2009

It truly was a trip Josh and I will cherish forever!  I will not hesitate to recommend a Wilderness Journey with you to my family and friends. 

Thanks again for a great memory.

A HUGE THANK YOU for guiding the Assenmacher Group into the Boundary Waters this summer!  We were all awe struck by the beauty of the area.

We really enjoyed the fishing and seeing the wildlife, and though the canoeing was sometimes challenging, we all found the experience
 extremely rewarding.

 You are a great guide, an exception al cook, and we look forward to
 some day going back to the BWCA.
 Thanks so much!
 Rosie, Andy, Nick, & Jordan Assenmacher & Mike Nadeau

September 3, 2008

Ramsey,

We will be talking about our wonderful adventure until we go again. It is easy to see why you are so exuberant when discussing the area, and as hard as you try, the only way to appreciate the totality of the experience is to be there. I have been fortunate to visit most of the world, including Alaska, Russia, Australia, and Yellowstone (over 20 times) and this ranks right up there with the best. But, you have to be ready to do your part in canoeing, portaging and traversing the Beaver dams and I hope we did. That 20 1/2 inch smallmouth and over 40 inch northern added excitement to our everyday better-than-expected catches. Visits to view the Pictographs and Curtain Falls were true plusses that no one should miss, but I do have one gripe; You fed us too well. At 74 years of age, I take pride in being in shape and controlling my weight, but I gained 5 pounds on this trip even with the arduous physical demands. Your steaks, pork loins, walleye, bacon-and-eggs, burritos and summer sausage took its toll. I have to add one other comment, and this is the result of? Thinking during the past ten days about where we were, what we were doing, and our surroundings. I am a retired commercial pilot with many thousands of hours at 40,000 feet and the feeling a person gets at that altitude is one of serenity with the beautiful skies and majestic clouds filling the windshield. However, we always knew that the environment could be instantly hostile if an unforeseen occurrence took place.

Our means of peace knew that we were superbly trained and the person sitting in that left-front seat could deal with such an occurrence. The remote vastness of the BWCA creates a much similar atmosphere and anyone venturing into that world would be well advised to have a competent, well experienced Captain at the helm. Ramsey, you fit that profile. In the aviation fraternity we have one measure for judging a Pilot, and that is "if we would put our family in the cabin behind the person at the controls". Without hesitation, I would be comfortable with my family following you into the BWCA.

Thanks for a wonderful experience; it was everything and more that you said it would be.  Everyone with an inkling that they would want to try this, should go!! Two things though:  1.) they should be in decent physical condition and we were, and 2.) they should take exactly what you tell them and nothing more. Your experience, know-how and enthusiasm made the trip.  Thanks again.

Regards,

Charlie Gray

September 2008

Ramsey,

A belated thank you for an outstanding trek into the BWCA...  The scenery with bald eagles, rock strewn islands, radiant sunsets and full moon lake reflections were gorgeous.  The real (not freeze dried) food was delicious, the coffee a true eye opener in the morning, the pictographs impressive and mystical, the Curtain Falls a must-see, the call of the loon at night haunting, the canoeing and portaging a pleasure, a challenge as well as a push to one’s limit and the Smallmouth Bass fishing just a rod bending, high jumping out damn outstanding experience!! You did a great job.  I would welcome the opportunity to have you as a guide again anytime on another BWCA adventure.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Tom Hector

Dear Ramsey,
           

     I loved to listen to my friends tell their story about their wilderness journey through the Boundary Waters. They said the Boundary Waters Canoe Area could not compare to any outdoor journey they have ever experienced and they had you to thank for it. Portaging, canoeing, paddling, fishing, camping... the whole kit and kabooddle!  I was intrigued to step into this unfamiliar territory.  I am not a fisherman or fisherwoman, to remain politically correct but their stories stirred up my curiosity. So along with a few of my girlfriends- we finally booked a trip.  Low and behold that curiosity allowed me to experience the most amazing journey I have ever been on. I was told that it was no walk in the park but it was an experience everyone should experience firsthand. We were lucky to have you as our guide. Your organization, expertise, guidance and knowledge allowed me and my girls to enjoy all of what the BWCA has to offer.
 
            Our group had limited experience in the wilderness, but thanks to your guidance we came out alive!  You taught me how to pack a canoe correctly so there is even distribution and how to paddle a canoe when the wind kicks up. You showed me how to rutter. You taught me where, when, why and how to choose the perfect campsite.  I even got a history lesson about how the BWCA came to be and how it stays so pristine.

            The wildlife was so cool! I saw a deer 10 feet from my canoe, bald eagle every day, a beaver, and the largest snapping turtles which weighed about 30 lbs each.

            OH and the FISHING!!!! What a rush it was to have my first stringer of mighty bass, weird eyed walleye and super slippery pike. Slimmy!  You better bet we were giggling our butt off.  It is fun to use terms like jig head and white twister tail. My favorite thing to say during the trip was "Pam.... GET THE NET!!!!" What an incredible feeling of accomplishment.

It is a disadvantage to be a first timer to the Boundary without a knowledgeable person along.  Ramsey allowed for fast and efficient travel to the best camp sites and best fishing holes and sights.  No time was wasted fumbling over maps and wondering what might be an interesting place to visit.  My trip was maximized.  Has anybody else watched an osprey grab a 20” northern out of the lake near your canoe or have to ice their arms from reeling in so many fish?  Ramsey will do more than give you an experience, he will share in it.        

David Blake