As iconic outdoors destinations in the United States go, Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) ranks near the top. The pristine wilderness is more than a million acres large, including innumerable lakes, rivers, domes of exposed bedrock, and an endless boreal forest that fades to Canada and Quetico Provincial Park in the north.
Multi-day canoe trips are the common method for exploring the BWCA. GearJunkie contributor David Haines, a writer and photographer, recently returned from a solo BWCA trip that he described as “hot, peaceful, and wet.” Stormy and buggy are at least two additional adjectives Haines could have used, as he experienced some major weather one night and was harassed, like many BWCA visitors in the summer, by flies, mosquitoes, and other infamous insects of the area.
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From his trip, Haines offers the below gear tips and advice, a smattering of recommendations and observations culled from his solo adventure this month as well as visits with friends and family to the BWCA in summers past.
Permethrin-Soaked Kaffia Scarf — This one is unusual, I know. But the kaffia, which my dad brought me from Afghanistan, was essential on the trip. I treated it with permethrin, a strong bug repellent designed to be used on clothing, before leaving home. In the BWCA, I used the scarf initially as a wrap around my neck to repel bugs and to keep cool. It turns out that it worked in many other unexpected ways — as a block for the sun to shade my knees in the canoe; as a bug swatter; and as a head and ear covering to muffle the sound of buzzing mosquitoes when they were about to drive me insane.
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Military Surplus Boots — Nothing fancy here. My stout U.S. military boots are a relatively inexpensive footwear option. Though a bit heavy, they offer great support and protection when portaging a canoe. They have thick Vibram soles and, once wet, they drained quickly. I dried them in the sunlight at camp each day.
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