BWCA BWCA trips and COVID-19 Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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RobKesselring1
member (20)member
  
03/22/2020 06:47PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
I am hearing several reports of state parks and their campgrounds closing, as well as the NPS canceling 2020 river permits. I just returned from the Ozarks and although the state and NPS campgrounds were nearly empty, they were open for camping. But policies seem to change daily in this evolving crisis. I don't want to jinx anything, but wondering if anyone has heard if the Forest Service is considering closing down the BWCA.
 
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marsonite
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03/22/2020 09:02PM  
Check out the other thread on this topic, "The question no one wants to ask..".

I'm guessing it's going to be closed. Not by the forest service necessarily. You just can't have all the people from the Twin Cities and all over the country going up there and bringing Covid 19 with them. The hospitals in northern Minnesota just aren't equipped. I am somewhat pessimistic about fishing season too.

I really hope I'm wrong. Maybe there will be some game changing treatment or the warm weather will slow the spread. But until you see the numbers of new cases start to fall, you are going to see more and more restrictions on movement.
 
03/23/2020 08:04AM  
I have a trip planned for May and I'm keeping an eye on this too. If I was going into Ely, I might consider canceling the trip, but I'm going in through Kawishiwi. The plan is to stay with my canoe partner in Duluth for one night, then drive straight up to the entry point. No hotels, probably going to skip on the restaurants, self serve gas stations, probably no contact at all on the way, and all supplied are either bought locally while already at the grocery store or ordered online. Even the permit is picked up by my buddy who lives in Duluth at Duluth Pack (this might change though if they close). The only additional risk we have of spreading the virus between communities is me driving from Mankato to meet my buddy in Duluth.

I'm just saying that you can go to the boundary waters responsibly and limit your exposure to others at the same time. It doesn't take that much effort. Probably the biggest change we are making though is the amount of Advil cold and sinus and other medication we will be bringing, because I would hate to get sick then have to portage without it.
 
sunnybear09
distinguished member(809)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/23/2020 08:22AM  
Rob--Worrying about the same thing--planning either Q or BWCA after the BW Expo. Even if the BW is open to canoeing, will the resorts be open? Will Bearskin Lodge be open first week of June? I booked my permit for the BW as a back-up, not wanting to get a res. for Q and wind up losing my deposit. We are all on the edge of the unknown...sadly. WB.
 
03/23/2020 09:20AM  
If they do close the BW and Quetico this year it could be very bad for Ely and Grand Marais. It's pretty obvious news but one I hadn't thought of until now. I'm in favor of locking every state down asap for two weeks to identify who is contagious and get them in a hospital. This is such a slippery slope. I hope our leadership is up to the task.
 
SinglePortage
distinguished member (267)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/23/2020 10:12AM  
I think that Quetico is closed through April. Another risl is people getting ill and needing to be rescued.
 
03/23/2020 11:35AM  
MN State Parks still accepting online reservations for camper cabins and yurts as of today; I just made one for next week. All payments will be remote or online.

Nothing new posted on the reservation page for the BW, and I have heard nothing from the outfitters where I plan on spending a night before my mid June entry.

Of course, all the above could change in the time it takes me to post this.
 
03/23/2020 07:34PM  
Heading to a camper cabin at a nearby state park tomorrow night with a good buddy. Steaks on the grill, a nice fire, some good craft brews and plenty of good tunes, and a couple of games of cribbage once we retreat to the cabin for the night. We do this a couple times a year and it's always a good time. This year I need it possibly more than ever for a days respite from the craziness and a day outdoors after a long winter.

If they close down soon we will be lucky we were able to get it in. BWCA trip planned for May 17, hoping there is no barriers to that. Trout fishing in SE MN with basecamp at a state park in late April, something I have done for the last 10 years or so, hoping I don't lose that opportunity either, one of my favorite trips.
 
03/23/2020 07:34PM  
Heading to a camper cabin at a nearby state park tomorrow night with a good buddy. Steaks on the grill, a nice fire, some good craft brews and plenty of good tunes, and a couple of games of cribbage once we retreat to the cabin for the night. We do this a couple times a year and it's always a good time. This year I need it possibly more than ever for a days respite from the craziness and a day outdoors after a long winter.

If they close down soon we will be lucky we were able to get it in. BWCA trip planned for May 17, hoping there is no barriers to that. Trout fishing in SE MN with basecamp at a state park in late April, something I have done for the last 10 years or so, hoping I don't lose that opportunity either, one of my favorite trips.
 
luft
distinguished member(2850)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
03/24/2020 01:35AM  
I have a reservation for a bunk house for my solo in late May... if the BWCA is open for overnight camping and my nursing job allows me to take my annual leave.

I haven't heard anything from the outfitter as yet. If Covid-19 is still a major issue (as it will likely be) I will just sleep in my van on their property and let them keep my bunk fee so they don't have to clean up after me. Maybe I could park for free in leu of my bunk house rental.

Stopping for gas is my major concern as is picking up my permit from my outfitter. I plan on sanitizing my hands and credit card for all transactions. Pay at the pump etc.

But eventually I will need to use a bathroom. Mask up, sanitize hands again...
 
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