This may be rudimentary and I'm sorry if it is...but, can I take a metal flask with me into the BWCA? Or, does everything have to go into plastic/nalgene?

Thanks.

Dean

I may be wrong but I believe a metal flask would be illegal. I'd check with the USFS ranger, but Nalgene or plastic water bottles have always worked well for me and my medicinal fluids.

I usually drink a couple of 12 oz spring water and save the plastic bottles for my brandy, kahlua or Maker's Mark. 12 oz seems to be enough for me for the time I am there and the bottles have always survived just fine.

I've have generally brought one along in the past and never given it a second thought. I always considered it similar to bringing a metal can of bug spray.

Maybe I will ask the next time I get a permit, but for the most part the no metal containers is in the spirit of not bringing in food and beer cans which could be disposed of as waste. I don't think you will find a lot of flasks getting dumped in the lake.

From the US Forest Service web site.

US Forest Service BWCA pdf

CONTAINERS Cans and glass bottles are not allowed. Containers
of fuel, insect repellent, medicines, personal toilet articles, and other items that are not food or beverage are the only cans and bottles you may bring with you. Food may be stored in plastic containers, but they must be packed out with you.

Maybe if it is strong enough you can start a stove with it too?

A comment and conversation with the Ranger inspecting your gear and challenging the use of the flask.....

"Really Mr. USFS ranger sir, The liquid in the metal flask is only used for medicinal purposes so it falls under the "medicines" exemption to metal containers."

You should at least get a chuckle out of him, and hopefully he believes you or he will be laughing as he writes your ticket.

"Honestly sir, my stove runs on 151"

Hex

I bet some alcohol stoves actually could run on 151 so there's your out!!

Nalgene makes a flask, I've seen them for like 7 bucks.

"But, really, sir...this is for the stove!"

Well, I'd like to take my Dalvey flask full of Chivas, but looks like I'll settle for a plastic bottle instead. It's just somewhat less "sexy."

Thanks all!

Dean

LOL! Well if I every needed to do some surgery with a knife, I would sure like to use the flask of vodka in my first aid kit to sanitize the blade.

I believe a metal flask is legal. Check with the ranger station to make sure. The ban is on any glass and non-reuseable metal. If the container is metal and is reusable, like a flask, I believe it is legal.

Again, I don't know and would certainly check with the SNF people before taking it, but my sense is that it is OK.

I agree with Bannock. The intent of the regulation is to keep "disposable" containers from ending up on the ground and in the woods. And, I've always found rangers in the BWCAW willing to cut paddlers some slack anyway, if they are trying to "leave no trace".

Why not call the ranger's office and see what they say instead of asking people who aren't forest service employee's?

I appreciate the input. Hey, Wooly, I already have a call into the Ranger Office for that district but haven't received a return call. The first word I was given by the individual who answered the phone was, "I guess it depends on the interpretation by the ranger who might check your pack." A little ambiguous for me.

But, no worries. It's not a deal. Now I just want to know the answer...

Thanks again!

Dean

Some help I was then, eh?
I suppose if it's just opinion's you're after, here's one for plastic. You won't have to worry about interpretations.
Enjoy your trip!

Okay, everyone....from the Ranger's mouth (so to speak)...

I received a return call this morning and the word is that a metal flask is "perfectly acceptable as it is intended to be re-used".

I'll take them at their word and bring the Dalvey...now if I can just get all the shoes, boots, and rain gear I need for the kids....

Cheers everyone and see you on the water!

Dean

I gave up drinking 10 years ago.
Amazingly it solved the flask problem along with a bunch of other problems. If you spend a lot of time worrying about booze and flasks maybe it's a problem.

Fishguts,

I applaud your "change in life" and appreciate the fact that perhaps "booze" was an issue for you as it is for many many others.

In no way was this thread meant to be difficult for anyone. Just an honest question. Not an issue...I believe if you read my answers you see that throughout.

I only wanted to share the information which was given to me from the Ranger Station.

Sorry if that "offended" anyone.

Best regards,

Dean

Dean...this is an intervention. We feel that maybe you have a problem. I mean you've used the word "flask" more than twice now, that in itself tells me that you're a raging alcoholic. We care about you. We want you to be healthy. For the love of all that is holy, please, put the bottle down. You're tearing us apart...

Coincidentally, I invite everyone to view my recent backpack thread, where I go into detail about my past battles with backpacks. I've since overcome my addiction and no longer am burdened by the desire to carry things in a backpack. The monkey, so to speak, has been off my back for three glorious years. Of course this makes portaging a real chore, but hey, who ever said that getting clean was gonna be easy? If you, or anyone you love, is currently using backpacks, I strongly urge you to seek help.

All kidding aside, this is an interesting thread, I appreciate everyone's input.

Dean,

I read your entry about the flask. I think it is a question that deserves a simple reply. A person surely does not have to be lectured about alcohol. Speaking from personal experience, we often take flasks on snowshoe hikes in winter. It seems to add to the relaxation and experience of enjoying the peace and quiet of the the trail, and I'm sure this would hold true for the other seasons of the year. The contents of such a small container will not make a person inebriated.

Regardless of what I think, I'm certain that when someone asks a question in "Listening Point," they would be happy with a constructive response rather than a sermon about the evils of alcohol. The bottom line is that the flask will be "packed out" of the BWCA/Quetico.

I'll be taking a flask w/ me, as well as a decent supply of alcohol. I'm not a raging drunk, nor do I have a substence abuse problem, I'm a 29 year old man who enjoys the taste of alcohol and will damn well have some on hand to sate any desires I may incur ;)

Ah, but I do think it's worth keeping in mind that when any comfort (alcohol or otherwise) starts to become a complication, maybe it should be left to civilization.

speaking of flasks in packs..............has anyone actually had a forest service person go through their pack?

I think that would rather upset me.....don't get me wrong, I have no problem showing permits, licenses and documentation, and even joking around with the conservation officers..............but to go through ones pack??? hmmmm perhaps I shoulda started a new thread for this.........

I, personally have only had rangers look around my site and check my permit (BWCAW, they said MN DNR enforces fishing regs, they can't). But one time we passed by a group who had a USFS ranger going through their packs. We spoke to that very ranger later, and here's the story: He caught them camping illegally. They were cold and wet and the lake was full. He said he would have cut them some slack, but they "compounded their violation by building a fire on the ground". He said he wrote their leader a $75 ticket. We saw those people on a portage, and they denied they got fined (who do you believe?) but later I watched their "leader" through binoculars shampooing his hair in Fourtown Lake! Maybe he was making sure he got his $75 worth.

Hey everyone, just found this website and I'm loving it.

This thread made me think. I have been going up to the Boundary Waters for 5 years now. The first 3 I was in highschool, and never thought to bring any alcohol along. I guess these last 2 years I've completely forgot to even consider bringing alcohol! And I love my beer.

I guess I now think of this as a vacation for my liver, seeing as it works VERY hard, and other vacations usually involve alot of beer....

Just cigars and water for me! 4 more days till I'm headed to Rose Lake!

Matt

I am also curious about rangers going through packs, if anyone has experienced this I'd like to know more.

Regarding the evils of drinking I am under the assumption you are of legal age and able to stop before you tip your canoe so I say drink up, and if the ranger okays it bring 5 flasks. Its a vacation not treatment.

I have had three ranger visits in all my trips. Once in camp, once on a portage, once on a hiking trail they were clearing. Neither time did they look through packs.

The camp visit had them check our permit, our camp area, our fire pit and just a few questions about our route and anything we had seen including any bear activity and the latrine condition.

The other two they never even checked permits and on the portage visit they asked about a campsite that they were going to maintain and if we noticed anyone on it as we passed by.

Every visit was cordial and professional, even conversational. As one who has nothing to hide I enjoy the visits and welcome them to my site. They usually have good information about weather conditions, fishing and other activity.

We have always used what I beleive are called boga bags. You can find them at any Wall Mart or Gander mountain store in the camping section. They cost $6. Basically a flask with a leather outside and vinyl inside

I hope this isn't overkill, but I don't think anyone has mentioned weight. Yes, its only a few pounds (if that) but if you're a weight freak like me its a consideration. I have a 12oz collapsible plastic container that worked great. Use Everclear from ND or WS (its 95%Eto unlike MN which is 75%) just mix a VERY SMALL amount in a drink and BAM! good to go.

To save more weight don't bring any. Personally, the clean air is my high, but how you enjoy the wilderness is up to you.

bring everclear? c'mon man. next thing you'll be posting up your home brew wine recipe-everclear and welch's grape juice-napa valley's finest. you're on a paddling trip for pete's sake, go easy. i've seen the results of everclear consumption by natives out in the bush in northern manitoba-not too sporty. they dragged that stuff in for the same reason-maximum alcohol per volume. it's not a frat party out there, and there is no 911.

Since I started the thread I thought I'd give my own closure to it...I did end up bringing a small amount of sipping whiskey with me. I had two sips. One the first night to toast being in perhaps the most incredible place of my life and the second drink on the second night. No special reason for that one except it sounded good with the steak I was cooking over the fire.

I found that after that it was too warm to really enjoy a drink and frankly, the whiskey didn't help me enjoy the loons, stars, whip-o-wills or nighthawks any better.

Hey, bring your drink of choice. Enjoy it. You carried it in, didn't you? But for this man nothing...absolutely nothing...could compare and enhance the smells, sights and sounds of the North Country. No, not even my Dalvey flask.

Dean

The make a non-breakable plastic one for $4 or something - worked for me out there last year. Wilderness Paddler - this is a flask thread- how can you tell he is "a raging alcoholic" from him stating flask in a post. Some people like to enjoy a drink while they are relaxing after a long day on the BWCA!

I think wilderness paddler was using sarcasm......
he doesnt bring backpacks?
LMAO
too funny

[quote="jdrocks"]bring everclear? c'mon man. next thing you'll be posting up your home brew wine recipe-everclear and welch's grape juice-napa valley's finest. you're on a paddling trip for pete's sake, go easy. i've seen the results of everclear consumption by natives out in the bush in northern manitoba-not too sporty. they dragged that stuff in for the same reason-maximum alcohol per volume. it's not a frat party out there, and there is no 911. [/quote]

It all depends how much you use. It is certainly a weight-efficient choice. I have hiked with some that call Everclear "dual fuel" - they use it in their alcohol stoves and drink the leftover "fuel". Ha.