BWCA Trip Planning Season Begins- Pagami Creek Fire Considerations

BWCA trip planning season is in full swing around my house.  A couple of entry permits have been obtained and a couple more are in the works.  Phone calls to potential paddling partners are being made, maps are being reviewed, and DNR lakefinder is being searched.  This shot of my brother Tom was taken at the beginning of an early May trip on the South Kawishiwi River.  While this entry point is not restricted for 2012, and the immediate area was not burned by the Pagami Creek Fire, travel in this area may be impacted in the form of additional canoe traffic.  I'll be using this area myself, so I've put some thought into what might happen.

I can't predict whether or not people will avoid or seek out travel in and around the burned area, but my guess is that they will mostly avoid it.  If you are a paddler who uses entry points such as Lake One, South or North Kawishiwi River, Gabbro Lake, Snake River, Isabella River, and several others, I would recommend being prepared to encounter heavier traffic in this already busy area.  In addition, be sure to check out restrictions posted by the USFS at the following link (note that these will likely be modified leading up to and during the open water season):

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/superior/home/?cid=stelprdb5341928

The Snake River entry, shown here, is an example of an entry point that is still open, with the normal quota of one permit per day, but with restrictions on where you may travel once on the water.  The current information is that travel is not permitted to the east of Bald Eagle Lake (toward the fire area).  The Forest Service also states that once the route is cleared, that travel and camping will be allowed- stay tuned to the latest info from the Forest Service if you are traveling this area.  Remember that the idea is to keep paddlers safe and to protect the resource.  Aside from that, do you really want to paddle a river that is probably blocked by numerous trees?

Generally speaking, I think that increased crowding due to the Pagami fire will be encountered mostly by those entering on Lake One, North & South Kawishiwi, Gabbro, and Snake River entry points.  With 14 unrestricted Lake One permits per day and two restricted permits (no camping on Lakes One, Two, Three, Four, or Hudson) remaining, where will people choose to go?

There are normally 45 campsites on Lakes Three, Four, and Hudson, which will initially be reduced to 23.  Taking into account Lakes One and Two, which have 12 campsites each with no closures, that leaves of 47 of 69 sites, or 68% of sites available.  If you take into account that many lakes bordering the number chain (Horseshoe, Brewis, North & South Wilder, and Harbor) have lost all of their campsites, the numbers get worse.  Only 1 of 11 sites is available on these lakes, bringing the total to 80 normally available, compared to 48 available- or only 60%.

That leaves us with 20 of the 24 permits normally serving this area still available (83%) while only 60% of camp sites on the most popular lakes are available.  This is not counting sites on the Kawishiwi River or a few unaffected lakes, however, it's been my experience that these sites are normally 90% full in a normal year during peak season.  Not to mention closures on Insula, Gull, and Pietro.  My advice would be to approach your campsite selection a little differently than you normally do, meaning choose early and don't expect a 5-star site.

From what I've seen in the past, roses seem to thrive in recently burned areas.  This rose was located on a portage trail near Gabimichigami Lake.  The Cavity Lake fire burned through here in 2006 and this photo was taken during June 2009.