Good day. I love the BWCA with all my heart and soul. I cancelled my Aug trip, but WILL go this year-and EVERY year, at least once. Planning for Oct. I'm hoping there are no more burn bans at that time. What does everyone else think the burn BAN forecast is??

Impossible to say. It depends on the weather between now and then.

No way to know for sure, but, I would think it's more likely the ban is lifted by October than it stays in place until then, but would make plans assuming it'll be in place until the snow falls.

My guess is it will stay in place until the first measurable snowfall.

If the fires are still moving at all, I doubt it will be lifted.
If the fires are not moving then it is anybody's guess and that will all depend on weather.

What does one do with themselves during a burn ban? Take a poker stick and aimlessly poke the ground for a few hours?

Asking for a friend…

Exo: "What does one do with themselves during a burn ban? Take a poker stick and aimlessly poke the ground for a few hours?


Asking for a friend…"

I like to spend the time just enjoying the feeling of not coughing my lungs out because of inhaling campfire smoke, which inevitably always blows toward me when I'm near a fire. But that's just me ;)

daakrolb: "Good day. I love the BWCA with all my heart and soul. I cancelled my Aug trip, but WILL go this year-and EVERY year, at least once. Planning for Oct. I'm hoping there are no more burn bans at that time. What does everyone else think the burn BAN forecast is??"

We are going 9/27-10/3 with our groups. (17 men divided into 3 groups on Seagull and Red Rock. ) We love fall colors and the cold night temps. We also are hoping for not having a burn ban but are making plans in case one is still in effect.

We are base campers. One group paddles from the outfitter to their site on Seagull. The other takes the shuttle to the Red Rock portage and paddles 30 minutes to their camp!

Our groups bring bear-certified coolers. We cook big breakfasts and dinners. For lunch, we have a fish fry and also cook burgers, brats, etc. Breakfast rolls in the afternoon and cobblers at night.

We have no problem finding things to do in a fire ban! We fish. . . then we eat! This year we are testing out some gear for possible mid October trip. We are bringing a "hot tent" with us. If we can't use the wood stove designed for it, we will bring a portable propane style heater typically used in a hunting blind.

Our guys are mostly fishermen. But they are also preppers. We bring a lot of gear up to the BWCA simply to test it out in that kind of situation. A Starlink system is coming up with us this year as well.

Plenty of things to do with no campfire, and lots of ways to stay warm! If you are on Red Rock from 9/27-10/3 or on Seagull, stop by one of our camps for breakfasts rolls or cobbler! We will also treat you to french press coffee! And blueberry muffins Saturday morning on 10/3 if you are at the portage!

This spring I had one fire-free night for the first time in my camping history. It was way too windy and dry - would have been very irresponsible.

I can’t say I was a fan. I’m 100% certain the upcoming trip will have a fire ban and I’m not looking forward to it.

A week ago was my first trip without a campfire. We spent more time fishing and went to bed early. We adjusted and we had a great time. It was a minor annoyance. With that said, however, I would’ve loved to have had a campfire.

How did you handle used fish fry oil? Burying it can’t be friendly to the ground, groundwater, or for critters to dig up.

I’m planning on using a minimal amount of oil and bringing an empty peanut butter jar - pouring leftovers into it and just packing it out.

Any other thoughts?

Oh man that would suck, But I fear you are correct. Please please please rain!!

Anyone ever heard of someone being busted during a ban? What happened to them?

daakrolb: "Oh man that would suck, But I fear you are correct. Please please please rain!!


Anyone ever heard of someone being busted during a ban? What happened to them?"

Yes

Having a campfire in BWCA with fire spotter airplanes and who knows what else trained on the entire area…

Pinetree: "

daakrolb: "Oh man that would suck, But I fear you are correct. Please please please rain!!



Anyone ever heard of someone being busted during a ban? What happened to them?"

Yes"

daakrolb: "Oh man that would suck, But I fear you are correct. Please please please rain!!


Anyone ever heard of someone being busted during a ban? What happened to them?"

Yes, our ranger crew of two busted two people during the 2023 fire ban.
Having a fire during a ban is something the rangers have no sympathy for the perp. One might be let off with other infractions, but this one will surely get you ticketed.

Leaving a fire unattended or having a fire outside the fire grate is another one that will get you ticket.

Arrowhead getting a nice soak this morning. Keep it coming!

I am 100% a "float your own float" guy, so I totally am not judging anyone's preferences, but it does continue to amaze me reading about folks who cancel BWCA trips simply because they can't have a campfire. (not speaking about the OP, just people in general). Again, its just me, but a campfire is something you can have/do anywhere including in the SNF. To me it seems the BWCA specifically is so much more than a campfire. I enjoy a fire as much as the next guy, but if they banned campfires for all of eternity it wouldn't take away a single bit of why I trip the wilderness rather than a campground. Its just me, again, do your own trip and if a fire is the deal breaker-totally fine, just something I don't get.

and as far as getting "busted" for lighting a fire during a ban, I'm pretty sure that is where my latent "karen" personality would break through. While I am about floating your own float, I am equally anal about doing it within the rules you sign your name to when you pick up your permit.

Pinetree: "

daakrolb: "Oh man that would suck, But I fear you are correct. Please please please rain!!



Anyone ever heard of someone being busted during a ban? What happened to them?"

Yes"

+1. You don’t want to be the guy whose campfire ignited bigger fire, which can happen. (I’ve been on a couple campsites over the years that had recent burns with obvious point of origin at the fire grate.) And then of course there’s the Ham Lake fire. I don’t believe a campfire ban was in place, but the guy whose campfire started the fire was indicted, faced serious criminal charges and would have faced millions of dollars in restitution payments and likely civil lawsuits seeking compensation for damage to people’s property had he not committed suicide while all of that was pending. And those consequences would have been FAR worse had there been a fire ban.

NEIowapaddler: "

Exo: "What does one do with themselves during a burn ban? Take a poker stick and aimlessly poke the ground for a few hours?



Asking for a friend…"

I like to spend the time just enjoying the feeling of not coughing my lungs out because of inhaling campfire smoke, which inevitably always blows toward me when I'm near a fire. But that's just me ;) "

Ha ha! Some of us, me included, are smoke "magnets". If skies are clear, I want to star gaze or take photos of the Milky Way. Other times, I break out the Luci light for more group conversations.

Exo: "How did you handle used fish fry oil? Burying it can’t be friendly to the ground, groundwater, or for critters to dig up.


I’m planning on using a minimal amount of oil and bringing an empty peanut butter jar - pouring leftovers into it and just packing it out.


Any other thoughts?"

That is the way to go. I would recommend that always, fire ban or not.

daakrolb: "Good day. I love the BWCA with all my heart and soul. I cancelled my Aug trip, but WILL go this year-and EVERY year, at least once. Planning for Oct. I'm hoping there are no more burn bans at that time. What does everyone else think the burn BAN forecast is??"

I would expect the burn ban to be lifted by October. Even if it’s still dry, fire season is over in October. Days are shorter, sun angle is lower, temps are cooler. Sure, fires can burn, but spreading is another thing. Plus I think there is a realization that fires are very important for late season trippers. Now there’s always the chance that weather can be completely unprecedented so there’s that chance.

Interesting to know about the sterno stoves. I never would have thought of that. The "shut-off" we've done on sterno is sliding the cap over the can's opening and that extinguishes it.

Assuming that campfires will not be allowed, I had planned on bringing my sterno stove as a supplement to my MSR Pocket Rocket for cooking. Now I guess I won't and will probably rent single burner stove for that supplemental cooking option.

On a related note, while I am not really a smoker, I do enjoy an evening cigar when camping. Does the current burning ban apply to cigars/cigarettes as well?

Regarding not having a campfire, I do prefer to enjoy a campfire as part of the BWCA experience but when I went in 2007 there was a campfire ban and it is probably my best-ever trip!

bottomtotheta

On a related note, while I am not really a smoker, I do enjoy an evening cigar when camping. Does the current burning ban apply to cigars/cigarettes as well?
"

No.
When things get really dry out west there are restrictions on smoking outdoors in the vegetation, that is not the case here. I've never seen the Superior NF do that in the last 30 years. Only time it could have possibly happened was in the dry summer of 1976.

You might be pleasantly surprised. In warmer weather I generally run a cold camp. Find I don't miss a fire and is a lot less work.

See I find it almost essential. The "main event" of every day. I love the firewood gathering.... prepping the pit/grate. The community event. Cooking misc food things by/over it....

LindenTree: "

bottomtotheta


On a related note, while I am not really a smoker, I do enjoy an evening cigar when camping. Does the current burning ban apply to cigars/cigarettes as well?
"

No.
When things get really dry out west there are restrictions on smoking outdoors in the vegetation, that is not the case here. I've never seen the Superior NF do that in the last 30 years. Only time it could have possibly happened was in the dry summer of 1976."

Thanks! Good to know!

With the exception of a morning coffee from the hammock (alcohol stove) I cook by fire 100% of the time. That will be the biggest difference.

Comfort of a fire is something primal. Will I miss it? Yes. Will it alter my trip? No. Would it alter my trip plans if the Q has a ban and BWCA is lifted? Haha, maybe a night on the way in and a night on the way out!

It’s still very dry up there. The fire danger sign yesterday was set at very high. Our legs were brown because of how much dust we kicked up from walking around the campsite.

The only way a fire ban would keep me from going would maybe be right after ice out or very late in the season when it could potentially be needed for survival after a dumping.

The last time I had a fire in the bwca was mid April 2024 because it was 40 during the day and 20’s at night. The last time I had a summertime fire was around 2010. I’ve rarely had a fire on my May and October trips even.

This is another example of how there are many different ways to enjoy the bwca and I love reading about how other people do things. One person’s deal breaker is another person’s don’t care at all.

I know for certain that the people that a fire is a deal breaker because they only cook over a fire eat a lot better than me on a trip.