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TomP
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Is this PDF still current? A great resource!
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removedmember1
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Eglath: a testament to your diligence!
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slackard
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The ranger station will have a simple map outlining the PMA zones if you ask. (or use the pdf from above)
Each PMA zone is separate from the others. Each is surrounded on all sides by regular bwcaw lakes/campsite/portages. To reach one zone from another, you must exit that zone and cross regular bwca lakes/portages for at least a day or two to reach the next PMA. If you plan to enter 2 different PMA's on 1 trip, when you pick up your permit the rangers will record what days you plan to enter and exit each PMA.
Also in my experience, expect to spend 20-30 mins speaking with a ranger, while they explain the hazards/regulations/etc of pma camping...Yes, even after watching the "leave no trace" video.
If it weren't a crime, I'd recommend a machete--bushwhacking is no understatement.
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deepwood
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Once you have your regular BWCA permit, you call the appropriate Ranger Station and sign up for the PMA. Each PMA is split into multiple "zones" and only one party per night is allowed to camp in each zone.
This is kinda what I was wondering about. The zones inside each individual PMA.
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slackard
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understood. Ive only PMA camped once, and i was the only name in the 3 ring binder for that PMA for weeks and weeks. The rangers effectively told me I had the PMA to myself. And I definitely never saw a map breaking the PMA I was entering into smaller zones.
Inquire with the ranger stations about intra-PMA-zones, they will be your best resource, unless someone else here chimes in.
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overthehill
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I called and requested info from Ranger Station this fall. It took a few days, but they sent info. Alot of extra rules to check out. Nothing drastic, just minimal impact stuff for the most part.
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slackard
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quote deepwood: "yeah I never saw them broken down like that until I saw the maps on this thread.
--edit-- i wasnt reading you right. i never looked past page 1 of that pdf until now. I see the numbered zones now. DUh! :)
Ill get to work adding these PMA outlines to the Google Earth KMZ i uploaded last week
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jwartman59
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okay, enough already. i am as liberal as you get. i cry when i see trucks stacked with killed timber, and station wagons with murdered deers tied to the roof.(kidding) but the rangers found a new way to impose more rules on our "wilderness"? huh? i'll be danged if i am going to get a special permit to camp in the super special PMA areas. i've been camping in them for years. even in non official campsites. i am pretending to be in the wilderness. i left my beers at home. how much more can you ask of me?
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slackard
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One down, 11 to go.
Thanks to eglath for providing the pdf with detailed maps i was able to overlay in google earth and trace.
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PaddleAway
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What kanoes said. They'll write your name, dates, PMA name & region in a high-tech notebook for reference when you show up.
What is a PMA permit? A separate permit for portions of the BWCA that are no longer maintained (no portages, fire grates, official campsites, etc.). From my understanding it's to keep the density of people down in these areas to minimize impact & to allow only one party at a time in any particular region of any one PMA. Getting into & out of them attains this goal better than any regulation.
If you haven't already, check out Beavers pictures. He's loaded maps of all the PMAs. Great resource.
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snakecharmer
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Just to clarify: Anyone can day travel through a PMA without a PMA permit. You only need the PMA permit designation to overnight camp.
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kanoes
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when you decide on which pma you want to enter and on what date(s) you just call the issuing station and have them pencil you in. its free.
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eglath
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Here's a PDF I made with the PMAs outlined: BWCA Primitive Management Areas
As already mentioned, you don't need a permit to travel through the area, only to camp there. Each Ranger Station has a three-ring binder for PMAs. Once you have your regular BWCA permit, you call the appropriate Ranger Station and sign up for the PMA. Each PMA is split into multiple "zones" and only one party per night is allowed to camp in each zone.
Sometimes there are former campsites that make good PMA sites...other times you just have to hope to find an opening in the brush. Sometimes there are old portages/trails between the lakes...other times you're just bushwacking (with canoe) through the forest.
PMA "portage"
PMA "campsite"
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Rambler_Dog
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What is PMA (Primitive Management Area??) permit?
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kanoes
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thanks eglath!
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eglath
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quote slackard: "As promised, I've added the PMA zones to the Google Earth map. Download the updated version here:
http://www.polymetric.net/bwcaw_v0.1.1.kmz
(Remember Mac users, control click and "download linked as...")"
Thanks!!
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anacoluthia
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Never been to the BWCA so can't say anything about PMA's. :)
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slackard
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As promised, I've added the PMA zones to the Google Earth map. Download the updated version here:
http://www.polymetric.net/bwcaw_v0.1.1.kmz
(Remember Mac users, control click and "download linked as...")
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Koda
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quote slackard: "As promised, I've added the PMA zones to the Google Earth map. Download the updated version here:
http://www.polymetric.net/bwcaw_v0.1.1.kmz
(Remember Mac users, control click and "download linked as...")"
You da MAN!! Thanks!
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Rob Johnson
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YUP!!! Add me to the thank you list Slackard. It is interesting that you could spot the PMAs in the old file just by looking for the big blank spots in the sea of red markers.
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deepwood
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How do you determine which zone and which nights you will be in each zone?
When you are at the ranger station can you pick a different zone for each night so you are able to move camp throughout the PMA you have chosen?
I'm guessing that it isn't a very heavily patrolled area, so you would probably be fine. I'm just curious if your have to nail your trip down to being in a certain area on a certain day and being sure that you are not camping in a certain area on the wrong day. Having to keep a schedule would be kind of a downer. I go there because there is no schedule!
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boonie
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quote jwartman59: "okay, enough already. i am as liberal as you get. i cry when i see trucks stacked with killed timber, and station wagons with murdered deers tied to the roof.(kidding) but the rangers found a new way to impose more rules on our "wilderness"? huh? i'll be danged if i am going to get a special permit to camp in the super special PMA areas. i've been camping in them for years. even in non official campsites. i am pretending to be in the wilderness. i left my beers at home. how much more can you ask of me?"
I would ask of you that you not go in the one i'm going in with the proper permit so that I'll be the only one camping there that night. That's the purpose of it. Just like I don't want to find five other groups going in the one-permit entry I have the only permit for that day.
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Amok
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I hate regulation like you do, JWartman. But I agree with this one. I'll be following ALL of the rules strictly (except for minimal clearing along portages --such as they are within a PMA --and I'm talking EXTREME HAZARDS removed only!) whenever I am enjoying a PMA :)
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eglath
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You are all very welcome...glad to see it's still of use!
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eglath
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quote slackard: "One down, 11 to go.
Thanks to eglath for providing the pdf with detailed maps i was able to overlay in google earth and trace."
slackard -- that's fantastic! will you post the kml file when you're done? I would love to have a Google Earth overlay...
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AndySG
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Thanks for Bumping this up Tom, and thanks to Eglath for providing the PMA map. I've been looking for such a map.
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Savage Voyageur
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Thanks eglath, printed and saved for future trips. I have been looking for this.
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wetcanoedog
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i've had PMA permits for my last four trips but only got back in twice.low water levels made pulling up a creek/bog impossible and another time i just punked out.when you get a permit expect to be read a long list of no-no's and the zillion dollar fines if you break them.not many people use PMA's,i was the only person on that page when the ranger wrote me in.
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deepwood
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yeah I never saw them broken down like that until I saw the maps on this thread.
@ Overthehill- Thanks, I'll do that.
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Amok
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Yes, the PMA maps are wonderful. I've got'em saved for reference. And I love the pics, just a 'glimpse' for me of what PMA life will be like in my future :)
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jwartman59
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i never even realized PMAs existed until last summer. i've canoed and camped in them for years. i guess this explains the crappy portages. i've always planned (if I have ever planned) my routes where i know i won't run into people. find a route with a lot of little creeks and long portages and you probably will be in a PMA.
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slackard
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See my original post with a near-complete bwcaw KMZ here.
The links on that post do not yet contain my outlines of these PMAs. But I will update that post and the version number in the links once I finish with mapping the PMAs in google earth.
Last night I finished PMAs 1-6. several to go, but wont be long.
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Amok
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Ok Slackard.
You haven't been here long, but I have a feeling that nickname's got a bit of sarcasm in it :)
Welcome to the addiction!
(bwca.com)
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slackard
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I have a feeling that nickname's got a bit of sarcasm in it :)
Would you still think its a sarcastic name if I told you I'm posting this from work?
Accurate is what I call it! :D
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slackard
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jwartman59:
Fraid not, I've never worked for any governmental agencies...
I'm just some schmo with too much free time.
btw, 2 pma's remaining in google earth. Ill knock them out sometime this weekend and post the new kmz
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Amok
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quote slackard: "I have a feeling that nickname's got a bit of sarcasm in it :)
Would you still think its a sarcastic name if I told you I'm posting this from work?
Accurate is what I call it! :D
"
LOL! Put into that context, than YEAH! That's accurate! (once more, context rules the day!)
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jwartman59
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slackard, you don't happen to work for a Minnesota (name not mentioned to protect the innocent) county???? i did once, they should have a rehab program for us.
BTW, i used to be a geographic info systems tech / land surveyor. our computers had caused much of the global climate change in those days. my computer alone could have heated most of ely. OK, i am exaggerating, but you would be sweating on the coldest of Minnesotan winter days.
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