We asked you to indicate how many times you have traveled the BWCA. Here are the results:

• 16% never traveled the BWCA
• 29% traveled 1-4 times
• 18% traveled 5-8 times
• 8% traveled 9-12 times
• 29% traveled 13 or more times

Seems we have an experienced group following Spirit of the Wilderness and we thank you for your participation.

Detour begins Feb. 21

DULUTH, Minn. — Motorists will encounter a detour on Highway 1 south of Ely beginning Tuesday, Feb. 21, while crews blast and remove rock in preparation to reconstruct a five-mile section of Highway 1 next spring and summer. Minnesota Department of Transportation engineers estimate the work will take at least three weeks. 

Does your kevlar or royalex canoe need repair? Does it need a resin coat, fill-in a deep scratch, skid plate installation, replace dented gunwales, installation of foot brace or seats, new yoke or pads?  Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters craftmanship in repairing and reconditioning canoes is noted in the area. Give us a call or see us at Canoecopia or Northwest Sport Show and let us give you a quote on repairing your canoe.

Why our work lasts?

Now is the time to plan your visit to a regional sport show. Spirit of the Wilderness will be staffing or exhibiting at the following shows and providing seminars as listed. Stop by and start planning your next BWCA or Quetico adventure or attend one of our seminars and pick up new tips on wilderness travel, fishing, or update on impact of the Pagami Creek Fire of 2011.

Canoecopia, Allina Convention Ctr, Madison WI: March 9-11

Seminar: The Pagami Creek Wild Fire

• Saturday 9:30am-10:20am, Algonquin Room

Booth #N-12 (on the main aisle)

Northwest Sport Show, Mpls Convention Ctr: March 28-April 1

Seminar:Traveling/Fishing the BWCA

Information provided by USFS, January 2012

The US Forest Service has adjusted quotas for a number of entry points that were impacted by the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire. Campsites have been evaluated to determine which sites need to be temporarily closed for the 2012 camping season.

The table below displays the entry point, quota, the reduced quota and rationale for quota reduction.

Campsite, portage and trail restoration work will begin this spring, with most work accomplished in the early part of the season to reduce impact to wilderness visitors. Quotas will be adjusted as campsites are reopened.

The USFS released a list of the entry points and campsites impacted by the Pagami Creek Fire last August-October. Here are comments taken from Tim Dabney, Acting Forest Supervisor, letter to Outfitters.

Please contact Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters if you have any questions or to reserve your BWCA permit:

Not sure of the author of these tips, but they do make sense and camping a lot more fun.

1. Lint from your navel makes a handy fire starter.

Warning: Remove lint from navel before applying the match.

2. Get even with the bear that raided your food bag by kicking his favorite stump apart and eating all the ants.

3. A hot rock placed in your sleeping bag will keep your feet warm. A hot enchilada works almost as well, but the cheese sticks between your toes.

4. The best backpacks are named after national parks or mountain ranges.  Steer clear of those named after landfills.

Went fishing on Burntside Lake for Lake Trout Sunday morning. We were fishing in 30-45 feet of water, using jigs and treble hooks w/small spinner and minnow. Lakers take patience. We did not get a bite.

Ice and snow

Ice was 14-18 inches thick, but we stayed on ice roads where everyone else had driven. Still need to be careful. There was 4-6 inches of snow on the ground.  Not enough to snowmobile, but plenty for cross-country skiing on the lakes and dog sledding.

Watch for wildlife

January 19 at 5 pm (CST) is the last time to submit a lottery application for day-use and overnight motor permits.  This is the first release of these permits. The lottery will take place on January 20.

Give Spirit of the Wilderness a call and we will submit your application and do all the follow-up with notification of results to you.

January 25 is the first date all permits can be reserved on a first-served basis. Have you settled ona date to enter the BWCA this season? Give us a call and we will reserve your permit and you can relax and plan the details of your adventure.

The numbers are in. June (39%) and August (21%) are the favorite months of choice to paddle the BWCA, followed by July (18%), September (9%), May (6%) and finally October (6%).

We thank each of our participants.  Look for another posted fun survey. These are scientifically designed and tabulated under the most strict quality control measures and can be only used with permission of the one that thought this up.

Do you have a survey topic to recommend?  Send your suggestion to:

• info@elycanoetrips.com

We will review and post surveys for 2-4 weeks or until we run out of ideas.