Packrafting in the BWCA area

[German Tourist]

My plan is to hike the Superior Hiking Trail, pick up my packraft and paddling equipment in one of the last post offices on the SHT and continue on the Border Route / Kekekabic Trail through the BWCA area in a combined hiking/packrafting trip in July. (If it turns out to be logistically easier I could also turn this around and do the BWCA section first before hiking the SHT.)

According to Minnesota State law all watercrafts need a US Coastguard approved PFD. Does that also apply for packrafts?

Unfortunately, my own ultralight PFD is only approved by the EU, but not by the US Coastguard. So what is the lightest US coastguard approved PFD available in the US? 

I am a bit confused by the permit system: I understand I need a permit to enter the BWCA from the Border Route Trail, but this trail leads me to Gunflint Trail Road which is outside the BWCA. Do I need another permit to reenter on the Kekekabic Trail? (I am not worried about the costs, but on Kekekabic Trail East TH there is a quota of just two permits per day and it is very difficult to plan right now when I will arrive there.

I will have to resupply around Gunflint Trail Road where the Border Route Trail ends and I will continue on the Kekakabic Trail. There are several outfitters, some of them offer to hold resupply packages. Any suggestions on which outfitter to use for holding a package/offering accommodation/possible store to add to resupply)?

Biggest problem for me is how to get back from Ely, MN to Mineapolis to catch my flight back to Germany. The only public transport I could find so far is a once weekly bus on Mondays from Ely to Virginia by Arrowhead Transit. Hitchhiking seems to be illegal in Minnesota which makes this solution difficult. Are there any outfitters that offer shuttles from Ely (or Gunflint Trail road) back to Duluth or Lake Superior? Or is there any other way to get away from Ely except with a rental car?

Thank you for any help!

[Chris R]

What route are you taking that needs a pack raft? It’s several years ago but we used a “Canadian Waters” to pick us up from Duluth and then after our canoe trip they dropped us in Virginia ( I think!) to pick up the Greyhound. Most of these outfitters will be concentrating on their rental customers so you’ll have to work around them but that could work in your favour if they are picking a group up from the airport. Piragis are about the biggest of all teh outfitters in Ely. You may want to post over on the BWCA Forums website as well. There are also several folk over on HammockForums that regularly head up to the BWCA to hike the trails.

[German Tourist]

@Chris R: I had a look at the Piragis website and they still offer shuttles. I will contact them and see if I can join another shuttle party – thanks for the idea. I will also try the BWCA forum which I had not thought of before.

The use of a packraft is not necessary for my trip: I will hike the Border Route Trail and the Kek Trail which do not require paddling. My idea is to use this hike to explore some of the lakes or alternate between hiking and paddling.

I realize that I will be awfully slow in a packraft, so paddling is just a nice little add-on. I have an expedition kajak as well but it is too much hassle to bring it from Europe – the logistics are a nightmare if you drag around a 50 lbs boat …)

[Luke Schmidt]

Sounds fun. Obviously you could rent a canoe but a packraft might be a fun way to do something different.

I have a simple MTI Expedition PFD. It’s US Coast Guard Approved and weighs about 13oz. Simpler kinds weigh only a but more. It’s probably not possible to make a lighter vest that meets USCG rules.

Are you familiar with Nat Geo maps? They can be very helpful for such trips. They should show things like official campsites, trails etc.

[German Tourist]

@Luke Schmidt: I immediately checked the MTI website but I could not find an “expedition” PFD – and on their website all life jackets are sold out anyways, they are not available on Amazon either. Am I looking at the wrong place or has this model been discontinued?

By the way: I have been in the BWCA with an American friend in a canoe which was really a big problem to portage including equipment and food. This would even be worse on my own  which is another reason why I opted for a packraft.

[Luke Schmidt]

That model might have changed. Here is a link for something similar.

https://www.fieldandstreamshop.com/p/mustang-survival-expedition-2-life-vest-15mtiuxpdtnnwpfdxpas/15mtiuxpdtnnwpfdxpas

Really the lightest you will get with a USCG approved PFD is 14-16oz. Just look for something simple and cheap at a US sports store.

[John S.]

Mustant Survival (MTI) Expedition is sold at Dicks Sporting Goods. The life jacket names are now Mustang Survival instead of MTI…company sold in 2020.

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/mti-expedition-pfd/

[John S.]

I am wrong about all MTI lifejackets being renamed just yet to Mustang Survival. It may happen at some point but the Expedition name did change on DSG website in link above.

[Chad S]

Sounds like a great trip.

Jeff is a local guy who runs a shuttle service out of Silver Bay. He might call himself Cadillac Cab. He does that shuttle for $250 and can do it whenever is convenient for you. Super nice guy with lots of knowledge about the area. His number is 1 920 220 9720.

[Eli]

The SHT+BRT+KEK is an incredible stretch of trail, expanding it with some packraft paddling in the BWCA sounds like a great trip.

When I’ve hiked the BRT and Kekekabic continuously I did not get a second permit as I briefly left from the east, visited the Gunflint lodge for snacks (I carried food for the whole hike and did not really resupply), and entered on the Kekekabic. I cannot cite an official approval of this, but know that it’s an accepted practice to leave briefly by necessity on a continuous trip, like paddling across Gunflint lake for example. If you stay overnight out of the BWCA I’d think you’d need a new permit to re-enter. You should just call a ranger station for an official answer.
Here’s an excessive forum discussion on the topic: https://bwca.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=forum.thread&threadId=753467&forumID=12&confID=1

Enjoy your trip!

[AK Granola]

I have a hard time believing that anyone is going to actually inspect your PFD. Maybe I’m wrong and there are some overly zealous rangers but if you have a PFD and you’re wearing it when paddling, it’s probably good enough. It has been 30+ years since I’ve paddled up there though. And hitchhiking wasn’t illegal back then either! Sounds like a fund trip; I hope you post a trip report.

[David Thomas]

I’m with Karen – Someone inspect your high-quality PFD for USGS approval?!? But then we’re both in Alaska where everything is more relaxed.  You’re not doing miles and miles of water travel – just the occasional paddle from a lakeside camp, right?  But, you asked, and a little googling about Minnesota laws finds:

Minnesota law requires one U.S. Coast Guard approved, properly sized, and easily accessible life jacket for each person on the boat.  A readily accessible and wearable life jacket is required for each person onboard a boat, this includes canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, paddleboats and waterfowl boats.  Children 10 and under need to be wearing a PFD, adults only need to have it accessible.

So yes, a PFD is required even on a pack raft.  An official seeing you and thinking to ask is another question.

A really cheap, alas bulky solution is a $9 adult PFD from Walmart, 15 ounces.  It makes a decent seat in camp and while in the pack raft and you can just donate it by leaving it at a boat launch when you leave.

Or they have inflatable (hence less bulky and lower profile) PFDs for $32-$35 at around 15 ounces.

I would caution anyone doing the Colorado River through the GCNP that they DO inspect all your required gear thoroughly and you DO have to have to USGS-approved, higher-buoyancy PFDs as you begin your trip.

If you ever make to Alaska, contact me, because the OTHER, national wilderness canoe trail system is here on the Kenai Peninsula (here’s half of it):

and my gear is a lot nicer to use than the local rental gear (Ely, Minnesota has that advantage).

[German Tourist]

@Karen @David Thomas: Normally I would 100% agree with you, but I have been in the BWCA about 10 years ago with an American friend – and we were thoroughly inspected for our proper fishing license in the middle of nowhere. So I am a bit cautious. The problem with the PFD is that I have to carry it in or on my backpack while hiking – plus my packraft and paddle. I therefore want to avoid bulky stuff.

@David Thomas: Thanks for the idea! I had never heard of the Swanson River Canoe Trail – but it is now on my bucket list!

[Luke Schmidt]

A PFD is a bit bulky, I just strap it outside the pack and it’s n o big deal.

A PFD makes a great pillow BTW.

 

[AK Granola]

Fishing license definitely! There’s a lot of competition for fish in MN, even in remote areas. They may care more about the fish than your safety in your PFD.

David, one of these summers I’ll have to connect with you on that Swanson river route. It’s on my bucket list, but hasn’t bubbled to the top. Didn’t quite a bit of that area burn last summer? Resurrection pass is on this year’s list.

[David Thomas]

Regarding travel from Ely to Duluth, I’m seeing Lyft fares of $160.

Personally, I would worry less about being cited for illegal hitch-hiking than not making good time going south.  But you’re the best demographic to get rides – a single woman, and with a backpack in a wilderness area, you’d get picked up quickly (a small German flag pinned to your backpack makes you look like an interesting foreign tourist instead of a local poor person).  Once you’re on the highway / interstate system, rides might come slower and that means more time for police to tell you not to do that.  But if you get partway to Duluth on your first hitchhike, Lyft or Uber would be that much less from there.

[German Tourist]

Just a quick update and another question:

The most economical way to get from Ely back to Duluth or Minneapolis seems to be a combination of Uber/Lyft from Ely to Virginia, MN for around 60-70 $ and then a daily bus from Virginia to Duluth for 7$ with Jefferson Lines. There is even a daily bus from Virginia to Minneapolis for 70 $.

But when I tried to reserve my BWCA permit another problem popped up:

I had assumed you just pay for the permit and print it out, but the current regulations say you have to pick it up in person on the day of entry (or maximum one day before) at an official issuing station. Coming from the Superior Hiking Trail the last pick up place is in Grand Marais from where it is 62 miles to the Eastern entry point of the Border Route Trail. As I am not used to hike 50+ miles a day it is mere impossible for me to get to the entry point in time – at least on foot.

As this route is also part of the North Country Trail I can’t be the first person to have this problem. Any ideas how to deal with this situation? Or just arrive one or two days late and hope for the best?

@Eli Simmer: How did you solve this problem? Or did you start directly on the BRT?

[Eli]

Sorry for the delayed reply, glad you figured out transportation logistics.

I hiked the route in April when reserved BWCA permits are not required. In your case, you’re right that it’s impossible to do “by the book”. I’d recommend calling the Grand Marais ranger station and explaining your situation, they may allow some flexibility on an individual basis. Otherwise, it’d be a hitch down the Arrowhead Trail in order to get your permit.

[David Thomas]

I agree with Eli that it’s worth a call to the ranger station – it’s likely something they’ve handled before and might offer to make an exception and mail it, General Delivery to a town closer to your route or at least place your permit under a rock outside their office so you don’t have get there during business hours.  I suspect the procedure is to identify no-shows and allocate those slots to walk-up users.

**** Thread drift warning ****
Karen: the 2019 fires (highest suppression costs of any US fire that year), did originate near the southern Swan Lake canoe trails but mostly went SW from there, away from the trails.  The notrhern Swanson River section of the trail system was untouched.  That’s the one I’ve preferred for its variety of features – lakes in the upper portion but then floating/paddling the river for the rest of it.  The advantage of knowing a local is that we could shuttle your vehicle to the take out just before the river enters Cook Inlet (in Captain Cook State Park) and then I could drop you at the put-in north of Sterling.

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