BWJ T.R.I.P.S is step #1 in planning great wilderness canoe trips…. Fast, easy, and free to all loyal BWJ subscribers.
Program benefits: BWJ t.r.i.p.s. allows you to consult directly with BWJ publisher/wilderness guide, Stu Osthoff. Stu will personally mark up your maps with super-detailed, valuable advice on: the best 5-star campsites, proven fishing spots for each species, portage trail conditions, water levels, historical sites, finding solitude, and much more. Stu has 40+ years of hard-core paddling/fishing experience in the BWCAW/Quetico. Through his grand slam guide service, Stu guides over 60 days in canoe country each season. Nobody knows more BWCAW/Quetico routes more intimatEly than Stu does, and best of all, he is willing to share it all with BWJ customers.
How to qualify for the free BWJ T.R.I.P.S. program:
There are 3 different ways to qualify for the free T.R.I.P.S. program.
- Be an active 3 or 5-year subscriber to the boundary waters journal magazine (you can extend your subscription to the 3 or 5-year level at any time to qualify)
- Purchase over $200 in merchandise from the BWJ voyager trading post in the last 12 months
- Purchase over $50 in “best of BWJ article packages” in the past 12 months
How to participate in the BWJ T.R.I.P.S. program:
- Contact Stu Osthoff by email to determine if he is familiar with the route you have selected. Please understand- I can help with about ¾ of Quetico and 2/3 of the BWCAW.
- If Stu responds to your email with “yes I can help,” please proceed to filling out/sending the BWJ trips questionnaire online (print pdf version)
- After filling out the questionnaire, please purchase the appropriate Mckenzie maps from our online store or by calling 1-800-548-7319. If you already have the Mckenzie maps you need for your trip, mail them with a case to:
BWJ Trips
9396 Rocky Ledge Road
Ely, MN 55731
Please note: I personally prefer Mckenzie maps for the BWJ trips program. Their larger scale makes it easier for me to accurately mark specific locations. Islands, points, bays etc. Are more distinguishable on a larger scale. Mckenzie also has more of the BWCAW lakes depth-charted, which is a real asset for fishing reefs and structure. Do not send any map photocopies. Please allow four weeks for your BWJ trips report to be processed. Try to submit your trips request between January and May. From mid-may through November, I am “in the woods” and unable to work on trips requests.
No other publication comes close to offering such personalized, valuable, and free service to its readers. It is our pleasure to help our customers with the critical information needed to enjoy your wilderness canoe trips. All we ask is that you carefully follow the directions. Thank you very much for being a loyal BWJ customer.
