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We spent a few days with family in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We try to make it into the BWCAW at least once a year. This trip was quite memorable as we got to introduce our granddaughter to one of America’s favorite wilderness areas. She loved it!

With the talk about America not being great, all you have to do is step into any of our parks or wilderness areas and you can experience the many national treasures that we are blessed with in this great nation of ours. They are some of the best in the world. We need to keep them that way so that many grandparents can bring their grandkids outdoors for the same experience.

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Each night the sunsets were quite impressive.

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Morning pancakes with raspberries eaten as the loons call in the distance are a memorable part of the wilderness experience.

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We canoed by several rocky cliffs. Silje was impressed that her mama could touch the rock ledge as they canoed along the rock face.

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As we canoed we spotted a loon parent teaching its baby to fish. Almost fully grown now the baby was losing its down and getting its adult feathers. Soon it will be flying south. Silje enjoyed watching and hearing the loons.

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Part of the area we went through had been heavily burned during the Ham Lake fire several years ago. As we explored the shore we saw how the forest is coming back. The white cedar trees were everywhere and thick. It was great to see how fast trees come back after a burn.

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The second morning we had a nice sunrise in front of our campsite.

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One day a few rain showers passed through. I normally don’t take photos directly into the sun but the reflections on the top of the waves were like thousands of little diamonds.

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I have canoed by this island many times over the years. One lone pine struggles for existence in the crack in the rock. Our daughter saw it several years ago and called it her favorite little island. All the pine on the shore behind the island was destroyed in the fire but the little pine survived.

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Silje loved standing in the front. Just like being the captain of her canoe.

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