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Canadian Waters Canoe Outfitters
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 Boundary Waters Quetico Forum Trip Planning Forum Maps of specific campsites closed by Pagami Creek Fire Reply
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View BWCA Photo and Trip Report Contest Page
Poll: What is your favorite month in the BWCA/Q?
| Previous Messages: | |
| Author | Message Text |
| Jestrem |
05/17/2012 02:20PM I can't wait until our group gets up there to start surveying and flagging the pow-wow. The next ten years is going to require so much work to keep that trail alive, and I plan the be there once a year for the next ten to see it through. |
| egknuti |
05/17/2012 11:57AM I was on Turtle Lake on Monday and noticed that all the campsites had the latrines pulled and were posted closed. It looks like the forest service is a little behind in opening some sites that were closed last year because of the fire but not affected by the fire. |
| schweady |
05/17/2012 10:46AM Maps were updated again on May 15th: Map 1-Lake Three Area: Three newly-opened sites on southern/central areas of Insula Lake. Map2-Polly Lake Area: still showing May 2nd map. Map 3-Isabella Lake Area: One newly-opened site on Isabella River west of Rice Lake. Map4-Clearwater Lake Area: One newly-opened site on Isabella River just east of Quagda Lake. By my quick count, the four February maps showed a total of 107 closed sites and now the May 15th maps indicate the re-opening of 35 of those sites. Thanks to all who are undertaking the difficult work involved. |
| schweady |
05/04/2012 08:09AM And, on the page referenced in my original post, the maps have now been updated to show campsite and portage status as of May 2. Here's what I can summarize from a comparison of the two sets of maps: Map 1-Lake Three Area: Five newly-opened sites on Lake Four (although one other that was previously shown as open is now labeled closed), seven newly-opened on Hudson, one on Insula. All portages from One to Insula open. (Although they had been shown that way on the Feb. map, too.) Map2-Polly Lake Area: no changes seen. Map 3-Isabella Lake Area: Four newly-opened sites on Isabella Lake. Isabella River portages re-opened. Map4-Clearwater Lake Area: One newly-opened site on Gull Lake. Isabella River portages re-opened. Horseshoe-Brewis portage newly closed. Also, two very nice brochures have been produced and are linked at the bottom of that page: Discovering the Ecology of the Pagami Creek Area Exploring and Camping in the Pagami Creek Fire Area |
| bhouse46 |
05/02/2012 09:36PM Thanks Sweady, one more update to toss in the planning bucket between my ears. I for one will respect the need for the wound to heal and not pick at it with my feet or any other part of my body. Off limits areas are off limits and I hope users of all areas affected respect the need for the land to heal. A time to really respect leave no trace, paddle by and if necessary to stop be gentle. |
| tumblehome |
05/02/2012 09:22PM I like the part that says "Bring a cookstove, firewood is limited." Hmmm, I don't get that one. The whole place is charred dead trees. There is so much wood still available to burn that I wouldn't be surprised to see more re-burn as the trees fall over. I've seen this before in burns that creep and only burn the understory. Just sayin' |
| schweady |
05/02/2012 11:01AM Pulling up this 2-month old thread to mention an update on areas re-opening for use, recently posted on the FS site. Among other things: "Beginning 12:01 am on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Superior National Forest Managers will allow public use in all but a small portion of the area in the BWCAW that was affected by last year’s Pagami Creek wildfire. The decision to adjust the closure area is based on recent field assessments of conditions in the fire area and rehabilitation work that was accomplished by crews this spring. Until further notice, the following will remain closed to reduce the potential for further damage to the Wilderness resource and to protect public health and safety due to persistent conditions resulting from the Pagami Creek Wildfire: * Campsites that are posted closed * Portages accessing Horseshoe, Brewis, Harbor, North Wilder, and South Wilder * Pow Wow Trail and Pow Wow Trail Entry Point" |
| schweady |
03/01/2012 04:54PMquote alpine525: "Yes - very interesting. Glad to see the number of "open" sites on Lake Three. It's better than I expected in that area." Unfortunately, those are sites I'd probably characterize as 'usable but unpleasant.' They are open because they have been found to not pose risks associated with unstable trees still standing or unstable soils open to serious erosion. They're perhaps not necessarily sites with all of the usual assumed amenities such as green trees, latrine privacy, or handy places to hang a food pack. Interesting sites to explore, nonetheless... |
| alpine525 |
03/01/2012 04:41PM Yes - very interesting. Glad to see the number of "open" sites on Lake Three. It's better than I expected in that area. |
| schweady |
03/01/2012 04:22PM I know that I saw the chart a while back showing the number of sites open, but it still was a bit astounding to see on a map the number of sites within the fire perimeter that are open, especially on Lake Three and Insula. Since January 10th -- the last date that I collected data on the number of open sites -- they have updated that chart to indicate an 'open' status for four additional sites on Lake Three, one on Pietro, and five on Isabella Lake. |
| Zulu |
03/01/2012 02:24PM Thanks Schweady! This is very interesting. |
| schweady |
03/01/2012 02:00PM After a month of emails back and forth with FS-R9 Superior NF, I finally received notice that maps are available showing specific campsites and portages which are currently closed following the Pagami Creek Fire. They have emphasized that a subset of these sites may re-open prior to the beginning of paddling season, but some may remain off-limits indefinitely due to issues regarding safety, erosion of fragile soils, and just plain unsuitable space for overnight camping. As the seasons progress, we may see updated maps identifying sites and portages newly re-opened, or perhaps relocated. BWCAW Campsite Status Maps - Pagami Creek Wildfire page |
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