Old thread, I'm new here, only been to the BWCA once and don't have a lot of experience to answer these questions with but I'll give it a shot anyway to keep things going and kind of introduce myself.  Here goes...

Basics
Where do you live?   Huntington, IN
Approximate number of previous nights spent canoe/kayak camping?  6
Do you have the gear or use an outfitterer?  Have all my own gear
Preferred/Typical party size?  Solo or one other person
What length of trips do you do/available to do?   6-10 days
Preferred season?  Early Summer
What % of the trip do you travel/base camp?  100% base camp
What difficulty level do you go for?   Easy peasy until I get a Kevlar canoe
What area of the park are you most familiar with and do you want to spend time there or explore new areas?   I’ve only been in off the Gunflint Trail (EP-47) and love it, however I would love to explore Quetico one day.

Paddling
Bow or stern preference?   Solo
What is your paddling rhythm?  Smooth and easy, I’m in no rush
Paddle the shoreline or beeline?  Beeline at a slow pace
How nasty of water are you comfortable paddling in?  I’m comfortable in the high winds, but avoid it if possible
Do you have strong navigation/map skills?  Slightly better than average but could be improved upon

Portaging
Do you usually single/double/triple/or? portage?   Double
Do you carry everything on your back, or alot of hand carry?  On my back
How well do you handle the mountain goat portages?  I avoid them
How well do you handle the boot sucking bogs?   It's part of the trip

Camping Style
Would you rather cook or wash the dishes? Cook
Fresh or dried foods?   Fresh the first night, fresh fish when possible, freeze dried the rest of the time
Cook over a fire, or over a stove?   Stove usually but a fire once or twice
Cook breakfast or breakfast bars?   Oatmeal or bars
How many fish meals do you like to have during a trip? Three minimum
Hang the food pack or ground it?  Hang
Axe? Saw? Both?   Sven Saw
Sit around campfire all night OR wake at crack of dawn?  Up at sunrise or earlier
On a travel day, what time do you like to hit the water?  Right after sunrise

Fishing
How much time do you like to spend fishing?   As much as possible

Misc
Do you have any medical conditions to be considered?  Arthritis in my back
Level of alcohol consumption?  None in the BWCA but a cold beer with dinner when I get back to civilization
Are you a smoker?  Nope
Is photography high on your list?  I enjoy it, but am not good at it
Do you like to go after pictographs?  Nah
Do you like to go after waterfalls?  Nah
Do you like to go after the northern lights?  Would love to but haven’t yet

Personality
If the bugs are bad, will it ruin the trip for you? If they’re real bad, yes
What weather conditions are difficult for you to deal with?  Thunderstorms
If we've got a problem, would you rather discuss it or bury it?  Discuss it
Other than illness or injury what events or conditions would make you want to quit a trip early and head home?   If black flies or mosquitoes are unbearable

TomT wrote on Feb 5^th, 2020 at 1:23pm:


Thanks for the welcome Tom!  I have all of the gear needed because I have done some backpacking in the past.  Actually, I've got enough gear that when my son in law goes with me this summer he won't have to buy or rent anything either.  I seem to have two (or three) of everything.  Drives my wife nuts.  Lol!

Only thing I had to use from an outfitter in 2018 was Rockwood's bunkhouse the night I arrived and the night before the drive home.  My one trip into the BWCA two years ago was the first time I've ever canoe...or in my case, kayak...camped.    Unfortunately northeast Indiana doesn't have a lot of places to paddle into and camp, but there are a couple and I plan to do some this year locally.  And, of course, get back up to the BWCA in June.  Fell in love with the place and think it'll be an annual (at least) trip from now on.