2024 Boundary Waters

We are blessed to have the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in our backyard (well, if not our backyard, then just beyond the neighbors). It lies entirely within Superior National Forest and is the most visited wilderness area in the United States, for good reason. The boundless beauty and tranquility are uplifting and refreshing.

Join us on an Ole adventure in the BWCA. We’ll start with a visit to the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center at Seagull Lake, which tells the story of the Gunflint Trail, before having a group dinner at Gunflint Lodge and overnighting at Hungry Jack Outfitters in Grand Marais for our entry into the wilderness area. We will also be fully equipped by Hungry Jack Outfitters, an Ole-owned enterprise.

For 5 days, we’ll paddle from lake to river to lake again, and disembark as necessary to use the portage trails between bodies of water. This vast area has changed little in the 10,000 years since the glaciers receded. In this serene setting we are likely to spy loons, moose, bald eagles, deer, otters and more, and we will, of course, hang our food high to avoid sharing space with bears. As Marshall McLuhan said, “There are no passengers on spaceship earth. We are all crew.” This program is an adventure of the body, as well as the mind and spirit. You must be physically fit enough to carry gear on the portages, including large, but manageable backpacks and, with your paddling partner, the canoe. Also, everyone in the group will share chores like cooking and camp maintenance.

After we exit the BWCA we will stay overnight at Hungry Jack, and will spend our last day taking in the adventure of the North Shore, including breakfast at Nanibijou Lodge, and a visit to the North House Folk School. The Folk School was  a key partner with St. Olaf volunteers in imagining, designing and constructing the Memorial Chime Tower and later, rebuilding the Flaten Art Barn on the St. Olaf campus.  Our hope is that the trip will coincide with the Wooden Boat Show at North House, one of the main summer events of the Summer in Grand Marais.

As we continue down the North Shore and back home, there will be time to visit some of the wonders of America’s “North Coast”  that the group will identify.

This unique Study Travel has no deliberate educational theme, but is an opportunity to gather with fellow Oles – official and honorary alike – and share time together in an area of natural beauty.

You can view — and download or print, if you wish — the most up to date itinerary here.

Wes Braker is the Natural Lands Manager at St. Olaf. After graduating from St. Olaf in 2018, he matriculated to the Conservation Sciences program at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, where he is a PhD candidate studying population genetic interactions in native prairie plants. He returned to the hill in his current role in 2021 where he enjoys working directly with students as they learn about Minnesota ecology and natural resource management by working in the St. Olaf Natural Lands. Wes lives in Faribault, MN with his spouse on a hobby farm where they raise goats, chickens, sheep, and horses. Wes has extensive back-country experience, getting into remote areas by foot and canoe from the southern United States to northern Canada. Wes has also lead many canoe trips in the Boundary Waters and Quetico Provincial Park, as well as hiking trips in Isle Royale National Park. Wes is excited to voyage into the amazing paradise that is the Boundary Waters with you. For voluntary preparatory reading to get you in the mindset of a wilderness traveler and to introduce you to a brief background on the philosophy of the BWCAW, Wes recommends Sigurd Olson’s The Singing Wilderness for some superb outdoor reflection.

Expect an adventure, as advertised! You will be active in the most positive way and immersed in nature’s bounty every day.

This trip requires that you be physically fit and able to paddle, walk, and carry belongings for an extended distance. You should have fairly sure footing over uneven ground. The level of paddling challenge will be geared toward the ability and experience of the group.  All participants will be expected to pitch in with tasks such as setting up camp, making meals, and repacking your own and group equipment.

The weather in mid-July in northern Minnesota should be beautiful, but can be hard to predict. Average temperatures for this time of year are a high around 67º Fahrenheit, low around 48 F, and rainfall of 3.7 inches for the month.

TRIP PRICE
$1,311 per person, completely outfitted (inclusions listed below). Deduct $22 to bring your own sleeping bag and $30 to bring your own tent. Roundtrip transportation between St. Olaf and the BWCA is included. 

Inclusions

• Route planning and permit
• All food, chosen from a set menu (special diets can be accommodated within reason)
• Personal packs (Cooke Custom Sewing):
  • Sleeping bags (Marmot or Slumberjack)
  • Pillows
  • Clothing bags
  • Headnet
  • Therm-a-rest pad
  • Ponchoes
  • Crazy Creek Camp Chair
• Equipment pack:
  • Tents (MSR)
  • Ground cloth
  • Dining Fly (Cooke Custom Sewing)
  • Short Rope (Ten Each)
  • Canoe anchor
  • First aid kit
  • Stove (Primus Himalaya)
  • Fuel
  • Saw
  • Kitchen sink bucket
  • Water bag
  • Water filtration system (Steri-pen and/or Katydyn filter)
  • Cook kit (MSR stainless steel)
  • Fry pan
  • Griddle
  • Coffee pot
  • Plates, cups, bowls, silverware, cooking utensils
  • Measuring cup
  • Sharp Knife/filet
  • Clean-up kit
  • Toilet paper
  • Bear rope

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to program vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the trip.

Deposit Due:                  $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:   Full refund until February 15, 2024. If you register after February 15, 2024, there is no refund.

Balance Due:                  May 1, 2024
Refund if you cancel:   None, unless the program is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be received in writing.

Make Your Final Payment

Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver.

See the Recommendations List from Hungry Jack Outfitters.

This trip is an official go. Registered and confirmed participants should carefully read the Go Message.