SOMMERS CANOE BASE BSA Traditional Cache
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(small)
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Located off the Fernberg Rd near Ely,MN. The container is a clear plastic jar hanging around. THE CACHE IS NOT INSIDE THE CAMP. YOU ARE WELCOME TO TOUR THE CAMP FOR FREE - GO TO THE OFFICE AND GET AN OFFICIAL GUIDE. DURING CONSTRUCTION ASK DIRECTIONS. KEEP DOGS IN YOUR VEHICLE. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY FOOD OR LIGHTERS IN THE CONTAINER. I WILL DELETE ANY SPOILERS (LOGS/PICTURES) THAT INDICATE WHERE THE CACHE IS LOCATED or of the CONTAINER. Snow depth will prevent access to cache in winter. BYOP
Permission by camp director.
"The true treasures of Scouting are the values that it teaches our youth, helping them grow with character and integrity. Through Treasures of Scouting, we highlight Scouting values while getting Scouts and non-Scouts excited about our programs."
Welcome to the Charles L. Sommers Canoe Wilderness Base in Ely, Minnesota, operated by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and part of the Boy Scout Northern Tier National High Adventure Program.
This Boy Scout Base started in 1923, and through the years has undergone several name changes. The Hibbing, MN council was the first to organize the base under the name Region Ten Canoe Trails. In 1942, it was named for Charles Sommers, a man who was the first Region Ten chairman and a great program supporter and Boy Scout leader.
Northern Tier is one of 3 high Adventure Bases in the USA. The other 2 are Philmont Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, and the Florida Sea Base in the Florida Keys.
The Sommers Base in Ely, Minnesota has had 150,000 people participate in its summer program. During June through September, it offers wilderness expeditions in the BWCAW and Canadian Quetico Parks. The trips vary from 50-150 miles in 6-10 days. The Northern Tier will build a trip around your group’s desires and goals.
Sommers also offer a winter program called Okpik. There have been about 25,000 people who have participated in this program which includes experiences in cold weather camping, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, ice fishing, snowshoeing, expedition travel, and shelter building.
If you are finding the cache only to up your cache numbers, please stay outside of the compound, sign the logbook and depart to avoid interfering with the program.
The new 2-story log structure you see from the parking waypoint was built by Kraus-Anderson in 2010-11. Named the Sandy Bridges Base Center, it contains a commercial kitchen,conference rooms, assembly space,restrooms, a small store, and will serve as a staging and orientation area for the troops going into the wilderness. It has the largest dining space in the Ely area. It was built with private donations and local contractors were used when possible. Clyde "Sandy" Bridges was the Director of the Northern Tier Adventure Program for 30 years.
I have added a parking waypoint to take you away from the construction and the now blocked off old entrance to the complex.
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