My oldest son has shown an interest in making a BWCA trip with me in 2023, along with some of my grandchildren. I'm thrilled, but here in lies the problem... how do I schedule a trip and secure a permit in January without knowing their situation in June? Three of the four grandkids are in three different colleges, they all have jobs, and their schedules don't mesh. Fourth grandson is in HS so he is a little easier, but my son's job is a real ballbuster and scheduling time off is hard for him.

We should be able to narrow things down a bit by permit time in January (trip in mid-June or mid-July),but having a set day is not going to happen five or six months in advance and waiting till the last second to score a permit is a bad idea too. A two or three week window before the trip start date is the best we can hope for.

I could finagle the system and secure several permits for a couple of different EPs on different dates. (There are ways to do it as we all know.) I want this trip to happen, but not that way.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? There has to be a solution that doesn't involve bending the rules. HELP!

Thanks,
Merlyn

A couple (or more) thoughts:

1. Does it have to be one trip? Would breaking it into 2 (or 3) make it easier to work around schedules?

2. Be flexible about where you go. Last year I got a permit in late April/early May for an August trip. It wasn't our first choice for an entry but we made it work.

3. As several pointed out last year, there was a certain percentage of permits that were cancelled from 4-10 days before entry date. You may get lucky and find something more to your liking the closer you get. I know that makes it harder to work with an outfitter and bunkhouse provider, but I think it can be done.

4. Remember that there are places outside the BW that provide a BW-esque experience without the permit hassle: lakes with paddle in campsites outside the BW.

5. Maybe this year is the year that you do day trips into the BW from a basecamp outside. There are many entries along the Gunflint that would allow for several nice day trips of paddling/fishing without necessitating an overnight permit. There are 4-5 entries off the Sawbill Trail and spurs that would provide a nice day trip itinerary. E.g. Camp at Sawbill Lake Campground and paddle Hog Creek, Kawishiwi Lake, Sawbill Lake, Baker Lake, Homer Lake, and Brule Lake entries.

6. Thinking outside the box: You could even have Sawbill Outfitters drop you at Brule Lake and paddle back to Sawbill in one day. (Or leave a car at Baker Lake to make it shorter yet.) It would be a longish day, but in mid-June you would have long enough days to do this safely. Without the extra packs, you would be single portaging!

Hope this helps.

The biggest key as the other responder mentioned is flexibility. Something has to bend. If the dates are the most important thing, than perhaps your choice of entry point has to be flexible. That said, though it can be a little anxiety inducing for some, I have had great luck making a routine of checking for permits. As soon as you know the day your planning on entering, start watching. Check the website a few times a day until the right permit opens up. I was blown away how often "prime" entry point permits would show up on the busiest days of the summer. All I had to do was wait.

Exciting to be able to introduce your son and the grandkids, happy for you.

Another voice for be flexible. I also have had good luck watching permits once a date could be determined allowing a day either way. Many times I did not get my first choice, but I have yet to find a bad ep. I think a 2-3 week period is adequate to find a suitable EP.

And be flexible on when. While June and July have a lot to offer, each season has its own special benefit. And taking vacation when everyone else is taking vacation makes it hard to schedule on both ends.

Realistically, are you even going to be able to get all of them available for the same days? If their jobs are that tight or demanding, it could be pretty impossible. I think I would pick a likely date and just get a permit for one of the larger entry points (Sawbill, Moose, Sag, or Seagull). This allows everyone to put in for a vacation time request and you can see how many can actually go. If the number who can go is too low for your liking, figure out if you can pick up one of the same entry points on a slightly different day.

I have a feeling things are going to settle down a little bit this next year anyway. Could be wrong, but with covid restrictions gone and the hype over decreasing the number of permits gone by, and Quetico open, I think there might be less craziness.

Don't tell anyone if you're hoarding permits.

That said, I'd get your top choice on permit opening day in Jan. Then when May rolls around and people know what they can do and when, either keep it or cancel and get one that does fit. It seems like there are cancelled ones that open all the time in the weeks leading up to that date (people in your situation).

I would book one like cyclones30 said...or if you permit hoard don't tell us about :)

Book your 1st choice on date/entry in January then be flexible.

I think there is a really good chance you can get a trip booked in a 2-3 week window like you might be stuck with due to the competing schedules.

I'd also establish who REALLY wants to go. Some people are passive and they use work as an excuse to not go instead of just saying no...you don't want to be waiting on someone's schedule who is just going to never have it work out anyway.

T

How long can you go? Can YOU go for long enough to accommodate everyone else's schedules? It's my understanding that only the primary permit holder has to stay in the BWCA the entire time. I believe others can join later or leave early.

Stay on an entry point lake like Brule or Sawbill. List everyone on the permit. I think this is legal.

Easy solution: You commit to two trips! Then they join you on the one that works.