Foe a canoe trip, I always leave the route information and expected exit date with my wife. I also tell her to wait a day before she calls. Tonight, I was looking through my phone numbers for sheriffs in Cook, Lake, and St Louis counties. I then went online to verify that I have correct phone numbers. I do not see a number for an emergency except 911... right. Fat chance that will get the desired effect when the call originates outside of the BWCA counties.

So, the question is, who do you call? Provide phone number, please.

I always give my wife the number of the ranger station and outfitter handling our party. Chances are they can give a plausible explanation if weather or winds might be an explanation. She knows not to panic if we should be overdue. I’m a safety first guy. Either can advise if she needs to make another call.

I’d call the forest service. We carry numbers for the FS, Ely police, St. Louis and Lake county sheriffs. Those were for when we’ve carried a sat phone. Sorry but I don’t have those handy. Our friends in Ely know when to expect us back and have the experience to act sensibly. My wife is with me and I try not to give numbers like that to my Mom who might overreact too soon. We now have a garmin Inreach and have it programmed for our friends plus having the sos functions.

I have a SPOT 3 so that is where I'd likely begin pressing any button but I often wonder how long should a person wait? Very useful post, btw.
I have one of these posted on the fridge at home--dependent on EP entry /or EP exit I've used in the past :
Superior Ranger Station: 218 626 4300.
USFS Kawishiwi Station: 218 365 7600
USFS Tofte Station: 218 663 7280
I also have the appropriate County Sheriff's # posted on the fridge, as well.

This is what I tell our trip members to tell our wives so they don’t call out the National Guard if we are late a day or two. We give our wives the number of the outfitter to call. They will know what to do. We also give our wives and outfitter the route we are taking.

For solo or small groups you should bring or rent a PLB or Satellite phone. You basically are on your own at that time. If you choose not to bring a PLB or phone then they would have to go locate you.

I would not want anyone to call anybody if I’m late returning home. If one of our groups wife called a rescue group to locate us it would be thier last time tripping with me. Our groups have between 6-8 guys. If there was a problem with one of our group members someone would exit the area and get help. We tell our wives not to worry if we are delayed a day or two. Before the trips we give the contact information of the other wives so no one is out of the loop. Every group member has the contact information on their cell phone in email. So let’s go over the possible delays.

1) Too windy or stormy weather. We would travel when it’s safe to do so. Calling anyone would not help in this situation.

2) Fires in the area, we will go another route out. Calling anyone would not help in this case.

3) A blowdown or huge storm, Rangers would already know there was a storm, they would go out and rescue anyone injured or trapped. Just like they did during the big blowdown storm. They landed floatplanes to evacuate injured and trapped campers. Calling anyone would not help in this case.

4) Getting lost, come on, it’s the BWCA not The Yukon. There is Zero chance of me getting lost. But even if we did get lost, the rescuers would also Not know where we were. In two days we would be at some entry point and get out or help. Calling would not help in this situation.

5) If we had an injured group member we would stabilize him, others would canoe out for help. Anywhere in the BWCA you are 2 days at the most from help. The other group members would go get help, then call the group members wives to tell them of the situation. Calling would not help in this case.

I create a trip plan for each trip. It lists:
Entry Point, Entry/ exit dates, planned lakes to visit (they know this is subject to change, but it's a starting point)
The names of each person on the trip, phone # and name for each person's contact at home.
Description of our vehicle, canoes, tents
Phone number for appropriate Sheriff, Ranger station

It sounds like a lot, but the whole list is only 1/2 page and fits nicely on the fridge.

That said, these days, I also take an InReach Sat. communicator.

ghamer: "I create a trip plan for each trip. It lists:
Entry Point, Entry/ exit dates, planned lakes to visit (they know this is subject to change, but it's a starting point)
The names of each person on the trip, phone # and name for each person's contact at home.
Description of our vehicle, canoes, tents
Phone number for appropriate Sheriff, Ranger station


It sounds like a lot, but the whole list is only 1/2 page and fits nicely on the fridge.


That said, these days, I also take an InReach Sat. communicator."

+1

ghamer:

It sounds like a lot, but the whole list is only 1/2 page and fits nicely on the fridge.


That said, these days, I also take an InReach Sat. communicator."

I tried that but took the fridge...

I tell em, if I'm not out by ice up you better call housty9... KevinL would maybe leavee til spring this time... There really isn't anyone for me so I don't worry about it much.

Totally agree with the information sheet on the fridge. That's a great idea.

One more number I'd include on that sheet is the closest outfitter to the entry point, like Old_Salt and Gary mentioned.

That outfitter will have conversations with guests as they come in and will be able to share information on current conditions. Additionally, the outfitters may even give information to guests as they go out, and pass along information if they see people fitting the description. Kind of like passing notes in elementary school.

If you are really worried, get an inReach SE satellite texting device, they provide two way texting, and the person at home can see your dot on a map. Better than a SPOT because the two way communication, less costly than a phone.

Cook County Sheriff is Pat Eliasen - 218 - 387 - 3030
Gunflint Ranger Station 8a - 4:30p - 218 - 387 - 1750

+1 with the Garmin InReach. This little guy is a definite must for any trip. My wife will not let me leave without it. She can watch our every move on the map at home. When we get back she can tell us that it looked like we were having a hard time finding a campsite or if we were catching fish etc. just by watching our movements. It gives her a lot of peace mind.

Since I didn't carry a tracker/PLB this trip, in the "float plan" email I sent to my wife, parents, and in-laws I gave the phone numbers for the Gunflint ranger office as well as the outfitters in case there was some at home emergency which required an extraction. Included in the email was an outline of our itinerary and where I had planned us being on which days. Also I suggested non-emergency communications could be left as a note tucked under the wiper on my car at the lot.

The email stated that we expected to be out on Saturday, however depending on weather and other factors we might be in another day. Also, I included the fact that there is no Verizon coverage up the trail until you're just outside Grand Marais and so initial contact from us could be in the form of email or an online post should we find accessible wifi.

HPD - to answer your question I would locate the non-emergency numbers for each of the LE stations who might have authority over where you/they could be.

I would think that 911, while not being ideal, would eventually get the call routed to the right place if the caller were calm and clear in what they were trying to report. The same calm and clearly stated information would be exactly what you'd pass to the forest service ranger office or the sheriff's non-emergency number.

nctry: "

ghamer:


It sounds like a lot, but the whole list is only 1/2 page and fits nicely on the fridge.



That said, these days, I also take an InReach Sat. communicator."

I tried that but took the fridge...


I tell em, if I'm not out by ice up you better call housty9... KevinL would maybe leavee til spring this time... There really isn't anyone for me so I don't worry about it much."

. I'll come get you, we just might have to stay a few extra days.

I tend to agree with Savage Voyager...in most situations having someone to call will not result in an improvement in the situation. I do my planning sheet from a format and print a copy I leave with Susan. The number of the ranger station and if I use one the outfitter and their hours is included. She knows the situations SV notes might delay me or get me to leave early and after watching me take off and come back for over 11 years I think she rests pretty well while I am gone.