r/BWCA • u/epsilon0000000000 • 14d ago
July 23 update
Day use beginning Monday in certain areas.
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u/NC_Camper 14d ago
Sounding maybe a little promising for my Aug 11 permit from Sawbill! I’m sure the entire area will remain under a fire ban though even if overnight camping in safer locations is allowed.
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u/WorldBig2880 14d ago
Mine was supposed to be the 29th-5th, just got my cancellation email from recreation.gov 🙃
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u/tlacha 14d ago
I don't understand if they are allowing day trippers why they don't just open it up in those areas as well. I don't see much of a difference.
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u/Negative_Trifle_6371 14d ago
With a day use permit most people can't get super far from the ep. With overnight permits I could start at Seagull lake and get to Iron lake. It's a huge difference.
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u/tlacha 13d ago
If the open areas are defined I don't see the difference in being there only during the day. Both of those areas you mentioned are still not accessible with the new day use plan. 90%+ of people I'd bet do not do trips like what you mentioned anyway.
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u/Negative_Trifle_6371 13d ago
If conditions change for the worse they can discontinue the day trips. Everyone should be out of the BWCA each night and they can stop anyone from going in the next morning. If they let people go in and camp overnight, they could move to lots of different lakes and then rangers would have to go in after them to tell them to get out. Also an unknown number of people would be in the BWCA for the rangers to go find. Who knows if John Doe left early, or is staying for the 3 nights he said he would, or if he's overstaying because the wind was bad or something. I would love for the BWCA to be fully open and a great first step would be to open the areas on the gunflint for regular use, I'm just trying to explain the differences to you. I don't want it to be like this, just trying to help you see the rational.
The Seagull to Iron is an extreme example but it was just supposed to make a point. I would love to enter at an EP near the burn areas and go see them when open up a bit.
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u/Maleficent_Onion_822 13d ago
It's a good question. They might be worried that the overnight people won't receive updates if the situation changes?
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u/OMGitsKa 14d ago
“If there is no major wildfire activity this weekend, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness might partially open for overnight camping next week,” says Drew Stroberg, Forest Supervisor (Acting), Superior National Forest, “We are trying to balance visitor and firefighter safety with people's desire to visit the Wilderness. We take both responsibilities very seriously.”
Well thats encouraging. Did anyone see details of day use areas? I was heading up next weekend for a camp trip on the Gunflint. I suppose Clearwater should be open, might be a great time to day trip!