How do I find out the designated numbers of the camp sites.

The lake maps here on BWCA.COM display both lake site number and ultimate site number.

How appropriate.

maps section

Just scroll around, zoom in/out.

LarrySw45: "

How appropriate."

Numbers on the latrines are different than the actual campsite numbers. I think the BW is divided into small sections and then the latrines numbered for that section. Probably for the repair/pit digging crew and maintenance.

cowdoc: "Numbers on the latrines are different than the actual campsite numbers. I think the BW is divided into small sections and then the latrines numbered for that section. Probably for the repair/pit digging crew and maintenance. "

Numbers on the latrines (if present) indicate site numbers specific to that body of water. Data imbedded in campsite waypoints in both the USFS database and my Arch Harris set list both the unique site number within the total set and the lake- or river-specific number.

On our mid-September trip, we were based on Site #1691. On our latrine was inscribed "#4," indicating that this was Clear Lake Site #4. I can only guess that this has occasionally played a role as useful backup tool in helping an emergency caller identify their exact location.

schweady: "

cowdoc: "Numbers on the latrines are different than the actual campsite numbers. I think the BW is divided into small sections and then the latrines numbered for that section. Probably for the repair/pit digging crew and maintenance. "

Numbers on the latrines (if present) indicate site numbers specific to that body of water. Data imbedded in campsite waypoints in both the USFS database and my Arch Harris set list both the unique site number within the total set and the lake- or river-specific number.


On our mid-September trip, we were based on Site #1691. On our latrine was inscribed "#4," indicating that this was Clear Lake Site #4. I can only guess that this has occasionally played a role as useful backup tool in helping an emergency caller identify their exact location.
"

I use to think it was by lake, but then explain why our latrine on Cummings had 38 on it. There are not 38 sites on Cummings, so it has to encompass an area or series of lakes, or its somewhat of a random numbering system.

cowdoc: "I use to think it was by lake, but then explain why our latrine on Cummings had 38 on it. There are not 38 sites on Cummings, so it has to encompass an area or series of lakes, or its somewhat of a random numbering system."

Sure. Who knows? All of those that I've noted as numbered conformed to the lake number theory.

Maybe somebody on a repair crew had an old #38 latrine in their canoe when it came time to replace a damaged throne on Cummings... :-)

LarrySw45: "

How appropriate."

LOL!!!!
FISHONFISHOFF

From perusing the data, I do think these are meant to be within a lake, however, there are lakes that have gaps. Lac La Croix is a great example that has numbers ranging from 1 in to the 300's.

The unique 4 digit number that we have been used to using may be something that the FS really isn't using anymore. They instead appear to be relying on an identifier for a camp that is made up of a 6 digit "lake" id combined with a 3 digit internal camp number. e.g. the camp on cummings is 690221038.

The few reasons I can see for these gaps:
- They mark other things on the lake using the internal numbers.
- They gapped out campsite numbers for certain parts of the lake if it is large enough so Lac La Croix would have a west, middle, and east region for instance. That way if they add more campsites they have numbers in that range.
- They just simply lost track of the highest number and started at a safe place.

Hopefully, the later isn't the case, but who knows.

Having had a chat with the USFS team digging a new latrine at our site earlier this year, I can confirm that the numbers correspond to the lake, and exist to provide a reliable indicator of the correct lake in the case of a rescue event.

InvertedEgg: "Having had a chat with the USFS team digging a new latrine at our site earlier this year, I can confirm that the numbers correspond to the lake, and exist to provide a reliable indicator of the correct lake in the case of a rescue event."

my latrine on Seagull had no number on it.

Well I guess you were $h!thouse out of luck if you needed a rescue

Thanks tor all of your responses but.....I'm basically right back where I started.

You can get the numbers through the maps section of this site. Is that not what you are looking for?