Paddle and Portage Podcast

54:40

The Return of the Canoes: A Family's Quetico...

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/10/05

During the peak of the 2026 wildfires in the BWCA and Quetico this summer, the Paddle & Portage team shared the story of the Nelson family.The Nelson family have been paddling in Quetico for decades. Three generations of canoe-campers have now entered the park, most often through Cache Bay, the southeastern entrance near the end of the Gunflint Trail. Siblings Matt and Laura led a group of six into the park in mid-July 2026. The group included Matt and his daughter, and Laura and her three

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30:15

The End of a Memorable BWCA Quota Season

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/10/01

It's one to remember. The 2026 quota season in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness wrapped up Sept. 30. The quota season runs May 1 to the end of September annually in the nation's most visited wilderness. Wildfires stand out as the most significant event from the 2026 BWCA paddling season, with the entire wilderness closing for a section of July. Other notable events include a blizzard during the May fishing opener in the Boundary Waters and a new telephone reporting system to enter Quetico

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27:07

Women in Paddling with Erin Walker: Canoe Guide...

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/09/28

This series of the Paddle & Portage Podcast is titled Women in Paddling with Erin Walker. Erin's guest in this episode is Bridget Douglas. Bridget is a guide in the BWCA Wilderness and Lake of the Woods. She's worked with Women's Wilderness Discovery in Ely and has a decade of experience as a guide in the Lake of the Woods waters on the Minnesota and Ontario border. This episode is supported by Branches Canoe & Kayak Paddles.

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37:19

Women in Paddling with Erin Walker: Talking with BWCA...

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/09/27

This series of the Paddle & Portage Podcast is hosted by Erin Walker of the Lost Lakes YouTube channel. The series, created by Erin and Kate from Bending Branches Canoe & Kayak Paddles, is called Women in Paddling. Erin's guest in this episode is Grand Marais resident Kaylan Dix. A dedicated paddler in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Kaylan works in healthcare in Grand Marais. She says paddling and outdoor recreation help her navigate the complex world of healthcare, along with

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23:02

Traveling Burn Routes in the Boundary Waters

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/09/17

Jenna Ladowski is a firefighter who lives near Fort Collins, Colorado. She was recently on a nearly week-long trip to the Boundary Waters with Mona Gauthier, who we featured in an episode of the podcast about her epic solo trip across the border lakes.Mona and Jenna were part of a group of nine women who Mona led into the BWCA Wilderness in September 2026. The group paddled in the area that burned in the Pagami Creek Fire in 2011. Mona intentionally chose that route so the firefighters, both urban

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39:49

The Politics of the Boundary Waters: Volume One

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/09/03

Mining near the Boundary Waters is in the political spotlight this month as a pair of political forums take place in Ely. The first took place Wednesday, Sept. 2 on the college campus in Ely. It featured state Sen. Grant Hauschild and Republican challenger Andrea Zupancich, a realtor in the Ely area and the current mayor of nearby Babbitt.Also participating in the forum was incumbent state Rep. Roger Skraba and DFL challenger Aaron Kania, a former U.S. Forest Service district ranger in Ely. A

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33:33

Adventures in the BWCA & Bear Stories Abound

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/08/27

The Paddle & Portage Podcast duo share updates on some recent BWCA and Lake Superior adventures, and Erin Walker drops in to share the details of her upcoming series about women who paddle and adventure outdoors. Erin also shares the recap of her and Jon's recent encounter with a grizzly bear while canoeing in the Northwest Territories. Also featured is a cameo by an old friend of the podcast, one we know by name. This episode of the podcast is supported by Sawbill Canoe Outfitters and

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27:09

Discovering an Old Cabin and Silver Mine in the BWCA

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/08/09

A mine in the BWCA...The mere mention of such a thing in 2026 sends fear up the spine of many paddlers. That being the case, there is an old mine in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. In this episode, Duluth writer Ryan Rodgers and the podcast team take you there. Go here to learn more about the history of the old mine in the BWCA: paddleandportage.com This episode is supported by Loons Nest Coffee, Bending Branches Canoe & Kayak Paddles, and Williams & Hall Outfitters. Listen to

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35:36

The Reopening of the Boundary Waters

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/08/02

After weeks of disruption and uncertainty, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is in the process of reopening. Large swaths of the BWCA, including the entire Gunflint and significant portions of the wilderness on the Ely side, will be reopening for overnight paddling and other access during the first week of August. The BWCA Wilderness was shut down entirely July 14 due to numerous wildfires. The reopening is welcomed news for paddlers and outfitters. In this episode, we share stories about

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27:03

Northern Tier Scouts Evacuated From BWCA and Quetico...

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/07/21

Paddlers from Northern Tier High Adventure, a Scout organization with strong ties to the Ely area, were among those evacuated from the Boundary Waters in July 2026. In this episode, we hear their firsthand accounts of getting out from deep in the BWCA and Quetico during the evacuation. Towboats played a role, as did a series of critical decisions made along the way. The stories were recorded near Ely soon after the Scouts were evacuated. Special thanks to Jake Hway from Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips

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23:52

BWCA Closure Update: News & Stories

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/07/16

Smoky skies, closures, evacuations, and displacement of people have dominated conversations across the Boundary Waters region during recent days. The BWCA Wilderness shut down July 14 amid a series of wildfires and excessive heat. The length of the closure is unknown at this time. Quetico is also closed at this time due to numerous wildfires burning in and around the park. In this episode, we hear from Laura Nelson, a resident of Washington D.C. who was among a group of six paddlers airlifted from

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79:47

Summer BWCA Stories and Updates From Ely

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/07/09

There are enough stories, news, and information happening on the Ely side of the Boundary Waters on any given day to produce an episode of this podcast. And while that might happen at some point down the road, let's start with this midseason update from the canoe capital of the world. To kick things off, we hear from Mark Zimmer, the Barefoot Paddler of the Boundary Waters. Also in this we hear from Nancy Scheibe, an Ely artist who is leading a project to paint a mural of Sig Olson this

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31:34

Quetico Park Revisited: Paddling in From the South

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/07/01

As we've reported in a recent episode of the podcast, access to Quetico Provincial Park from the Cache Bay and Prairie Portage ranger stations is once again an option for many paddlers. This development comes as the RABC Program winds down in September. A new telephone reporting system went live at both ranger stations June 8, and the response from paddlers has been upbeat on the new method to clear customs and enter Canada for a trip to Quetico. In this episode, we hear from Cache Bay Rangers

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32:45

The Rising Cost to Cancel a BWCA Permit

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/06/26

The cost to cancel a permit to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is likely on the rise. The U.S. Forest Service, in an attempt to reduce the number of BWCA permits canceled each year, is planning to make it more expensive to take such action. We break it down with Ginny Nelson, a co-owner of Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters in Ely. Submit your comments to the U.S. Forest Service on this topic to this email: sm.fs.bwcawsurvey@usda.gov Other ideas on this topic, as discussed in the

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57:51

Quetico Telephone Reporting and BWCA Filming Policy -...

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/06/21

We share the latest on access to Quetico Provincial Park now that telephone reporting is replacing the RABC Program. Hear a firsthand account of how the new telephone reporting system to access Quetico works. Spoiler alert: It works great! Also in this episode, we hear from Bryan Hansel, a photographer who lives near Grand Marais about the public's right to film, take photos, or make sound recordings in the BWCA and other wilderness areas across the country. It's been a long road, and finally

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39:02

Paddling a Lake Superior Estuary Near Duluth

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/06/10

The St. Louis River Estuary is the confluence of the St. Louis River with Lake Superior. At 12,000 acres, the St. Louis River Estuary is the largest freshwater estuary in North America and is considered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to be the headwaters of the Great Lakes.Over the past 150 years, industry and other human activity disrupted and altered natural habitats at this estuary, as shorelines and near shore areas were dredged and developed, and chemical contamination

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21:42

The Magazine Story That Brought an Ohio Kid to the...

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/06/01

Don Beans first heard about the Boundary Waters when he was a kid growing up in Ohio. And he did so via a magazine, and through the words of longtime Ely resident Bob Cary, a local author, journalist, artist, and wilderness guide.About 10 years after reading one of Bob Cary’s articles, Don left Ohio and headed north. The year was 1983. His destination: Ely. In this episode, we hear the story of Don Beans and his journey to the Boundary Waters. Special thanks to Cindy Smyka and the Jasper Company, a

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65:16

Flying Over the Boundary Waters - Rescue & New Book

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/05/24

In this two-part episode, we hear of a helicopter rescue from May 2026 when two paddlers capsized in the BWCA near Ely. The podcast duo break down the situation, including the public's response to the incident. We also hear from Gunflint Trail resident JT McMillion in the episode. JT is a retired pilot who recently wrote and released a book about his experiences in the sky, "Arctic Circle Dreams." JT got his start in the outdoor industry at Gunflint Lodge in the 1970s. He shares his story on the

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29:22

Cold, Snow, Ice, and Untimely Death Mark Another BWCA...

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/05/13

It snowed across most of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness during the 2026 Fishing Opener. Indeed, Saturday, May 9 was marked by cold, snow and lingering ice across most of the eastern side of the wilderness. Nonetheless, the team from Paddle & Portage traveled into the BWCA once again for the fishing opener. Lake trout were caught. As were walleye. Despite numerous snow squalls, relentless gusts of wind, and cold temperatures, the trip was by all accounts a wonderful experience. After

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33:32

Talking Gunflint Trail Coffee and BWCA Paddling with...

Paddle and Portage Podcast ·

2026/05/10

Bob Carlson is a co-owner of Loons Nest Coffee on the Gunflint Trail. He's also a lifelong paddler in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Bob went on his first BWCA when he was 3-years-old. These days, Bob is busy running Carlson Roasting Company and Loons Nest Coffee. He still enjoys paddling in the BWCA with his family. Chasing lake trout and walleye are part of the experience on a Carlson-family adventure, but it's more about sharing a passion for the canoe country with the next generation

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