UPDATE: The mission is complete.

A simple sentiment shared by authorities Monday afternoon (June 3) after the second of the two canoeists missing for nearly two weeks in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was found near Curtain Falls.

At approximately 10 a.m., authorities found the body of Reis Grams, 40, of Lino Lakes, Minn.

On Friday, the body of Jesse Haugen, 41, of Cambridge, Minn., was discovered during search operations in and around the BWCA. Haugen was found at approximately 10 a.m. Friday, according to multiple sources Paddle and Portage spoke with May 31. His body was found in Canadian waters approximately 2,000 ft. (0.3 miles) from the end of the Curtain Falls flowage.

Two people, Kyle Sellers, 47, from Ham Lake, and Erik Grams, 43, from Ham Lake, also went over the falls in their canoe but were found and rescued. Erik Grams told Minnesota radio host Paul Allen in a recent interview that the canoeists were not wearing their life jackets at the time of the incident. Erik Grams, whose brother Reis was found Monday, encouraged people who visit the BWCA to always wear their life jackets when they’re on the water in a canoe.

The completion of the recovery mission brings a conclusion to at least one chapter of a story that has gripped the paddling community and nearly every corner of Minnesota for weeks. Paddle and Portage will review the recovery mission with members of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad and others involved in the days, and likely weeks ahead.

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UPDATE From May 31: One of the two canoeists missing for nearly two weeks in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was found on the Canadian side of Iron Lake Friday morning. 

The body of Jesse Haugen, 41, of Cambridge, Minn., was discovered during search operations in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Search efforts continue in attempts to locate the second missing canoeist, Reis Grams, 40, of Lino Lakes, Minn.

Haugen was found at approximately 10 a.m. Friday, according to multiple sources Paddle and Portage spoke with May 31. His body was found in Canadian waters approximately 2,000 ft. (0.3 miles) from the end of the Curtain Falls flowage.

Crews will continue searching for Grams in the days ahead.

Map and full story below:

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Original post from May 29:

Weather and water conditions continue to be a large factor in the search efforts with further rainfall slated for later this weekend. Search efforts continue with 8-12 personnel on the ground at base camp and utilizing Zodiac boats, Canoes, ROV, Drones, and K-9 teams in a variety of search sorties in and around the area. Additionally, staffing continues at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and assistance with flight operations.

High water levels continue to impact the ongoing search for two missing canoeists in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Two canoes carrying four individuals went over Curtain Falls in the BWCA May 18. Three others, including one who was injured, were evacuated the following morning from the site. The other two canoeists remain missing.

Nearly two weeks after the mission started to find the missing canoeists, members of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad are still “in 24-hour operation,” according to Rick Slatten, the captain of the search and rescue team that covers Duluth, Ely, the Iron Range, parts of Lake Superior, and a large section of the BWCA.

Paddle and Portage spoke with Slatten ahead of Memorial Day weekend for an update. We spoke with him again May 29 for another update on the situation (interview shared below).

Curtain Falls is extremely difficult to access, the rescue squad reported, and they are depending heavily on their aviation partners to transport equipment, supplies, and personnel in and out of the backcountry. The rescue squad is using a mini submarine to look for the missing canoeists near the falls, between Iron and Crooked lakes in the BWCA.

Slatten said the water level is dropping at Curtain Falls, about an inch per day currently. However, weekend storms could bring another round of rainfall to the Boundary Waters region, hampering progress in terms of water levels in the search area.

Slatten previously said the effort to locate the missing canoeists is a highly coordinated effort “with many moving parts in one of the most remote places in the state.”

National Guard support authorized by Gov. Tim Walz will allow for the use of helicopters and other equipment as needed until at least June 15, Slatten said. He said support from the U.S. Forest Service has also been key in the ongoing search for the missing canoeists.

The two men who remain missing are Jesse Haugen, 41, of Cambridge, Minn., and Reis Grams, 40, of Lino Lakes, Minn.

Injured in the incident was Kyle Sellers, 47, of Ham Lake, Minn. Erik Grams, 43, also of Ham Lake, was not injured. Another member of the group, Jared Lohse, 33, of Cambridge, was at the group’s campsite when the situation unfolded.

More than 3,300 hours of volunteer time have gone into the search for the missing canoeists as of 5 p.m. May 29. The team will continue to look for the missing canoeists until they are found, Slatten said.

Click here to learn more about and support the St. Louis County Rescue Squad.

Below is the interview with Slatten from May 29.

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