Well last night was "Permit Day's Eve" and today it all starts.

Thanks to all for a supportive, informative community built around paddling and I hope you all get what you're looking for.

As for me, I've directed the church staff that no one shall enter my office until after my permits have been procured. No pastoral emergencies shall come upon us.

My finger will be hovered over the computer mouse, ready to go.

Peace my friends.

PS Our congregation is building some canoes and we're putting in for two summer youth trips and a fall adult trip as well. Yaya.

Very excited as well this morning. Good luck getting your permits for your groups!

Good luck EVERYBODY!

My elementary aged grandkids told my wife on the way to school, "It's Permit Day! I can't wait to get our permit for our June trip". Pretty cool when the youngsters catch the fever.

:)

What a thrill! I got the one I was hoping for, and I hope you all did too!

Got our Mudro permit processed by 9:05. Easy-peasy, as long as you're ready at 9:00:10... After 10 minutes, I see exactly 100 days completely filled at that EP.

In and out in 3 minutes, late season OM for moose>prairie portage. They were all gone by 9:06. These are some of the most competitive permits to pull. I never have a problem getting 1, but if you were trying to pull several for different dates I think that would be tough. Which is probably a good thing!

Our other trips to the area this year won’t require permits, so it was a nice relaxing morning here :)

Hope everybody had good luck and wish you a great paddling, camping, and fishing season.

I got mine!

Headed to Mudro in June. It's crazy how fast some of these entry points get filled up!

Lizz Lake- May 18
Little Gabbro- July 2
Wood Lake- July 21

Eight minutes start to finish.

Mike

Got date and EP I wanted along with a lodge room the night before. Just me and my youngest daughter this year on Duncan, can't wait!

Based on the amount of LIS North & Mudro permits still avaiable 15 minutes later Id say there is slightly less demand this year. I swear last year they were all but booked up in the first 10 minutes.

Kawishiwi Lake - May
Mudro (To Crooked!) - July
LIS N - September

Can't wait!!!

Got ours!

Got the 4 I was looking for. Took 9 minutes and I was done.

OMGitsKa: "Based on the amount of LIS North & Mudro permits still avaiable 15 minutes later Id say there is slightly less demand this year. I swear last year they were all but booked up in the first 10 minutes..."

Agree, somewhat. As of 9:30, still 5 or 6 EP23-Mudro available in both June and July and several still out there for early September. Unfortunately, it's still a matter of being ready in the first hour or so or looking elsewhere.

Got mine for South kawishawi River for 7 August. I feel lucky because by 9:10 all permits were gone for that entry point for the entire month of August and most of the summer.

Also got a permit for 23 May for seagull lake to fish Lakers so I'm pretty happy

A friend got a permit for little Gabbro for 6th September had to settle for the six because the 7th was already gone. So it looks like my summer is filling up already.

Tony

Wow did permits go fast!

With son working at Sawbill, wanted to pull three permits. Got May 21, June 26, by the time I got to August (in same transaction, just hit continue shopping) first 11 days of August were booked...so we'll go in Kawishiwi Lake and exit Sawbill. Surprised how quickly those Sawbill permits were flyin!

I really appreciate how well the recreation.gov website works. I've gotten online tickets for various things many times before and so often they lock up or barely work at the go live time. No such problems the past two years here, didn't notice any kind of slowdown and was in and found my dates within about 20 seconds.

Good thing too, as my first two choices were gone for the summer within 10 minutes.

schweady: "

OMGitsKa: "Based on the amount of LIS North & Mudro permits still avaiable 15 minutes later Id say there is slightly less demand this year. I swear last year they were all but booked up in the first 10 minutes..."

Agree, somewhat. As of 9:30, still 5 or 6 EP23-Mudro available in both June and July and several still out there for early September. Unfortunately, it's still a matter of being ready in the first hour or so or looking elsewhere."

And, one hour into it, I already saw one Mudro permit put back into the system. So, keep your eyes open, set the calendar to your preferred EP/date and refresh once in a while. (I noticed it because this put-pack was on our same date, which was previously filled in the first 10 min.)

Still, after just one hour, only seven EP23 permits remain available between May 15 and Sep 15. (98.9% filled) And, Little Gabbro? 4 permits still up for grabs for the entire season, but they are all in the first week of May. (Hey, there's a chance this year that the ice *could* be out by then...)

At the very least, it was some excitement thinking about paddling season. Thought the system worked pretty well.

June Kawishiwi Lake permit, lots of exploring to do past Malberg.
July Moose River North, Lac La Croix and maybe beyond.
August plans changed to NP road trip.

Happy tripping out there.

schweady: "

schweady: "

OMGitsKa: "Based on the amount of LIS North & Mudro permits still avaiable 15 minutes later Id say there is slightly less demand this year. I swear last year they were all but booked up in the first 10 minutes..."

Agree, somewhat. As of 9:30, still 5 or 6 EP23-Mudro available in both June and July and several still out there for early September. Unfortunately, it's still a matter of being ready in the first hour or so or looking elsewhere."

And, one hour into it, I already saw one Mudro permit put back into the system.
"

I was watching Mudro last year and agree that they went faster than this year. I picked up an E Bearskin permit for the 2nd year in a row, I feel like those booked out faster than last year. Clearwater lake fully booked may 7th-september 29th already!

Got the two EPs and dates I was targeting, Crab in May and Moose River in September. Done in 6 minutes.

I'm sure folks realize there will be fluctuation and permits popping up as people grab what's there and then change their minds (or realize their trip partner also grabbed the same one).

For folks who aren't as comfortable with the online booking, it might be nice if FS could add a "practice" booking app, or at least a step by step video, in the weeks ahead of opening. (Maybe that's out there on rec.gov already?)

Looking forward to seeing folks on the water this year!

Every year I'm amazed how quick some things go. Mudro is a desolate wasteland in June in less than 10 minutes.

Got permits for my 7-8d "Lake Trout RoundAbout" in May via Brant, my second solo in June for 8-9d via Baker, and a 5d in August with a friend who's never been, via Mudro. Now I can _really_ get excited :) just need to actually get fit this year...

I was able to get right on and picked up the permit I wanted.

Went for and got a Gabbro permit for early Sept, then more casually picked up a Kawishiwi Lake permit for early August. Gabbro is my official yearly trip with the grandkids. I will also offer them the Kawishiwi trip into Malberg if they so choose to accept that challenge. There's no crying in the BWCA.

Tempted to paddle the local river today in the sunshine.

pastorjsackett: "Well last night was "Permit Day's Eve" and today it all starts.

Thanks to all for a supportive, informative community built around paddling and I hope you all get what you're looking for.

As for me, I've directed the church staff that no one shall enter my office until after my permits have been procured. No pastoral emergencies shall come upon us.

My finger will be hovered over the computer mouse, ready to go.

Peace my friends.

PS Our congregation is building some canoes and we're putting in for two summer youth trips and a fall adult trip as well. Yaya. "

I should have given the same instruction to my people! Someone showed up for counsel at 8:07 and left at 9:20. I was sitting at my computer unable to participate. By the time I was alone my permit was long gone. God must want me in another sector this spring. We shall see!

As I've run into fellow paddlers over the last week, I've been asking if their ready for the most important day of the year.

Always a fun conversation.

I respect your priorities and your drive to serve, preacherdave. I'm hopeful you find the place you are looking for to enter the BWCA and enjoy.

Just looked and there are a lot of permits available.

My first choice dates for Clearwater and Pine were gone within the first minute of open registration. I will start a day late for each trip. Very glad I was hitting refresh at 0900.

I got my first date/EP choice and now, like technically rugged, I just have to get in better shape. Now there are non left for that date/EP, but lots available that day.