UpNorthica

If your trip route were a drive through Twin Cities roadways, portages would be the Crosstown Interchange. There’s rush hour, there’s painful bottlenecking and gridlocking… I’ve never encountered trail rage (have you?). But portaging is much less a headache if you adopt a few common sense guidelines. Read on to get yourself schooled.

Observe the rules of traffic
When encountering larger groups, step to the right of the trail and let them through first. And if that faster group behind you catches up, be ready to let them pass on your left. Another rule of thumb: Yield to the person with the heavier load. If you’re carrying one pack, yield to the person with two. If you’re not portaging the canoe, yield to anyone who is.

Clear a pathway
If you can’t carry your gear or canoe in one load, move what remains, off to the side of the trailhead. Scattered fishing rods and paddles especially can be a serious tripping hazard.

Drive defensively
If you’re portaging the canoe, it’s easy to assume that people coming the opposite direction will be looking out for you. Not always the case. So announce yourself with a friendly greeting, even if you’re nearly out of breath.

Leave a wide berth
Unloading and yoking a canoe takes space, so if there’s another group at the trailhead, stay a good ways offshore. Wait until others have moved on, before landing.

Enjoy the silence
There’s a time and a place for using your ‘outside voice’, like during that first swim of your trip. But along the portage are the closest contacts you’ll make with other campers, most of whom are here to escape noise pollution. Plus, loud chatter may frighten off some great wildlife viewing opportunities. So enjoy the sounds of nature around you instead.

Carry that weight
Be sure you’re sharing the load evenly with your friends. Offer to swap loads if someone’s overburdened or is taking frequent breaks. Conversely, don’t be a martyr – let others take the big load if you’ve been handling it awhile.

Give a hoot
Whoever is last to portage, should be garbage patrol. Grab any trash that may have been left by yourself or others. And if you find lost gear, leave it somewhere visible. The law of finders/keepers doesn’t exist out here; they will come back for it.

Be a good neighbor
If you run into someone *not* following basic rules of trail etiquette; chances are they’re a newbie. Help them out gently and patiently. Or if they’re filling their Nalgene next to a beaver lodge… steer them right.

These are the most basic guidelines, and we hope if you’re new to the BWCA that these have been helpful.

Hey, seasoned canoers: Did we miss any?