By Mat Bozek
After our trip in the Yukon finished, we checked availability and were able to secure a permit for the Bowron Lakes circuit (in British Columbia), and rented 2 Canoes – Clipper Tripper 17’6” – 71 lbs, and carts We rendezvoused in Prince George where we rented an Air B&B so we could clean up and repack our gear and food after the Yukon trip, then drove to the Bowron Provincial Park campground for the night before. Went to the office to check in and make sure of our rental boats and canoe carts, and the ranger there said that we could probably take care of our permits and do the weigh in and the orientation film today, instead of having to wait till the 9 o’clock orientation tomorrow we had signed up for. So we sorted thru what we would be leaving in the boats for the portages, and what we’d have to pack on our backs. They limit you to no more than 60#s of gear in the boats while portaging – that does not include your boating gear and lunch and water bottles and ax – an ax is required equipment, but there is a fire ban in effect for the whole province, and no fires allowed even in campground fire rings – however, the ranger said we could have fires in the wood stoves in the shelters. Mosquitoes weren’t too bad, but still a nuisance, and it did start to rain so we made an early night of it hoping for a dryer morning and an early start.