I am a procrastinator and delayed as usual to buy my August permit. I do this every year and this is the first time my area wasn't available and most areas (that I am willing to go to) were taken as well.

Now I get to take my 1 and 4 year olds on Brule Lake. Oh well... should be an experience.

Just an observation.

Also why are the people going to Brule Lake not taking pictures of the campsites?!?!!? lol going to be some guess work involved.

You know, when I did this month's permit study, I also thought it seemed to be a bit above average use this August.

schweady: "You know, when I did this month's permit study, I also thought it seemed to be a bit above average use this August.
"

I blame the national news attention

I don't have any scientific study to back this up, but I'd agree that the permits seem to be gobbled up more than average for this time of year. There wasn't much of anything available for my last minute trip last week.

Then dont wait for the last minute.

If all the permits are being utilized, Then that's a good thing...

maybe trying to avoid the state fair too, I cannot believe people torture themselves by going to that, but I am glad they do

I wonder if maybe the cold/wet/snowy May we had is playing a role. I know there were many people on the forum who canceled their trips due to weather with plans to move their trip to later in the summer.

Tony

First 3 weeks of August are always busy. I will not go at that time. The 4th week can be suprisingly quiet......until the Labor Day weekend which gets really busy around the entry point lakes.

Yogi: I am not complaining in any sense. I am fine with waiting until the last minute. It just struck me as odd. Also I am not sure I agree that all permits being utilized is a good thing.

Gopher: That is a good guess too with people having to alter their plans.

Cowdoc: That has always been my experience in August. The last week is normally pretty quiet but this year it does not appear to be the case. If my kids were a tad older I wouldn't even consider August at all lol. Mid September would be my go to and in their teens I might even go early October.

I observed the same thing. For the past 10 years I typically reserve the permit roughly 1 month before our start date, and have only once or twice had any problems with our desired entry being full.

This year, the only openings were so slim we are doing a motor access entry :shudder: ;)

Mn Park use and National park use is up or equal to 2018 which was way up.

Pinetree: "Mn Park use and National park use is up or equal to 2018 which was way up."

So it's a national thing pinetree. I wonder why the numbers are so high lately. I'm more curious just for curious sakes. No real reason behind wondering. Just seems that for a while there all the numbers were way low or at least that is what I was led to believe when reading articles.

WinstonRumfoord: "I observed the same thing. For the past 10 years I typically reserve the permit roughly 1 month before our start date, and have only once or twice had any problems with our desired entry being full.


This year, the only openings were so slim we are doing a motor access entry :shudder: ;)"

Hello Winston. Please send my best to Kazak! :)

My metro area school district is starting a week earlier than last year. I don't know if this is a larger trend, but that might consolidate August trips to the early part of the month.

Other guesses:
-The mining attention is making people think, "now or never," or something along those lines.

-The permit/lottery issue early in the year may have turned people off to early trips that they are now taking.

Another, sort of anecdotal thing, I've got young kids and there seems to be a brewing rejection of smart phones, organized sports, etc. The parents around me seem to be putting more value on an organic childhood, at least to more of an extent than a few years ago.

Are there Pokemon Go sites in the BW?!

Getting a last minute BWCA permit during late July through mid-August has been a tall order for decades.

We just got out. We got lucky and got a island site on Meeds lake, but there were no others to be had there or surrounding lakes. Lots of frustrated paddlers going by.

arctic: "Getting a last minute BWCA permit during late July through mid-August has been a tall order for decades."

I agree but I've been doing these last minute reservations for the end of August for about 10 years now and have never had any issue with getting my 1st pick. It seems like the middle of August busyness has extended to late August.

My wife and I did a day trip into North and South Hegman last Saturday (August 17th) and I couldn't believe the number of people we saw! I'm sure the pictographs are a popular day trip on top of the overnight paddlers, but nonetheless, I was really surprised. I'm not normally in the BWCA during the high season.

I live in a tourist town the vehicle traffic is way up.

Then economy is better people have more money to spend.

When one has more income one can spend it on fun things.

After the last crash and higher fuel cost the traffic was way down.