Paddle and Portage: A Voice for the Boundary Waters

Paddle and Portage was founded in January 2024 by journalist and author Joe Friedrichs. The company has been well-received by the BWCA Wilderness and broader paddling communities. The company offers a unique perspective on the intersection of news, adventure, and storytelling from the Boundary Waters, as well as other paddling destinations across North America.

As the company continues to grow and expand, Friedrichs is now joined by two additional owners who are well positioned to take Paddle and Portage to a wider audience: Bear Paulsen and Ann Possis.

Paulsen is the longtime general manager for Northstar Canoes, one of the top canoe manufacturers in North America. He is an accomplished paddler and outdoorsman, with decades of adventures and expeditions that have taken him all over the continent. Paulsen has extensive knowledge of the BWCA Wilderness, the businesses that rely on it, and the outdoor industry. He lives in Chisago City, Minn.

Possis has expertise in writing, editing, and marketing, and worked for many years at WTIP community radio, in a variety of roles both on- and off-air. She lives in Grand Marais. Possis paddles rivers in Texas and lakes in the BWCA Wilderness annually, and also supports many organizations aligned with wilderness conservation.

Paddle and Portage offers a number of ways to engage with their content: a podcast hosted by Friedrichs and M Baxley, and online content via the company’s engaging website. 

In 2025, Paddle and Portage opened an office in Ely, to better reflect and serve the Ely community and the west side of the BWCA Wilderness. Paddle and Portage will work in Grand Marais and Ely areas moving forward.