Hi all,

Got another conundrum I'm looking for some advice on. I am the trip planner and always have been for as long as I can remember, so I purchased a permit for Mudro for a put in date for our large group in mid-May. Was able to swipe the last one available before they all got gobbled up. I've never seen permits for EP22/23 go so fast and for the entire summer like we did this year. I posted in a previous thread about me going up to LBF through Fall Lake ep (which I got the permit for) the day before the big group comes up as I like a little solo time and I can secure a campsite for the group for a worry free arrival to our designated area. This is an annual trip where we head to LBF, post up for 3 days, crush the wally's, then head home. Personally, I'm more of 10 day, 100 mile Quetico adventure moving every day to see new spots kind of person, but the rest of the group doesn't quite share my enthusiasm for the manual labor involved in breaking camp daily and traveling to new locations. Which is fine. I'm honestly just happy that we've been able to continue this trip for 15 years despite everyone going through so many life changes such as marriage, kids, and moves.

But I digress. My problem is, when I purchased the permit for the larger group, I was so flustered in trying to ensure I secured a permit before they sold out, that I listed myself as the trip leader, even though I wouldn't be the one receiving the permit. I did not add an alternate trip leader when I purchased. I know I know, rookie mistake and I actually do know better than that, but I was in the middle of a meeting when permits went on sale and I just wanted to make sure we got our date and I didn't even think about it until after the permit was bought and our outfitter was like "Uhhh how are we going to issue the permit to your group if you're already going to be in the dub."

Ugh. The outfitter said there's nothing they can do and they obviously can't issue the permit to anyone but me. SO, the scariest option is to cancel the permit and rebuy, but I know, like myself, many people have permit availability alerts on and as soon as a Mudro permit opens up for a weekend date in May, it's gonna get swiped in seconds. That's my assumption anyway. My question here is, does anyone know when you cancel a permit, does it become immediately available on the rec.gov site again? I've read some places that say it sometimes won't show back up as an available permit until the next day and that just doesn't seem worth the risk, but asking the wider group here for any advice.

Thank you and sorry for the long winded novel.

I don’t know anything about how fast canceled permits become available, but I agree that option would be too risky for me to consider as the whole group could be out of luck.

You could try calling the forest service to plead your case. If they can’t/won’t help you maybe your outfitter will issue both permits to you and the group could come in on day permits the following day. Could be a legally gray option but might work. Otherwise you could always cancel your day before permit and roll with whole crew.

Tough spot, good luck!

If you can’t get another person listed as the leader/alternate leader, then I would cancel the earlier solo permit and just enter with the rest of the group. Don’t risk loosing the group permit.

Another option, but involves a lot of work on your end - go in on your permit, stay the night, head out early, leave the BWCA and back to the outfitter to pick up the permit with the rest of your group and re-eneter. As I said, a lot of work on your end.

I'd agree with cancelling the solo and just go as a group.

Easy peasy.... cancel ur solo and worry about the group.

Just go to Armstrong Station and put in @Little Caribou Lake to Caribou Lake,Brockway Lake System or Campbell River @ the end of Caribou Lake @ the dead end of Keller Bay on Caribou Lake, Armstrong Station. You will catch more fish than you can eat and they will be big just cut the line if they are too big!

Your only hope to do this legally is to (1) call the USFS and plead your case or (2) bring your gear back out to Mudro and hope the site is available when you return. If you paddle to Mudro to meet your group, you will have exited the BWCAW, and leaving gear behind at the campsite will violate the rules. If you tell them upfront that you wouldn’t leave the gear, it will help your case with the feds.

I would just cancel the solo permit and go in with the group. I doubt the FS would let you bend the rules somehow just because you goofed, and I wouldn't take the risk of leaving everyone else high and dry if you cancel the group permit and aren't able to re-book it. Chalk it up to a learning experience.