We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This year seems to be flying by…soon it will be Christmas, then the outdoor shows and before you know it the 2010 Boundary Waters season will be here!  After last year’s economic disaster, next year is shaping up to be a banner year.  People are trying to make up for last year and they are bound and determined to make it to the BWCA in 2010.  Our summer is already 20% booked…We fill time slots on a first come first serve, so if anyone is interested please let us know and we can talk over your options.  Wilderness Journey will have another guide on board for 2010 and we are very particular about who that person will be.  They will have to survive the  “Ramsey Dowgiallo 10-day Survivor Course” and like it!!!  We hope everyone has a great holiday season and we’ll see you at the outdoor shows.

The BWCA has started accepting entries in the permit lottery system on December 1st 2009. Those who enter will assure themselves a permit of their choice and at a time of their choosing. We already have a few clients taking advantage in the lottery and anyone who is interested should contact us and we can talk over your options.

Everyone who is currently on the Wilderness Journey email list will be entered into a raffle to win a free trip with Wilderness Journey.  We will be recruiting new adventurists’ emails by referral and at the outdoor shows.   The raffle drawing will take place March 21st 2010. The free trip is for one person for 6 days this can be used by the winner alone or with a group.

Outdoor shows will be here before we know it! Visit the Wilderness Journey booth.

First Show:

Ultimate Fishing Show (Novi) January 7-10, 2010 Wilderness Journey Booth 1151

                Thursday, January 7                        2pm- 9:30pm

                Friday, January 8                              12pm- 9:30pm

                Saturday, January 9                         10am- 9pm

                Sunday, January 10                         10am- 5pm

Additional Shows:

Outdoorama (Novi) February 25-28, 2010 Wilderness Journey Booth 5501

The Quiet Water Symposium (Lansing) March 7, 2009

Ultimate Fishing Show in (Grand Rapids) March 18- 21, 2010

A Giant Among Men      

                You see…this was a moment in one of our trips that is deserving of a WJ newsletter headline.  I was with the Tapley group on a short day trip to check out Lower Basswood Falls.  We reached the edge of the falls and I started to set everyone up for a photo.  I looked down the portage over to the Basswood River and saw a man in his 50’s struggling.  He was dragging the lower half of his body up a hill on the portage.  As I walked over to assist him, I stopped in my tracks.  I looked at the top of the hill and saw his forearm crutches lying on the ground.  I realized I was seeing a Giant among Men.  He was proving to others and probably to himself that REAL strength comes from within all of us.  All of us are strong enough and with perseverance and spirit no disability can control your life.

I knew better…but I had to ask if he needed assistance.  As I suspected, he looked up and said, “No thank you.  I can do it.”  I replied,  “I understand.” 

As I walked away, he asked if I needed him take a photograph of us standing near the falls.  Here was this man who was struggling up this portage, lying on the ground and as it turned out, he helped us. He took the photo and we thanked him.  He struggled to his crutches and onto his feet and made his way to the end of the portage, where he had 3 other people waiting with his gear. I’ve been thinking of this moment since it happened.  I think if anyone says that one person alone cannot make a difference… they’re wrong.  I don’t know that man’s name…I don’t know where he’s from and I only met him for a few minutes but I can honestly say that he has affected my life in a positive manner.  We should all act with such grace and zest for life. In these uncertain times, its moments like this that give me hope and make me proud of the human spirit.  Some of our trips are easy and some can be difficult but rewarding but from now on whenever I see someone struggling, I will mention the Giant of a Man I once met on a portage.

Wilderness Journey’s new route

Little Indian Sioux Route (EP 14)

This upcoming season Wilderness Journey will be featuring a new recommended route.  Some of the lakes along this route I am very familiar with.  Other lakes, I have only paddled through. There are two different routes which can be taken from this entry point; it depends on the group. If there is a time constraint they will want to take the shorter route and if they have the perseverance, a sense of adventure and time, they will want to take the longer route.

Last year we had two trips on this route:

 The short route was on the Remedi trip which was a short and sweet route. We started at EP 14 (little Indian Sioux).  It is a wonderful route with lots of wildlife and some great fishing. This route can be completed in 3 days or you can stay a few extra days on some of the lakes with great fishing.  Basically it is 25 miles, 10 lakes, 4 rivers and 16 portages.  The sights along this route are incredible.  First of all, as soon as you enter the park you have a great chance of seeing a moose. You will hear wolves howling just about every trip and then we will have a brief stopover at a waterfall named The Devils Cascade. We will experience some fantastic fishing on Heritage Lake and Hustler Lake. Last year we had some great days of fishing on Hustler Lake when we caught 40+ fish and some of them were very big.

The second route is designed for groups who really want to challenge themselves and see some of the most remote areas of the Boundary Waters.

This route is comprised of 14 lakes, 6 rivers and 21 portages. You will experience just about everything the Boundary Waters has to offer from small lakes and streams to one of the largest lakes in the BWCA Lac La Croix.  It also has some great fishing along with some fantastic waterfalls like Bridal Veil Falls, Lac LA Croix Indian pictographs and the wildlife is everywhere.  Last year on the Stefko trip we even saw a six point buck who came right into our camp- within 20 yards of us for 20 minutes. If your group wants a challenge and wants to make memories that last a lifetime this is the trip for you!

Boundary Waters Wilderness Wildlife

Moles & Shrews -- This small flesh eating mammal spends much of its time underground, under rocks, under logs and sometimes even underwater. This tiny creature is covered with dense fur, has very small eyes and teeth and a long slender nose. Moles and shrews feed mainly on insects and earthworms. The pygmy shrew is the smallest living mammal, 3 inches long including the tail. Look for this animal along the shoreline, scurrying under rocks and logs.

December Photoslideshow

Encourage others to join our email List.  Please contact us with any questions. 

Thanks, 

Ramsey Dowgiallo