How to Spend 24 Hours in the BWCA – Rose Lake Edition
If you were given 24 hours, starting tomorrow at noon, to do whatever you wanted – what would you do with those hours?
This is the thought I came out of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) with yesterday. I’ve noticed there’s often a theme to every trip and this 24-hour trip’s theme was TIME.
Without a doubt, this was the shortest and most spontaneous canoe trip I had been on. It was one of those trips where it feels like a week had passed but in a blink of an eye…slow yet somehow fast.
It’s those kinds of trips that get you thinking about how we value our time and wondering if we over or underestimate what we can do in the amount of time allotted.
Which brings me to the story of my 24 hour trip to Rose Lake!
Every week, our staff here at Camp get 24 hours off-duty, including me. Noon Wednesday to noon Thursday was my time off this week.
On Tuesday, I said, “Let’s go on a Boundary Waters trip!”
By that afternoon, the permit was booked and the packing list ready to be checked off.
By noon the next day, we were headed South on the Gunflint Trail towards Bearskin Lake where we would put in and paddle to entry point #60.
My crew for this trip:
12:30pm, Wednesday – The Beginning
After a thirty minute drive down the Gunflint Trail and a short paddle across Bearskin Lake, we arrived at our entry point into Duncan Lake.
We had made a deal – on Wednesday, Stryde would portage the packs and stern the canoe while I portaged the canoe and paddled in the bow. On Thursday we would switch duties.
1pm, Wednesday – The Bear Encounter
After paddling across Bearskin and Duncan Lake, we pulled up to our second (and final) portage from Duncan to Rose Lake and noticed a group frantically searching for two backpacks.
I remember hearing, “The bear went that way! Check that way!”
Immediately, I grabbed Arlo by collar as Stryde spotted the bear in question to our right, loping along into the forest. Shorty after, the group found both backpacks tossed haphazardly in the woods.
It turns out, the bear had taken both packs in different directions, inspected them for treats, and left before any real damage was done.
It made for a funny story, especially as passersby but you can bet I kept Arlo close as I portaged the canoe and she portaged her backpack full of dog food and toys.
2pm, Wednesday – The Epic Campsite
After Stairway Portage, we paddled East to a hidden campsite with a gorgeous view of the bluffs.
Luckily, it was free so we pulled our canoe onto its shore and set up my 1980’s Eureka tent.
Of all the new fancy tents out there, this tent is still my go-to when I’m canoeing. It never breaks, it stands solid, and always feels like home.
3pm, Wednesday – Arlo Discovers Rose Falls
Once camp was set up, we set out for Rose Falls, which was back at Stairway Portage. Arlo had never seen a waterfall and I’m not certain she has an interest in seeing anymore in the future. She was definitely concerned…you know, safety wise.
However, we got her to relax as we kicked off our boots and let our feet soak in the pools at the top of the falls.
4pm, Wednesday – The Bass Hole
Rose Falls was gorgeous but the itch to see what we could pull out of Rose Lake was real! Fishing poles in hand we paddled to a small bay where the falls lets out into the lake.
To our excitement, a Bass bit the second Stryde’s lure hit the water!
And then again after that.
And again.
We had found a bass hole full of small and medium-size fish! 8 bass later (catch and release) we decided to paddle back for dinner.
5:30pm, Wednesday – The Freeze Dried Dinner
Every night at Camp and on trail, each camper and staff member shares his/her high and low for the day. If I had a low for this day it would have been dinner.
Since our plans were so spontaneous, we didn’t have much time to plan a spectacular menu and our dinner suffered. We ate a couple freeze dried meals that I wouldn’t purchase again.
7:30pm, Wednesday – The Sunset Paddle
Ahhh, my high for the day without a doubt! If you know me, you’ll know I’m a sucker for a good sunset…I don’t know why. There’s a sunset every night. It’s such a common occurrence yet it still mesmerizes me.
This night was no exception. The sun set behind the bluffs on the west end of the lake, casting an orange glow on the eastern bluffs and lighting the clouds as if they were big puffs of cotton candy.
I took plenty of photographs as Stryde caught three more Bass.
9:45pm, Wednesday – The S’Mores Hack
By the time the sun had set and the fish had all been caught, we figured it was time for s’mores so we paddled back to start a fire.
I’d like to take this time to share a little campfire s’mores hack with you. If you’d like to save on the assembly, opt for Fudge Stripe cookies in place of chocolate and graham crackers. They taste almost as good and are half the hassle.
10:30pm, Wednesday – The Mystery Rain
Ok, this may be a close second for my high of the day.
Stryde, Arlo, and I were sitting in front of the fire, happy bellies and warm toes, when we heard a noise like a plane in the distance.
I questioned, “What the heck is that?”
Arlo’s ears perked up. I looked at Stryde. Stryde looked at me.
“Oh my god that’s rain!! Get in the tent!”
A sudden sheet of rain came stampeding towards our campsite as we scooped up all our gear, Arlo making it to the tent first.
We sat inside laughing in disbelief for a few minutes. Neither of us had ever heard rain come out of nowhere quite like that…it sounded so strange! Once it passed, we hung our bear bag and called it a night.
9am, Thursday – The Grand Breakfast
Whatever dinner lacked the night before, breakfast made up for in full! This was the one meal we put a little effort into throwing together and it paid off.
We had crispy bacon with eggs over easy and everything bagels with cream cheese! Oh, and can’t forget some good pour over coffee!
If you know me, you’ll know I’m big on breakfast and apparently, so is Arlo. She managed to sneak away with half a stick of butter when I wasn’t looking.
11:30am, Thursday – The Quick Farewell
After breakfast, we packed up camp and hit the lake for Stairway Portage, which kicked my butt going up!
12pm, Thursday – More Bass
Stryde caught two more Bass in Duncan Lake! We were hoping for some Northern but fate had Bass in mind for us on this trip.
12:30pm, Thursday – The Portage Traffic Jam
Both Stairway portage and the portage out of Duncan were busy with groups coming in for the weekend. It seemed like every group was curious about the fishing, which we reported positively.
Arlo, in her portage pack, was quite the popular pup!
1pm, Thursday – The Au Revoir
By 1pm, we found ourselves back at our car. Just like that, our day off was over even though it seemed like it had been a week.
But that’s just it, you don’t need much time to make lasting memories. All you need to do is get up and go after them.
Time is finite but there is so much we can do in the amount allotted to us…so much we can do in just 24 hours!
Make plans, get out the door, and live in the moment!
Cheers to more 24 trip reports to come!
Happy Trails,
If you were given 24 hours, starting tomorrow at noon, to do whatever you wanted – what would you do with those hours?
This is the thought I came out of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) with yesterday. I’ve noticed there’s often a theme to every trip and this 24-hour trip’s theme was TIME.
Without a doubt, this was the shortest and most spontaneous canoe trip I had been on. It was one of those trips where it feels like a week had passed but in a blink of an eye…slow yet somehow fast.
It’s those kinds of trips that get you thinking about how we value our time and wondering if we over or underestimate what we can do in the amount of time allotted.
Which brings me to the story of my 24 hour trip to Rose Lake!
Every week, our staff here at Camp get 24 hours off-duty, including me. Noon Wednesday to noon Thursday was my time off this week.
On Tuesday, I said, “Let’s go on a Boundary Waters trip!”
By that afternoon, the permit was booked and the packing list ready to be checked off.
By noon the next day, we were headed South on the Gunflint Trail towards Bearskin Lake where we would put in and paddle to entry point #60.
My crew for this trip:
12:30pm, Wednesday – The Beginning
After a thirty minute drive down the Gunflint Trail and a short paddle across Bearskin Lake, we arrived at our entry point into Duncan Lake.
We had made a deal – on Wednesday, Stryde would portage the packs and stern the canoe while I portaged the canoe and paddled in the bow. On Thursday we would switch duties.
1pm, Wednesday – The Bear Encounter
After paddling across Bearskin and Duncan Lake, we pulled up to our second (and final) portage from Duncan to Rose Lake and noticed a group frantically searching for two backpacks.
I remember hearing, “The bear went that way! Check that way!”
Immediately, I grabbed Arlo by collar as Stryde spotted the bear in question to our right, loping along into the forest. Shorty after, the group found both backpacks tossed haphazardly in the woods.
It turns out, the bear had taken both packs in different directions, inspected them for treats, and left before any real damage was done.
It made for a funny story, especially as passersby but you can bet I kept Arlo close as I portaged the canoe and she portaged her backpack full of dog food and toys.
2pm, Wednesday – The Epic Campsite
After Stairway Portage, we paddled East to a hidden campsite with a gorgeous view of the bluffs.
Luckily, it was free so we pulled our canoe onto its shore and set up my 1980’s Eureka tent.
Of all the new fancy tents out there, this tent is still my go-to when I’m canoeing. It never breaks, it stands solid, and always feels like home.
3pm, Wednesday – Arlo Discovers Rose Falls
Once camp was set up, we set out for Rose Falls, which was back at Stairway Portage. Arlo had never seen a waterfall and I’m not certain she has an interest in seeing anymore in the future. She was definitely concerned…you know, safety wise.
However, we got her to relax as we kicked off our boots and let our feet soak in the pools at the top of the falls.
4pm, Wednesday – The Bass Hole
Rose Falls was gorgeous but the itch to see what we could pull out of Rose Lake was real! Fishing poles in hand we paddled to a small bay where the falls lets out into the lake.
To our excitement, a Bass bit the second Stryde’s lure hit the water!
And then again after that.
And again.
We had found a bass hole full of small and medium-size fish! 8 bass later (catch and release) we decided to paddle back for dinner.
5:30pm, Wednesday – The Freeze Dried Dinner
Every night at Camp and on trail, each camper and staff member shares his/her high and low for the day. If I had a low for this day it would have been dinner.
Since our plans were so spontaneous, we didn’t have much time to plan a spectacular menu and our dinner suffered. We ate a couple freeze dried meals that I wouldn’t purchase again.
7:30pm, Wednesday – The Sunset Paddle
Ahhh, my high for the day without a doubt! If you know me, you’ll know I’m a sucker for a good sunset…I don’t know why. There’s a sunset every night. It’s such a common occurrence yet it still mesmerizes me.
This night was no exception. The sun set behind the bluffs on the west end of the lake, casting an orange glow on the eastern bluffs and lighting the clouds as if they were big puffs of cotton candy.
I took plenty of photographs as Stryde caught three more Bass.
9:45pm, Wednesday – The S’Mores Hack
By the time the sun had set and the fish had all been caught, we figured it was time for s’mores so we paddled back to start a fire.
I’d like to take this time to share a little campfire s’mores hack with you. If you’d like to save on the assembly, opt for Fudge Stripe cookies in place of chocolate and graham crackers. They taste almost as good and are half the hassle.
10:30pm, Wednesday – The Mystery Rain
Ok, this may be a close second for my high of the day.
Stryde, Arlo, and I were sitting in front of the fire, happy bellies and warm toes, when we heard a noise like a plane in the distance.
I questioned, “What the heck is that?”
Arlo’s ears perked up. I looked at Stryde. Stryde looked at me.
“Oh my god that’s rain!! Get in the tent!”
A sudden sheet of rain came stampeding towards our campsite as we scooped up all our gear, Arlo making it to the tent first.
We sat inside laughing in disbelief for a few minutes. Neither of us had ever heard rain come out of nowhere quite like that…it sounded so strange! Once it passed, we hung our bear bag and called it a night.
9am, Thursday – The Grand Breakfast
Whatever dinner lacked the night before, breakfast made up for in full! This was the one meal we put a little effort into throwing together and it paid off.
We had crispy bacon with eggs over easy and everything bagels with cream cheese! Oh, and can’t forget some good pour over coffee!
If you know me, you’ll know I’m big on breakfast and apparently, so is Arlo. She managed to sneak away with half a stick of butter when I wasn’t looking.
11:30am, Thursday – The Quick Farewell
After breakfast, we packed up camp and hit the lake for Stairway Portage, which kicked my butt going up!
12pm, Thursday – More Bass
Stryde caught two more Bass in Duncan Lake! We were hoping for some Northern but fate had Bass in mind for us on this trip.
12:30pm, Thursday – The Portage Traffic Jam
Both Stairway portage and the portage out of Duncan were busy with groups coming in for the weekend. It seemed like every group was curious about the fishing, which we reported positively.
Arlo, in her portage pack, was quite the popular pup!
1pm, Thursday – The Au Revoir
By 1pm, we found ourselves back at our car. Just like that, our day off was over even though it seemed like it had been a week.
But that’s just it, you don’t need much time to make lasting memories. All you need to do is get up and go after them.
Time is finite but there is so much we can do in the amount allotted to us…so much we can do in just 24 hours!
Make plans, get out the door, and live in the moment!
Cheers to more 24 trip reports to come!
Happy Trails,
Want more? I've got you covered ↓
God you’re cute
Oh gosh, makin’ me blush 🙂
You’re too sweet!
xoxo
Penny
Enjoyed your 24 hour trip report and story! Beautiful pics! I had one of those Eureka tents for years, it was the best
Aw thanks, Martha! I appreciate the sweet message!
Gosh, aren’t those old Eureka’s the best! I will be sad the day mine gives up.