Bombproof Your Campsite | Boundary Waters | Canoe Camping

One of the best part of a Boundary Waters canoe trip or any outdoor adventure is arriving at camp!
Before you can fully relax, you need to make sure you set your camp up properly. In this video, Ashley Bredemus (   / mshepburn08  ) will show you how to do exactly that.

These five steps will make your camp site is weatherproof and animal-proof.

1) Find a perfect tent spot
In most campsites in the Boundary Waters, it’s easy to find the tent spots, as they are flat squares. But before you place a stake in the ground, make sure everyone will fit. Visualize this two or three people — or however many are in a tent — laying in that spot. Do they fit? If so, you found a spot!

2) Set up a tarp
Second, you want to put up a tarp. There are days you won’t do this but even if it’s not raining, tarps are a great way to bring everyone together and if the weather suddenly changes, you have shelter to eat and gather under.

At the most basic, use two trees or anchor points. The two knots to use are the bowline, to connect the rope to the tarp and the taut line hitch, which you attach to the tree, the anchor and can easily tighten or loosen.

Essential knots for tying down a tarp - https://www.friends-bwca.org/explore/...

3) Set up the eating/ kitchen area
The kitchen is easy to find – it’s right around the fire grate. Like other kitchens, you’ll hang out here a lot.

4) Bear-proofing camp
There are bears in the BWCA, along with other critters who would love to get into your food! To avoid any unpleasant and frightening encounters, you need to keep a clean camp and properly store your food at night.

Many people hang their food at night. The formula for this is at least 30 feet off the ground and 10 feet from the tree. But not every campsite has such a tree or a branch that’s ideal for a bear hang, and many will tell you, even when hung in a tree, critters can still get at your food.

Many never hang their food and never have a problem with bears.
No matter what you do, keep your food sealed in a container or plastic bag to keep the smell down. Many use a bear barrel. Store it 100 feet from campsite and keep your campsite clean!
The best way to avoid bears is to not attract them in the first place.

5) Tucking it all away for the night
Before you go to sleep, tuck everything away, either under a canoe, in a vestibule, or in your packs. Leaving gear scattered about is a good way to lose something and attract animals or if it rains, wake up to wet gear.

Place the stove and cooking pots that will be used in the morning, along with paddles and life vests, and boots under a canoe.

Make sure your packs are sealed and buckled.

Sleep tight and wake up to a relaxing morning!

MORE RESOURCES

Get your BWCA permit - https://www.friends-bwca.org/explore/...
Explore BoundaryWaters Routes - https://www.friends-bwca.org/bwca-can...
Donate to keep the Boundary Waters Wild - https://www.friends-bwca.org/donate/

Note: No footage was taken within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Please abide by regulations and the strict no drone policy in the Wilderness area.

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