This may pave the way for a return of the RABC by the summer.

The only impediment remaining is random testing which is still in place. Once that goes by the wayside I'm not sure what's stopping the feds from reinstituting the RABC.

Then it's up to the park to open the border entry stations. That's a whole different story.

Let's hope the random testing isn't needed for Quetico entry and other RABC uses...

TZ

Well that is great news! I’m still going to do the Northern entry trip this year I have planned even if things open up. Southern entry trips in the future are definitely something I’d like to do!

Ryan

Thanks for posting the article link Argo! RABC hope for sure. Your southern paddling brethren appreciate that.

pd

Pat, thanks for the link. One step (albeit a baby step) closer to getting border crossing back to normal.

There's still the ArriveCAN and checking vaccination, but it sure sounds positive.

billconner: "There's still the ArriveCAN and checking vaccination, but it sure sounds positive."

Bill, I don't see those as being impediments. Your vaccine record is on the ArriveCan app. It would all be seemlessly incorporated in the RABC application process.

Pete, I'm not sure why you believe it's a small step. I believe it's big.

Notwithstanding another spike in Covid 19 numbers, to me the wildcard is what the park decides. When I booked my park pass there's a blurb that comes up online about the RABC suspension being the reason cross-border access is closed. That's a sign that they are prepared to make the decision to reopen. However, a lot has happened in two years including a big fire that may or may not have rendered a significant portion of the park uninviting. And what about staffing? It's a significant committment to staff those outposts. Can this be coordinated on short notice?

That's why I say they are the wildcard. Maybe it's nothing and they are simply waiting on the RABC to start the operation. We'll know when we know and not a moment sooner :)

This article suggests they may dump ArriveCAN.

Currently there are no plans to reinstate the RABC program this summer. It would be great if Canada does though.

Laker Taker: "Currently there are no plans to reinstate the RABC program this summer. It would be great if Canada does though."

How exactly do you know this?

Our leader says that our trip through Crane Lake Canadian Customs to his place on Sand Point Lake is now a go. I just uploaded my passport info and proof of vaccination into ArriveCAN. We are boating up in August 2022 to his cabin on Canadian land. Hopefully, it is still intact after nearly 3 years of sitting idle. I can feel the fish tugging on my line...

Looks like random testing may still be in place, but the traveler does not have to wait around for the results. Must just be to check on percentages of positive tests and evaluate their procedures.

Schweady, is your friend positive that Sand Point Lake Customs station will be open? I've heard that it's not scheduled to open this year. Of course, everything is subject to change.

Jackfish: "Schweady, is your friend positive that Sand Point Lake Customs station will be open? I've heard that it's not scheduled to open this year. Of course, everything is subject to change."

He did not cite a source, but I know that he has anxiously followed events very closely and been in steady contact with folks up there.

His most recent message (last night):
"The latest word is that they will open the customs station on Sand Point Lake. They haven't announced a date but it is usually May 15th."

I will be meeting with him on Wednesday.

That would be big news if it were open...thanks for keeping us in the loop!

sns: "That would be big news if it were open...thanks for keeping us in the loop!"

Well, we may be right back to rumors and conjecture, but my friend is still optimistic.

He says, "My resource is a very activist neighbor (US resident with Canada property near mine) from up there. Of course, you never know until it happens what the truth is."

Not sure what he means by 'activist,' but I'm supposing that it means one who is constantly keeping tabs on the situation somehow... So, alas, my info may be third-hand or so. Stay tuned, I guess.

Zups said in an email they were told the Customs office at Sand Point will be open….

walllee: "zups said in a e-Mail they were told the custom office at Sand Point will be open…."

Welcome news. Was this in an email to you? If so, could you forward that text and perhaps cite who it was who told zups? Just trying to draw a straight line back to the party actually making the decision. Many thanks.

If you can clear Customs at Sand Point you will be able to get to most of the southern Q with a little effort. Maybe not the far east unless you really want it.

I'm following this thread very closely, as I have a permit pulled and a tow set up to go in June 19th for a week to do the Argo/Darky/Minn/McAree loop.....

unshavenman: "I'm following this thread very closely, as I have a permit pulled and a tow set up to go in June 19th for a week to do the Argo/Darky/Minn/McAree loop....."

You're going to be hitting some pretty burned up lakes if you're able to go.

Here's a link to the Facebook post containing the burn map. I think the map was posted in this forum also. Burn Map

pcallies: "

unshavenman: "I'm following this thread very closely, as I have a permit pulled and a tow set up to go in June 19th for a week to do the Argo/Darky/Minn/McAree loop....."

You're going to be hitting some pretty burned up lakes if you're able to go.

Here's a link to the Facebook post containing the burn map. I think the map was posted in this forum also. Burn Map "

The vast majority of that loop had pretty low severity burn, which is good for the forest’s health. I wouldn’t hesitate to trip through that area, personally.

schweady: "

sns: "That would be big news if it were open...thanks for keeping us in the loop!"

Well, we may be right back to rumors and conjecture, but my friend is still optimistic.


He says, "My resource is a very activist neighbor (US resident with Canada property near mine) from up there. Of course, you never know until it happens what the truth is."


Not sure what he means by 'activist,' but I'm supposing that it means one who is constantly keeping tabs on the situation somehow... So, alas, my info may be third-hand or so. Stay tuned, I guess.
"

Has the United States recently dropped the provision (or has it agreed to do so) that says you must have a negative Covid test within 24 hours of coming back into the country? I came back to the United States two weeks ago on a Monday flight you don’t even want to know what it cost me to have a doctor come in on Sunday to perform the test. I have no idea how this would work in the BWCA, just throwing it out there…

nooneuno: "Has the United States recently dropped the provision ( or has it agreed to do so ) that says you must have a negative Covid test within 24 hours of coming back into the country? I came back to the United States two weeks ago on a Monday flight you don’t even want to know what it cost me to have a doctor come in on Sunday to perform the test. I have no idea how this would work in the BWCA, just throwing it out there…"

My employee who immigrated from Canada and has family there has told me that right or wrong when you cross the border from Canada back into the US that he has never been made to take a test or checked although it is required. He said unlike the US there are limited locations to get a test and the costs are extremely high in comparison…with Americans getting price gouged by the border so it appears the guards just look the other way. I am just repeating what I was told I have no personal experience and not giving advice. He inquired and was told by customs, “we never deny our citizens entry into our country”.

Common sense would say if you crossed remotely and back in remotely it would be tough to be exposed to any disease? I know common sense is rare in Government. :)

There is no Covid testing requirement for crossing the land border into the United States, there never has been. Flying into the United States is different.

GirlOnARock: "

schweady: "

sns: "That would be big news if it were open...thanks for keeping us in the loop!"

Well, we may be right back to rumors and conjecture, but my friend is still optimistic.



He says, "My resource is a very activist neighbor (US resident with Canada property near mine) from up there. Of course, you never know until it happens what the truth is."



Not sure what he means by 'activist,' but I'm supposing that it means one who is constantly keeping tabs on the situation somehow... So, alas, my info may be third-hand or so. Stay tuned, I guess.
"

"

Thanks! I sent this along to my friend and also contacted Zup's myself so I might get a direct contact to get this info first-hand.

cburton103: "

pcallies: "

unshavenman: "I'm following this thread very closely, as I have a permit pulled and a tow set up to go in June 19th for a week to do the Argo/Darky/Minn/McAree loop....."

You're going to be hitting some pretty burned up lakes if you're able to go.

Here's a link to the Facebook post containing the burn map. I think the map was posted in this forum also. Burn Map "

The vast majority of that loop had pretty low severity burn, which is good for the forest’s health. I wouldn’t hesitate to trip through that area, personally. "

Correct, I had reviewed the map and made the same determination when I decided to proceed with the trip this year. I had put my deposit down for the tow back in February 2020, but between COVID shutdown and the fires I've just been patiently waiting.

This may be of interest to some of you. Last October I requested a higher resolution burn map from Brian Jackson, MNR Biologist in Ontario. His response:

This map was done by comparing satellite imagery from just prior to the fire to just after the fire (September 11th). The areas that show up in black are high severity burns – what many people think of when they think of a burn with few or no surviving trees and ash covered ground. The lighter coloured areas are low severity – in many cases you would have to look closely to see evidence of fires. The area that are white are areas where there was no observable change in tree cover and are referred to as residual or unburnt area, a common occurance in large fires.
In general, the fire was lower severity in the southern sections and was higher severity in the northern sections. Of the route you mentioned, the Minn Lake area is the section you are most likely to run in to high severity fires. I’ve attached a picture of Minn from a flight last Friday (Oct 8). It is one of the few lakes that had fires reach islands although the large pines on the campsite south of the big island appear to have survived.
We don’t have any details of the portages in the area at this time. In many cases, portages that were in lower spots tended to have lower severity fires and were less impacted. It will be a priority for portage crews to clear portages in the burn area starting next spring.
Although I understand some peoples concerns about fires, from the view as a biologist and forest ecologist, the fires in Quetico are seen as a very good thing. Fire is a critical process to maintain and regenerate the natural forests of this area. It has been recognized for over 50 years that the lack of fires in Quetico has been resulting in environmental issues including the decline of main tree species such as pines and loss of wildlife habitat. Management plans since the 70’s have encouraged allowing fires to resume their historical natural role. The fires this past summer were very diverse with low intensity surface fires in much of the area that was dominated by red pines in the removing undergrowth and allowing opportunity for regeneration of these stands so they can be maintained in the future. As the fires moved north in later July and August, they moved into areas that were typically dominated by jack pine and spruce that regenerate most successfully after intense fires have removed most of the mature trees. Studies have shown that approximately 80% of wildlife species either require or prefer the young forests that result from fires and we can expect to see increases in animals such as moose that feed on young browse resulting from fires. This in turn will support wolf populations and scavengers such as eagles, ravens, foxes, etc. that depend on wolf kills. Burnt areas also result in an increase in plants such as blueberries which support many species that require them including campers looking for blueberries for their morning pancakes. Studies show that fish populations in northern Ontario lakes generally increase in abundance following fires as a result of the added nutrients from the ash being added into lakes.
Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions and I hope you enjoy your trip next year.
BJ

The pic is of Minn Lake.

Thanks for sharing that, unshavenman. Interesting read. I knew that low intensity fires are considered a positive for the ecosystem, but it was especially nice to read how positively forest service biologists view the recent Quetico fires specifically.

Thanks Unshaven. That is good stuff. And who doesn’t want more blueberries for our pancakes!

On a serious note, we have been taught to hate wildfires, and we certainly love those groves of old pines, both red and white. Visually, it is hard to accept.

For the younger campers, they will get to witness the rebirth of the forest whereas some older folks won’t get to see the new forest in their lifetime.

Since my 20’s I’ve been walking through burns year after year and all I see is beautiful regrowth! Even my most cherished places were destroyed by fire but those memories have faded and now I see new forest thriving and growing faster than I imagined.

It’s going to be a tough couple of years for the Q enthusiast when they go back to these lakes and see nothing but dead trees. I too will shed a tear.

I do wonder how people are going to get through the portages since many fires burn the soil and the trees fall over creating an unmanageable mess until the portage crews move through. 2022 is not going to be kind to folks in the southern lakes this summer if we can get in there.
Tom

unshavenman: "This may be of interest to some of you. Last October I requested a higher resolution burn map from Brian Jackson, MNR Biologist in Ontario. His response:

"

FYI, this map and posted email was posted in this thread after I had emailed Brian Jackson in October.

Minnesotian: "

unshavenman: "This may be of interest to some of you. Last October I requested a higher resolution burn map from Brian Jackson, MNR Biologist in Ontario. His response:


"

FYI, this map and posted email was posted in this thread after I had emailed Brian Jackson in October. "

Ha! He probably had to respond to a bunch of us that reached out to him after he posted that map!

tumblehome: "
I do wonder how people are going to get through the portages since many fires burn the soil and the trees fall over creating an unmanageable mess until the portage crews move through. 2022 is not going to be kind to folks in the southern lakes this summer if we can get in there.
Tom"

Good point. May trips in the southern half might be rough this year. But just think of all those southern campsites that had minimal use over the past couple years and have had a chance to grow grass on them again. Could there be saplings growing out of the fire pits in North Bay? Realistically who and how many people camped on North Bay since 2019? I'm thinking MAYBE a ranger or 2.

unshavenman: "

Minnesotian: "

unshavenman: "This may be of interest to some of you. Last October I requested a higher resolution burn map from Brian Jackson, MNR Biologist in Ontario. His response: "

FYI, this map and posted email was posted in this thread after I had emailed Brian Jackson in October. "

Ha! He probably had to respond to a bunch of us that reached out to him after he posted that map!"

Agreed. As someone who has to send out canned responses all the time, I thought I recognized a form letter when he sent it to me.

Have any of you heard whether the southwestern part of the park will be closed, as it was last fall?

pcallies: "Have any of you heard whether the southwestern part of the park will be closed, as it was last fall?"

The entire park will be open, but if you want to pick up your permit at the Lac La Croix ranger station, as of today, you'll have to drive in from the north by way of Highway 11 and Flanders Road (45 miles of gravel).

There is speculation of the Sand Point Lake customs station opening this summer, but right now, it's set to stay closed. Keep checking...

Beaverhouse will be open and you could paddle down from there.

My sources tell me that an official statement regarding opening of the Sand Point Customs Station will be made public on April 1st.

Hopefully, this is not an April Fools joke. :-)

If you go through Sand Point Customs, where is the Canadian ranger station located?

Lac La Croix

sedges: "Lac La Croix"

...and a long paddle to get there, too. Thankfully, our interest in the Sand Point station opening is to allow us to motor north from Crane Lake, check in at the dock on Sand Point's Wharf Island, and continue north to Namakan Lake. Not a BWCAW or Quetico trip... no check-in at LLC needed.

TomT: "

tumblehome: "
I do wonder how people are going to get through the portages since many fires burn the soil and the trees fall over creating an unmanageable mess until the portage crews move through. 2022 is not going to be kind to folks in the southern lakes this summer if we can get in there.
Tom"

Good point. May trips in the southern half might be rough this year. But just think of all those southern campsites that had minimal use over the past couple years and have had a chance to grow grass on them again. Could there be saplings growing out of the fire pits in North Bay? Realistically who and how many people camped on North Bay since 2019? I'm thinking MAYBE a ranger or 2."

I had friends who did a 46 day trip last year and stayed on North Bay. They also stated there were other people there as well at the same time. So who really knows how many people have camped on North Bay?

Does anyone know if a thirteen year old needs to be vaxed in order to enter Canada? I always thought this was the case when reading more info I am not sure now.

deancal20: "Does anyone know if a thirteen year old needs to be vaxed in order to enter Canada? I always thought this was the case when reading more info I am not sure now."

Everything you need to know is found on the website for the
ArriveCan app. Spend some time on the website and you'll get your questions answered. If you still have questions, you can call the Canadian Customs and Border Patrol at International Falls.