How many of you would consider it okay / not okay if a group approached your site to inquire if you were vacating the site that day?

I would say it’s ok to ask if you are padding by and saw someone down by the water. Or if you were rounding a point and saw someone close to the water. I don’t like it when someone beaches thier canoe and walks up. The most non intrusive way you can ask is best.

Side note I’ve found is some people don’t want to talk to anybody when up there. I’ve said hello or good morning to someone on a portage trail and they say nothing back. That’s just rude if you ask me. It takes zero effort to say hello back.

okay

I'm very approachable in the bwca or any other day. Bwca social encounters can be very brief or lengthy depending on how you make it and I welcome any sort of interruptions.

I think it's just fine. How else are they going to know? Providing they are just asking, that is. In fact, I was sitting at a site eating lunch when a couple paddled up to inquire about the site. I was happy they paddled up to ask as I was fixing to leave.
I've yet to encounter people on portages who won't at least exchange a 'hello. Might have something to do with me talking to myself or singing. Cuz, you know, I sure don't want to surprise a momma bear.

We've had the opposite happen, and were very happy it did. Went in LIS River N and figured on basecamping on Shell. Some sites were open, just not our first choices, so we thought we'd check out Little Shell. Scouted that site out and weren't all that impressed, so came back. We were circling back toward a third-choice site we had passed on the way in when a couple waved us down from one of our favorites to ask if we were looking for a site. (Pretty obvious, I suppose.) "We're not staying... just having a bit of a stretch and a snack during fishing." They helped us unload, even, and pointed out the spots they had been catching walleye.

Not a problem at all for me. It has happened a few times over the years. It usually leads to a nice conversation with some nice people.

I'm just fine with it. It has gotten me good advice on alternative campsites, problem portages and one time on Clearlake, ice cold beer.

No problem for me. I have offered to take in some who were in need. Once a family arriving late with no where near Tiger bay available to camp were very happy to spend the night, the fact we were leaving at 6:00 the next morning made it easy for them to take the camp over and make it their own for the price of moving a couple of tents. We even helped them unload and offered a number of needed appreciated tips for the newby family. Very nice family and the Army Doctor even gave me some further insight to a condition I live with.

I'd agree with Savage Voyageur about the campsite.

boonie: "I'd agree with Savage Voyageur about the campsite."

X2

boonie: "I'd agree with Savage Voyageur about the campsite."

X3 and a big thumbs down agree on those who cannot simply reply with a hello on a portage!

Frenchy19: "

boonie: "I'd agree with Savage Voyageur about the campsite."

X3 and a big thumbs down agree on those who cannot simply reply with a hello on a portage! "

x4 on the site. If I'm looking for a site and see someone I'll ask from the water. Don't think I'd ever walk up to an occupied site just to ask if they're staying.

x5. It's not acceptable for someone to enter an occupied camp site. If you don't see anyone from out on the water, keep paddling. Perhaps make a little extra noise to let someone know that you are passing by, then if you see them shout out.

X6. Happy to have a conversation and may invite you up but not very keen on having someone walk on the site without notice.

I'm with the rest of you. I've asked a few times and on a couple of those occasions been told the group was going to be leaving soon and we could move right in. I also have no problem if I'm visible to the water and someone wants to ask if I'm leaving. A simple no is all that is needed and everyone can move along. As previously mentioned, if someone enters the site I'm camped at to inquire about it's availability I'm not going to be too pleased.

X7 or so. Inquiry is harmless, usually we tell people traveling by before they ask though...but landing uninvited at a site is just rude. You don’t know what the people are doing at the site :)

T

Only if you see someone up and moving around. It would be very embarrassing to Beach, walk into the camp and find a couple getting busy on the big flat rock you can’t see from the water.

I've got no problem with people asking, and I don't particularly mind people who don't say "Hello" on portages. Is it really that bothersome for y'all? Maybe you guys are the folks I pass by when driving on a country road who insist on waving at me? :)

X? I am with the others on do not beach or come ashore without a call out and if you do not get an answer just move on. And like others I have had people approach and ask about the site I am at or others in the area I might have visited or just to be friendly. I have also approached and asked with nearly universal helpful and friendly responses.

sometimes we just go "dang" and paddle to a back-up site. or will inquire about site/fishing/weather (we are minnesotan) lol

I would consider the act OK no matter what. If my response is that I am leaving that day, I would be highly critical of where this group decides to spend their time. I have had a group sit there right outside camp and had to tell them to leave and come back.

I've asked on several occasions, usually on solos, if those at the campsite are leaving. I usually arrive at a desired site before most people have packed up and left, so I thought it never hurt. One time, on Clove Lake, a family allowed me to eat breakfast at the canoe landing away from their group, which I did without disturbing them at all. On Lower Pauness (another solo), I saw a group was packed up but was doing yoga or some other group exercise of some kind. I asked them if I could beach my gear (yes, I guess I was "holding" the site, technically) while they packed up. I explored and fished for an hour or two, then moved right in.

I can only remember one time when someone walked into our camp announced. Again, it was on Lower Pauness, this time with my wife. It was extremely cold and wet and two guys came up asking if they could just take a break. They were wet and appeared to have grossly underestimated the weather. They didn't look good. We made them coffee, they rallied, and they soon were on their way.

Mike

CityFisher74: "I would consider the act OK no matter what. If my response is that I am leaving that day, I would be highly critical of where this group decides to spend their time. I have had a group sit there right outside camp and had to tell them to leave and come back."

I wouldn't care if I was basically packed up and ready to leave, but otherwise . . . I'd feel like somebody was standing outside my house looking in the window. I don't even like it when somebody is parked in front of camp fishing; I don't mean just passing by, but anchored for a while.

And I'm like carmike in that people who aren't talkative don't bother me at all - I just move on.

Glad to hear the almost universal response that it is not intrusive to have someone inquire (from the water) if you'll be vacating the site. I once asked some guys when they might move on from a specific site, and they said the next morning. Further discussion led to me coming back to site before they were completely out and setting up my tarp and leaving a couple things to hold site for my group's return later in the day after fishing. They were very understanding about it.

In general, it seems the people who venture into the BW are very friendly and accommodating.

I agree with Savage Voyeguer as well. I have had folks paddle up and walk right through our site to use the latrine. I have had folks "park" within a foot of shore to fish in front of my site.

I have never approached one but have been approached. They were quiet and polite and it was cool. They just paddled by. We shared our last afternoon and night with a father and son quartet once. Took them fishing.

I have only done it from the water and I agree that is the best and only way. We've done that twice for a site we really love and both times wound up with it the next day after staying nearby. We also always made it clear that there was no pressure and if they were staying for a while then we would go off on a loop and enjoy that instead. Both times we were made to feel fine about asking but I'm sure we will run into a different reaction someday.

I don't mind a little contact with other people. The thing I actually mind are people who enter your space but don't acknowledge your presence, such as silently fishing very close to your campsite without saying hello. If you don't want to talk, at least a nod or wave would be nice.

bhouse46: "X? I am with the others on do not beach or come ashore without a call out and if you do not get an answer just move on. And like others I have had people approach and ask about the site I am at or others in the area I might have visited or just to be friendly. I have also approached and asked with nearly universal helpful and friendly responses. "

I'm guessing we're up to X9!?

Not a problem as described. That is, just asking from their canoe as they paddle by or paddle up to the campsite. I do agree it's rude to land and walk in to anyone's campsite.

Hans Solo

X10

I would also add, it might not always be safe to walk into someone camp. I know folks who are jumpy and are ready to defend themselves with more than their fists.

X10

I would also add, it might not always be safe to walk into someone camp. I know folks who are jumpy and are ready to defend themselves with more than their fists.

WE go at times of the year there are fewer people, and on big lakes that have a lot of sites. If I was actually loading the canoes I would not mind the question. But if on Seagull. . .with as many sites as that lake has, and someone paddles up to see when we plan on leaving I would be a little miffed. We go so as not to see anyone at all. That's the reason for going late September.

If it was a situation with only 3-4 sites on a lake I would understand. With a lake with 15-20 sites, most open, I would be suggesting several of the empty sites they might try.

A variation of this happened last fall. On the portage into Alpine two groups ran past us with their gear and canoes to get a particular site on Alpine. One group asked us what site we were going to. When we told them, they said they were going to that site and shot by us, pushing into Alpine in front of us.

The camp site fairy evened everthing out. When they got to that site, they found a bear had trashed the site and there was garbage strewn throughout the site. Our group had all ready taken the other site that they did not want .

Gotta love Karma...I try not to have conversations about sites or where I might camp when I run into other groups in case you find out you both were targeting the same site potentially——I don’t want to feel like I have to race a group to a site or feel like they are rushing by me to get it. I’d rather just leave it is what it is...

I have had a couple of groups tell me which site they were going to take as we passed them on a portage—-in a tone suggesting it was their site and we shouldn’t take it. In every case we were going another couple of lakes further...but part of me wanted to take the site just to spite them after their comments :)

T

HansSolo: "

bhouse46: "X? I am with the others on do not beach or come ashore without a call out and if you do not get an answer just move on. And like others I have had people approach and ask about the site I am at or others in the area I might have visited or just to be friendly. I have also approached and asked with nearly universal helpful and friendly responses. "

I'm guessing we're up to X9!?


Not a problem as described. That is, just asking from their canoe as they paddle by or paddle up to the campsite. I do agree it's rude to land and walk in to anyone's campsite.


Hans Solo"

As someone above mentioned, I don't like it when people fishing take up right in front of the camp.... and talk in a voice loud enough that I could join their conversation. It's a free lake, and anyone can fish anywhere, but if you're gonna set up in front of an occupied camp site, shut up. Please.

Mike

Prepare to be fired upon. JK.;) we obviously travel much less crowded places or slower times of the year. Never considered it and I would just paddle on even if I had to find a "make do" spot for the night. We have done that (not in BWCA) because we were running out of daylight in a storm without a close known campsite.

we dislike when people fish around our camp too, and "hang" around too much.
also we dislike when old men disrobe and naked bathe/swim - when they are on a site that has lots of through traffic (malberg, site at nw spot before that finger goes east
gross! old man booty. wife was discouraged. lol

ockycamper: "
If it was a situation with only 3-4 sites on a lake I would understand. With a lake with 15-20 sites, most open, I would be suggesting several of the empty sites they might try.
"

Agreed. When we've talked to people it was on a lake with very few sites.

BlackSwanAdventures: "we dislike when people fish around our camp too, and "hang" around too much.
"

X2. I am totally cool with you paddling right up and making an inquiry, or even having a chat - no big deal. Hanging around for extended periods of time right offshore - not so much....ESPECIALLY if you are a group of men and your hanging around a campsite with women present. My wife got seriously creeped out one year from that.

It wouldn't bother me if someone asked from the boat, but it would bother me if they got out and walked into camp uninvited. I might ask if I saw someone and they appeared to be packing up, and I was really tired or really wanted the site? I never HAVE, but it would be possible. But most of the time I just keep paddling if I notice it's occupied.

What Savage Voyageur said about rude folks on portages, though, that does irritate me a bit. A few years ago on Cross Bay portage I had a rather large group strung out with several individuals (probably 6-7). I nodded and said "Hi" to each and some just looked at me like I was daft and a few walked past like I was invisible. Strange. Another time, we had taken the detour off the Stairway Portage to sit and gaze from the Palisades on Rose Lake. Some dude walked within inches of us like we weren't there, sat down about 10 feet away, and began playing a flute. We decided we wanted no part of his symphony.

ozarkpaddler: "Another time, we had taken the detour off the Stairway Portage to sit and gaze from the Palisades on Rose Lake. Some dude walked within inches of us like we weren't there, sat down about 10 feet away, and began playing a flute. We decided we wanted no part of his symphony."

At least it wasn't a banjo? Haha
Anyway, I agree with the rest. OK to ask from the water, and don't come into an occupied campsite uninvited. I'm happy to inform people I meet know if I've noticed empty campsites when traveling the opposite direction or recently vacated a campsite. I usually travel in quite a ways, so finding a good campsite is usually easy. There's been trips where I've traveled for days covering over 40 miles and not come across a paddler or occupied site.
Otherwise, it's best to get to your destination site early. People generally leave in the mornings, so your chances of grabbing a site is best if you get there before noon. Waiting till late afternoon can make finding a site challenging on busier lakes.

I don't mind if someone asks me of I'm leaving. I've done it myself. Sometimes groups are just having lunch and not intending to stay (which is what happened the last time I asked). I certainly don't want a group to get out and start unpacking if I am leaving.

walllee: "Not a problem at all for me. It has happened a few times over the years. It usually leads to a nice conversation with some nice people."

I have never had anybody beach their canoe and come up to my camp, it’s always been a conversation when they are on the water in their canoe. I doubt if the conversation would be “ pleasent “ if they walked into camp.

Speaking of strange symphonies at the top of Stairway portage, as I've related on this website before, I once experienced somebody blasting Jimi Hendrix from (I assume) some kind of boombox at the top of Stairway portage. Now THAT was really strange.

I'm usually entertained by these dead-of-winter speculations of "what if" regarding various topics. My experience is that some people actually expect you to shout out from the water to inquire about a campsite: one time we were targeting a certain site and went for what looked like on the map where the landing would be. We saw an opening and landed without seeing any signs of occupancy. This however was not the "main" landing and after following a path we came to the clearing where it was obvious that people were indeed there. We were greeted with an annoyed "Excuse, me but this site is already taken!" We apologized explaining that from where we came in you could not see that anyone or any gear was already at the site. The response to this was, "Well, if you had just called out from the water before you came tromping in, you'd have known the site was not available." We again apologized and quickly left thinking that wow, sometimes you just can't win!

If we’re just having lunch we usually try to wave over any groups that seem to be searching. Pretty sure we didn’t manage to convey that to a group that was searching this summer while we were having a late lunch on Lake One and feel bad about that.

We use to eat lunch in campsites but were told by a ranger that, although it was legal, it was considered extremely bad etiquette due to people possibly searching for a site. This made sense to us so we have since stopped doing it. I don't think it's worth making a big deal out of it, but is something to consider, especially in busier areas. As to the original question I agree with previous answers, unless it's an emergency. Last summer we had a couple of young ladies surprise us late in the evening by entering our site, but since they were soaked from rain and hypothermic, we were more than happy to share our site and help them get dried off and warmed up. They were lost, wet, under prepared and inexperienced. We were glad they stopped.

bottomtothetap-

Was that a site on Horseshoe?

To be honest, I've never actually asked anyone if they were leaving and maybe been asked once . . . ?

I never eat lunch at a campsite unless I'm staying there, I usually just eat lunch while walking a portage or floating, but my lunch is pretty simple.

boonie: "bottomtothetap-


Was that a site on Horseshoe?


To be honest, I've never actually asked anyone if they were leaving and maybe been asked once . . . ?


I never eat lunch at a campsite unless I'm staying there, I usually just eat lunch while walking a portage or floating, but my lunch is pretty simple.
"

Not on Horseshoe--it was on Knife

mgraber: " We use to eat lunch in campsites but were told by a ranger that, although it was legal, it was considered extremely bad etiquette due to people possibly searching for a site. This made sense to us so we have since stopped doing it. I don't think it's worth making a big deal out of it, but is something to consider, especially in busier areas. As to the original question I agree with previous answers, unless it's an emergency. Last summer we had a couple of young ladies surprise us late in the evening by entering our site, but since they were soaked from rain and hypothermic, we were more than happy to share our site and help them get dried off and warmed up. They were lost, wet, under prepared and inexperienced. We were glad they stopped."

Funny about the ranger discouraging you from lunching at a campsite--I was once informed that if you're planning a lunch stop you SHOULD consider an open, established campsite. The reasoning was that way you would be lessening potential impact on the wilderness by gathering at an already impacted area, having a latrine available if you needed any relief and keeping congestion and potential waste away from the portages.

I will never forget having set up on the big 4 star site at the north end of North bay. My group had yet to arrive and I was the sole occupant on the big peninsula site. I had already erected my green CCS tarp and natural colored MSR tent. A group of 3 tandem canoes approached and got fairly close before they realized I was there. If looks could kill.........they sat there for the longest time just staring at me. No words were spoken. They eventually left but it was a very uncomfortable feeling.

My party arrived about an hour later having stopped for lunch.

Of course it is mildly irritating when folk don't acknowledge a casual greeting. i usually end up meeting and talking to lots of folks if they are around. I can't really remember anyone not uttering some sort of greeting on a portage or hiking trail. My typical greeting is "your almost there" ;-)

Cyclists on the other hand can be a bit snobby. The more expensive their bike and the more biker attire they are donning the less likely they are to flex a finger or hand in greeting as we pass. Maybe it's because I don't wear a helmet?

bottomtothetap: "

boonie: "bottomtothetap-



Was that a site on Horseshoe?



To be honest, I've never actually asked anyone if they were leaving and maybe been asked once . . . ?



I never eat lunch at a campsite unless I'm staying there, I usually just eat lunch while walking a portage or floating, but my lunch is pretty simple.
"

Not on Horseshoe--it was on Knife"

I did the same thing once on Horseshoe, but nobody was around.

When your group gets as old as ours is, the "privies" at vacant camp sites are in demand during lunch breaks..