Several wildfires are burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and that has prompted the U.S Forest Service to close the BWCA until at least July 17.
"Well, there's a lot of scrambling," says David Seaton who is the owner of Hungry Jack Outfitters along the Gunflint Trail north of Grand Marais.
Seaton says been on the phone all morning helping those who had permits to go in find other ways of experiencing Northern Minnesota.
"They're not able to do the full wilderness experience, but they still can come to the Northwoods and have fun," Seaton explains. "And as I jokingly coined this morning, (the) Boundary Waters is really more a state of mind than an actual place."
All entry points to the Boundary Waters close at midnight Tuesday morning. It's not known how long the closure will last, due to that high fire danger. The area is dry, and temperatures are unusually hot in northern Minnesota, reaching the mid-90s and even close to 100 in places like International Falls.
"We don't know how long this closure will last," Seaton adds. "I think that's an important concept for people to understand is that, while right now it is, it is finite through the 17th, it's possible it could go on. But it might just be done on the 17th, and then all of everything's good to go as planned."
Certainly, this is tough news for people who sometimes plan years in advance to set up a trip to one of the most remote wilderness areas left in the lower 48 states. Seaton says they fully support the decision to close the BWCA to fight the fires, and encourages visitors to follow any instructions that USFS rangers may give.
But, for a family-owned business like Hungry Jack Outfitters, it's tough news too. They plan trips with people heading into the wilderness, from helping with permits, to providing the canoes, packs, tents, and more, right down to every meal and snack they'll take with them into the woods.
"There will be some financial fallout, certainly," Seaton notes. "You know, we have groups that had planned on coming, and we've packed food and equipment, and they won't be paying those bills."
To know:
-Reservations with entry dates of Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17, will be canceled and refunded. Full refunds will be processed automatically.
-Beginning Tuesday, July 14, no visitors will be allowed to enter the BWCA, including for day use.
-There is a complete fire ban for the Superior National Forest due to a Red Flag Warning.
"Well, there's a lot of scrambling," says David Seaton, owner of Hungry Jack Outfitters
"Well, there's a lot of scrambling," says David Seaton, owner of Hungry Jack Outfitters
