Just heard from my buddy who works at the Superior National Forest headquarters in West Duluth that a mining operation has reached a deal to take over most of the land surrounding Gabbro, Bald Eagle, Pietro, Turtle, Gull and Clearwater Lakes to make room for the proposed copper mine operations. Said it will be a 40 year "lease" and the company will turn over the same amount of land they own near Grand Rapids during the 40 years to be used for public recreation (hunting/fishing etc).

Sounds like as soon as next year entry point 32 will be gone for about 40 years along with the use of the lakes mentioned. It still needs to be approved by the uppers and legislators but the money involved that the forest service will receive for renting the land looks like it will pass without much trouble. The mine is said to be underground and not to affect much if any of the lakes or land but we will soon see.

I'm bummed cause I've never been to this area but plan to visit it this summer now.

Here is a link to the Superior National Forest comments and questions portion of their website and I hope you please write and tell them this is a bad idea. Link

Give them an inch and next time they will want a mile. The mining companies already know the precious metals veins run a lot further north into the BWCA territory.

Edit: I sure hope this an early April fools joke.

Thanks for the stock tip.

After 40 years the portage trails will be gone and your grandchildren can use those lakes for the Bushwhackers Jamboree 2055, if your stock riches haven't ruined their sense of adventure.

Your link is to the fart thread. Do you have a link to an article explaining what you are saying. I can't find anything that would suggest that a part of the BWCA is going to be closed due to mining.

And happy April Fool's Day to you, too, Chilly!

quote Spartan2: "And happy April Fool's Day to you, too, Chilly!"

GOOD ONE!!!

Got me! I was 'pissed' all night long!

quote dicecupmaker: "Got me! I was 'pissed' all night long!"

I was more befuddled than pissed. Forgot about April fools altogether.

Damn it Chilly,
Now you started another uproar with this April Fools Joke!
This will spread like wildfire, thousands will believe it, and another environmental organization will be "born"!!
I will get you for this!!!!!
Muahahahahahahahahahaha :)

I was going to do a write up about the USFS closing the BWCA until May 21st because of the late ice out probability as my April Fools joke but I never got around to it.

Sadly, I read on the weekly press release I subscribe to from the USFS that they are closing most entry points until "deemed for safe travel by the public" until further notice. The Fed climate Prediction Center is calling for the Polar Vortex to shift into the Midwest for a good part of April and ice out won't be until mid May. Damn!

Oh man, Tumbleweed,
Now you fired everyone up!!
Leave these people alone, they still haven't gotten over the mining company rumor.
I can't imagine what they'll do after hearing about a drone shooting down the missing Malaysian Airliner over Basswood Lake, two nights ago!

There is potential to lease the land all the way to Bog lake entry point. No Aprils fool joke.

Classic

quote WhiteWolf: "

quote Spartan2: "And happy April Fool's Day to you, too, Chilly!"

GOOD ONE!!!"

:)

quote The Great Outdoors: "This will spread like wildfire, thousands will believe it, and another environmental organization will be "born"!!"

I don't know about new organizations but I just got an email from Friends of the BW quoting Chilly's post and looking for donations to fight this threat.

Best part was the fart link. Thanks. Blowing that $#!&ty snow all morning put me off laughing at anyone's 4/1 jokes. Until this one.

quote andym: "

quote The Great Outdoors: "This will spread like wildfire, thousands will believe it, and another environmental organization will be "born"!!"

I don't know about new organizations but I just got an email from Friends of the BW quoting Chilly's post and looking for donations to fight this threat."

HaHaHaHaHa! Are they fighting all that extra carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide produced by campers? : )

I'm pretty sure they're not!!
Whenever they launch a campaign of some sorts, it's usually, "but I didn't mean me!"

Y'all don't know Chilly. I don't either but I know he's pretty sly.

Good job, Chill...happy April 1st! Fart link..hahaha.

Ruined a perfectly good day!

bump ;)

It's about time the Feds start being progressive thinkers. I've always said the easy solution to the Asian Carp northern migration was controlled toxic mine sludge releases to form a "No Carp Zone". :)

Seems like Chilly's awful proud of that fart topic.

Recycling old April Fool's jokes :)

I wrote a fake news article yesterday supposedly from the Duluth Tribune that stated Canada would close all of it's remote border crossings in retaliation to Trump's immigration policies. I sent it to all five of the other guys going to Quetico with me this summer. They all panicked when they began reading it because they are newbies and have already purchased equipment and applied for their RABC permits. Here's what I sent them:



Immigration Fallout Affects Popular Wilderness in Ontario
By Tom Rayfield
Duluth News Tribune

One of the most popular attractions in our area for avid fishermen, paddlers and campers will be closed to American tourism this summer. Quetico Provincial Park in southern Ontario which borders the Minnesota arrowhead area north of Lake Superior will suspend its remote border crossing permits to American residents.

This unexpected move was prompted by the immigration policies of President Donald Trump. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau announced on Friday that until immigration policies change in the Trump administration, Canada will hold firm its remote crossing process. After a cabinet meeting on Friday, Trudeau stated that Americans could too easily and illegally cross into Canada in all remote areas including Quetico Provincial Park.

Trudeau’s opponents argued that such action was only a reaction to Trumps policies and that sportsmen posed no threat at remote locations. But Trudeau remained firm in signing into law a six-month ban on border crossing at locations other than where border guards are present. “This will allow us to more closely regulate the flow of American immigration into our country and also send a message to President Donald Trump that his policies on immigration violate human rights and are hate motivated toward Muslims,” Trudeau stated.

Marcus Wagner, Chairman of the Ontario Parks Commission, was reluctant to comment on this order other than to say that the decision would critically damage the financial management of some of the most pristine wilderness areas in the country. He declined any other comment but was obviously distraught at the ruling.

Here in Minnesota, parks officials of the Boundary Waters Canoe Access Wilderness say that they expect usage to increase by 25 percent this summer due to the closing of Quetico Provincial Park. I talked with Park official, David Layton, at Superior National Forest headquarters in Grand Marais, Minnesota. Although puzzled by the Canadian ruling he was upbeat about what that meant for tourism in the Boundary Waters.

“What President Trudeau has done is silly and petty but hey, that’s their decision. What it means for us is great because it will cause a lot more tourism dollars to stay here in our area. I know it will make the Boundary Waters a little more crowded this summer but you’ll still be enjoying nature at its best. You’ll have great fishing, there are plenty of campsites and there’s nothing better than gliding through the water with a paddle inyour hand,”

Many who experience the wilderness area of Quetico every year will no doubt be frustrated and angry at the closing of the park this summer to U.S. citizens. However, if you have any questions about the closure, you are encouraged to send your questions or comments to: www.greataprilfoolsjokes.com/terry
?
Happy April 1st everybody.

One guy going on the trip only read half of the article and was really upset. I made him read the rest of it and when he could breathe properly again he finally laughed.

I have a feeling they will all plot a revenge. I will be on the lookout.

Terry