Big Red Canoe - Friends of the Boundary Waters podcast

The Superior Hiking Trail turns 40 this year. Three hundred miles of North Shore ridgeline, from the Wisconsin border to the edge of the Boundary Waters region, the SHT has shaped the lives of everyone who’s walked it. Crystal Gail Welcome is one of those people — and on this podcast, she shares the story of her final through-hike: a solo back-to-back of the Kekekabic and Border Route Trails, deep...

H.J. Res. 140 was signed into law this week, stripping federal protections from 225,000 acres surrounding the Boundary Waters. What happens now?  Experts from Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Friends of the Boundary Waters break down the state-level legal tools that can still protect this wilderness — and the path forward from here.  Guests: Kathryn Hoffman, Executive Officer, MCEA...

Winter in the Boundary Waters is unforgiving—and that's exactly why Minnesota author Jeff Krogstad set his thriller Disappointment Mountain there.  Jeff joins us to talk about writing wilderness fiction, the creative parallels between surviving in the backcountry and navigating life's challenges, and what the frozen north reveals about human resilience.  Plus: real bear encounters, the a...

How do you navigate a challenging wilderness when you can't even see it? In this fascinating and deeply moving episode, we sit down with Kelly Carver, who has been paddling the Boundary Waters for over 40 years—including the past three decades since he became legally blind. After being diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease following his first BWCA trip in 1982, Kelly refused to let vision...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with JD Fratzke , a celebrated chef and author who served as a judge and mentor on Bravo's Top Chef and brings a unique perspective to Boundary waters cooking . JD finds profound inspiration in Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness , where he combines his fine dining expertise with camp cooking over open fires.  From Professional Kitchens...

Proper food storage and bear-aware camping practices aren't just recommendations—they're life-saving skills that every Boundary Waters visitor needs to master. Alex Messenger learned this lesson the hard way when a 600-pound grizzly bear nearly killed him during a remote Canadian wilderness expedition, an experience that transformed him into one of the region's most passionate advoc...

The Boundary Waters faces one of its greatest threats in decades. Hidden in the latest reconciliation bill is a dangerous provision that would hand hundreds of thousands of acres near the BWCA to toxic copper-sulfide mining companies—while blocking any legal challenges. This reckless giveaway threatens to bring industrial mining right to the doorstep of America’s most pristine wilderness, risking...

Author Frank Bures joins us on the podcast to discuss his compelling new book, Pushing the River: An Epic Battle, a Lost History, a Near Death, and Other True Canoeing Stories . Frank shares riveting tales from a century of canoe racing, including the forgotten history of the Paul Bunyan Canoe Derby—a grueling 450-mile race on the Upper Mississippi that changed modern canoeing forever.  The conver...

Discover the mesmerizing world of dark sky photography with renowned astrophotographer Marc Rassel as he shares expert tips, memorable stories, and essential techniques for capturing the night sky.  From the pristine dark skies of Minnesota's Boundary Waters to international stargazing destinations, Marc reveals how to create stunning images of the Milky Way, aurora, and other celestial wonde...

Want to introduce your kids to winter camping but not sure where to start? Join us as we chat with Anthony Quill, an adventurous Minnesota Dad who's mastered the art of getting his young children excited about camping in Minnesota's winter wonderland. Anthony shares how his family transitioned from international living to embracing the frozen wilderness, starting with backyard adventures...

How might the recent election results impact the future of Minnesota's cherished wilderness? In this timely episode, Steve Schultz, Government Relations Manager at Friends of the Boundary Waters, examines the shifting political landscape and its implications for the Boundary Waters. The discussion explores both federal and state-level changes, with particular focus on proposed legislation tha...

Two adventurous cyclists embark on an epic journey from Minnesota to New York, pedaling around Lake Superior through Canada, all to support Friends of the Boundary Waters. One of the riders, Mike Quirk, joins us to tell tales from the trip. The ride was to take 30 days and cover almost 2000 miles. But like any true adventure - things didn’t quite go as planned. And before the trip was over, Mike f...

Anglers shouldn't miss this Boundary Waters fishing podcast! Whether you’re a seasoned Boundary Waters angler or dreaming of your first BWCAW adventure, this is a rare opportunity to learn from one of the true experts.  Expert tips on how to catch BWCA Lake Trout, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike In this engaging conversation, Boundary Waters Journal publisher and BWCA and Quetico f...

In this episode, we dive into the unexpected high water conditions in the Boundary Waters this season. After a dry winter, Northeastern Minnesota faced a surprisingly wet spring and early summer, culminating in a major storm on June 18th that caused flash flooding and damage across the Superior National Forest. We sit down with Ginny Nelson from Spirit of the Wilderness Outfitters in Ely to discus...

"The same thing that makes you live can kill you in the end." - Neil Young In this episode, we sit down with Northwoods reporter and author Joe Friedrichs to discuss his new book, "Last Entry Point." Friedrichs shares real-life accounts of those who have faced life-threatening situations and tragically lost their lives in the serene yet unforgiving Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wi...

On this episode of the Big Red Canoe podcast, we're joined by Devin Brown and Cory Maria Dack to discuss their remarkable paddling journeys down the Mississippi River. Devin Brown is preparing to become the first Black woman on record to solo kayak the entire length of the Mississippi River, from its source in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Her trip planned for 2024 is driven by a dream ove...

On July 4, 1999, in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), a bizarre confluence of meteorological events resulted in the most  damaging blowdown in the region’s history. Originating over the Dakotas,  the midsummer windstorm developed amid unusually high heat and  water-saturated forests and moved steadily east, bearing down on Fargo,  North Dakota, and damaging land as it crossed the...

We revisit the fascinating story of the legislative and political battles leading up to the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection Act of 1978 by talking to three of the individuals who shaped it and fought for its passage: Chuck Dayton, Jan Green, and Kevin Proescholdt.  In this look at a key chapter in Boundary Waters history, they share their insights and personal experiences that led to this im...

Deciding what gear to use for Boundary Waters trips can be overwhelming. Cutting-edge, ultra-lightweight, indestructible, weatherproof gear can make a big difference, but the newest and coolest gear might not always be the best gear for you - or your budget. We've turned  to Darren Bush from Rutabaga Paddlesports in Madison, Wisconsin, to help sort through the options and give us some answers...

How could you make your Boundary Waters trip even better? Check out these 25 tips, that cover all aspects of a BWCA canoe trip. Drawing from his experience of paddling hundreds of days through the Northwoods,  Pete Marshall, Communications Director at Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, shares an informative list for intermediate paddlers to move faster, be more comfortable or just have a r...

If you love the Boundary Waters and literature, you're not going to want to miss this very special podcast. We're joined by New York times bestselling author, William Kent Krueger, who writes a series of mysteries set in the north woods of Minnesota. The protagonist of many of Krueger's novels, Cork O'Connor is the former sheriff of Tamarack county and is part Irish and part Oj...

The trails of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area offer endless possibilities, and you're sure to find a sense of awe and wonder around every corner. And some Boundary Waters trails connect to an even larger network of trails called the North Country Scenic Trail; a footpath stretching over 4,600 miles from the west side of the Missouri river and North Dakota, all the way to the Appalachian trail...

The ice is now out on the Lakes in the Boundary Waters, and we’re embracing the promise of the spring season. But for those who live and work near the Boundary Waters, they’ve been straddling seasons for months, spending time in the winter season to prepare for summer. In this Big Red Canoe podcast episode, we meet Joe Friedmeyer, a U.S. Forest Service sled dog musher, who has been using the ice a...

Are there monsters, ghosts, or even more creepy things lurking in the BWCA? In this episode, we'll hear your stories from a contest when St. Paul-based Lake Monster Brewing teamed up with Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness to create a new Minnesota legend. We asked you to submit your tall tales, to bring a BWCA monster out from the shadows and become immortalized on cans of Lake Monste...

When many of us think of the Boundary Waters, we think about paddling and portaging. But there area number of ways to experience the Wilderness, including recreational hiking. In this episode, we meet Michelle Kwan, who went on her first Boundary Waters trip in an even more unique way - as a volunteer doing trail clearing work.  For Michelle, this turned out to be life-changing experience. In this...