My son called and wants to go on this summer's trip. First time in 11 years and we are looking forward to that. In addition, his 7 year old daughter is going. Great fun planning a different kind of trip. His work requires him to be in daily contact with his firm and I need to know whether a SAT phone is needed or not.

The short answer is yes. Cell service within the BWCAW is spotty. If you want to guarantee conductivity, purchase or rent a satellite phone.

I agree. If service is 100% mandatory then I think the only way to guarantee service is through a SAT phone.

Also if he needs to be in daily contact with work during a BWCA vacation tell him to get a new job the minute he gets back.

I was on Insula a couple weeks back and tried to use my cell for weather on the approaching storm (williamson Island) no service.

I had 2 bars on the top of a hill E. of Williamson Island (Insula Lake) just over 3 weeks ago. At the campsite , I only had one and was only able to send to texts and ocnl radar weather updates. Up higher, it was crazy how CLR the signal was.

FTR-- the only reason I bring my cell is for ease of pics etc. I usually have no intention of using it as a city phone. But my buddy forgot to put his in airplane mode and noticed he had a bar. ---- It was nice being able to check the radar - and match to cloud conditions like I do for a job and when to a window was available to fish between storms. But that is about it.

Verizon. Inside word is the Gunflint is getting a big tower like the Ely side got quite soon.

nofish: "

Also if he needs to be in daily contact with work during a BWCA vacation tell him to get a new job the minute he gets back. "

+1

Half the reason I go to the bwca, is to leave work, and the cell phone, behind. I want to be entirely off the grid. No work, no cell phone, no email, no twitter, no watch, no stress. There is something truly peaceful in that.

I once wrote this on my facebook page, after hunting season...

"I step outside the hunting cabin, the cool crisp air fills my lungs. There is frost on the deck railing. I leave the head lamp off and let my eyes adjust to the darkness, as I head out to my blind. It's very quiet.

All my senses are wide awake, even if I'm not. As I climb the gradual slope to a large clearing in the cedars, I'm all too aware that I'm out of shape. My breathing has picked up, and I can feel the sweat beginning to form. I stop at the top for a moment to let my heart rate slow down a little. Life slows down with it.

For just a little while, I lay down on my back in the field and look up at the stars. There are no clouds, or city lights. It makes me think of the boundary waters.

No cell phones. No traffic. No email. No post election drama. No nothing. (There isn't even anyone to correct my grammar).

I just lay there, and suck in the beauty of God's creation, and for a little while, forget every stress in life."

========

Life is too short to be tethered to work.

Our group has gotten cell service on the Kawishiwi river near the split on multiple occasions. I always frowned upon tech in the wilderness, but have relaxed a bit since I have kids. Just a phone for pics and a text message or two.

Thanks for the info: SAT it is. Son's work pays really well and the condition of going includes connections. I am fairly sure he got his brains from his mother with a hint of common sense from me. Decisions he makes often do not have the luxury of waiting to get home.

Take an extra battery for the sat phone or a way to recharge it. I once had a battery drain strangely fast.

I get good reception through the number lakes and good text messages on Insula. Text messages send and receive better than actual calls. I have Verizon service. My InReach sends text messages through satellite service - that might be a cheaper rental.

Have a great trip, having to be tethered to a phone isn’t ideal, but if it let’s you spend more time with your son and grand daughter then it sounds well worth it.

T

Could not agree more. However, Son has cleared calendar completely and any so called emergency can wait. Thank July 4th for that. All is good and no phone contact too.

Even better! Have a great trip!

I'm in no way judging, but that's sad he has to be near a phone on a wilderness trip! He will never really leave work. I guess it's better than nothing, but that feeling of finally leaving it all behind takes days without a phone let alone with. I hope in the near future he can leave connectivity behind.

The tower will be seen from wilderness. It's unfortunate indeed. There are less and less places to escape civilization, so why mess up the few places where you actually can? It's getting harder and harder to escape.

If you care to share, what kind of job does he have?

Lawyer. As posted earlier, he now has the week off entirely and we will not be taking a SAT phone.

Sounds like an interesting job. If you do what you love for work then you really aren’t working.

T