Keeping It Wild

Hooks, bullets, and paddles in the Boundary Waters wilderness.

By Peak Design

If you read our previous Field Note, you'll know that we deeply believe in the protection of public lands. Our beliefs are so strong that we're willing to take action on them, action that might not even be supported by some of our most loyal customers.

In this Field Note, we celebrate one of our favorite protected areas. We also celebrate the spirit that binds us - the value that we all have in common regardless of where you stand on the Bears Ears issue, the Outdoor Retailer boycott, or the balance of power between state and federal government. We love our planet, we love the outdoors, and we want future generations to enjoy our world just as much as we do.

The images and story below are excerpts from Zach and Allie Leon's recent trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) of Northern Minnesota. With them were backcountry guides Will Jenkins and Lukas Leaf, and filmmaker T.C. Worley. You can read their full story on their blog.

THE BWCA

In 1978, the BWCA Wilderness Act was passed to preserve and protect the approximately one million acres of waterways, boreal forests, and untouched wilderness of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

This is a place where nature roams free; where you disconnect from society and reconnect with the Earth. Few places truly offer the solitude and serenity you find in the BWCA. We were invited to spend a weekend here, and left with new friends, new memories, and a new appreciation for a place we never knew existed. Here is a journaling of our experience.

the hunter's heart

Although I was only armed with my camera, I swear I felt a tickling sense of primal directive; I was part of something that my ancestors had to do to stay alive, eventually resulting in... me. Hunting has this weird stigma attached to it, just like anything that has the capacity to host extremism, and I think it's based in misunderstanding. The most I had ever hunted for was fish in the sea, but as soon as my boots hit the same ground as the real hunters around me, I felt an intriguing sense of community, of respect, of heart. These men didn't come all this way to destruct, they came here to conserve. They love this land just as much as any other outdoor enthusiast, and they do everything they can to keep it wild, just the way we like it.

These men didn't come all this way to destruct, they came here to conserve.

sunrise mission

We were the knife to cut the glass lake; the alarm to wake the sleeping sun. Late last night, T.C. planned a paddle (or a heist, as I'm going to imagine it) to capture sunrise on the lake. I was the partner (in crime, probably) to join him. I am certainly not a frequent canoeist, so an experience like this had never made its way into my book of adventures. As soon as my paddle struck water, I was grinning ear to ear. The lake was smooth as butter, the trees reflected in perfect symmetry, and the sky went from a strong gradient of purples to a yellow that would make any photographer stop and stare. It was one of those moments where you take a billion photos of the exact same thing, and it's never enough. I hope some of these can do the morning some justice.

As soon as my paddle struck water, I was grinning ear to ear.

home for a night

Canoeing was our avenue to the night's campsite. Five people, two canoes, one destination: The small island about ¾ of a mile away. A little home away from home, if you will. Without hesitation, we were off.

I was focused on keeping my paddling in sync with my canoe-mates, T.C. and Lukas. Just as I was getting the hang of the pace, and had a moment to look up, we were sliding onto the island's sandy shore. It was all too easy to lose track of time on our short trip. You know, when you're surrounded by a truly wild place, conversation isn't necessary.

You know, when you're surrounded by a truly wild place, conversation isn't necessary.

As we finished setting up camp, everyone gathered around the fire-pit. Lukas was at it again; preparing dinner. Moose stew, to be exact. We watched the cast-iron pot for hours. The sizzling meat and vegetables under glowing embers was mesmerizing. The overarching theme of our weekend made its way back into my mind; time, appreciation, care, and conservation. Call me crazy, but there is something beautiful about feeling hunger pains and patiently awaiting a crafted meal. To me, it just fit with our experiences from the previous days.

You can read Zach and Allie Leon's full writeup here, and you can follow them on Instagram at @zachtheleon. To participate in efforts to protect the BWCA from the damaging effects of sulfide-ore copper mining, join Sportsmen For The Boundary Waters or Save The Boundary Waters.