Join photographer Willie Maahs as he explores the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Discover how he relies on the Goal Zero Venture 75 portable power bank and Nomad 50 solar panels to keep his essential photography gear charged in the backcountry.

My name is Willie Maahs, and I'm a photographer based in northern Minnesota. The Midwest is often dismissed as "flyover country," and at times that description can feel fitting. But that reputation also has its advantages. It keeps the crowds away and leaves countless wild places for those willing to seek them out. My greatest source of inspiration is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, a place that has shaped both my photography and my perspective.

The Boundary Waters spans more than 1.1 million acres of protected wilderness, with over 1,100 interconnected lakes and streams and nearly 2,000 designated campsites. It's a landscape so vast and diverse that you could spend a lifetime exploring it and still discover something new around every bend.

Whenever I head into the Boundary Waters, I load my canoe with the essentials and set out in search of photographs. More often than not, though, I come home with much more than images. Time spent disconnected from the modern world brings a sense of peace that's difficult to find anywhere else. While photographs can preserve a moment, they can never fully capture the sounds of birds echoing through the forest, gentle waves lapping against the shoreline, or the wind whispering through towering pines.

It takes a few days to truly settle into the rhythm of the wilderness. At first, the thoughts and stresses of everyday life tend to follow you into the woods. But with every paddle stroke and every portage, those worries slowly fade into the background. Eventually, your days become guided by the sunrise, the weather, and the simple routine of traveling from lake to lake. It's a feeling that keeps drawing me back year after year.

Even on trips where the goal is to disconnect, there are still a few modern comforts worth bringing along - and that's where Goal Zero has become part of my kit. I don't need much in the backcountry, but I do rely on gear that's dependable and built for the environment. The Venture 75 has become my go-to portable power bank for canoe trips through the Boundary Waters.

One of the first things I appreciate is how little space it takes up. Every inch of room matters when you're packing for a canoe trip, and the Venture 75 easily slides into any unused corner of my pack without adding unnecessary bulk. Better yet, it's IP67-rated waterproof, which is incredibly valuable when you're spending days on the water. Between rain, splashing paddles, and wet gear, keeping electronics protected is always a priority.

Its capacity is just as impressive. A single charge provides roughly five full phone charges, making it easy to keep not only my phone powered, but also headlamps, GPS devices, camera accessories, and other essentials. On group trips, one power bank can often keep everyone charged throughout several days in the wilderness, reducing the amount of gear we all need to carry.

When the Venture 75 starts running low, I pair it with my Nomad 50 solar panel while we're traveling across the lakes. The Nomad 50 lays neatly across the gear in my canoe, soaking up sunlight as we paddle, while the Venture 75 stays tucked safely inside the rear storage pocket. The built-in pocket keeps cords organized, prevents accidental disconnections, and keeps everything compact throughout the day.

Before each portage, the Nomad 50 folds down in seconds to about the size of a laptop and slides right back into my canoe pack. It's a simple system that quietly works in the background, allowing us to generate power as we travel from lake to lake and campsite to campsite.

What I appreciate most about Goal Zero's gear is that it doesn't demand my attention. I can set it up, let the sun do the work, and focus on why I came to the Boundary Waters in the first place. While the Nomad 50 collects energy throughout the day, the Venture 75 stores it until I need it back at camp.

That reliability gives me one less thing to think about and allows me to be fully present in the wilderness. Instead of worrying about batteries, I can focus on listening, observing, and creating photographs that capture not just what the Boundary Waters looks like, but what it feels like to experience one of the last truly wild places in the Midwest.

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Follow Willie’s adventures on Instagram - @williemaahs