Photo courtesy of Bailey Shinn
Forest Service Returns Camping Gear to BWCA Paddlers Who Narrowly Escaped Wildfires
By Joe Friedrichs
A Texas family was camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness earlier this month when a wildfire took off not far from where they were staying.
While camping on Pipestone Bay (Basswood Lake) Bailey Shinn, her three young children, and her husband had the Camp Fire roll up to their camp. The fire was moving in quickly, and Shinn and her family had to exit their campsite quickly, leaving their new tent and other camping gear behind.
They assumed the tent and their gear was gone forever. This all changed July 25 when rangers from the U.S. Forest Service contacted Paddle & Portage media and the Shinn family to let them know the gear was found, and some of it salvageable.
A full recap of the update is shared in the video below, along with news about the gradual reopening of sections of the BWCA Wilderness. Find the original interview with Bailey about the harrowing evacuation from the BWCA here.
Subscribe to Paddle and Portage to support journalism and updates from and about the Boundary Waters. Use the promo code ‘Summer25’ this week to get 25 percent off an annual membership.
Other Recent Articles
The Politics of the Boundary Waters Rolls Into September with Candidate Forums in Ely
Aaron Kania, left, and Ely Mayor Heidi Omerza (center) talk about the Boundary Waters with a group at the college in Ely. Photo by Joe Friedrichs Mining near the Boundary Waters will be in the political spotlight this month as a pair of political forums take place in...
Wabakimi Origins Rooted in the Benefits of Fire, Then the Lodge Burned
The site of the main lodge at Wabakimi Outfitters after a wildfire burned it to the ground in July. Submitted photo WABAKIMI PARK – Bruce Hyer says Smokey the Bear was a liar. Considered by some – or at least by his own standards – to be the “Father of Wabakimi,” Hyer...
Walz’s Executive Order to Protect the BWCA Only the Latest Move in the Wilderness Chess Match
BWCA Wilderness sign at Seagull Lake. Photo by Joe Friedrichs A Paddle & Portage subscriber who lives out of state reached out late in the day Aug. 18 after seeing social media light up with news of Minnesota’s governor “saving the Boundary Waters.” In her...