BWCA RABC Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
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12/17/2019 12:44PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I'm seriously considering a trip to the Q this year and would like to enter via a tow from Crane Lake and work my way across Iron and Crooked, up into Argo and Darkwater and then through the myriad of lakes including Robinson and McIntrye. Not sure if I'll exit at PP or just jump on the Basswood River and exit at Mudro.

I've also thought about running the Basswood river all the way up into Crooked and up into Argo and around there for a few days and exiting at Bottle Portage.

I've done some research but I'm still not exactly sure how the RABC works and where I would need to check in (if at all).

Can anybody give me a quick cliff notes version of the RABC and how it works?
 
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12/17/2019 01:07PM  
If you take a tow from Crane Lake, no RABC is required. The tow operator will take you to Canadian customs and then to the LLC ranger station. Then you will be taken to the Bottle portage.

If you instead plan to enter at the Prairie Portage ranger station, you will need an RABC.
tumblehome
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12/17/2019 01:23PM  
Easy to get as long as you have no criminal convictions, DWI included. You need plenty of time in advance of your trip to apply and receive it back. There are just tons of threads on an RABC in the archives. Here's the appplication

Everything you need to know
12/17/2019 02:10PM  
4-8 weeks has been my turn around time on them. But as stated, I don't think you need one for what you have proposed.
12/17/2019 03:36PM  
Couple things I have learned so far....
A tow from Crane is pricey.
A member of our party has a DWI from 2010

I think our only safe option would be to apply for a RABC and go out of Prairie Portage and head into Quetico from there. We would know soon enough if he qualified for a RABC then the rest of us could plan our trip accordingly.

I have only been in the BWCA from Ely at Mudro and Moose River North.

I'll have to see what it costs to get to PP.
12/17/2019 05:04PM  
You'll know if he qualified before your trip. You'll need your RABC in hand before you cross the border at PP. Outfitters on Moose Lake tow to PP daily.....about $30/person one way
12/17/2019 05:23PM  
Bushman: "

I'll have to see what it costs to get to PP. "

LaTourell's charges $58.00/tow boat.
12/17/2019 05:50PM  
Banksiana: "
Bushman: "I'll have to see what it costs to get to PP. "

LaTourell's charges $58.00/tow boat."

I just checked out their website. Although I don't see Washington Island on a map anywhere, I believe that is the Island closest to Basswood River mouth?
12/17/2019 07:46PM  
Washington Island is the closest a motor can get to Basswood River. Probably ten miles of paddling to the outlet from Washington Island.
billconner
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12/17/2019 07:48PM  
10 years you might get away with a simple dui. He can apply for "criminal rehabilitation" or a "temporary resident permit".
12/17/2019 11:39PM  
Bushman: "
Banksiana: "
Bushman: "

I'll have to see what it costs to get to PP. "

LaTourell's charges $58.00/tow boat."


I just checked out their website although I don't see Washington Island on a map anywhere and I believe that is the Island closest to Basswood River mouth?"


Back Bay is even closer to the Basswood River.
12/18/2019 01:27AM  
Back Bay is somewhat closer but requires a portage to take advantage of this.
12/18/2019 09:21AM  
What's the fee for a RABC? Is it still $70 US?
12/18/2019 10:47AM  
Blatz: "What's the fee for a RABC? Is it still $70 US?"

I thought it was $30 Canadian
12/18/2019 11:11AM  
AmarilloJim: "
Blatz: "What's the fee for a RABC? Is it still $70 US?"

I thought it was $30 Canadian"

I saw that but somewhere I recall seeing $70 US
12/18/2019 11:25AM  
RABC fee is $30.00 Canadian.
12/18/2019 01:02PM  
Banksiana: "Back Bay is somewhat closer but requires a portage to take advantage of this."


That is true, but the portage is very flat and wide - like it was made with a bulldozer - and it is reasonably short. The landings on both ends are very nice. In other words, for a few dollars more, you can save a lot of time if your goal is the river.
12/18/2019 05:17PM  
Ausable: "
Banksiana: "Back Bay is somewhat closer but requires a portage to take advantage of this."



That is true, but the portage is very flat and wide - like it was made with a bulldozer - and it is reasonably short. The landings on both ends are very nice. In other words, for a few dollars more, you can save a lot of time if your goal is the river."



The river entrance was my original goal. My first trip idea was to run the river and check out all of the falls (i've only seen LBF) and then spend some time on Crooked. We paddled across Crooked in '18 but went straight across and spent only a few hours doing it. We would then head over to Curtain Falls and then exit out through Friday bay but this time skip the Moosecamp River and go through Gun and then Fourtown. I didn't much care for this exit plan and that is what got me looking into going up the river and into and across Crooked all the way to Curtain Falls and then turning east and north up into the Rolands and over to Argo, Cone, Elk and back into Crooked on the Canadian Side.
Go through Bart and Craig into Robinson then exit out through Kett and into Basswood.

It seems like a lot for 5 days on the water but I think I would like to move around a lot more this year. We basecamped for a few days on LLC this year and one night on our exit in Lake Agnes. I got restless even though we were exploring and fishing every day.

I wanted to skip a Mudro entrance as we have done that already and the Horse River was kind of a pain that year.

I guess I'm still really open to the route I was just hoping for a little more solitude by spending 1/2 thr trip in the Q.
old_salt
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12/18/2019 06:43PM  
I suggest that you reverse the Quetico portion of your route. I can tell you that the Back bay tow is quicker entry. The rules require you to enter Quetico as quickly as possible. This is an ambitious route.
 
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