BWCA Camping on the Lake? Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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GreatBigCubsFan
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01/06/2013 02:22PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Are we allowed to camp on the lake?
 
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01/06/2013 03:39PM  

01/06/2013 03:40PM  
On the lake? Yes, in winter. Not advised in summer.
motdur
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01/06/2013 03:57PM  
Yes...the following is copied from the Superior National Forest Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Trip Planning Guide

Choose a Campsite
• When lakes are open, camp at designated sites
using firegrates and latrines.
• When lakes are frozen, camp on ice, in a
sheltered bay, or in a natural forest opening.
Locate camp at least 150 feet from trails or
summer campsites, and out of sight of other
groups.
• Make just one trail connecting the shoreline to
camp.
• Bury human waste in snow 150-200 feet from
water, campsites, summer trails and portages
(pack out toilet paper).
GreatBigCubsFan
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01/06/2013 07:08PM  
quote motdur: "Yes...the following is copied from the Superior National Forest Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Trip Planning Guide


Choose a Campsite
• When lakes are open, camp at designated sites
using firegrates and latrines.
• When lakes are frozen, camp on ice, in a
sheltered bay, or in a natural forest opening.
Locate camp at least 150 feet from trails or
summer campsites, and out of sight of other
groups.
• Make just one trail connecting the shoreline to
camp.
• Bury human waste in snow 150-200 feet from
water, campsites, summer trails and portages
(pack out toilet paper)."


Thanks for the help, I was getting confused when I was reading up on fishing regs!
Bill
01/07/2013 09:25AM  
Camping on the lake is fine, just choose a site that can shelter you from the wind.....you're worst enemy whilst winter camping.
Minnesotian
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01/07/2013 03:52PM  
Another thing, if you plan on camping on the ice in a hot tent, make sure you bring reflectors for around the stove. After a day of heating the tent, a good sized melted pond could form without the use of reflectors.
DanCooke
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01/07/2013 09:33PM  
Camping on lakes can be dangerous if you get slush /overflow that happens. waking up wet would be my worst nightmare.
OBX2Kayak
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01/07/2013 11:07PM  
quote DanCooke: "Camping on lakes can be dangerous if you get slush /overflow that happens. waking up wet would be my worst nightmare."


+1 It's bad (voice of experience speaking).
GreatBigCubsFan
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01/08/2013 06:33AM  
quote awbrown: "Camping on the lake is fine, just choose a site that can shelter you from the wind.....you're worst enemy whilst winter camping."
D

Good point, I'm going to be looking for that perfect spot, which will keep me out of the wing , but on the fish?
Harison
  
01/10/2013 12:45AM  
I was only first time did camping at lake, before to leave house i did some work out in other work you can say preparations:-
Choose which items are more essential for this trip, get map of the area, aware all the possible info which help me out in choosing best spot for my camping, told my home person about my plan and most important keep cell phone in care of emergency.
Tigers10
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01/11/2013 09:28PM  
I have done both in the past. Pros and cons to both. To me, sleeping on ice is cold and your camp gets slippery from stepping on the same patches of ice by your tent opening/cooking "kitchen" and fire. Also, bathroom options become an issue. However, you can make a much bigger fire on the ice for warmth b.c you are not confined to keeping it under the grate. You are guaranteed a flat tent site. The lake seems to have less snow due to the wind.....meaning you don't have to shovel your way into a campsite on shore. Less of an impact on the resource is another plus.

I prefer to camp on the established campsites due to the reasons listed above. However, many of the campsites are designed to for summer use on high on points/islands with good views and open to keep bugs at bay. Not exactly the greatest spots for winter camping.

Unless we get some snow, camping on the ice will not be an option due to the recent rains (glare ice/crappy snow).

Good luck.
01/21/2013 11:07PM  
You are encouraged to camp on the lake!! Very frustrating when experienced winter campers encourage others not to camp on the lake. Please note the following:

The following is from the USDA - Forest Service - Boundary Waters Trip Planning Guide . Scroll down to the section called "Choose a Campsite".

Wilderness rules and regulations (see
Page 5) apply year-round. Even though
the BWCAW has a beautiful white protective
coat on in the winter we still
need to take care to Leave No Trace.

TRAVEL PERMITS

Permits are required year-round for all visitors
to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness. For day or overnight travel from
October 1–April 30, it’s easy! Fill out a selfissued
permit at any Superior National Forest
office, or at a BWCAW entry point. Carry one
copy with you during the trip and drop the
other copy in the permit box at the entry point.

Choose a Campsite

• On the ice, in a protected bay, or in a natural
forest opening such as a swamp.
• At least 150-200 feet from trails, summer
campsites or other groups.
• Make just one trail connecting the shoreline
to camp.
• Bury human waste in snow 150-200 feet
from water, campsites, summer trails and
portages (pack out toilet paper).

Campfires

It is preferable to make a campfire on
the ice to minimize fire scars on rocks
and shorelines. Use base logs or a
portable fire pan for your campfire on
the ice. Use a campstove or fire pan for a
campfire on land to avoid leaving fire
scars on vegetation or rocks.
• Collect only dead and down wood far
from shorelines, trails or campsites.
• Make sure your fire is out cold to the
touch when you leave.
• Scatter ashes in the woods away from
the shoreline and cover the campfire
scar with snow.

Live Vegetation

Do not cut green vegetation for tent
poles, bedding for humans or dogs, or to
create new dogsled trails.

Reduce Dog Impacts

• Keep dogs under control at all times.
• To avoid damaging or “girdling” trees
with rope when staking out dogs, use
webbing straps around tree and attach
dog picket line to webbing.
• Tether teams out on the ice with ice
screws to avoid damaging shoreline
vegetation.
• Never bring hay or straw for bedding
because they introduce non-native plants.
• Scatter dog feces in the woods at least
150-200 feet from the water’s edge. Keep
the entry points clean for others by picking
up feces before and after hitting the trail.



Tigers10
senior member (73)senior membersenior member
  
01/24/2013 09:54PM  
I laid out the benefits/cons of both and stated I prefer to stay on an established campsite....which by the way, is 100% legal. Being chastised for choosing to enjoy the outdoors in a legal manner because you disagree with it....very frustrating!
01/25/2013 05:16PM  
I give the campsites a rest in the winter, there are better places to camp with way more firewood. I will use the latrine if there is one close by though. ;)
01/28/2013 10:04PM  
Sorry, not trying to chastise you. AndI totally understand your frustration.

I am only trying to point out that it is a preferred practice to stay off campsites. You'd be amazed at how many awesome sites are available in the winter with TONS of great firewood, if you look.

There seems to be a lot of ignorance about the preferred practices of winter camping and the practices that cause the least amount of damage.

One board member recently complained about a fire that was lite up by the shore line (this is actually the preferred method because it will not scar the ground). It might be an eyesore till the next snow, but it will be 100% gone come spring.


PS: Truth be told...I have used established campsites in the winter on occasion, although it is the exception and not the rule.
Dan Cooke
Guest Paddler
  
01/29/2013 05:56AM  
The fire scar was on the rocks of the shoreline, which will be evident for years to come. The fire was not one the ice nor was the ashes scattered about. That is not right nor was the green trees they took down.
GreatBigCubsFan
distinguished member (150)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
01/29/2013 09:03AM  
Should I shovel the snow down to the ice to place my tent on or put it on top of the snow?
PortageKeeper
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01/29/2013 11:12AM  
This, for me, depends on conditions and temps. My preference is to find a spot close to shore where the ice has a little slope from the lake level dropping after ice has formed. Slush can happen overnight, especially after a heavy snow. If there is no slush to begin with, and no snow is in the forecast, then I may choose a site on the flat of the ice. Otherwise, I'd use snow to level a spot on the slope where the slush can't happen because of the higher elevation.
Either way, having some snow under your tent can give you a little warning as to weather you need to move camp because of snow load forcing water on top of the ice.
Slush usually happens in the center of the lake first. Eventually, the ice floats back up, and the water flows to the edge of the lake where the ice is still attached to shore. The snow insulates it from freezing for a loooong time.
01/29/2013 11:25AM  
I would keep the snow on the ice, but make sure it is packed down. I know some folks will make a trench between two sleeping platforms which is kind of cool too- but the snow has to be pretty deep.
01/31/2013 01:25AM  
I typically shovel down to the ice (as long as it is not 40 degree's out) and MAKE WALLS around you. The biggest problem you usually encounter when sleeping on the lake is DIRECT WINDS. They will make it extremely cold. I'd take -30 and protected from winds over 25 and in the line of a direct wind any night.

Good luck and have fun!
01/31/2013 01:40AM  
Sorry Dan, I did not realize it was on the shore. If I recall correctly, I posted a comment about those pictures. The flag pole was especially disgusting.

All tha being said, I do think it should be stated that even though we are STRONGLY encouraged to camp away from summer sites, any fires made will leave a scar for many, many years (like Dan mentioned). Therefore, they encourage us to make all fires on the lake.

Try making a fire on the lake someday, not much fun, but I used to do it every year (prior to my hot tent). One more reason to bring a hot tent I guess!
2old4U
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01/31/2013 02:27PM  
You can camp on the lake, but if you are like me you won't get any sleep because you'll lay awake all night imagining the ice breaking in the middle of the night. I prefer to camp in sheltered bay on dry land, but close to the lake where I can see it.
 
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