BWCA Emergency campsite rules? Boundary Waters Trip Planning Forum
Chat Rooms (0 Chatting)  |  Search  |   Login/Join
* For the benefit of the community, commercial posting is not allowed.
Boundary Waters Quetico Forum
   Trip Planning Forum
      Emergency campsite rules?     
 Forum Sponsor

Author

Text

rayljr1
senior member (68)senior membersenior member
  
07/12/2021 08:36PM  
I am going in East Bearskin on Tues, August 16th. Planning on trying to set up base camp on Alder, Pierz, Canoe or Crystal. There are only about 14 total campsites on those 4 lakes. If I make it all the way to the far site on the east of Crystal, it will be pretty late in the day. I am concerned, based on the number of permits that have been obtained (basically, almost everything in the BWCA is taken), that I might struggle to find a campsite.

What is the rule, if you are paddling around, and darkness is coming, for setting up some type of temporary emergency campsite for the night?

Has anyone ever found themselves in that situation?

Am I being over-concerned, or is the BWCA very crowded this season?

 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
cyclones30
distinguished member(4163)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
07/12/2021 09:05PM  
Are you showing up late in the day? It shouldn't be late in the day to get through those lakes if you have any sort of decent start.

But....by the rules you're not supposed to camp anywhere else. Do people in a pinch? Yes. Leave no trace to the extreme, no fires (can't have any now anyway) etc. I also know of people asking or offering their site to share if it's obvious there isn't room.

But that's quite a few sites...you're right to be wondering but I don't think it's worth the worry. You won't know till you get there...don't stress about it for days ahead of time.
Me2012
distinguished member (202)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/12/2021 09:15PM  
That’s a great area. Have a good time!
07/13/2021 07:40AM  
I would stay on a portage if no sites are available and no one offers to share.
No fire and break camp at sun up.
07/13/2021 09:38AM  
If you know ahead of time that campsite availability might be slim and you pass up open campsites to get your desired site late in the day you are being irresponsible.

That said, there are no rules for emergency campsites. They would be illegal and if caught you would likely be fined. You certainly can get away with it. Camp well away from shore. Pull your canoe up out of sight. Set up your tent after dark and have it down before light and move on.

Best option, don't pass up open sites in your situation.

07/13/2021 09:48AM  
We had that exact experiance. That far east section is the only section we've ever had issues with campsite availability and both times it was the exact route you're taking.

On our second ever trip as a group, we paddled from East Bearskin to the far end of Crystal and every single site was taken. We got an early start and the day was still young...not looking forward to back tracking and heading up towards pine, we decided to do a bit of fishing and even take a nap while floating in the canoes on Crystal. I woke to the sound a aluminum clunking on the rocks, paddled back towards that last sight on Crystal to find the group shoving off to move up towards pine. We snagged the site and it all worked out.

The second time - same route, went in on Thurs instead of Friday and had the same experiance, every site taken, except the site on Crystal was open.
rayljr1
senior member (68)senior membersenior member
  
07/13/2021 12:47PM  
Thanks for all the info and advice.

This will be my 7th trip to the BWCA in the last 10 years. I cannot recall ever seeing this few permits available, so I speculate it is very crowded.

AND.... I know not everyone follows the rules, so I would bet with all the permits on popular lakes already gone, there will be people camping without permits.

I have had a couple of instances where we found a camp very late in the day, when it looked like we might not find one, and we had never asked about the rules before.

When I posted about "emergency campsite" I meant somewhere just to stay for the night. Just the basics of shelter set up and of course leave asap in the morning.

Reading the reviews, a few of those campsites on Alder, Canoe, Pierz are not very good. While I am not super picky, I do need a site to accommodate a tent and a hammock setup. So if the first site we come to, is pretty bad, I am certainly going to take a chance and look for a better one. After all, I am staying in 1 site the entire week.
Lawnchair107
distinguished member (406)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2021 01:33PM  
Had a crew last week pull up to LBF around 8:30 pm, not able to find a site. They actually stayed on the portage ( in Canada..) and left around 5:30 am the next morning. Pretty ballsy and piss poor scheduling on their end.
lookout!
Guest Paddler
  
07/13/2021 04:28PM  
As a former ranger who lived on E. Bearskin......automatic ticket
mjmkjun
distinguished member(2885)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2021 04:29PM  
Planning for a late start? A 9 or 10 am put-in will have you there in a jiffy. Portages are short and sweet. The paddling from the landing of E. Bearskin does take time but after that is behind you you'll have plenty of time to check out Pierz, Crystal, Canoe and Alder. That is--if the wind doesn't pick up too bad. Don't overlook the campsite on the left (698) just before you approach the E. Bearskin >>> Alder portage. If you have to backtrack it'll serve to prevent a disappointing episode or placing yourself in an illegal/uncomfortable situation. The next day someone may exit and you'll have a campsite open.
Nice, that farthest east campsite on Crystal.
MikeinMpls
distinguished member(1338)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2021 04:37PM  
I would think there would have to be extenuating circumstances beyond no campsite availability to declare an emergency sufficient to overnight in a non-designated campsite.

Mike
jillpine
distinguished member(919)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2021 06:58PM  
Emergency = trauma/capsize, sudden illness, extreme weather
Emergency is not: all campsites taken. Paddle on.
tumblehome
distinguished member(2911)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/13/2021 07:47PM  
lookout!: "As a former ranger who lived on E. Bearskin......automatic ticket"


:(

No need to talk about the many situations where it might be unavoidable. Severe winds and or storms. Injured or sick camper. Still a ticket. I abhor LE with that sort of attitude.

Lazy camper, poor planning, Yup ticket.
marrowoflife
member (46)member
  
07/14/2021 06:34AM  
tumblehome: "
lookout!: "As a former ranger who lived on E. Bearskin......automatic ticket"



:(


No need to talk about the many situations where it might be unavoidable. Severe winds and or storms. Injured or sick camper. Still a ticket. I abhor LE with that sort of attitude.


Lazy camper, poor planning, Yup ticket."

+1
07/14/2021 08:16AM  
tumblehome: "
lookout!: "As a former ranger who lived on E. Bearskin......automatic ticket"



:(


No need to talk about the many situations where it might be unavoidable. Severe winds and or storms. Injured or sick camper. Still a ticket. I abhor LE with that sort of attitude.


Lazy camper, poor planning, Yup ticket."


In all fairness…the OP didn’t preface their question based on conditions…it was a straight up answer to the OP IMHO.

T
07/14/2021 08:36AM  
Lawnchair107: "Had a crew last week pull up to LBF around 8:30 pm, not able to find a site. They actually stayed on the portage ( in Canada..) and left around 5:30 am the next morning. Pretty ballsy and piss poor scheduling on their end."


Ha! That is ballsy considering they also illegally stayed in CANADA!!!!

I know we can get fined for even crossing the border in the water in Voyageurs and is sometimes tricky. I wouldn't intentionally CAMP on the Canadian side, even if there weren't any spots available. Make sure to keep it in the US folks.

Last summer we did E. Bearskin and had a very difficult time finding a campsite. It was PACKED! I did run into Frenchy19 at Johnson Falls that trip though. Ha.
07/14/2021 11:38AM  
If it is getting dark and there are no campsites I would also camp on a portage. Close to a zero percent chance anyone is portaging after dark....well I do but most don't. And even closer to zero percent that the forest service/DNR is. Break camp early and try again.
MoosilaukeJohnny
member (19)member
  
07/14/2021 12:33PM  
Heading up the Gunflint river next Sunday (and across Sag, then down through Red Rock to Alpine, and out via Seagull)...for the first time since I guided out of Gunflint Lodge back in 1976 (45 yrs ago). Back then it was not uncommon to turn into Sag...look down the lake and see no boats. I gather things are quite different these days.

If there were no campsites vacant and it were getting dark - I'd camp wherever it looked feasible, keeping the health and safety of my wife and myself in proper perspective!

Having said this, we do intend to get very early starts each morning - with the aim of looking for sites before noon if possible. Fingers Crossed!
rayljr1
senior member (68)senior membersenior member
  
07/14/2021 06:05PM  
Once again thanks for the information and advice.

The plan is to get started pretty early. We will paddle east heading into Alder, then check the 6 campsites on Alder. If they are full, we will paddle to Pierz and check out those 3 sites. If that is full, we backtrack portage into Canoe and check those 2 sites. If they are full we portage into Crystal and check those 2 sites. At that point, I would guess at least 5-6 hours have passed with a lot of paddling. The only option then will be to back track completely, checking the sites we previously checked.

If all full, the only option for sites would be to portage back into East Bearskin, and check Moon, then Deer, then Caribou.

I honestly don't think the 2 of us are going to be able to physically do all of that before dark.

So to respond to some comments, it wont be because of poor planning or laziness. My concern is if the place is going to be jam packed as there are no permits....... virtually none currently available in the entire area. I have not seen that in the last 10 years (or at least noticed it).

With that said, my initial question appears to have been answered. There apparently is no such thing as "emergency campsite". If the Forrest Service finds you in an area not designated (and honestly, what is the chance of that from sundown to sunup), then you are in trouble. And to clarify, by "emergency site" I simply meant somewhere to sleep. If the weather is good, that may simply consist of a sleeping pad and sleeping bag on a rock or ground somewhere until daybreak.

Thank you all again for the info!
ockycamper
distinguished member(1372)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/14/2021 06:22PM  
It is a lot like driving late into the evening, then not finding a hotel room.

Start early, and plan on getting a camp site early afternoon at the latest. If you don't reach your destination, take the site you get to, and move on the next day.

It is not an "emergency" when you pass open sites, paddle into the evening and then can't find a site.
07/15/2021 09:33PM  
I’ve been told by FS, “you can’t camp here, find a site.” If that means exiting, I guess that’s what you have to do. Don’t pass an empty site if you have any concerns.
tumblehome
distinguished member(2911)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
07/16/2021 04:56PM  
ockycamper: "It is a lot like driving late into the evening, then not finding a hotel room.


Start early, and plan on getting a camp site early afternoon at the latest. If you don't reach your destination, take the site you get to, and move on the next day.


It is not an "emergency" when you pass open sites, paddle into the evening and then can't find a site."


^^
That is probably the best advice I've read.
Don't put yourself in a situation where you will fail.
There will be open campsites after 10 or 11 in the morning. Not every single site is a base camper. Sites will start filling again after noon.
Nobody should be paddling looking for a camp near dark. This means you started to late in the day or passed up open sites.
schweady
distinguished member(8070)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberpower member
  
07/16/2021 08:27PM  
ockycamper: "It is not an "emergency" when you pass open sites, paddle into the evening and then can't find a site."

This.
 
Reply    Reply with Quote    Print Top Bottom Previous Next
Trip Planning Sponsor:
Seagull Outfitters