Studying Wolves Near the Boundary Waters – A Minnesota Project
Studying Wolves Near the Boundary Waters
Minnesota has more wolves than any other state, outside of Alaska.
In fall 2025, researchers with the Voyageurs Wolf Project released an updated study on wolf activity and the population of wolves in an area located about 10 miles southwest of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which is found in the far reaches of northeastern Minnesota. The report tallied about 100 wolves in the study area near the BWCA and Voyageurs National Park. Some media reports highlighted that number as a “crash” of the population. Tom Gable, who leads the project, said the region’s deer population ebbs and flows, as does the local wolf population.
The duo from the Paddle & Portage Podcast met with Gable in late fall to learn more about the wolf population near the Boundary Waters. Together, they paddled and portaged on the trail of a wolf, one suspected of killing a deer near a remote lake not long before they arrived to the scene. In this episode, we invite you to tag along.
This episode is made possible by our Paddle & Portage member-subscribers, including Grand Marais resident Buck Benson. And support comes from all our sponsors, including Sawbill Canoe Outfitters, Sven-Saw, and Ely Outfitting Company.
Watch two videos that support this episode of the Paddle & Portage Podcast.
Circumnavigating Lake Superior: Solo Kayak Expedition
Lake Superior Paddling: Solo and All The Way
Constance Simes circumnavigated Lake Superior solo in 2022. When the trip was complete, she’d paddled approximately 1,200 miles around Lake Superior in 57 days. She encountered high waves, of course. She also found deafening silence that moved her to tears.
Simes, who grew up in Iowa and now resides in Wisconsin, spoke with M Baxley about paddling Lake Superior at Canoecopia in Madison, Wisc.
This episode is supported by Loons Nest Coffee and Solbakken Resort on Superior.
Watch the video episode of the podcast from Canoecopia.
Minnesota Author Talks BWCA, Lake Superior & Writing
Writing, BWCA Policy & Law, and Crooked Lake Tales
Erin Soderberg Downing grew up exploring the forests, lakes, and trails near Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Now an accomplished writer, Erin says her best ideas for stories often come to her deep in the woods, where she can find plenty of creative space to explore and imagine.
Erin is the daughter of Barb Soderberg. Barb Soderberg’s career with the Forest Service started in 1967 on Superior National Forest, and she was intricately involved with crafting the 1978 BWCA Wilderness Act. She retired from the Forest Service in 2007.
Erin and Barb were in Grand Marais for the North Shore Readers and Writers Festival in early November. They met up with Joe Friedrichs from the Paddle & Portage Podcast at Artist’s Point to talk BWCA issues, writing, and family life.
This episode is supported by Cascade Vacation Rentals.
Watch the video podcast on YouTube.
Paddler Profile: A Bachelorette Party In the Boundary Waters
Shannon McGrath: A Paddler Profile Rooted in Connection to Others
Shannon McGrath got her start paddling when she was 12 years old. By the time she was 16, Shannon completed the Grand Portage from Lake Superior to the inland border lakes of the Boundary Waters. Then came a multi-month canoe trip to the Arctic Circle via the Coppermine and Hood rivers, including a week on the Arctic Ocean.
Now in her late 30s, Shannon continues to be a prolific paddler. She makes frequent trips to the Boundary Waters, including this fall, on an annual trip she makes with some of her friends to the BWCA. This year’s trip will be perhaps most memorable as it featured a bachelorette party for Shannon.
The Paddle and Portage Podcast met up with Shannon and her crew at Artist’s Point in Grand Marais, just before they headed up the Gunflint Trail to start their fall adventure to the Boundary Waters.
This episode is supported by Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness and Northstar Canoes.
Update From the Road: Winter Camping Expo, Brook Trout & Wolves
Podcast Update From the Road: Winter Camping, Brook Trout, and Wolves
The Paddle and Portage Podcast have been on the move in October. The Winter Camping Symposium was a highlight of the month, as was a recent trip to the far west end of the Boundary Waters to meet with one of the nation’s top wolf researchers.
In this update from the road, we hear from the podcast duo about who they’ve been talking with for video podcasts and what brought them to the western edge of the Boundary Waters in search of wolves.
Check out the Paddle & Portage YouTube channel.
Kielyn Marrone Talks Winter Camping and Art After Appearing on TV Show ‘Alone’
Winter Travel and Making Art with Kielyn Marrone
Kielyn Marrone, along with her husband Dave, specialize in traditional winter camping and wilderness skills, offering workshops, courses, and guided expeditions in the Canadian boreal forest. Kielyn also is known for her appearance on season seven of Alone.
In this video podcast, she talks with P&P’s M Baxley at the Winter Camping Symposium about the life that has formed the artist, entrepreneur, and winter traveler she is today.
Subscribe to the Paddle & Portage YouTube channel.
Boundary Waters Trout Chowder and the True North Cabin Cookbook Vol. II
Smoked Trout BWCA Chowder and True North Cabin Cookbook Vol. II
Stephanie Hansen’s first cookbook took readers to her family outpost on an island on Burntside Lake near Ely, on the edge of the BWCA. Now, True North Cabin Cookbook Volume Two, released this year, focuses on “the cozy months” of October through April.
We hear from Stephanie in this episode of the podcast. We also cook some smoked trout and wild rice chowder that was inspired by the cookbook. We caught the fish. We smoked the fish. We made the chowder. We ate the chowder.
This episode is sponsored by Bending Branches Canoe & Kayak Paddles, Williams and Hall Outfitters, and Solbakken Resort on Superior.
Minnesota Educator Encourages BWCA Campers to Look How They Want to Look
Wearing Makeup in the BWCA Makes Minnesota Educator Feel Comfortable, Deal With It
Melanie Olson is an educator in Minnesota. She also travels to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, including during the winter months. When she’s camping in the BWCA, Melanie prefers to wear makeup. She also sleeps with a silk pillow.
Some might refer to Melanie’s approach to embracing outdoor recreation as being “high maintenance.” Melanie says people can call it whatever they want. For her, it’s all about being real and being comfortable. What matters most, she says, is that she’s getting outdoors and doing the thing, be it canoeing or winter camping.
Joe Friedrichs from the Paddle and Portage Podcast talked with Melanie at the 2025 Winter Camping Symposium on the shores of Sturgeon Lake.