Scouts from Simsbury BSA Troop 175 finished up the school year with a 9 day canoeing and camping trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Wilderness around Ely, MN.
These scouts canoed and portaged 51 plus miles. Our outfitter challenged us to go to some remote areas to avoid crowds and wild fires, this route had us take on a 1 1/8 mile portage only 2 1/2 miles into our journey. We carried 11 packs, 4 canoes, 7 fishing rods, and 9 canoe paddles and life jackets many miles and not just on the water. Some scouts were not sure they could carry the canoe on their own very far and found themselves carrying it upwards of a 1/4-1/2 mile stretch at one time. That long portage took us 3 hours our first day but on the last day leaving it only took us 1 hour and 45 minutes showing their improvement in skill and communication.
They worked together taking turns navigating, patrol leading, steering, and carrying the heavy items when they saw a fellow scout get tired.
This crew rose to the occasion and should be proud of the hard work they did together physically and mentally and the fishing was not bad either!
Thank you to Mr. Mead and Mr. McGee for all of their help, both are excellent guides and teachers and it was a better trip because of their help and knowledge.
See photos from the trip in the Troop 175 Photo Library
