How many of you stop at customs in Ely or GM upon returning from Quetico?

I have heard mixed opinions some say they never stop, some always do because they are afraid they will get caught and some stop when they feel like it. Do they really check on you if you do not report back?

It's is my first trip up there this year and I do have a passport so I am going to stop to report in. I was one of the ones who got scared. :)

i havent, but im paranoid about it. what happens if they know i havent?

Back in the day I never stopped. Now, I always do. The government is all-powerful, all-knowing, and paranoid. Better to play it safe with those folks...

what gets me is that they arent open 24/7. thats some tight ass coverage...sarcasm. no wonder people blow it off.

the biggest joke ever. honor checkpoint

quote kanoes: "what gets me is that they arent open 24/7. thats some tight ass coverage...sarcasm. no wonder people blow it off."

+1...yeah if you don't get down to Grand Marais in time you have to wait till the next morning.

Second year we missed it by 30 minutes...now what??? sleep in the car all night...we have a little compact. Wound up staying at Best Western for $150...nice room and comfortable but $150????? :(

Told me to drive over to Grand Portage if I didn't want to wait...open 24 hours...Nice people at the CC but not driving that far out of the way.

One year he was over at the airport checking on things...sign on door said to call number...he did showed up a little while later.

Um forgot the next year...

Yup, I always stop. It's your responsibility to end your trip at a time when you can visit customs or find a way to visit them.

Since customs officers are humans too, they understand that it's not always easy to visit them during off hours. If I found them to be closed upon my exit, I would call them the next day to explain the situation.

My line of work includes interactions with Government law enforcement and I have only had good experiences with them. They're not looking to hassle the good guys.

Tom

I always stop. Never been a problem in Ely. Maybe coming out the east side is harder. Can you stop in Duluth?

I get the I-68 every season, $16, no biggy. it has a toll free number to call when I return from Canada.

quote moose664788: "Stop at customs in Ely or GM upon returning from Quetico?

I have heard mixed opinions some say they never stop, some always do because they are afraid they will get caught and some stop when they feel like it. Do they really check on you if you do not report back?

It's is my first trip up there this year and I do have a passport so I am going to stop to report in. I was one of the ones who got scared. :)"

I've traced this poster's ip address to the Department of Homeland Security

quote kanoes: "i havent, but im paranoid about it. what happens if they know i havent?"

I feel the same way. Never have but always paranoid about it.

Yes, I check in as required, although it seems ridiculous. It’s one thing if the U.S. Custom Station was on the International Lake as you came off, (i.e., in the vicinity of the public landing on Saganaga Lake or Moose Lake for example). But to drive from Saganaga Lake to Grand Marais, a distance of approx. 58 miles, and then stop and check in at US Customs seems asinine.

Really, that’s like me driving from Madison, Wisconsin to my Home in the North Lake/Hartland area, and then checking into a Government Office. Seriously, if I had something that was illicit in my possession, couldn’t I just stash it along the road somewhere, check in, and retrieve it later? It’s not like the Toll Booth type scenario you’re confronted with while driving across the International Border.

Due to the fact the duty fees on food has been relaxed over the years, what are the U.S. Customs Offices really looking for anyway? I suppose it’s just a matter of procedure, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense. It’s not like Quetico canoe trippers are paddling across the Canadian Border, and then returning to the U.S. with a canoe laden with 20 cases of Molson or several kilos of “Canadian Gold”. At least not that I know of anyway. :-)

It’s no wonder that many paddlers returning from a Quetico canoe trip blow it off. It seems like an exercise in futility and a chance for some U.S. Customs Official to give you a hard time. (Been there, done that!)

I have an interesting story I may post later with regards to a check-in at the Customs Office in Ely many years ago. I’ll save that story for another time, because I’ve rambled on enough in this reply with my venting.

Hans Solo

If they want me to check in when I return, they either need to be open or provide a Global Entry kiosk. Otherwise, its their problem ... they can drive to Texas to find me if they want. After all, they DO have my address.

dd

Think it would be a part of my civic duty to forward this to US Customs? Of course maybe they are watching.

Yup. I stop with may passport every time. See my screen name. I comply with the law.

Just like driving and being sure at least ten percent of the cars are passing you. I guess it's like the bear thing - I just have to run faster than the slowest person.

There is a sign on the Gunflint trail reminding canoeists to check in at US Customs in Grand Marias. I always stop and take a leak by the sign (this somehow just seems to be where the Quetico exit beers need to exit) and then I feel I have at least made an effort to comply

quote Banksiana: "

quote moose664788: "Stop at customs in Ely or GM upon returning from Quetico?

I have heard mixed opinions some say they never stop, some always do because they are afraid they will get caught and some stop when they feel like it. Do they really check on you if you do not report back?

It's is my first trip up there this year and I do have a passport so I am going to stop to report in. I was one of the ones who got scared. :)"

I've traced this poster's ip address to the Department of Homeland Security"

Well if you're an illegal immigrant, you'll have no problems. They probably send you a check in the mail.

quote Bushwacker: "Well if you're an illegal immigrant you'll have no problems. They probably send you a check in the mail."

Zingggggggggg!!!!

quote Mocha: "I get the I-68 every season, $16, no biggy. it has a toll free number to call when I return from Canada."

Hey Mocha, what's an I-68, never heard of it?

I-68

When I've looked at this, it would seem useful if returning to US more than once or twice a year, but for my once and rarely twice a year trips, seems like more work than it's worth, because at least as I understand it, you have to report in person once a year.

It was suggested to me - oddly by the Q superintendent - for a trip along the border and camping on both sides. I've subsequently determined US customs really expect that.

I've never stopped in at the Customs place on returning from Canada.

We used the I-68 last year when we left Seagull Outfitters late in the afternoon and knew that the Customs office in Grand Marais would be closed by the time we got there. We had my grandson with us and wanted to set a good example by following the letter of the law. It cost us $16 each, but the phone call instead of the face to face visit was very easy.

Last year was my first time going to Q, and using a RABC, I did not know you were supposed to check in somewhere? I just drove home.
Now I suppose the border patrol will be a looking for me?
SunCatcher

weve never stopped didnt know we were supposed until a few years ago maybe if they were open i might stop to show my passport but its usually closed when we come thru .. our gov should have an RABC for this part of the border, i mean whos going to portage all that illegal canadian beer,maybe we can get a few billion together and lobby congress..isnt that how a bill becomes a law.

quote SunCatcher: "Last year was my first time going to Q, and using a RABC, I did not know you were supposed to check in somewhere? I just drove home.

Now I suppose the border patrol will be a looking for me?
SunCatcher"

It's my understanding that the Authorities have been notified and will be present in the Lobby of the Clarion Suites in Madison, Wisconsin March 7th, 2014. It was also suggested Madison's Fire Marshall be present as well. :-)

Hans Solo

We have always stopped in. After all the years we became friends with one of the agents. He had a thing about collecting John Deere things. We work with a company that is a major vendor for John Deere advertising products, and have access to some good pheasant hunting grounds. Then Our friend seemed to have retired and a new guy was in there. According to lots of insider info us red necks are all on some kind of a watch list and we were feeling the paranoia being treated like we were guilty until proven innocent. Perhaps they were right, I have been a peace advocate my entire life, besides being a red neck.

The correct answer is that we ALL stop at Customs after every trip into Quetico.

Homeland Security observes this website I believe.

Bryan

quote done that: " weve never stopped didnt know we were supposed until a few years ago maybe if they were open i might stop to show my passport but its usually closed when we come thru .. our gov should have an RABC for this part of the border, i mean whos going to portage all that illegal canadian beer,maybe we can get a few billion together and lobby congress..isnt that how a bill becomes a law."

We do. It's called an I 68. See above.

That sign coming into Ely or Grand Marais is a joke we all laugh at every trip. Most time do not stop cause they are not open and we have to get home and can't wait for next day. We chose to stop one time in Ely since they were open and got treated like criminals. They even searched the truck. When done, I asked why we were treated so badly and got no answer. Figured he was just having a bad day and wanted to take it out on us. My buddy told him we were going to report his treatment to us and were told to "leave or else". We did report him. Have not stopped since.

Other times when driving into Canada for fishing/hiking/cigars, were always welcomed with smiles into Canada and offered advise for fishing or good hiking areas. Coming back to the states is where we occasionally got harassed. Almost like, "isn't the US good enough for your vacation" kind of attitude.

quote MrBreeze: "That sign coming into Ely or Grand Marais is a joke we all laugh at every trip. Most time do not stop cause they are not open and we have to get home and can't wait for next day. We chose to stop one time in Ely since they were open and got treated like criminals. They even searched the truck. When done, I asked why we were treated so badly and got no answer. Figured he was just having a bad day and wanted to take it out on us. My buddy told him we were going to report his treatment to us and were told to "leave or else". We did report him. Have not stopped since.


Other times when driving into Canada for fishing/hiking/cigars, were always welcomed with smiles into Canada and offered advise for fishing or good hiking areas. Coming back to the states is where we occasionally got harassed. Almost like, "isn't the US good enough for your vacation" kind of attitude.
"

That's too bad. I always stop and one time it lasted nearly and hour. One of our party was from Mississippi and turns out a Viet Nam wary buddy of the agent lived in Mississippi and that started a long conversation. In a ten years the agent has never been other than polite to us.

quote MrBreeze: "That sign coming into Ely or Grand Marais is a joke we all laugh at every trip. We chose to stop one time in Ely since they were open and got treated like criminals. They even searched the truck. Have not stopped since.

"

Boy what a bummer.

I've had great visits with customs when I stop. We usually talk about camping, fire danger, etc. The last time I was there, the officer told me about a drowning in the BWCA and that authorities were searching for him. He let me use his phone so I could call home to let my family know I made it out. Nothing but very professional service from them during my stops.

Tom

This may seem like a dumb question, but where should one stop to clear customs?

quote Beaverjack: "This may seem like a dumb question, but where should one stop to clear customs?"

I have only come out at PP so I stop on way back into Ely. Its just a little ways out of Ely on the Fernberg Road - new building shared with MNR I think.

Don't know why we got such a bad experience. We were very friendly and told him where we were and he just kind of went off. People have bad days and I think he was having one of those, did not feel like conversing with him and maybe would have found out what the problem was but when being treated like we were, you just want to get the H out of there.
The best customs officers I have experienced were in the Niagra falls area. I have noticed that my experiences seem to get less pleasant with increased time out of country.

quote Beaverjack: "This may seem like a dumb question, but where should one stop to clear customs?"

In Ely there is a stand alone customs building.

In GM it is located in the Coast Guard station at the harbor. Right now there's no customs officer on site because of the sequester, but a border patrol agent called for us. He'll email your passport image to the customs officer, and you'll have to talk to the customs officer on their landline. They'll want your home address and your registration info on your canoe if you own one. Really nice border patrol guys. Process took 10 minutes.

quote Primitiveman: "There is a sign on the Gunflint trail reminding canoeists to check in at US Customs in Grand Marias. I always stop and take a leak by the sign (this somehow just seems to be where the Quetico exit beers need to exit) and then I feel I have at least made an effort to comply"

We live a very short distance from that sign. Maybe you should find another place to get rid of your "beer" please, unless of course you wish to share your address so we can return the favor.

Just completed my first trip to Quetico through PP. Stopped at the Ely Customs station on the way to a shower @ VNO. Easy and quick.

quote HansSolo: "

quote SunCatcher: "Last year was my first time going to Q, and using a RABC, I did not know you were supposed to check in somewhere? I just drove home.

Now I suppose the border patrol will be a looking for me?
SunCatcher"

It's my understanding that the Authorities have been notified and will be present in the Lobby of the Clarion Suites in Madison, Wisconsin March 7th, 2014. It was also suggested Madison's Fire Marshall be present as well. :-)

Hans Solo"

LMAO!!!

quote Frenchy19: "Just completed my first trip to Quetico through PP. Stopped at the Ely Customs station on the way to a shower @ VNO. Easy and quick."

Ditto for me as we'll took me all of two minutes.