fishing poles in my hand
How well do you handle the mountain goat portages? grin and gut 'em out
How well do you handle the boot sucking bogs? I love suck mud, it keeps out the riffraff
Camping Style
Would you rather cook or wash the dishes? they call me 'Iron Chef Wilderness' for a good reason
Fresh or dried foods? both
Cook over a fire, or over a stove? both
Cook breakfast or breakfast bars? real breakfast; what is a breakfast bar?
How many fish meals do you like to have during a trip? I like a few shorelunches and a few fish dinners, pike chowder is great on a wet cold afternoon, but I don't have to eat fish every day
Hang the food pack or ground it? on the ground, not worth the trouble to hang in Quetico
Axe? Saw? Both? both but get very nervous when my fellow campers get going with my Grufors axe, I worry about them AND the axe
Sit around campfire all night OR wake at crack of dawn? (or both) I like to hit the sack when it starts to get cold and get up when Duane has the coffee going (hear that Duane?)
On a travel day, what time do you like to hit the water? Early, after a quick, hot cereal with fruiut breakfast
Fishing
How much time do you like to spend fishing? lots, ussually troll when travelling, fish after making camp, I love to go out after dinner until dark
Which species do you like to go after? prefer lake trout, walleye, smallmouth and far down the list slimy pike
How much tackle to you bring? one small tray that fits under my canoe seat; this year my new PFD will have all my tackle in little boxes that fit into the pockets (one less thing to carry around)
Are you good with a fillet knife? I can get most of the meat off the fish without cutting myself
Misc
Do you have any medical conditions to be considered? no
Level of alcohol consumption? moderate, I like a little wine with dinner when available, I have brewed voyager's beer for the last two years
Are you a smoker? never, a little cigar or pipe smoke doesn't bother me when the mosquitoes are out but I hate cigarette smoke passionately
Is photography high on your list? not really
Do you like to go after pictographs? when they are on the route
Do you like to go after waterfalls? sure, why not
Do you like to go after the northern lights? I'm usually asleep by then
Personality
If the bugs are bad, will it ruin the trip for you? no, bugs don't bother me much
What weather conditions are difficult for you to deal with? I like bad weather, it goes with suck mud
If we've got a problem, would you rather discuss it or bury it? I'd prefer not to have problems but open discussion is better than stewing
Other than illness or injury what events or conditions would make you want to quit a trip early and head home? I always like to stay out as long as possible; thirty years ago I was backpacking out in Wyoming once for 28 days straight and only came in when I ran out of food and got tired of eating cuttthroat trout