BWCA permit: # days out Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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mdixon
Guest Paddler
  
10/16/2014 06:41PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Hi All - I have been reading all the stuff related to getting a Q permit and was wondering how or when you have to declare the number of days you expect to be out.

What happens when a 10 day trip turns into a 13 day trip? Do you report back to a ranger station and pay up, or do you just head out? Also, when you check in at the ranger station do you describe the route to them? I've only been to Q once a number of years back and I have no memory of the permit process.

Sorry if this is one of those questions that gets asked constantly. I looked a few pages back and didn't see it addressed.

Thanks, Mark

 
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tumblehome
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10/16/2014 07:10PM  
If I paid for 10 nights and spent 13 nights, and nobody asked me about it I would not pay for more nights.

They do ask for your general travel itinerary for search and rescue means in case you don't come out. Technically, if you get caught without a valid permit, you are in violation. However, it happens all the time due to weather so I would guess there's a protocol they follow. Being in three extra days would need a pretty hard reason.

My 2 cents.

billconner
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10/16/2014 07:18PM  
I believe you are expected to return and at but they'd be happy if you just sent them a check when you got home.
marsonite
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10/17/2014 07:52AM  
You state the number of days you plan to be out when you pick up your permit (from a ranger station or the park office).

If you stay longer, and are a very honest person, you would stop in at the office and pay the additional fee or send them a check like Bill said. I think if you were in the park beyond your permit and got stopped, you would be in some sort of trouble (unless weather or something stopped you).

I was also told at Prairie Portage that if you leave early, you can claim a refund.

10/17/2014 08:01AM  
quote marsonite: "I was also told at Prairie Portage that if you leave early, you can claim a refund."

that is true
10/17/2014 12:48PM  
Marsonite explained it pretty well.

About 10-15 years ago a group from Iowa stayed an extra few days, someone reported them as not coming out on time---not sure if it was family or an outfitter or if their vehicle had been abandoned longer that authorities thought it should----anyway a search and rescue was initiated---meanwhile the group came out and drove home--there were signs on the vehicle to call authorities but they ignored them becuase they had knowingly stayed longer than what they paid for on their permit.

Needless to say they were hit with I believe thousands in fines due to the search and rescue and not imforming authorites when it was all said and done.

They never thought staying a few days extra would be a big deal. Just food for thought of a worst case scenario.

T

mdixon
Guest Paddler
  
10/17/2014 02:59PM  
Thanks for all the thoughtful responses. I should have explained that I was worried about weather days etc., certainly no intention to get something I didn't pay for. So, my understanding is that I just get a start date and declare the number of days we plan to be out once we're there getting the permit.

Thanks, Mark

10/17/2014 03:45PM  
I agree,I would never go up there and stay a extended amount of time without paying. The park and Staff in recent years is on a minimum budget compared to the past. The resource and opportunity to utilize a park in another Country is such a great a privilege
billconner
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10/17/2014 04:19PM  
When I asked once at PP station, they said easier for them to refund than add. Or perhaps they knew I wouldn't get back to them when I re-entered BWCA two days before my Q permit expired. Oh well.
tumblehome
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10/17/2014 06:46PM  
quote PINETREE: "I agree,I would never go up there and stay a extended amount of time without paying."

Yes it's true that Quetico is on a tight budget as are all federal parks US and Canada. When a group of eight people stay at a campsite for one night, they are paying around $160 to camp overnight. Whether or not it's a good deal is debatable but it's a lot of money for a campsite. If that group spends seven nights out there, it's about $1,120. That's a lot of cash and that's not debatable.

I happily pay my fees for Quetico but if I spent an extra night out there for whatever reason I would count it as a free night.

GraniteCliffs
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10/17/2014 09:29PM  
I was in the Q in June with four other guys. I had a medical issue and the four of them decided I needed a hospital and we left a couple of days early. I was checked out at the hospital in Ely and we drove home.

I called the Park and they told me to send them my medical reports. I did and asked for consideration---especially since my traveling partners paid full freight and I caused them to have to leave early. My friends mocked my attempt at a refund.

The Park refunded the two days for all of us once they saw my medical report, date and medical bill. I thought it was more than fair on their part. They could have reasonably said "look, a deal is a deal."

10/17/2014 09:38PM  
quote GraniteCliffs: "I was in the Q in June with four other guys. I had a medical issue and the four of them decided I needed a hospital and we left a couple of days early. I was checked out at the hospital in Ely and we drove home.

I called the Park and they told me to send them my medical reports. I did and asked for consideration---especially since my traveling partners paid full freight and I caused them to have to leave early. My friends mocked my attempt at a refund.

The Park refunded the two days for all of us once they saw my medical report, date and medical bill. I thought it was more than fair on their part. They could have reasonably said "look, a deal is a deal.""

Agree and thanks for sharing.

10/17/2014 11:21PM  
"...but if I spent an extra night out there for whatever reason I would count it as a free night."

I would not. other than burning garbage I have a strong moral compass.
10/18/2014 10:54PM  
quote kanoes: ""...but if I spent an extra night out there for whatever reason I would count it as a free night."

I would not. other than burning garbage I have a strong moral compass."

Lol, now that was funny!

10/19/2014 01:12PM  
quote PINETREE: "I agree,I would never go up there and stay a extended amount of time without paying. The park and Staff in recent years is on a minimum budget compared to the past. The resource and opportunity to utilize a park in another Country is such a great a privilege"

Agreed!

Hans Solo
10/19/2014 10:24PM  

This May we went in before the park opened and paid for 10 nights with a check for a self-issue permit. I was told the wrong per-night rate for self-issue permits ahead of time - the actual rate was less than I was told - but I had already made the check out before we started so I overpaid that.

After 3 nights, our dog Piwi got sick and we paddled out. We paused briefly on our way out at Prairie Portage, where they were just getting ready to open for the season, and the ranger (Cathy) told me I should call headquarters, tell them what happened, and get a refund for the unused nights. I did that, and though it took them a couple weeks to work through the process, they refunded not only the extra nights, but also the amount I overpaid per night. I thought that was really nice.

If I ever ended up staying an extra night, or two or three, for whatever reason, I would definitely send in the extra money after the fact. I guess I can't quite understand the rationale that would say I should get the extra nights for free.

PS - Piwi was fine when we got home.



10/20/2014 08:29AM  
quote Ho Ho: "
This May we went in before the park opened and paid for 10 nights with a check for a self-issue permit. I was told the wrong per-night rate for self-issue permits ahead of time - the actual rate was less than I was told - but I had already made the check out before we started so I overpaid that.

After 3 nights, our dog Piwi got sick and we paddled out. We paused briefly on our way out at Prairie Portage, where they were just getting ready to open for the season, and the ranger (Cathy) told me I should call headquarters, tell them what happened, and get a refund for the unused nights. I did that, and though it took them a couple weeks to work through the process, they refunded not only the extra nights, but also the amount I overpaid per night. I thought that was really nice.

If I ever ended up staying an extra night, or two or three, for whatever reason, I would definitely send in the extra money after the fact. I guess I can't quite understand the rationale that would say I should get the extra nights for free.

PS - Piwi was fine when we got home.



"
Sounds like you got awesome service from them.
 
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