I just went on the reservation site this morning. My buddy and I have some unscheduled time off in August so I looked into what permits might be open starting mid-August.

Holy. Crap.

I have never seen that amount of permits unavailable. Even if there are some that open up the closer to the date, I still wouldn't want to go in. There are some entry points that allow 12 permits a day. Every one of those permits are gone for a week solid. That is 84 permits taken for that week. A potential 756 people entering that point in one week.

Needless to say, I talked to my buddy and we are making alternative plans for August.

Its crazy. Thats why I wasn't all that upset when my July trip had to be cancelled last second. We're looking at rebooking for september and the permit situation looks much better when you start looking at mid September.

With all of the new people flooding the BWCA I also wonder how many people are aware of the permit requirement. I've got to imagine that at least some are entering without a permit out of ignorance. I know I've seen posts on this site over the years from newbies looking for advice that are unaware of the need for a permit and a specific entry point on a specific day. Im sure there are people that are going that didn't bother to research some of that stuff.

I'm hoping that crowds do drop off in September like they normally do.

Just think how full those crappers may be in September...

Coming out last Saturday, I ran into a large group assembling at the north end of a portage ... then yet more of the group came. There was a father and son together carrying a huge Yeti Cooler that was clearly too heavy for the complaining young-teen son. It was a chaotic and disorganized mess of too many people and boats. I was unsure if they were all under one permit.

After we were waiting offshore for a while, they invited us to work through. We made pretty quick work because it was a short portage and we were organized.

At the south end of the portage, the father of another inexperienced family was seeking some advice. He was a nice guy looking to take his kids on a fun trip. They had way too much stuff, loose stuff everywhere, all of it in the middle of the portage landing ... After chatting briefly he disclosed that his group was with the other group. That would make about 20-25? people in that "group" all heading to Agnes.

I give a lot of slack to parents trying to take their kids outside. I didn't and won't change that attitude, but the outfitter should have been clear that they were supposed to be actually physically separate from the other group rather than just on different permits. Of course it is possible that they received the advice and ignored it.

I didn't let it spoil my day or my trip, but I wondered if I should have gently explained that to them. I don't need more confrontation in my life or stress for my bow paddler. On the other hand, the beloved resource deserves protection as well ...

This year is indeed different.

inspector13: "
Just think how full those crappers may be in September...


"

Holy crap indeed.

I went to Insula Middle of June and it seemed less crowded than normal to our group of 6?

Our experience late June was what I think you would typically expect. Went in at Kawishiwi Lake, the crowds dropped off at Polly, which was the first long portage. That portage was a big old cluster though, had to get out of there as quick as possible. Witnessed a guy at the beginning of the portage starting to portage an aluminum with no portage pads....thwart right on the back of the neck. Got to Koma, crowds dropped off and the circus feeling went away.

Have been playing the wait for an entry point to open up game for this weekend, watching the permits, a few open up, but you have to be quick, they get snapped up fast.