Arm chair qtrback... But it appeared from the footage before the last portage that you had the canoe a little TOO top-heavy! Lesson learned. Im glad you two were alright. Keep everything low and dry, canoeist out there... And always carry a spare paddle and long FLOATING +50 feet of rope for throw, along with separate canoe guide rope. [or two, aft and stern] JMI Happy paddles people

This is a great perspective and it’s rare to get footage from your vantage point. My husband (who has many BWCA trips under his belt too) was the helicopter pilot and was very happy you were both okay. You did everything right. Nature is unpredictable and the team was glad to help you out when things turned south. Be well!

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Allyson! As I have been repeating to all of my paddling friends, I never in a million years thought I would be in a situation like this, but it happened. Thanks so much to your husband, I was amazed in his abilities. The precision of the whole team was surgical, I was so relieved when I saw them flying in. I am so grateful that we have teams like that ready to help when needed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

@allysonbenz4016

2 жыл бұрын

You’re very kind! I’ve shared your link and page as you did a great job. Thanks for the educational piece as well as your humility! Keep paddling!

I see you had your packs set high in the canoe.. (that is never a good idea )I like to pack all my packs below My knees. Glad to see you made it out.. water can be very dangerous that time of year and I stopped going that time of year thinking if we capsize we are goners... live and learn..

@thomasm733

Жыл бұрын

This is HUGE! When packed as low as possible, they actually help reduce your chances of flipping greatly.

@chrisritsos1362

Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear everyone is safe! Bag extending well over the rails and bear barrels upright is definitely a cause for instability. Broadside Current hitting low on a top heavy canoe is a flip.

Thank you for sharing. It is scary how things can turn for the worse.

Thank you for sharing.

So grateful you both are safe. Thank you for sharing your experience it is a great video for everyone who enjoys the the BWCA or canoeing in general to watch of how easily things can turn dangerous.

Myself and a few other people were up on Lake 2 for opener and saw the float plane and helicopter circling around that area! Glad to see you and your father made it out safely and are OK! I've never seen water that high and fast up there. Conditions can change in a heartbeat as well. Take care and thanks for sharing your story!

Wow….. thanks for the lesson! I’m glad you and dad are ok! I’m watching this video on Father’s Day so happy Father’s Day to both of you. Much to be thankful for! Boundary waters coming in August. Going to make ditch kits for sure.

Thanks so much. I’ve tipped a few times but always in warmer conditions and closer to safe haven. Now I have an idea what to expect should I need assistance. Kudos to your presence of mind to record the experience.

My brothers and I were up about the same time running along the Kawishiwi River, water was incredibly high and fast. Glad you both are safe!

Thank you for sharing this. So glad you and your Dad are ok. Frankly, I can think of 10 things I may likely have done wrong in the same scenario. Your trip prep is what saved the day. You really showed good thinking and experience. Stating the obvious, but your Spot device and cell were lifesavers that day. That’s good preparation. Having your quality PFDs on. Your Dad’s smart move to make it to safety, even if separated from you. Having a kit for fire on your Dad, and he knew how to use it, and quickly. You saved your gear and got into dry clothes. Your decision to NOT figure a way to get your Dad and yourself back together (brilliant!). Lastly, making a quick enough decision to press SOS. Surely was a scary day for you guys, but I suspect you may save some lives by sharing this video.

@gopheradventure9652

Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot Rob, it was a day we won’t ever forget. Learned a lot that day, especially in regards to the power of moving water.

Glad you are both ok. Thanks for sharing, education is important. I need to work on a ditch kit!

Thx for posting this. My husband and I go to the BWCAW often. It’s good to be reminded how fast things can get dangerous. A few years ago a friend we go canoeing with gave me a fire starter kit to keep on me in case of an emergency like this. I carried it around with me for a few trips but than quit taking it along. That will change from now on. Would love to see a video from you of how to put together a ditch kit small enough to keep in your pockets. Thanks, and so happy you and your Dad survived to share your experience.

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Lisa. I’ll post a quick video of making a ditch kit sometime soon. I’m heading back into the BWCA this week so it will probably be when I get back.

Things can go bad fast no matter your level ..... (never get cocky) You had the proper "stuff" and executed to safety. That's all that matters. Kudos to you and your dad. Your buddy Whitewolf from the forums and Kruger Challenge.

Thanks for sharing

This illustrates awareness and preparstion. Never exceed your equipment or preparedness level. Good that you had an SOS beacon and were both okay in the end,

Thank you for sharing this. In my eyes you’re a pro paddler and expert boundary waters canoeist. This is a sobering reminder of what can happen to anyone out in the BWCA. In the years that I’ve gone I’ve never had a ditch kit but you bet when I go out in a couple weeks I’m gonna have one.

@arthurbrumagem3844

2 жыл бұрын

There is a reason they call it a “ wilderness “. We get used to being safe all the time until we get into an area like the BWCA where you don’t get instant help - if at all.

Thanks for sharing this video and your story. As a whitewater rafting guide fast moving water can be terrifying. Im glad you and your Dad are ok!

I was just there a couple weeks ago on a solo trip and although I did not have to contend with the high water that you did, I realized how precarious that little section was. Even though you are only a few miles from the parking lot, a 2-hour response time is still very, very fast. It could have been 6-8 hours. I think many inexperienced BWCA visitors wrongfully think help is always just around the corner. Kudos for not attempting a rescue yourself. Helicopter was the only option.

Very scary, I've seen others jokingly take these rapids already this year for "fun" not knowing the dangers. Thanks for posting, hopefully it can be a lesson for others as well.

I did technical search and rescue work for many years in my youth. Accidents happen very quickly, people are do something that they have done before and only once in a few hundred would it result in an accident - don't be an unlucky statistic. Reading some of the comments below I see a lot of people don't carry crash kits. When boating always carry a small crash kit you can keep on yourself; flashlight, fire starter, few bandages, etc (and if it is not attached to you - you may not have it when you need it) With the rest of your camping gear keep a good long length of rope 7mm or larger, a small pulley on a carabiner and some sling material. keep it in a stuff sack that is lined with foam so it will float. Eventhough it seems; pointless to carry this... its just extra weight... probably never need it ... BE PREPARED Many many times a year all across the county people deeply regret not being prepared while they were on the last trip they will ever take with a family member.

Been on the lake 1-4 area many times in my canoeing days. The short portages were great for young family members

Scary stuff, glad you made it out ok

Thank you for posting this reminder of how dangerous the BWCA can be. I’m planning to go next year and am going to rethink a couple things after watching this.

Oh goodness glad you made it out I did 16 portages last week water was high take no chances. Uffda.

If you have all your gear and your canoe and nobody was injured. why did you need a rescue? I'm glad you guys are ok. You just seem a bit panicked to me, but I wasn't there.

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

The island my dad was on was surrounded by fast moving water just above a dangerous rapids. I had the canoe, but my dad had the paddles on the island. Even if I had the paddles, it would have been a bad idea to try and paddle to him.

@rayedmondson7978

2 жыл бұрын

@@gopheradventure9652 Glad you guy are ok. I have an inreach myself nice to know it works.

@itomba

2 жыл бұрын

Please explain your rescue plan for this man’s father please.

I was on a solo trip in the BWCA some years back and saw a solo canoeist with an very small pack. He had an UL looking canoe and carried both easily on the portage where I saw him. I thought this guy has it figured out. Fast travel on smaller lakes with easy portages. Not only was his setup quick, I believe it is safer as your gear is in one bag and your canoe is more stable. If you travel smaller lakes you are less exposed to weather and portages may be longer, but safer due to the light gear. You can bushwack easier if necessary and make one trip. I believe canoeists should consider the UL technique more for enjoyment and safety.

This is crazy to see and thank you for sharing. This happened to our group at the exact same spot on May 22, this year. We all ended up in the far side of the heavy current/ portage exit with two in the water. We ended up pulling the canoes and gear over all of the deadfall on that side to get through. No one was injured but all were shaken up. Some of us saw items/gear on the island where your father had to wait for rescue. That portage exit to get to Hudson was extremely deceptive in that the current did not seem nearly as fast as it is, until you’re in it. The Lord was definitely watching over us. Thanks again for sharing.

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

Wow Tom, I’m glad to hear you guys were all okay. You’re right, that water was moving with much more power than it appeared. It could have been a lot worse…

@tomrauh5957

2 жыл бұрын

@@gopheradventure9652 out of curiosity, what day did this happen to you and your dad?

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

Tom, this happened on Monday, May 16th.

I'm heading there next Thursday 😮

Nice to see they have the hoist! My Buddy talked about rescues long ago where they had to clear cut a small island to get someone injured out. They can get the rescuer in safe and hoist out is a key thing for keeping everyone rescuers included safer!

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

I was stunned with the surgical precision of the pilot. Those guys are true professionals.

He was already wet, why didnt he swim across or boat over to get him, poor use of the SOS...

@gopheradventure9652

2 ай бұрын

Water was moving far too fast for him to swim or for me to paddle the tandem canoe by myself to perform a rescue. He would have been sucked into the rapids had he tried to swim where there were several “strainers”. Probably would have ended in drowning. S & R informed us that we made the right choice.

What was the cost of the rescue?

Dang, i came to the bwca and took the angleworm portage all the way to bear trap lake. Glad nothing like this happened, good thing you’re safe bro.

@gopheradventure9652

Жыл бұрын

Way to go! That Angleworm portage is no joke. I heard Beartrap Lake is awesome. I definitely want to explore that area of the BWCA some day.

@SteveGlubby

Жыл бұрын

@@gopheradventure9652 Be sure to bring PLENTY of water on the angleworm portage. Bear Trap Lake is very pretty, but we had to stay at Thunder Lake because the campsite was taken at Bear Trap. The island right when you get into Bear Trap is excellent for walleye.

Thankful that you are both okay. A big thanks to the safety and rescue crew for helping you two out.

Wow Tony, so glad you guys were okay. What presence of mind to turn on the camera so you can tell this story and people can learn and see that this can happen to anybody. Just shows the importance being prepared, ditch kit etc. Incredible, raw footage.

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Max, it was scary. Turning on the camera was actually kind of an accident, I reached over to grab a pack and the camera was mounted real close so I just pushed the capture button on the GoPro in the same motion. It was a crazy day and dad and I were exhausted by the time we got back to Ely, both emotionally and physically.

Greatly enjoyed watching your video! Thanks!

Wow. Similar to what happened to me, just uploaded my experience. Your situation was much more dire

What did that mistake cost? Curious the ball park fee. I tend to do a lot of risky stuff up there as well

I know just how fast things can go bad. Good call on assessing the situation and not waiting to push the button. And thanks for sharing this tough story.

Thank you for the share. We are planning 3 weeks in quetico and 2 in BWCA. I was wondering what the rescue cost is and should i get garmin geos membership? Thanks!!

So the team that came and got you is a joint team called the Minnesota Air Rescue Team or MART for short. They are a joint team of State Patrol pilots and helicopter and technical rescue personnel from the St Paul Fire Department.

Ive shot some NASTY rapids in my days in the park(300+), but habe only dumped twice. I run barrels so not a huge deal but still damn cold.

Wow. So glad you are okay. What was that device you used to call for help? I’ve never seen that before.

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

It is a SPOT device. It can send OK messages, tracking updates and do SOS communications.

wow this is really something else glad your all okay. were you able to get the canoe out?

@gopheradventure9652

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, canoe is safe and unharmed. Only our egos have been bruised.

@travisburt1317

Жыл бұрын

@@gopheradventure9652 how'd you get it out?

@gopheradventure9652

Жыл бұрын

@@travisburt1317 I never let go of the canoe, so I was able to swim it to shore before going over the rapids. Two of the three packs were inside of the canoe, so we were able to salvage most stuff.

@travisburt1317

Жыл бұрын

@@gopheradventure9652 I mean after the rescue, did you portage around the Rapids and Canoe out? Did they fly it out?

@gopheradventure9652

Жыл бұрын

@@travisburt1317 I wanted to paddle out, but they wouldn’t let me. I stashed the gear and canoe in the woods and we paddled back in the next day on a day permit to pick up the gear.

Doesn’t seem like they need to be rescued. Hit the easy button. What you needed to have was some composure but you didn’t have that. All you had to do was calm down. You look dry and comfortable to me

Scary situation for sure. I am glad it worked out and the rescuers were excellent. I canoe trip a lot here in Ontario Canada and the early spring when water is high and cold is definitely the most dangerous time. I did notice that you had a lot of your bags and food barrel standing up above the gunwales of the boat. That raises your centre of gravity and makes you a bit more tippy. I always try to keep the canoe packs etc laying flat on the floor of the boat. The more weight you have in the bottom of the boat, the more stable it is. Thanks for sharing and hopefully this helps more people be safe in the back country.

How much did the helicopter ride cost ya?

Was this the portage between Hudson and Insula going into Insula?

@gopheradventure9652

Жыл бұрын

No, this was the 2nd portage into Hudson from Lake Four.

Heavy currents with loaded canoes don’t mix well.

How big was the rescue bill they sent you?

@gopheradventure9652

Жыл бұрын

In Minnesota (and most other states), rescues are not charged. Studies have shown that people would not signal SOS if they feared the cost, and would put themselves in further danger. Rescues in Canada are also free. dps.mn.gov/divisions/sfm/state-response-teams/Pages/minnesota-aviation-rescue-team.aspx

@eggman969

Жыл бұрын

@@gopheradventure9652 okay, I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info!

You get your boat things can go south in a hurry

We didn’t see you capsize 😑

Not a preffered way to spend money, but a cool story nonetheless.

Don't blame this on nature. This event occurred precisely because you lack a basic understanding of physics and your inexperience at loading a canoe properly. This is crystal clear at 0.40 and 1:33 . Loading a canoe with the gear packs and blue barrel standing up vertical, instead of lying down horizontal, is a recipe for disaster and was the catalyst of your canoe capsizing in turbulent water. By doing so, you inadvertently raised the center of gravity and reduced the amount of weigh permitted outside the gunnels before a capsize was inevitable. I hope the entire rescue operation was billed to you as a reminder not to embark on adventures way beyond your experience and skill level. And you owe your dad a apology for risking his life unnecessarily.

@wardog8038

Жыл бұрын

Wow! You are so superior to us all, must be awesome to be so great.

@MichealBacon

Жыл бұрын

@@wardog8038 Nope, but it is awesome to have learned and exercise common sense when I walk out the door each day. Try it sometime, maybe it'll save your own life someday...or not and you'll be the proud recipient of a Darwin Award. Be safe out there, lots of things to trip over

You were at Lake 1. One of the most crowded places in the boundary waters. All you had to do was wait a while and someone would have come along and they could have gotten your dad off the island, you could’ve warmed him up and continued your trip. You need to consider the safety of the rescuers too. Getting someone in a helicopter is inherently dangerous. You basically went a few hundred yards into the boundary waters, flipped over, and pushed the easy button for a rescue. If this is how you think “wilderness” should work, maybe you should stay home. I think the fact that you had time to video and narrate this also shows that even you are not taking the situation very seriously. So you’re gonna have the rescuers come pick you up while you are YouTubing? Give me a break.

@612MAX

26 күн бұрын

"we're great canoeists, but"... Zero humility.

4200 views, 78 likes, and only 49 comments? Somebody’s been hitting the delete button.

@gopheradventure9652

2 жыл бұрын

Nope

I just don't know what to make of this. My overall feeling is that the channel hosts rather panicked and made decisions out of fear and inexperience. Any man that watches this is cringing also even if he doesn't have the guts to say so. I know the comments section is sometimes a cuddle session and everybody wants to pat you on the back and talk to you like they're your mama. Life ain't always like that and neither are all people. My take is that he knew he had the easy way out, and all she had to do is press the easy button and some real men would come and save them. Yeah, it might have to take some clear-headed thinking, and maybe some intestinal fortitude to figure your own way out, but instead the easy button So go ahead and hate all you want, my recommendation is have your t levels checked.

Curious to what that cost you for the rescue

@stevehisey389

5 ай бұрын

I asked another youtuber who was solo and sprained his ankle at the end of a portage, SOS sent , and they were able to send in a float plane. He said it was a forest service rescue and that it was free of charge. Homemade Wonderlust channel was coptered out of the Sawtooths and charged 50K. Depends where you are.

Thanks for sharing