Setting a goal

Alright, time for a bit of a personal backstory. I love to paddle - especially in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). I love the combination of serene landscape, physical challenge, and unique gear requirements that backcountry paddling needs. Over the past 15 years, I have taken 9 trips up to the BWCAW, mostly on the Ely side of the expansive 2 million acre wilderness. This September, I'll be going in at entry point #61 (Daniels Lake) for a solo trip lasting 4 days. It's not my first solo, and nor will it be my last. I enjoyed my last one, however I can honestly say I got a bit bored...

I was focused on covering miles, and decided to do things like:

• Not pack any fishing tackle
• Cook dehydrated meals the entire trip
• Pound out miles in lieu of enjoying myself

My wife always gives me a hard time about "embracing the suck", and this is one of those rare occasions where I think I agree with her - I embraced too much suck.

So, what can I do to keep myself busier this go around? Well, I already laid out two of the possible items: fishing and cooking. I definitely want to fish this go-around, given that I've specifically chosen an entry point that contains a high number of lake trout. Additionally, I'm older and a bit less "spartan" than I used to be - I want to enjoy some good meals while I'm in the woods.

What else could I do to bide my time, rather than just stare at the water and miss my family? Ahh, a newfound hobby enters the mix - radio!

RF to the rescue

I'm all about ham radio at the moment, and I think that trying to set up a station in the BWCAW would be an awesome way to test my skills as an operator and as an engineer. This is a multi-faceted problem, including things like finding a supply of power, choosing an ideal mode of operation, and using portable gear that meets my operational requirements.

What do I need to do in order to feel satisfied with operating an amateur radio in the backcountry? I believe that doing a Parks on the Air (POTA) activation of the Superior National Forest would be extremely satisfying!

For this to happen, I need to be realistic about what I can accomplish given my remote locale. I won't be able to do much with a VHF/UHF rig. However, an HF rig should be able to get up and out of the BWCAW just fine given a good setup and enough power. Here lies a couple of problems:

• I don't have my General class license yet to operate most HF bands
• I don't have an HF transceiver, antenna, or other gear
• I don't have any experience doing POTA.

With these problems framed up, I'll be putting my brain to it. Watch for more to come on this saga - I'll likely be rambling on about my gear choices and my fumbled attempts to practice POTA as I march towards my September entry permit date. Wish me luck, the goal has been set!