Northern Tier National High Adventure Bases
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Northern Tier offers wilderness canoe trips. There are no resorts or cabins, and aircraft and motorboats are restricted. A wilderness canoe trip in this area is not just a fishing trip or a laid-back vacation. Just as the voyageurs who travelled through this area in the 1700's, modern day voyageurs are physically challenged as they travel through the woods by paddle and portage. Typical treks may cover 50 to 150 miles and take 6 to 10 days. With each crew is a highly skilled technician/instructor called an "Interpreter". Sometimes called "Charlie Guides", these people can make the difference between a wilderness ordeal and an exciting and wonderfully memorable experience.
Programs and Bases
Northern Tier consistes of the following bases:
- Charles L Sommers Canoe Base in Ely, Minnesota which offers canoe trips to BWCAW and Quetico Provincial Park.
- Don Rogert Canoe Base in Atikokan, Ontario, Canada which offers canoe trips in Quetico Provincial Park and areas north.
- Northern Expeditions out of Bissett Base in Manitoba, Canada, which offers fly-in canoeing and fishing in Manitoba east of Lake Winnipeg.
There is also the OA Wilderness Voyage, organized by the Order of the Arrow to do work on the portage trails in the Boundary Waters area.
The National Cold-Weather Camping Development Center is located at the Northern Tier Base at Ely, Minnesota. The center provides materials for, and specializes in problems associated with, cold-weather camping for councils and other organizations.
The Okpik Cold Weather Camping Program is also offered by Northern Tier. Cold-weather camping, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing, snowshoeing, expedition travel, and shelter building are featured.
History
The Northern Tier programs began in 1923 with canoe trips organized by the Hibbing, Minnesota Council, and was called the Region X Canoe Trails. This was later changed to the Region X Wilderness Canoe Trips. In the early days, there were no permanent structures, and Winton was the launch point. In the winter of 1941-1942, a log lodge was built as a base of operations. Soon after, it became the permanent base of operations and was named the Charles L. Sommers Wilderness Canoe Base, taking the name of a great scouter who was the first Chairman of Region X. Mr. Sommers was an avid Base supporter, canoe trip organizer and participant. The name stuck until 1972 when BSA consolidated regions and the base became part of the National High Adventure Program. The name was then changed to the Charles L. Sommers National High Adventure Base, BSA. With expansion of the program, Sommers is now part of the Northern Tier High Adventure programs.The program has a long history with the Ely area. Such famous authors as Sigurd Olsen counted themselves as friends of the program.
Northern Tier Experience
Check In
Similar to other BSA high adventure bases, an incoming a crew will be assigned an interpreter to help it get ready for its expedition. Upon arrival at the base camp, the crew will meet its interpreter while its leaders check in. After that, a crew will be issued its food and gear. Personal gear is carried in one or two 80-90lb. "gray whale" packs. Food and cooking equipment are carried in two green boxes in canvas bags with arm straps for portaging. Included in the gear is a radio used for emergency communication with base while on the trek. With the help of its interpreter, the crew plans its course on a large map displayed on the wall. Unlike at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, there are no pre-assigned routes. Crews are then assigned a six-sided cabin in which to spend its first night. The crew enjoys its dinner in the dining hall, participates in the evening program, and can visit the trading post if time permits.On the Trail
For a crew that is leaving the Sommers base and entering the Quetico Provencial Park, the first three hours of paddling are the most crucial. The Canadian customs office closes for two hours at lunch (11:00am). It is advisable to paddle fast as to not get there during the lunch break.
The sun comes up at 6:00am and doesn't go down until about 10 at night. Long days are not too uncommon, but a typical schedule would look something like this:
| Time | Activity |
| 6:00am | Wake Up |
| 6:15-7:00 | Eat hearty breakfast, break down camp |
| 7:20 | Depart camp |
| 7:20-11:30 | Paddle and Portage |
| 11:30-12:30 | Eat Lunch, Rest |
| 12:30-3:00 | Paddle and Portage |
| 3:00:3:45 | Set up camp |
| 3:45-5:30 | Goof off; relax |
| 5:30-7:30 | Prepare, eat, and clean up dinner |
| 7:30-8:30 | Relax, have a "Thorns, Roses, and Buds" Reflection |
| 8:30 | Go to bed |
The Norther Tier area, particularly the Canadian side, has some of the most beautiful and awe inspiring areas on Earth. Visitors should expect to bring along plenty of film for their cameras.
The Return
When crews return, they can shower for the first time in several days, and eat a dinner that they don't have to prepare themselves. They clean their equipment, and spend their last evening in a cabin.
Wilderness Grace
Participants recite the Wilderness Grace which is:For food, for raiment
for life and opportunity
for sun and rain
for water and portage trails
for friendship and fellowship
we thank thee, oh Lord.
Amen.
The original version of this grace was written in 1929 by A. J. "Jerry" Fulkerson, Camp Director at Worth Ranch Scout Camp in Palo Pinto County, Texas, a part of the Fort Worth Area Council.Interview with Faust Nobles, a member of the 1929 Worth Ranch Camp Staff; Interviewed Spring 1980 by Pete Normand, author of "Palo Pinto Campfires" (1980); Fort Worth, TX: Split Rock Press.
The original version had only four lines:
For food and for raiment,This version is taken verbatim from a handwritten copy of the Worth Ranch Grace written on a small piece of note paper in the handwriting of James P. Fitch sometime during the late 1930's when he visited the camp. Fitch kept this in his copy of the small book "Songs Scouts Sing," (Sept. 1935 printing). James P. Fitch was Region Scout Executive for Region Nine (Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico) from 1920 to 1945 when he became General Manager of Philmont Scout Ranch and Phillips Properties for the B.S.A.This book and the handwritten version of the Worth Ranch Grace are in the possession of Pete Normand of College Station, Texas. Normand is the son-in-law of Fitch's only son, William D. Fitch.
For life and for opportunity,
For friends and this fellowship,
We thank thee, O Lord. Amen.
According to Minor F. Huffman, Sr., the first General Manager of Philmont Scout Ranch, Cimarron, New Mexico, "Worth Ranch was definitely the earliest camp to use the Grace." Huffman recalls hearing the Grace on a visit to Worth Ranch in 1930 with Dr. James E. West and James P. Fitch. Huffman recalls that, at that time, they thought the Grace was written by Faust Nobles. But, Huffman filled in another link in the chain when he recalled that the Worth Ranch Grace was brought to Philmont by Clarence E. Dunn, a Scoutmaster from the Fort Worth Area Council, in the Summer of 1943. Dunn, a school teacher, became a member of the Philmont Staff in the summer of 1945 with the job of developing the Ranger Program. He is regarded as the first Director of Rangers at Philmont. The Worth Ranch Grace was adopted as "The Philmont Grace" during the late 1940's.Huffman, Minor F., Sr. (1988); High Adventure Among the Magic Mountains: Philmont, the First 50 Years. Allendale, NJ: TIBS, Inc.
References
See also
External links
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