I'm supposed to be putting in tomorrow morning, but I have yet to receive an email with a virtual permit. All the offices I've called are now closed. Anyone know how this process is supposed to work? I understood that I'd get an email day before put in, watch a video, then get my permit. No email....

Thanks,
John

You should have gotten an email about a month ago telling you that permits must now be picked up at a outfitter or Ranger station. They changed the process. I think you now watch the third video when you pick up the permit.

Goldenbadger: "You should have gotten an email about a month ago telling you that permits must now be picked up at a outfitter or Ranger station. They changed the process. I think you now watch the third video when you pick up the permit. "

Never got that email...the station I'm signed up for is not even open tomorrow.

It was actually maybe even a month and a half ago or more. Around the beginning of July. You'll have to try to change your puck up location and see if there's an outfitter you can get it from. I know there was extensive discussion on here about it and emails went out to permit holders. Check your junk email folder.

I'd be on the phone to a different one first thing...

Good luck. I hope you have a great trip. Where are you going out of?

Baker Lake. Might be able to get it at Sawbill outfitters. Can a station swap it for you like that if you just show up?

I don't think so. But you can go on the recreation.gov site and change your pick up location. I would do that tonight. And call Sawbill to ask them about picking it up there.

Goldenbadger: "I don't think so. But you can go on the recreation.gov site and change your pick up location. I would do that tonight. And call Sawbill to ask them about picking it up there. "

I looked at that, but the "I need to make a change" option is grayed out. I assume because it's so close to the date. I'm on hold with recreation.gov...my wife is trying to get ahold of Sawbill.

Thanks...we'll see what happens.

JN: "Baker Lake. Might be able to get it at Sawbill outfitters. Can a station swap it for you like that if you just show up?
"

Prior to Covid pandemic yes, but since, permit issuance changed and then changed again. If you can successfully change it to Sawbill tonight, you're set. Sawbill has a wifi access via a Verizon attenna at its office window but connection can be weak, now and then. Take a picture of permit confirmation with your phone.

There are closures in the Sawbill area due to fires. So keep that in mind as well. I hope it works out for you.

The recreation.gov folks were completely useless (which is awesome after being on hold and transferred around for over an hour), but my wife spoke with a helpful lady at Sawbill Outfitters who said we'd have to contact a ranger station in the morning and have them transfer our pickup location. So much for being on the water at 7am.

So while it doesn't look like we're sunk, I'm reminded again that bureaucracy ruins everything it touches.

Thanks all for the input.

Recreation.gov can't help with hardly anything. They're there to book and collect fees and that's it. Ranger Station is the key. Ranger station hours vary so check which one opens earliest.

Worth reading, John. sawbill closure update Pack a N95 mask for when the wind blows smoke your way.

We were up on Moose on the 3rd of July. Missed our permit pickup in Ely. My daughter call the Ranger station in the morning and got it change to Williams and Hall. Didn’t take long.

Carl

I'm guessing you didn't get a permit this morning due to the impending closure order. I'm sorry - we're supposed to go in on the 28th. Not looking good for us either.

correct, you didn't get the permit due to BWCA being closed to all permits

We picked up our permit on our way through Tofte, no problem. We only planned for a short weekend trip, so we were already on our way back out when we met a pair of rangers telling people about the closure. Made it...just barely.