Category: Boundary Water Canoe Area

My two sons, Nate and Tristan, navigating with me into the Minnesota wilderness.

Last time, I talked about a couple of books that served to fire my childhood imagination and creativity.  Today I want to share with you a special place that inspired my life-long passion for living things and the world they inhabit.

In Northern Minnesota, close to the border of Canada, is an area of pristine wilderness called the Boundary Water Canoe Area (BWCA).  If you’re not familiar with this special place, it’s worth mentioning a few words about.

The BCWA encompasses over a million acres within the Superior National Forest.  The land is a mix of North Woods (a combination of conifer and deciduous type trees), glacial lakes and streams.  The vast area is preserved as primitive wilderness, meaning there are few roads and no electricity or cell phone service.  Visiting requires a taste of adventure as exploring the BWCA is challenging.  It requires good map reading skills, a canoe, a strong back for portaging between lakes and a tolerance for living without modern day conveniences. Continue reading