Into the Heart of the Continent

It's easy for North Americans who reside on both coasts and recreate in such magnificent wild gems as the Cascades, Appalachians, Sierras, Everglades, Alaska and Newfoundland to not consider that any comparable wilderness and recreation haven exists in the Midwest. But ironically one of the largest roadless wilderness areas in North America lies right dab in the middle of the continent-the heart of the continent-straddling the US-Canada border. The Boundary Waters Wilderness of Minnesota and Ontario's Quetico Park make up the brunt of a contiguous 5.5 million acre protected wilderness! And that wilderness is about to turn 100 years old and gain even stronger protection. Check out the latest issue of Paddler magazine for my story on the Boundary water's upcoming centennial and the new Heart of the Continent partnership which aims to protect and manage this magnificent area even more wisely. Last September I had the opportunity to spend some time paddling and camping in Quetico with Park Supervisor Robin Reilly. The Boundary Waters are an amazing area and one that definitely should be placed on your bucket list of wild places to experience.

(photos- camping on a tiny island on Batchewaung Bay, Batchewaung Lake, Quetico Provincial Park)