Tested to the End
Photo by Nancy J. Spiegel Rosman
I’m back! My sister and I chose “Tested to the End” as the slogan for our latest wilderness canoe camping adventure. After 13 days of camping in the area recently burned by the Ham Lake fire, we reached our 100 days in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. There was so much beauty, so much laughter, so much solitude.
But we were also humbled by the portages. Here’s Nancy portaging over one of the less challenging ones:
We also experienced snow with 28 degree temperatures; sleet; freight-train loud torrential rain for an entire night; blinding, and continuous, lightning storms; winds that made our little tent billow and bend; and, oh, yes, the portages which were either rock quarries or running streams.
There must be some statute of limitations on equipment as our propane stove died, our SteriPen (for treating lake water for drinking) died, our tent zippers died and my boots ended up in the garbage can upon our return.
We were alone on “our” lakes for 11 of 13 days, Nancy became expert at building fires with wet materials in crazy winds, and we found inspiration for our journals (it’s never too cold to journal),
Photo by Nancy J. Spiegel Rosman
our photographs (I’ll share more this week):
and our tent art (more on this later, also):
September 24th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Welcome back to “civilization”, Virginia! Sounds like it was quite the trip this time, and glad to know you both survived with selves and sense of humor intact. Looking forward to hearing more about the art tent and the rest of your adventures.
Karen
September 24th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Ooooohhhhhh, mmmyyyyyy GGGGOOOOSSSSHHHHH! My sister LOVES to camp in the wilderness but she can’t find anyone to do it with her…now I know why…except the pictures are lovely…so it’s worth it…right?
September 25th, 2007 at 5:48 am
Hi, Karen and Vicki - We consider this the trip that taught us not to be over-confident of our abilities and equipmtent. But, hey, would it be the BWCAW if there wasn’t a challenge of some sort?
More photos coming up this week!
Thanks for stopping by,
V.
September 26th, 2007 at 6:06 am
What an inspiring post–and journey. I love the art (visual and textual) you create from your junctures of nature and woman, of rain and sun, of water and rock.
I feel jealous–even of the winds and broken zippers– AND eager (inspired!) to go off on my own outdoor adventures once more. It’s been too many years.
Thank you for that.
jb
September 26th, 2007 at 6:23 am
Jennifer - It is addictive, isn’t it? No matter what physical travails may occur, the overwhelming presence of elemental Nature makes every trip a delight and makes me count the days until we can go out again. Please do share with us your outdoor adventures (and the art they inspire!). Warm regards, V.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Congratulations on your 100th Day in the BWCA! This month has been one of the most wild I’ve seen for weather in my 21 Septembers up here. I saw that snow, too, a couple of weeks ago. Good for you and your sister for persevering even through weather and equipment challenges. I look forward to reading more about your adventure and seeing the pictures, too.
Sincerely,
Barb on Gunflint Lake
September 26th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Barb - I’m ever-jealous when I see your signature “On Gunflint Lake.” You have had your share of excitement this year with the fire. We were amazed how green everything was and how the flowers are blooming like crazy in one last-ditch effort to set seed.
Thank you for the congrats. I never guessed five years ago that one trip would make me a BWCAW addict. And we were happy to be snowed on to add that to our experiences. Luckily it was not the staying kind which would have been REALLY interesting.
Keep us posted on what’s happening in the Northland!
Warm regards,
Virginia