Tag: BWCA

Boundary Waters Solo Mission Day 1

emyminzel

I will not lie. I was a little nervous as my favorite Guide Lawrence, drove me and the rented solo canoe to Slim Lake. Pulling into the tiny parking lot and setting all the gear down, he said. “The most important thing to remember is to always wear your life vest and take your time. Don’t hurry, that’s when you make mistakes.” I thought this was sound advice, and since I was planning to stay for four days, I was not in any hurry.

When I got all my gear and the canoe to the lake, I had noticed it was windy, and the waves were strong. Luckily the water was flowing north to the direction I had planned on paddling, which is a plus. I loaded my canoe with two portage packs, a soft-sided backpack cooler, and my trusty brown backpack that has accompanied me on all my BWCA adventures. I pushed off and went feeling adventure calling me home.

My heart was racing, but the majestic beauty of the landscape seemed to calm me, reminding me to relax. I knew deep down that I got this. The waves were strong, and it took some effort as I paddled to my intended campsite, I saw that it was already occupied by two women. I asked if they knew if the next site to the north was open and they said they had not seen anyone else all day. Perfect!

I kept going north hoping that the campsite was free; otherwise, I would have to turn around and fight the waves all the way back down to the southern end of the lake where there was another site. Thankfully when I arrived, I saw the site was free, and it looked perfect for me. It was on a point, and I noticed it even had a lovely small sandy beach where I could pull up the canoe. There was a lone butterfly that fluttered around me the whole time I was setting up as if to say. “I am so happy to see you!” I took this as a good omen and continued on.

Welcoming committee!
Private Beach
Picture of Contentment
Solo swim smile!

 

 

Deciding that when I had set up the tent and got situated, I knew this beach is where I would be sitting that evening. By the time I was done, I was warm and needed to cool off. I decided to put my swimming suit on and test out the water to enjoy my own little piece of heaven. The water was warm, and the wind had died down considerably. It was if Slim Lake was giving me a warm, gentle welcoming because the first day was the best weather of my stay.

The campsite was so peaceful I did not once feel scared! I felt secure knowing that experience had taught me enough to stay warm, watch my footing, and like Lawrence said, take my time doing everything! As I sat in my camp chair on the mini beach, eating a peanut butter sandwich, I couldn’t help but feel anything but gratitude for this moment. Appreciation for being in the middle of a postcard picture moment and being brave enough to journey to that spot alone.

As dragonflies zoomed by taking care of the flies that may have bugged me, I felt contentment seep into my body. The peace and calm I felt was the exact reason why I love the BWCA as much as I do. I am telling you, nowhere in the world do I feel as connected and centered to my self and Spirit as I do when I am there. I kept repeating my mantra for my stay, which was simply. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

As the sun sank behind the giant pines and the dusk grew into darkness, I noticed that I was tired, so got ready for bed without having a campfire. I put everything away and tucked my portage packs under the rainfly. I used bungee cords to secure my cooler to a pine tree that was farthest away from my tent. It wasn’t hanging or fancy, but it would help to detour forest critters from food theft. Besides, I figure if a bear wants my food, I’m going to just let them go ahead and have it!

As I lay in the tent alone, the sound of the nocturnal critters coming alive kept me up for a bit. Beavers came to the campsite and chatted so loudly that I thought it was a gang of raccoons! I clapped my hands a few times and said. “Hey, you! That’s mine!” to detour them from my cooler tied to a tree. It seemed to work just fine, and after a bit, they skedaddled. I fell asleep and woke up around midnight to see the moon shining brightly through the screen window of my tent. It was so pretty I tried to take a picture, but of course, you cannot capture the beauty of the moon on a camera.

Moon in the tent

This first day was so enjoyable and fantastic!  Again, I just have to say. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” I felt that I had indeed made the right choice to go out on my solo adventure. That was until the next morning when the tides will change. But I will save that story for tomorrow! Hope you enjoyed the story and pictures of my first alone in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area as much as I enjoy sharing my love with you!

Wishing you a beautiful blessed day,

Love, Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Visit me at EmyMinzel.com

EmyMinzel.AdventureSister@gmail.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

www.AdventurewithEmyandStacy.com

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My first solo Boundary Waters Canoe Area adventure!

emyminzel

I got the news today that the friend who was planning to accompany me to the Boundary Waters was not going to be able to make it. It doesn’t matter the reason. I trust that she did not want to have to cancel plans, so I could not be upset. As we know, life can change our plans for us even when we don’t want it too.

I had a feeling this was going to happen for some reason, yet I brushed it off. So, when my friend called to say she could not go, I was not surprised or troubled by the news. I had decided that no matter what, I was still going to go the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. My soul told me I must, and I just knew I better listen.

I even had an interesting dream a few nights before. I dreamt there was a person who came to me and asked. “What do you most need to get rid of in your life?” Without hesitating, I said. “My fear.” Just like that the person in my dream opened a door behind me and off my fear went! Isn’t that the craziest thing?! I believe your dreams are your subconscious communicating with you, so this dream was right on.

The even cooler thing about this dream is that when I woke up, I was no longer scared to go the BWCA alone. Well just a little, but nothing like I usually would be! If there is something, I am supposed to worry about, well, you know darn well that I’m going to give that worry all I got! Do you do this too? Which is another reason why I was so relieved not to feel enough fear to stay home from the BWCA.

Honestly, I love it there so much that not going would have hurt me more than anything. I knew I needed to go. It is so quiet and peaceful in the BWCA that I tell everyone it’s where God lives and where I go to talk to Spirit. Clearly, we needed to chat because my fear seemed to be lifted as if by magic so I could go.

I love it so much! But it’s not for everyone, and I have found it challenging to find friends who would like to accompany me. P.s. I am now accepting applications for water-loving, outdoor enthusiast, who are brave, fun and who want to BWCA Adventure with me! Ha!

A few times over the years, I have had to cancel the ‘annual’ trip to the Boundary Waters because a friend canceled on short notice, too late to fill their spot with someone else who enjoys roughing it. I just don’t have an abundance of friends who love portaging and pit toilet vacations for some reason!

If I were offering a free trip to the Bahama’s, I am sure there would be no problem filling the vacancy. But a trip to the BWCA is not for the meek. This last-minute cancelation that has happened yet again has me sitting with my thoughts.

I believe that a situation that keeps repeating is a sign that there is a message from the Universe/God/Creator. It means life is trying to teach me something so listen up. There is a spiritual lesson in this, I know it! Bear with me as I talk myself through this learning experience.

So, Universe, what am I supposed to learn from this?

I could get mad, but I won’t, because that’s wasted time and energy. Do I stop trusting people and decide to learn that there is nobody I can depend on? No, I don’t think that would be wise either. I do believe most people are good and do the best they can in the time and space they are given. Do I stop going to the BWCA? That’s a firm no way.

I do not need someone to hold my hand; I only think I do. I believe this is part of my lesson. These dreams and goals are mine alone. I think the message is it’s up to me and only me to make them happen. I am thinking, what I need to learn from this pattern is to be brave enough to go it alone.

I must conjure the courage to adventure into the remote wilderness by myself, and to be okay with doing anything that I desire to manifest, alone. I mean when it comes down to it, we are all alone on our path to travel. What I need is to believe in myself more than anyone else does. To face my fears and to do it anyway.

Sure, it is indeed safer in numbers, especially when in the wild but maybe, I am playing too safe in my regular life which can also be pretty darn wild too?! It seems that I am supposed to learn to listen to my inner knowing instead of the opinion of others.

I see now that in some ways, I have been allowing others to ‘drive the bus’ in some areas of life. Do you know how many people told me I am crazy for going to the BWCA alone? All of them. Had I allowed their thoughts to affect mine, I would not have gone.

Just maybe this is happening to get me away from the sway of people’s suggestion and opinions and back into the flow of my intuition, back onto my path. If I chose not to live the life I desire, go to the places that call my soul, or heed my knowing, am I doing enough to keep myself fulfilled truly?

I believe that being brave enough to go it alone once in a while will allow me to hear my intuitive guidance and will enable me to be authentically me.Whatever the message of repeating patterns ends up meaning, I know I will persevere as I always do.

It is only an illusion when we think we walk alone! I also believe life is meant to be shared, but our needs are ours to fulfill. I trust and believe that I will be protected on any mission I embark on. Solo or not, I will continue to emerge as an improved and wiser version of myself. Trusting that I was only being nudged by Spirit to level up once again.

Into the forest, I go, to clear my mind and listen to the call of my soul.

Please join me on our Facebook page @BWCAdventureSisters, where I will share pictures and videos of my first solo experience in the Boundary Waters with you!

Thanks for sharing this adventure of life with me! I hope your adventure too!

Wishing you lots of love and blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

Visit me at EmyMinzel.com

EmyMinzel.AdventureSister@gmail.com

@EmyMinzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

www.AdventurewithEmyandStacy.com

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

 

 

 

 

Protect what you love

emyminzel

I have lived in Minnesota my whole life. I have traveled some but not nearly as much as I like to yet. However, every time I leave home, I come back with a renewed appreciation for my State. Minnesota may be known as the land of 10,000 lakes but there are over 11,000.

I was lucky enough to be raised in the beauty of Northern Minnesota on the Iron Range. I then moved to a much more populated area of Coon Rapids (a suburb of Minneapolis) where I would graduate from High School. I have since settled in an area of Central Minnesota known for family farms and country living. I love the quiet country life that city of Princeton has to offer.

Throughout my lifetime, no matter where I have lived, there was always one common theme that happened in our short Minnesota summers. We were all headed to the lake or goin’ North for the weekend to enjoy what I now call our ‘Minnesota Way of life’.

It didn’t matter if you were well off or just making a living. Most people had a cabin to retreat or a family camp somewhere on a Minnesota lake “Up North”. I am a water baby to the point that my husband calls me the Queen of the Hydration Nation.  He understands how much I appreciate water and especially water quality.

The Minnesota way of lake life that includes; clean drinking water, fishing, boating, camping, canoeing, hiking and swimming was (and still is) something that I truly enjoy! The beauty Minnesota offers is unmatched in any of the places I have been. We have four seasons which push us to enjoy each of them in different ways. Even when it is below zero temperatures, us hearty Minnesotan outdoor enthusiasts choose to go ice fishing on our lakes, or skiing and sledding.

I notice that most of our recreation revolves around the blessings of our most valued natural resource; our abundance of clean WATER.

I have learned to water ski, tube, fish, canoe, kayak and have made many happy memories that included our Minnesota way of life. Once I learned one fact about my beloved State though; I absolutely knew in my soul I must do something (anything) to protect the Minnesota that I know and love for future generations.

This fact is that; (according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) over 40% of our water in Minnesota is too polluted to swim in or eat the fish out of. This is almost HALF of our 11,000 lakes! What? No fishing?!

When I learned that political leaders of Minnesota were considering and might allow toxic mining here in our most pure and precious areas of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the watersheds of the Great Lake Superior. I thought “How can this be?!”

I could not believe that our “Leaders”, who are supposed to look out for the greater good of the people and the future prosperity of our state, would allow this. They should not be looking for what might make money for right now (or for a short amount of time) if this means poisoning our most precious resources. Our people and our water permanently.

These Sulfide-Ore Copper mines have a bad history of a 90% failure rate and leaving toxic pollution, so devastating, that the areas of contamination are doomed for over 500 years. That’s over six generations of your family that will not be able to enjoy the same beauty of Minnesota that we have grown to know and love.

When these mines fail, as history shows they likely will, Lake Superior would be toxic and unable to support recreational life and tourism as we know it or would the BWCA.

Even though leaders know that Lake Superior holds about 10% of the world’s fresh water. They still seem to want to allow a mine that will undoubtedly pollute it for foreign profit our native Minnesotans will never see. History shows that tax payers get left with the clean-up bill and the devastation of their water tables nearly every time. I believe true leaders always do what is right for the people they are paid to represent.

Therefore, I chose to change my life path drastically to run for the State House of Representatives. I believe I have been divinely guided to this opportunity to run because my intentions are pure. I wish to protect the Minnesota we know and love for ourselves and our future generations.

We must demand that our leaders do not sell us out for profit we will never see. I am just a Minnesota girl standing up to protect what I love.

We must demand that leaders start viewing our environmental protections as a public safety. Without a healthy environment there is not a healthy population. Scientist continually tell us we are on borrowed time (on this planet) if we continue to live in a way that we are.

Poisoning our own water resources for profit seems to be a poor moral decision in my book. We already know most of the State is already suffering from high nitrate levels in our waters, why would it seem like a good idea to risk the water that is still good and healthy?

To me, a true leader looks around, beyond their nose and sees that all over the Nation we are indeed in trouble when it comes to our water. Look around. Flint Michigan without water for years, Chicago now turning off water to public schools. Fracking for natural gas is poisoning water tables all over the place, Florida is seeing costal devastation from human activity.

We are seeing a great deal of drinking water pollution all over the Nation and we need to be proactive at protecting what we love and take for granted here in Minnesota, our water.

Now, like I said, this girl loves water, because we need it to sustain all of life. To me, a leader protects the necessities to live, because that’s their job.

I do like to keep my blogs light hearted and positive but sometimes life forces us to look at things that are not happy. I became interested in politics because of my concern for our environment, turns out they are intrinsically connected.

I am choosing to share what I know, in the only way I know how to do it. I am normally a happy person, but when you mess with my family or what I hold dear, my congeniality disappears, and I will do what I feel is right. Protecting what I love seems to be the right path for me.

I want to win this election, so I can stand up for our environment since the planet cannot talk for herself. I believe it is my purpose of why I was put here on earth. I am sure of it. What matters to me most is to protect our Minnesota way of life and the water I love.

Speaking up when I saw something was not right for the greater good, is what I feel I needed to do. Doing so got me where I am today. I believe Minnesota and the planet still needs more of us to do so.

When will ‘leaders’ start choosing what is right instead of what is good for business?

There is a moral responsibility here. I refuse to give in to the false narrative that says we must choose putting our environment at risk to make a living. I call BS. This is where my campaign slogan “Protect what you love” came from. We deserve better and so do our future generations.

Let us move forward to clean energy solutions as it seems imperative to sustain the Minnesota way of life we know and love.

Thank you for reading my blog today!

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

@EmyforHouse15A

http://www.EmyforHouse.com

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

 

 

 

Facts and Stats from:

https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/

Asking for help is hard!

emyminzel

Does anyone else hate to ask for help? I do. It is so hard for me often I struggle for a long while trying to ‘do it myself’ before I either just give up completely, or finally with a great deal of hesitation I will ask for the help I need. I am not sure why I have this dislike of asking for help. Most people are happy to help when I ask yet there are times when they are not.

I was raised by a single mother who had to do most everything by herself. For a long while I was a single mother too, is this a side effect of single motherhood? Or is it a side effect of stubbornness? I conclude it is most likely a combination of both. Of course; there are the instances when I do ask for help and do not get the support I need. Is there a reason behind that? Does that mean what I want or need help with isn’t meant for me? Does it mean ask someone else? Or does it mean keep trying to do it yourself because I will eventually figure it out?

The Adventure Sisters are working on three book proposals due in April. We are also working very hard to build the public platform of supportive readers. The platforms are meant to help us reach as many people as possible. The Publishers decide whose books to publish by looking for writers who are willing to do extra work to sell themselves, their books, and their ideas. That is why Stacy and I have started the Adventure Sister social media promotional pages also we’ve started blogs to introduce you to who we are. In our blogs we work on expressing our beliefs to expose readers to the why behind what we are writing about.

It is our hopes and dreams that others will support us in the pursuit of becoming published authors. To do this we need to ask for help from our friends, family, and others who resonate with the message of the Adventure Sisters. My job is to trust in our path, continue to believe that God/Universe will bring us the helpers we need to bring our dream of being published to fruition. I believe that the women I met today at Toast Masters were helping angels that came into my life at the perfect time to help me grow by helping me use my voice. All I had to do was show up and ask.

I believe that every path or event happens to help you grow and learn. I believe life will open the doors that are for you, or not, for reasons I don’t get to know right now. I have found that as I embark on this literary writing adventure, I’ve been forced to ask for help. It’s very uncomfortable feeling for me. Some people are more helpful then others, yet I realize that most people are willing to help when you ask. The only fix to this conundrum is to find the courage to keep asking for the help I need, so that we can keep making progress in pursuit of accomplishing our dreams.

I will take this lesson of asking for help with me to the future, I see it takes courage for everyone to ask for help not just me. I will do my best to help others when they ask because I have compassion for the uncomfortable feelings that can come with asking for help. It is my sincerest gratitude for the people who are reading my blog right now, who help the Adventure Sisters move forward in pursuit of our Joy.

Thank you for reading, sharing, liking, and commenting on our posts, it truly does help us to increase our platform. Thank you for helping me confirm the kindness I believe exists in all people just like you. You are the twinkling street lights of support on the road to our literary escapades that lay ahead. Thank you for your help.

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca

Show your passion with compassion

emyminzel

What will you say to your children who say, “Wait a minute, you knew this was happening and you didn’t do anything about it?” Have you thought about that? I have. You are entitled to your own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. According to NASA 97% of the world’s top climate scientist confirm that there is in FACT Global warming and human actions that can be changed would heal this problem.

I also believe that humans are truly good people trying to do the best they can in the time and space we are given. My Adventure Sister wrote a blog that got me thinking. She put the thought out, implying that God sends only angels into our lives… even the people who act in ways that aren’t so angelic. She asks us to accept that all people in the world have soul contracts with other souls, to act in ways that will lead us to learn, grow, and be better.

This thought hit me hard, as I am working on expressing my passion for the environment in a compassionate and loving way. Even though, somedays I feel like an angry environmentalist who thinks human species has lost their ever-loving minds. I care genuinely about being received in a kind, loving and compassionate way, so I can touch as many lives as I possible, to do my part in saving the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, in Minnesota.

Do I need to embrace that this threatening situation might possibly be happening for the greater good? Maybe the threat of losing our beloved Boundary Waters will bring the fine people of Minnesota together to form a bond of unity? Unity that will be powerful enough to stand up to the government officials and corporate interests that threaten the health of our land, and most certainly affect the tourism that supports the livelihood and lifestyle which is the soul of northern Minnesota. Just maybe this situation is an opportunity for us to do the “right thing” and stand up for ourselves and our land? I certainly see this happening all over the world and the United States, uniting against, racism, misogyny and hate.

‘Forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ Luke 23:24. Science says times up because we do know what we do, and we can change. I believe if we act soon, treat the earth with compassion Mother Earth will be benevolent and forgiving of our trespasses. If we nurture and care for the planet she returns the favor. If we treated the earth as a gift from God that it is, we would not be poisoning our soil and waterways with chemicals or pesticides. We would know we are eating the poison. We would not stand by obediently letting corporations systematically poison our water, land and air with more rights and protections, then the people who live in the community. When do we get to say enough is enough?

Politically we are seeing a free for all, public land grabbing for resources all over North America. Coastal communities fearing the consequences of drilling for oil in their beautiful and beloved homelands. Here in Minnesota, public officials are under a great deal of pressure to grant permission to a mineral mining that threatens the beloved Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

This over-seas company with headquarters in the state of Minnesota wants to mine for sulfide-ore copper at the headwaters of the National Park known as The Boundary Waters Canoe area. Environmental studies show, this type of mining means eminent pollution.

  • Researchers warn that ALL sulfide-ore copper mining produces extremely toxic sulfites that would flow directly into the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area to contaminate the entire 1.1 million acres of pristine water and unspoiled forest.

 

  • The Boundary Waters contains twenty percent of all the fresh water in the entire National Forest System! That is a lot of pristine water we are risking for no real gain except a couple jobs.

 

  • Sulfide-ore copper mining produces giant waste piles that leach sulfuric acid, heavy metals and sulfates into the environment, proven to pollute groundwater, rivers and lakes. In the history of sulfide mining, pollution has NEVER been avoided.

 

  • The scientific environmental studies show that it is not only, IF but WHEN the mine leaches its toxic sulfites into the pristine waters of the Boundary Waters that the ecosystem will be toxic for at least 500 years… so forever.

 

It is common practice for corporations like these to pollute and loot “our land” getting away with it, with no real consequences. They, simply shrug off any responsibility of environmental cleanup by paying a fine and declaring bankruptcy. Leaving the residence of the now toxic land and tax payers to foot the bill and live with the responsibility of cleanup.

Do you remember Freedom Industries corporation in West Virginia that poisoned the drinking water for over 300,000 people and nine counties in 2014?! I do. The residence of this area still suffer four years later, without drinkable water and multiple heath complaints. All because government officials valued industry over the health of the land which they live.

If Al Roker where to inform us each morning at 7:12am that the condition of air quality has suffered in North America overnight because of environmental fracking waste, and fossil fuel drilling/refineries, chemical spills, pesticides and mining accidents. I believe  ‘we the people’ of the US would be far less willing to sacrifice their land, air, water and the health of our loved ones.

Some of the dirtiest fuels and chemicals manufactured are exempt from the outdated Clean Air and Water Act. Our current Congress works to de-regulate environmental protections and grant corporate permissions to violate and pillage, sacred native lands, federal forest, parks, reserves and waters. Areas deemed so precious that they should be in the protective hands of the government in the first place?!… this makes me scratch my head some.

The thought of losing over a million acres of pristine land and water, in an area which has changed my life for the better, makes my blood boil. I am angry, I also understand that anger will not help the situation. What will help are the actions we take to stop this from happening. Using our voices, our will to do good, uniting together to protect what we love will be the only way to make a difference.

So here I am an introverted, angry environmentalist, who just wants to cuddle my dogs, leaping fearlessly out of my comfort zone to do what I can to make a difference. I will voice my opposition loudly and proudly with protective compassion, because I believe that people are good at heart and want to do the right thing.

Let’s unite in love of this truly special place on earth, let’s vow to do anything and everything we can to Save The Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Who’s with me?

Please help me in doing so by signing this petition to Save The Boundary Waters.

https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/tell-department-interior-and-bureau-land-management-protect-boundary-waters

 

Wishing you an abundance of joyful blessings,

Emy Minzel ~ Adventure Sister

https://emyminzel.com

@emyminzel

Follow the Adventure Sisters on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/BWCAdventureSisters

Stacy Crep ~ Adventure Sister

https://stacycrep.com

The Adventure Sisters on Instagram
@adventuresistersbwca