Historical October 1992 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Fourteen scouts and scout leaders (scouters) from Boy Scout Troop 98 spent ten days in August canoeing in the Canadian wilderness at Quetico Provincial Park. Quetico, which is in the province of Ontario, adjoins the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota to form hundreds of square miles of roadless wilderness.
The Boy Scouts of America operates its own outfitting base on Moose Lake, twenty miles northeast of Ely, MinnesotaTwo crews of seven persons each were formed from the Troop 98 contingent.
Each crew plotted a course over the lakes and through the woods that covered approximately 100 miles.
Most of the trip is by water, but connecting the many crystal clear lakes are portage trails which range in length from a few hundred feet to half a mile and vary in topography from relatively flat to absolutely precipitous. One’s experience in the North Woods is heightened by the portages.
The members of the crew carry all of the food and gear for the expedition plus the canoes.
The art of packing only what is necessary is quickly learned and appreciated.
The food pack, which weighed in at 100 pounds when the trip started, is one where a little extra is tolerated. One of the many great opportunities that the Canadian wilderness offers is the chance to see wildlife. One of the Troop 98 crews saw black bears swimming on two different occasions. Bears are very capable swimmers, but recognize their vulnerability in the water.
Each seemed to view the long silver objects that rapidly approached them with more than mild trepidation.
The other Troop 98 crew happened upon some moose watering at the edge of a lake. Both crews saw eagles, blue heron, otters, and mink and, needless to say, lots of walleye, bass and northern pike. Troop 98, established in 1920, is chartered to St Roch Church. Its membership of 36 scouts is drawn largely from the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood and the Central West End.
The scoutmaster is Dennis Mattli.
Original photograph caption
Front: Matthew Wafer, crew chief; Ralph Wafer, assistant scoutmaster; Bruce Perrin; Art Santen; Dennis Mattli, scoutmaster; Fil Ferrigni; Brian Perrin; Greg Patterson. Back: Marc Hoffmann; Max Ferrigni; John Gotway, crew chief; Joshua Wafer; Matt Kaskowitz; Jon-Michael Vinson. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October 1992.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1992_10.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
