I like planes. If you don't like planes, or have issues with FS/DNR using motors in the wilderness, you should probably pick a new thread to read.

Last September on Gabbro we had the luck of being in the right place at the right time. Going in, we knew from the Ely FS post that there would be a Beaver flying in to the area, maybe.

Across the lake to the south, we could see a solo canoe moving fast. Too fast. It turns out it was a DNR officer equipped with a motor, doing what we guessed was a fish survey. It looked like he was gathering and stowing nets that had been used. We headed in that general direction.

Our timing was perfect. Ben and I were ready for a stretch and snack break and aimed for a peninsula along the mid south shore of Gabbro. As we landed, we could hear a distant, but low plane.

I got excited and dug out the camera and prepared to shoot. And wouldn't you know it, he looped and then landed almost directly at us.

If you are reading and don't like the idea of motor interruptions in the BW, I understand your beef. But let me say this. That Beaver landed, taxied and they loaded the canoe, motor, and gear in about 10 minutes. Another water taxi to the north and one shot to the south for take off, not to be heard again.

I appreciate that they were in and out quick and I appreciate the work they do. I'm super grateful to have had the opportunity to photograph them. Probably something I won't have a chance to do again in the BW.

Also, I have to give a thumbs up to the pilot, who with cord, not ratchet straps, lashed the canoe to the planes' strut and float. Lashing on a canoe and flying away. That's just something!

I have no problem with the DNR or the Forest service using motors, or chain saws, or planes to do the job of taking care of the area. Cool story.

Any time I can watch a Beaver or a Super Cub land, take off or just about anything I will stop to watch. They are truly a symbol of the Bush. And two of the coolest aircraft ever.

very cool!

I believe VoyagerNorth posted a list of lake to be sampled last year.
Too much gear for traditional travel so a plane and motorized cane were used.
I too love watching planes and float planes especially. They do as much work using non-motorized methods, as possible.

Like planes? Try to get to EAA AirVenture at Oshkosh some time, last year a Mars Seaplane was docked for tours. GREAT BIG BUGGER!

butthead

I was on Gabbro in October the year of the Pagami Fire. It was mostly out but I think still smoldering a bit so we got to see quite a few helicopters and planes. Wouldn't want to see them on every trip but it was interesting. Thought we were going to get treated to a plane re-filling the water tank in Gabbro as it circles down but it actually picked up water out of Bald Eagle. Still cool to see.

2012 I had a big yellow tanker swoop down on basswood and fill up and go. We no longer have those here.

Was on Cache Bay about 10 years ago, heading for the ranger station...got to see them land and takeoff about a 100 yds away...(after dropping off a canoe). Always a cool sight to see.

Two years ago, we had an up close inspection of one of the FS Beaver's at the Boundary Waters Expo on Seagull Lake. They were built in the 50's and I love the simple, but extremely efficient water tank system. Cool plane.







When needed the pilot lands and installs the snorkel (seen held by the pilot at the dock) onto the tank. The water tank is a WWII bomb casing.

He takes off and skims low along the lake surface with the snorkel just under water. The tank is filled in a matter of seconds. The pilot can see the full tank venting water by use of a mirror (visible in the middle photo) which is attached to the wing strut just outside the pilot side window.

There is a cable that runs through the floor of the plane, when pulled, a trap door (visible in the first photo) on the bottom of the tank opens and dumps the contents on the fire. Simple but effective

Those old radial engines are such a part of Canadian canoeing and sound so cool. I have a video on my youtube channel of a Norseman and a Beaver. Gets the blood pumping for those that have used them. Norseman and Beaver takeoffs

I think the occasional use of planes, motors, and chainsaws in the BWCA is probably better than the alternative. Work would take WAY longer, portages and campsites would go longer without work being completed, surveys would either not get done or at minimum take an ungodly amount of time. Campsites would be tied up with more crews needing to spend more time in the field to get the work done, portages would be tied up longer as crews move large loads of gear from lake to lake, etc.

I think the planes and motors are less disruptive and get the work done quicker allowing users to get back to enjoying their trip.

We were on Angleworm when a Beaver came down from the north and filled its tank for use on a fire to the NW. Did that ever make a roar when it took off again and swung west! Cool experience, and never gave it a bit of thought as to how it may have "spoiled" our wilderness experience. Quite the contrary, we've been telling the story for 20 years!

My first trip - in 2001 IIRC - was into the Q and heading out of PP after permit two, not one, yellow Quetico planes took off just to the side and over us. I believe they were still shuttling rangers in and out of PP by plane on a weekly rotation. If I'm not mistaken, the rangers drive to Moose and tow up to PP and of course reverse, now.

Like you, I love the planes too. So much sound and fury, signifying everything!

I like planes, and I think this would be neat to encounter on a trip.

Cool pic!

If you have never had your canoe strapped to a beaver and flown in to wilderness area and dropped off you should add it to your bucket list. Watching it take off and as the sound fades away you suddenly realize you are in a different world by yourself..... an incredible feeling.

checking in with the forest service as they were doing a missing person search.

quote jwartman59: "


checking in with the forest service as they were doing a missing person search."

Same plane as in my photos earlier in this thread. Of course, that's not hard considering that they only have two.

quote awbrown: "Two years ago, we had an up close inspection of one of the FS Beaver's at the Boundary Waters Expo on Seagull Lake. They were built in the 50's and I love the simple, but extremely efficient water tank system. Cool plane.








When needed the pilot lands and installs the snorkel (seen held by the pilot at the dock) onto the tank. The water tank is a WWII bomb casing.

He takes off and skims low along the lake surface with the snorkel just under water. The tank is filled in a matter of seconds. The pilot can see the full tank venting water by use of a mirror (visible in the middle photo) which is attached to the wing strut just outside the pilot side window.

There is a cable that runs through the floor of the plane, when pulled, a trap door (visible in the first photo) on the bottom of the tank opens and dumps the contents on the fire. Simple but effective"

I am pretty sure that is an external fuel tank that planes would use on long combat flights and then ditch when they were either empty or under attack. It could have been a wingtip tank or under the fuselage. It is not an empty former bomb.

Tomster

quote quark2222: "

quote awbrown: "Two years ago, we had an up close inspection of one of the FS Beaver's at the Boundary Waters Expo on Seagull Lake. They were built in the 50's and I love the simple, but extremely efficient water tank system. Cool plane.












When needed the pilot lands and installs the snorkel (seen held by the pilot at the dock) onto the tank. The water tank is a WWII bomb casing.


He takes off and skims low along the lake surface with the snorkel just under water. The tank is filled in a matter of seconds. The pilot can see the full tank venting water by use of a mirror (visible in the middle photo) which is attached to the wing strut just outside the pilot side window.


There is a cable that runs through the floor of the plane, when pulled, a trap door (visible in the first photo) on the bottom of the tank opens and dumps the contents on the fire. Simple but effective"

I am pretty sure that is an external fuel tank that planes would use on long combat flights and then ditch when they were either empty or under attack. It could have been a wingtip tank or under the fuselage. It is not an empty former bomb.


Tomster"

I believe you are correct. Senior moment.

I like planes, too, being an inactive private pilot and formerly an owner of a 1/40th share in three club planes.

I am glad to see the 3 bladed prop on the FS Beaver. The old 2 bladed seaplane props were extremely noisy because their extra length had the prop tips exceeding the sound barrier.

Still, you can hear them coming from 20 miles away or so; it's an unwelcome blight on a still day. I would like to see the FS using remote piloted stealth surveillance planes for fire watch, while keeping the Beavers for evacuations, fire fighting, and hauling big loads.

I heard of one pilot who used only one rope to tie a canoe to the float. His rationale: if one of two ropes breaks, the canoe will be hanging below the float, promising a very exciting landing. If his only rope breaks, the canoe falls safely away.

quote landoftheskytintedwater: "I was on Gabbro in October the year of the Pagami Fire. It was mostly out but I think still smoldering a bit so we got to see quite a few helicopters and planes. Wouldn't want to see them on every trip but it was interesting. Thought we were going to get treated to a plane re-filling the water tank in Gabbro as it circles down but it actually picked up water out of Bald Eagle. Still cool to see."

Cal Fire sometimes dips out of our lake when fires are in the vicinity. Bucket carries 250 gallons.

I was at Sawbill a couple of years ago when the DNR had 2 motor boats there doing fish surveys. No big deal as far as I was concerned. On the other hand, last year someone staying at the campground there had an electric motor on their canoe that was at the boat storage area.

The only thing better than watching them land and take off is being in them when they do. I have been lucky enough to go on at least 15 fly in trips to Canada and they are incredible. On one trip one of our guys was a pilot, and he commented to the pilot (we had flown with him (pilot) several times), that it didn't look like some of the gauges work. John responded back it's ok I know we have gas, I checked the oil and if we get to close to the trees, I'll just get up a little. Amazing how small of a lake they can land on.

cool story. thanks for sharing. I like planes...except when they do those strafing runs on me while I try to paddle.

Love the Beavers! Hard to believe the newest one out there is 50 years old.

quote ParkerMag: "Love the Beavers! Hard to believe the newest one out there is 50 years old."

I wonder and worry about what will replace the Beavers and Otters.

quote missmolly: "I wonder and worry about what will replace the Beavers and Otters. "

210s and Caravans I suspect. Romance factor - NOT EVEN CLOSE.

I have been flying seaplanes out of and around Ely, BWCA and the arrowhead all my life. When I was a kid I flew out of Ely with my grandfather and later my aunt. She had aeronca chief that she hand propped from the float. She flew it out of Shagawa lake, skis in the winter. Now I have my own plane Cessna 185 floats summers and skis in the winter. Maybe someday you might see my around and get a quick ride.

Links to a couple of neat videos 1st one from fs seaplane base on Shagawa. The second video is them flying out to Isle Royal on skis with the beaver.

1st link
2nd link

Did my last FAA flight review flying my friend Brains beaver on floats, great plane!

75 years ago Ely had the biggest inland seaplane base in the world. About 350 planes flew out of Shagawa lake. That's why there are no roads in the bwca. Everyone was flying in.