A word of warning for those who plan to travel to Wood Lake in the future. The site on the island is completely trashed. Blue tarps, propane bottles, plastic bags, shoes, boots, glass pop bottles and other trash is strewn about the woods. Terrible. We picked up some stuff, but we couldn’t get it all.

Contact the Forest Service.

Thanks for picking up the trash that they left.

quote airmorse: "Contact the Forest Service.

Thanks for picking up the trash that they left."

Yep, will do. Looks like a big job.

:( Sad

Always hate to see this.

Sadly this situation is not limited to the BW area. We find sites like this and worse in the greater Wabakimi area. Last July we encountered some really bad sites on the Brightsand Rv which were outpost fishermen or native sites.

quote BasecampMom: ":( Sad"

+1

I hate to see something like this, but I try not to be too judgmental when I see it. I don't know why the previous tenants of that site left it in the disarray they did. Medical emergency? Bear? Sudden weather-related deadline?

For the most part, I don't approve of leaving anything but footprints and ashes, but sometimes circumstances might require otherwise.

That sounds more like ignorant campers than an emergency, though.

quote BuckFlicks: "I hate to see something like this, but I try not to be too judgmental when I see it. I don't know why the previous tenants of that site left it in the disarray they did. Medical emergency? Bear? Sudden weather-related deadline?


For the most part, I don't approve of leaving anything but footprints and ashes, but sometimes circumstances might require otherwise.


That sounds more like ignorant campers than an emergency, though."

Some of the debris was “buried” in a shallow hole that was overflowing with trash. All the rest was thrown into the woods. Looked very intentional. I would say not even ignorant, as that would require them to not know or understand that leaving garbage around is not okay. I’d say they were likely disrespectful and selfish.

I have seen many similar posts here regarding trashed sites in the BW. One of the reasons I now go to Canada. Sure, there are some problems there, but far, far less than the BW. Are we Americans as ugly as the rest of the world suspects? The posts here make me wonder. I am ashamed that fellow citizens may have done this.

Thank you for doing all the cleanup you could. Very commendable.

quote AndySG: "I have seen many similar posts here regarding trashed sites in the BW. One of the reasons I now go to Canada. Sure, there are some problems there, but far, far less than the BW. Are we Americans as ugly as the rest of the world suspects? The posts here make me wonder. I am ashamed that fellow citizens may have done this.

Thank you for doing all the cleanup you could. Very commendable."

The world has plenty of A-holes to go around.

I have camped on lakes on boat in trips to Canada and can assure you they leave sites as bad as anyone else so no it is not limited to Americans

How easy is it to get to site increases percentage of said site being trashed I have found.

Can a moter boat get there? Probably trashed. Can a float plane get there? Trashed. Entry point lake? Overused and trashed.

This is what I have come to expect now.

And we wonder why the world is a mess? It starts at the top...

quote Minnesotian: "
How easy is it to get to site increases percentage of said site being trashed I have found.
Can a moter boat get there? Probably trashed. Can a float plane get there? Trashed. Entry point lake? Overused and trashed.
This is what I have come to expect now."

Interesting how your finger points at motor boat and float plane traffic, in a post describing how a paddle only site is trashed!!
Not all motor boat or plane people are bad, and not all paddlers are Saints! :)

We all hate these despicable acts, but given how long it takes for a site to recover from a serious trashing, what is the solution? How do we, those who love this place and those places like it, become part of the solution? It seems to me that we need to be exactly there, if we want to preserve this beautiful place for our future generations.

I, personally, can't see any excuse or rationalization for this kind of abuse. If you are keeping your site in keeping with LNT principles, this can't happen unless a bear comes in and completely trashes everything, including the campers. Can it? Zombies maybe?

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote Minnesotian: "
How easy is it to get to site increases percentage of said site being trashed I have found.
Can a moter boat get there? Probably trashed. Can a float plane get there? Trashed. Entry point lake? Overused and trashed.
This is what I have come to expect now."

Interesting how your finger points at motor boat and float plane traffic, in a post describing how a paddle only site is trashed!!
Not all motor boat or plane people are bad, and not all paddlers are Saints! :)
"

I also said entry point lakes, which many only allow canoes, and where I have also found trashed sites.

quote mapsguy1955: "We all hate these despicable acts, but given how long it takes for a site to recover from a serious trashing, what is the solution? How do we, those who love this place and those places like it, become part of the solution? It seems to me that we need to be exactly there, if we want to preserve this beautiful place for our future generations.


I, personally, can't see any excuse or rationalization for this kind of abuse. If you are keeping your site in keeping with LNT principles, this can't happen unless a bear comes in and completely trashes everything, including the campers. Can it? Zombies maybe? "

I realize this is a site catering to BWCA back area and fans so it’s not surprising that everyone agrees that this is a despicable act, but it’s still very cool to see that everyone truly understands why this is such a problem. I can understand it in a state park, but I never understand it in the BWCA. The best thing to do IMO is to clean up as much as possible and continue to be responsible. I’m happy to say that I’ve been to the BWCA at least 30-40 times and this site was the worst I’ve ever seen. It seems that most people genuinely care about the land and the place.

I don't know that I've seen a trashed a site. I have been to a lot of sites that have had a lot of use however and they tend to be closer to the enter points. Have seen numerous sites where Paul Bunyon wannbes have camped: boy does that tick me off. Maybe they should outlaw hatchets and axes in the bdub!

quote Captn Tony: "I don't know that I've seen a trashed a site. I have been to a lot of sites that have had a lot of use however and they tend to be closer to the enter points. Have seen numerous sites where Paul Bunyon wannbes have camped: boy does that tick me off. Maybe they should outlaw hatchets and axes in the bdub!"

Same here before this year. Seems like most folks are very respectful. Though I do agree about the wannabe lumberjacks!

Years ago the access was pretty tight. Not much for parking. It wasn't even part of the actual boundary Waters. So it seemed less used and less stuff like that. Even had boats (I think they are still down there.) How about that... Boats and little problems with vandalism. Haha. Now with the parking lot big enough to cater to mall of America you get typical entry point goof balls.

quote Jocobo81: "

quote BuckFlicks: "I hate to see something like this, but I try not to be too judgmental when I see it. I don't know why the previous tenants of that site left it in the disarray they did. Medical emergency? Bear? Sudden weather-related deadline?



For the most part, I don't approve of leaving anything but footprints and ashes, but sometimes circumstances might require otherwise.



That sounds more like ignorant campers than an emergency, though."

Some of the debris was “buried” in a shallow hole that was overflowing with trash. All the rest was thrown into the woods. Looked very intentional. I would say not even ignorant, as that would require them to not know or understand that leaving garbage around is not okay. I’d say they were likely disrespectful and selfish."

Seen that on Carol lake next to Insula one year. Very very Intentional their was like 30 beer cans thrown all over, a pair of denim jeans half burned in the fire grill.

quote nctry: "Years ago the access was pretty tight. Not much for parking. It wasn't even part of the actual boundary Waters. So it seemed less used and less stuff like that. Even had boats (I think they are still down there.) How about that... Boats and little problems with vandalism. Haha. Now with the parking lot big enough to cater to mall of America you get typical entry point goof balls."

The access to Wood? Interesting.

And actually, so when we got to the end of the portage there were two rowboats cached there. I had no idea what that was all about, as the BWCA pretty much started right there. And 190 rods pulling a rowboat??

The rowboats are available for daily rentals from a nearby resort.

quote salukiguy: "The rowboats are available for daily rentals from a nearby resort."

Thanks for the info