WTIP Boundary Waters Podcast

The winter of 2017-18 lingered long into April in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Some complained... while others chose to embrace it. Among the celebrators of snow and ice is Fred Sproat, an adventurer with a long history of travel in the Boundary Waters. He talks with Podcaster Matthew Baxley in this short track about an epic journey across the wilderness.

In this episode, WTIP Boundary Waters Podcasters Joe Friedrichs and Matthew Baxley venture to a frozen Duncan Lake in the BWCAW. The trip took place in March 2018. Joining the duo on the adventure was Derek Hofeldt from Loon Lake Lodge. An owner of the Gunflint Trail resort, Derek is an excellent chef with years of cooking in both a kitchen setting and in the backcountry. On their trip to Duncan, Derek and the Boundary Waters podcasters make a variety of meals, all under the comforts of a late-season snowstorm. In part one of the episode, Friedrichs speaks with Minnesota artist Wayne Potratz, who has made it his life’s work to study and teach sculpture. Potratz spent more than four decades as a sculpture professor at the University of Minnesota, including 13 years as chair of the Art Department. Potratz has long found inspiration for his work during trips to the Boundary Waters, even creating art within the wilderness setting.

There are approximately 12,000 black bears that call Minnesota home. Some of those bears are found in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. In this special short track, we hear from canoeist Kay Alton on why it's a good idea to remember black bears do indeed roam the Boundary Waters.

Travel with guest hosts Alison Young and Brenda Piekarski as they recount their thru-hike of the 65-mile Border Route Trail through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Also featured in this episode is a discussion with Duane Lottig, the owner of Snowtrekker tents. Find out what makes "hot-tent camping" in the BWCA the latest buzz in wilderness exploration.

During the winter months, the BWCA Wilderness Act of 1978 requires everyone who enters the wilderness to have a permit and generally prohibits recreational snowmobile use. There are exceptions to the snowmobile restriction, including a specific corridor from Seagull River through Saganaga Lake. Jon Benson is the recreation specialist on the Tofte and Gunflint Ranger Districts based in Grand Marais. He stopped by WTIP to talk with Joe Friedrichs about snowmobile policy within the federally-protected wilderness area.

In this episode, WTIP Boundary Waters Podcasters Joe Friedrichs and Matthew Baxley venture to Winchell Lake deep in the BWCAW. The trip took place in early January 2018. The duo record the experience on a frozen Winchell Lake, including gear they used to get there and conditions on the trail. In part two, Friedrichs speaks with General Manager Bear Paulsen from Northstar Canoes about what factors to consider when it comes to purchasing a tandem, Kevlar canoe.

This podcast is all about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. It is a place to hear stories from the people who visit this amazing outdoor playground. On this podcast, we invite you to join the adventures as well.