Just wondering what to have out and bring up to the ranger station with us?
I have our permit for the week.
2 of our 6 will need to pay by credit card, the other 4 are all paid.
We have our RABCs (but I dont think they need this)
We will have our passports/passport cards

What am I missing? We just want to make the stop as quick as possible.

I know the new Ranger (RIP Janice) will go over the map of the falls chain with us.

Last I heard, the remote ranger stations do not have internet so a cc might be an issue. What about your fishing license? You can buy that online ahead of time. Don’t need the RABC since only Customs cares about that stuff.

There is a fire ban so bring a stove. Enjoy!
Tom

tumblehome: "Last I heard, the remote ranger stations do not have internet so a cc might be an issue. What about your fishing license? You can buy that online ahead of time. Don’t need the RABC since only Customs cares about that stuff.


There is a fire ban so bring a stove. Enjoy!
Tom"

Cache bay is up and running. The stations without internet currently are Prairie Portage, Lac La Croix and Beaverhouse.

Indeed - Cache Bay was able to take my e-monies (bitcoin not accepted) on June 1.

Be sure to offer best wishes to the two rangers there (Peter and Stacey) - they get married next month. Nicest of people.

Things are changing, but as of a few days ago they were still sending less experienced groups the long way around Silver Falls and beginner groups were rerouted to avoid the Falls Chain.

We had to pull with everything we had to escape the Event Horizon at the top of the Falls Chain on the return leg...thought we were done with the hours of toil but then had 2-3 minutes of intense workout before the Chain released its grip on us!

We always get our fishing licenses at home online.
So the only documents we need are passports and camping permit? (and 2 credit cards for the 2 guys to pay)

We will say high to Peter and Stacey.

I am hoping they get rain before we get there on Monday morning and they lift the fire ban...we will be bringing other food just in case. We usually cook steaks, brats and walleye in a grill basket over the fire to save on cleanup. Guess we will need more oil and gas and perhaps not the steaks this year. Will have to make a decision Sat.

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe if there is a fire ban on day 1 of our trip then we would have a fire ban the entire trip whether we got 2 straight days of rain or not correct? Same thing as vise versa.

This is our 3rd trip for half of our group up the falls chain. The other half have done MANY BW trips, just not the Q before. We are very careful around the falls and hopefully things go well again this year. No close calls in our previous 2 trips.

What is the LONG way around silver falls? Ive never done that. Also, what is the rerouting around the falls chain? Where would that take us? I assume it is due to high water? It has a week to go down some and it doesnt look like much rain is coming so hopefully it is down by then.

thanks everyone...its getting close...FINALLY!

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

They rerouted at least one beginner group with zero canoe experience...not around the falls, but to the Man Chain instead.

The concern with Silver Falls was downstream, about 100m after the put-in on Little Sag, you have to cross the Silver Falls outflow and some real moving water. Required a front-ferry. We'd never done this but are reasonably capable and it was fine.

We saw at least one group every day, and on travel days were able to speak to them. Even met a father & two sons on Kawnipi who live walking distance from me. Point is, if the fire ban is still in place, ask folks coming down the chain if the ban has lifted. Or if you have an InReach, that could get you the info too.

The long way around Silver Falls is the four portages traveling N-S a bit over a mile east of Silver Falls. Did that on the way back just to see new turf. Buggy portages for sure - swampy country there.

Documents: I would print my reservations and bring my RABCs & Passport. However you'll likely need none of these at the Ranger station now that their systems are working again.

Bugs were really tough. Fishing was fantastic...they bit on everything at all times of day.

Edit to add: If you are planning on going up Kawnipi to the Rose Island area...I left a Helinox Chair Zero there last week...

Thanks for the info. Good stuff there.

We dont plan to go north of MacKenzie Bay but if we make it to Rose Island, Ill look around for ya.

Half of our group (including me) have treated our clothes with the permethrin spray so that should help some. We dont normally bring a bug house and dont really want to carry it all the way to Kawnipi. Last year on Knife they were the worst I have ever seen this same exact week.

Glad to hear the fishing was great! That is our main focus. We fish basically all day long. We dont eat more than 2 meals but put A LOT of fish in the boat.

We dont take inReach or anything like that.