We need to lighten our load! What are things we can do without? What should we keep?

01 October 2011

Next week our friend Bryan is joining us. He will paddle with us for the final 3 weeks through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  There are many portages in the Boundary Waters including the Grand Portage, which is over 8 miles long. At each portage we have to unload the canoe and carry all of our stuff over a trail to the next lake or river.  We are trying to make a list of all the things we have to keep and a second list of things we could send home when Bryan meets us.

What are things that you think we definitely need to keep?  Can you think of anything that we might be able to get rid of? One thing that we have been thinking about sending home is our second computer. Do you think we should send our second computer home or should we keep it?

Here is a list of things that we have:

2 laptop computers

satellite phone

2 cameras

food

saw

4 paddles (2 to use and 2 spares)

dogfood

Fennel

tent

2 sleeping bags

lightweight summer clothes

warm clothes

2 headlamps

rain jackets and pants

solar panel

sandals

boots

spray cover for the canoe

battery for charging the laptops

stove

tarp

Thanks for your suggestions about how we can keep warm. We had our first hard frost last night and it seems to be getting colder each night. We have been taking Mr. Speno’s classes advice and wearing lots of layers.  We have also been making soup and drinking lots of warm drinks thanks to the suggestions we received by email from several classes. As it gets colder I am sure we will be putting more of your suggestions to use.

Keep Exploring!

Dave