Portages:
When I first came to the BWCA, I only had a slight Idea of what a portage was, it is definitely something to be aware of, because as the BWCA is a bunch of lakes semi connected together, at some point you are going to have to get out and walk, yourself and everything you brought with you over different terrains. As you plan your trip, you want to keep in mind portages, skill, fitness level, and the weight of your equipment. They can be anywhere from a quick pop over, to a couple of miles. (they are rare, but the longest portage in BWCA technically is 8 miles from Pigeon river to the Old Fort at Grand Portage, how cool!!! but I wouldn't want to have to do that twice.)
Likely there will be an up and downhill, over what I would relate to a hiking trail, some can be full of rocks, mud, and obstacles like fallen trees, it is in the back country, and they have been well maintained, but some are a challenge, so don't over do it, if you need to take multiple trips across that is fine, if you need to set something off to the side, and come back and grab it that is ok too, just make sure you grab it, and don't leave things behind for others to clean up. If you need to do two trips with your equipment that is ok too. Just plan for that extra time.
How do you find the portages that will be on your trip?
The most useful tool I have found is on www.bwca.com Specifically here
you can click on the specific portages you will be taking and get some idea of what most of the portages are like. It is a great tool to check out campsites, past wildlife sitings, and seeing what exactly is in the area you will be. Also, leave your own reviews as you finish up your trip, so next year others can see what the more recent trail conditions were like, if the portage is hard to see, or if that hill is really worth it to cut off an hour of paddling. (we've been warned, and ignored said warnings, so we can attest to their accuracy.)
The great thing about the BWCA is that you can really tailor a trip to your groups needs. You can go in and basecamp and do smaller day trips from there. You can find somewhere with very few, or small portages if you are looking to take someone with who is inexperienced, older, or not in the best of shape. You can plan a grueling 7 day traveling trip where you explore the deepest reaches of the BWCA that you can and be in complete solitude. The options are endless! On another note, always be flexible. The camp spot you were aiming for might be taken, that portage that you thought would be a cakewalk ended up being the longest hour and a half of your life, and sometimes you see a campsite that looks perfect, with the best hammock spots, and a great spot for a fire sheltered from the wind that you just have to call it a day and spend the night. Enjoy your time in the BWCA, share it with others, and leave no trace for the next explorers.
