We all have to start somewhere. Even Sigurd Olson had to be shown how to paddle and portage a canoe at some point.

We share stories in this episode about people taking their first trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. We hear from Bob Carlson, who took a group of young paddlers on the Frost River in the BWCA this spring during a multi-day paddling adventure. We also hear from Mary Ellen Ashcroft and Angelina Elido. Mary Ellen was introduced to Angelina via Linda Newman, a resident of the Arrowhead Trail on the edge of the Boundary Waters. Mary Ellen is a guide with more than 30 years of experience paddling the BWCA. She took Angelina on her first ever canoe trip this year.

There is a right of passage involved with paddling the Boundary Waters. And that journey starts here, one paddle stroke at a time.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by:

--Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters

--Sven-Saw

--REDBUDSUDS

--Solbakken Resort on Superior