Given the continuing drought in the Arrowhead, is there much of a chance that the USFS will implement a total fie ban in the SNF if the drought gets much worse? That is, no fires of any kind allowed - including cooking stoves. If I recall correctly (and there's no certainty in that), there was a ban of this type when Covid was first hitting, but my assumption then was that it was just a convenient way to keep people out of the wilderness when there was very little Forest Service manpower available to deal with any "people problems".

Are there any informed opinions members would like to share about this possibility?

Sawbill posted a Forest Service order today that bans all fires in the Superior National Forest, including within campgrounds. So far liquid fuel stoves are noted as ok.

I don't ever remember a total fire ban in the BWCA. I have encountered that in Montana however. Somehow, I suspect if it gets that dry, they would close the Boundary waters. But that is just a guess. As noted in another thread, in the 70's they closed all outdoor activities including fishing, birdwatching, etc. I really hope we don't get to that point.

Pilgrimpaddler: "Given the continuing drought in the Arrowhead, is there much of a chance that the USFS will implement a total fie ban in the SNF if the drought gets much worse? That is, no fires of any kind allowed - including cooking stoves. If I recall correctly (and there's no certainty in that), there was a ban of this type when Covid was first hitting, but my assumption then was that it was just a convenient way to keep people out of the wilderness when there was very little Forest Service manpower available to deal with any "people problems".

Are there any informed opinions members would like to share about this possibility?"

Outside of the Covid fireban which included gas stoves, I would find it unlikely as this would really be a deterrent to tell everyone to stay home. Not to say that in my youth - power bars, summer sausage, cheese, crackers, and beef jerky didn't fill a day of meals. A cup of coffee in the morning is tough to replace though.

Outside of the Covid fireban which included gas stoves, I would find it unlikely as this would really be a deterrent to tell everyone to stay home. Not to say that in my youth - power bars, summer sausage, cheese, crackers, and beef jerky didn't fill a day of meals. A cup of coffee in the morning is tough to replace though."

I love my coffee. My daughter is horribly, horribly, sensitive to mosquitos. So if we wake up and they are hovering we eat on the water. My coffee replacement is chocolate whey powder with instant coffee crystals. I bring along a shaker bottle with a ball whisk thingy. It's actually quite good. Our local co-op sells these little bottles of powdered instant black tea, if you mix it with lemon electrolyte powder it's a very tasty caffeinated Arnold Palmer vibe, and very good at getting you through a no-coffee morning.