Can you believe it?! We’re already sending out the last trips of the summer and, WOW, we’ve got some good ones!
The first trip left before breakfast on Monday morning, and the last trip left this morning (Wednesday). Everybody will be back by Friday afternoon to share their tales from the trails, but we won’t leave you hanging that long! Keep reading to discover which adventures our Birchwood boys have set out for this week.
Senior Capstone Grand Portage – 5-DAY
This grand adventure is led by Birchwood Senior Leadership Counselors, Nairo (front row, second from left) and Mac (front row, third from left).
This trip has been fully planned and packed by our Senior Leadership Campers as part of their leadership training here at Birchwood! This trip is very special! It is a rite of passage as a senior camper, and the most challenging trip we send.
Our senior boys paddled away from camp at 3 am on Monday morning into the mighty Lake Saganaga and towards the Granite River. They made great time as they paddled the US/Canadian border route towards Lake Superior, where they will ultimately hit the Pigeon River and the famous Grand Portage that will lead them to Superior, where they’ll be picked up on Friday.
The Grand Portage is an ancient trail that connects Lake Superior to the western interior lands of what is now known as the Boundary Waters. Spanning 8.5 miles, it was originally trafficked by the Ojibwe people of this land. They named it Gichi-onigaming (the Great Carrying Place). 350 years ago, the French (and later British) voyageurs traveled Gichi-onigaming to do their work as fur traders. Today, this route is traveled primarily by recreational groups.
When our senior campers pop out of the Grand Portage into Lake Superior, they will have paddled 65 miles and portaged 14,400 rods (45 miles) for a grand total of 110 miles along this ancient route. This is no small feat!
They are paddling in two separate groups due to the BWCA group size regulations, but on the same route:
Follow them on their adventure: https://share.garmin.com/65CZR (Birchwood 1 and 2)
Canadian Fishing Trip – 5-DAY
This trip is led by Birchwood counselors, Waldo (left), Puddin’ (back row, left), and Boots (back row, right).
These chaps are in search of their own grand fishing adventure! They’ve paddled deep into the Canadian wilderness of the Crownlands! They’ll paddle the abundant waters of Mowe Lake, Plummes Lake, and the North Channel of Northern Light Lake in search of big fish before paddling back to camp through Saganaga Lake on Friday. This land is the wild west of wilderness territory, and the fishing is somewhat legendary! We fully expect them to catch some monsters and eat a handful of keepers for supper!
Follow them on their adventure: https://share.garmin.com/65CZR (Birchwood 7)
North Shore Climbing – 5-DAY
This trip is led by counselors Flash (front row, sitting right), Hemi (front row, sitting left), and Frizzle (back row, left).
A Birchwood favorite, the North Shore Climbing Trip is unlike any other trip! This group is in for 5 days of climbing cliffs that stand directly over Lake Superior at Shovel Point in Tettegouche State Park, bouldering at Sawmill Creek Dome, top roping at Section 13 on the Superior Hiking Trail, and base camping at a nearby campground. This trip is popular for the world-renowned rock climbing AND the big meals cooked in the Dutch oven.
Follow them on their adventure here: https://share.garmin.com/XXT8Z (Birchwood 4)
Meeds Portage and Paddling – 4-DAY
These boys are guided by counselors Samba (second from left), Dragon (third from right), and Ryder (right).
This group of young men set out for a 4-day paddling trip out of Meeds Lake. They’ve got A LOT of portaging ahead of them – something like 30 portages in total with a few whoppers (300 and 500 rods). On their first day, they are attempting to get to Long Island Lake with 8 portages between their entry lake and potential campsites. The second day, they plan to tackle 17 portages and camp on Paulson Lake. The third day, they have a long 515 rod portage and plan to camp on Seagull Lake, which leaves just one short portage on the last day.
Follow them on their journey here: https://share.garmin.com/N4V2F (Birchwood 6)
Sagananga Expedition – 3-DAY
This trip is led by counselors Oaken (left) and Dusty (right).
These gents have their sights set on Sag Falls for their first night because it is a great area of Saganaga Lake for fishing! On day two, they’re aiming for American Point or Gold Island for a sweet campsite where they can fish, swim, paddle to nearby islands, and relax before paddling back to camp on Friday. Saganaga Lake is the largest in the Boundary Waters, so they will not run out of sights to see!
Follow them on their journey here: https://share.garmin.com/N4V2F (Birchwood 8)
As our campers set their sights on adventure this week, the last week of camp, let’s wish them a week of memories in the making! May the wind be at their backs and the trail be clear ahead.
Happy Trails,
Ashley, Director
