FAQs

Don't you have to be in good physical condition to go?

What about portages?

How old do you have to be?

I am a vegetarian or have special diet. What will I eat?

I'm mostly concerned about fat content and calories. Is the food healthy?

Can I bring my own food?

Why don't you bring a cook stove?

Canvas tents? You have to be kidding.

What about bringing my own pack and/or gear?

What about privacy? How do you change clothes or take a bath?

Aren't the bugs bad?

What about cold and wet weather?

Who normally goes on your trips?

Do you screen people for character flaws, emotional problems or mental illness?

What if someone wants to quit in the middle of the trip?

What if someone gets sick or hurt?

What is a "duffer"?

How is the fishing?

Do you make any money at this?

Why do you do this?

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Don't you have to be in good physical condition to go?

This is by far the most common reason people give for not being able to go. The fact is anyone who can get up out of bed and go to work everyday can do this trip. Yes, there is a physical component to the trip but most of is mental. The decision to do it is the hardest part! Once you are to the river it is literally all down hill. The closest activity you might compare it to is raking the yard, only I find it much easier. You can rest after every paddle stroke! Many sections of the river you barely need to paddle. Return to Top

What about portages ?

There are some. Most days there won't be any, a couple days there will be two or three. Most portages are short, up and over a dike variety. There is one longer portage around an old paper mill in Park Falls. Our map says 1/4 mile but it may be closer to a full mile. It is paved and flat and sometimes there are carts to use.
Personally, I look forward to it. The trip just wouldn't be the same without it. You don't have a life changing experience without some challenges! Return to Top

How old do you have to be ?

This trip can be done by anyone ages six to 96. A few years back we were surprised to see a group of women old and young walking right through our camp site. They were scouting out the rapids nearby. The group has a yearly family tradition that all the gals from granddaughter to grandma go on a five day canoe trip. They begin taking their girls at age six.
Of course safety is our first concern. Life jackets are worn whenever in the canoe. Second, We won't take pre-teens without a responsible adult with them. Return to Top

I am a vegetarian or have a special diet. What will I eat?

The best thing to do is call. We can accommodate most vegetarian diets but we will need to plan ahead. If you have severe food allergies we can work closely with you to develop anindividual menu and pack everything in a personal pack. Return to Top

I'm mostly concerned about fat content and calories. Is the food healthy?

todo... Return to Top

Can I bring my own food?

todo... Return to Top

Why don't you bring a cook stove?

todo... Return to Top

Canvas tents? You have to be kidding.

todo... Return to Top

What about bringing my own pack and/or gear?

todo... Return to Top

What about privacy? How do you change clothes or take a bath?

todo... Return to Top

Aren't the bugs bad?

todo... Return to Top

What about cold and wet weather?

todo... Return to Top

Who normally goes on your trips?

todo... Return to Top

Do you screen people for character flaws, emotional problems or mental illness?

todo... Return to Top

What if someone wants to quit in the middle of the trip?

todo... Return to Top

What if someone gets sick or hurt?

todo... Return to Top

What is a "duffer"?

todo... Return to Top

How is the fishing?

todo... Return to Top

Do you make any money at this?

todo... Return to Top

Why do you do this?

This is a difficult question to answer. George Mallory would have said "because it's there". Everytime I am out there I try to think of new ways to explain the feeling. There is something about braving Mother Nature and getting down to the bare essentials that reminds you what is really important in life. Friends, family, food water and sleep. You work so you can eat and sleep. After returning home you realize you are doing the same thing.
“What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for." - George Leigh Mallory.
Or perhaps Will Steger, voted greatest living North American adventurer in Life Magazine answers it best "It has never been an easy question to answer in anything less than a ramble, since, like describing the beautiful scent of a flower, describing the "why" of adventure must always fall short. It's all in the experienceing." Return to Top