Paddle and Portage Podcast
Paddle and Portage Podcast
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About This Podcast
This podcast is produced by people who live near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park. It is the source for storytelling, news, and information about the canoe-country wilderness and other paddling destinations across North America.
All music on this podcast, unless credited otherwise, comes from Ian Tamblyn and the Blue Dot Sessions.
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Recent Episodes
Paddling a Lake Superior Estuary Near Duluth
The St. Louis River Estuary is the confluence of the St. Louis River with Lake Superior. At 12,000 acres, the St. Louis River Estuary is the largest freshwater estuary in North America and is…
The Magazine Story That Brought an Ohio Kid to the Boundary Waters
Don Beans first heard about the Boundary Waters when he was a kid growing up in Ohio. And he did so via a magazine, and through the words of longtime Ely resident Bob Cary, a local author,…
Flying Over the Boundary Waters - Rescue & New Book
In this two-part episode, we hear of a helicopter rescue from May 2026 when two paddlers capsized in the BWCA near Ely. The podcast duo break down the situation, including the public's response to…
Cold, Snow, Ice, and Untimely Death Mark Another BWCA Fishing Opener
It snowed across most of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness during the 2026 Fishing Opener. Indeed, Saturday, May 9 was marked by cold, snow and lingering ice across most of the eastern side…
Talking Gunflint Trail Coffee and BWCA Paddling with Bob from Loons Nest
Bob Carlson is a co-owner of Loons Nest Coffee on the Gunflint Trail. He's also a lifelong paddler in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Bob went on his first BWCA when he was…
The Ties of a Hybrid Fish to the BWCA
Many of the brook trout and splake that end up in lakes in and around the Boundary Waters come from fish hatcheries in southeastern Minnesota. Joe from the P&P Podcast recently toured the…
Forest Service to Utah Update & Talking BWCA and Books with a Duluth Writer
The federal government announced last week it is moving the headquarters for the U.S. Forest Service from Washington, D.C. to Salt Lake City. As part of the move, the Forest Service says it will also…
This Miscalculations of Spring in the Boundary Waters
April. The month that's been known to send fear up the spine of the Paddle & Portage Podcast team. Recent revelations about what April can offer for BWCA and Quetico adventures has the podcast…
Kevin Kinney: Behind the Wool and Canvas
Kevin Kinney, owner of Empire Wool and Canvas Company, celebrates the natural world. He does so without apologies. A direct, straightforward creator, Kevin is a generous creator of fabric, though he…
Ryan Rodgers - Where the Green Light Shines
Minnesota author and frequent Paddle & Portage contributor Ryan Rodgers has a new book about paddling canoes. “Where the Green Light Shines” will be available in summer 2026. The book takes…
Solo Trip Across the Border Lakes - Mona's Story
Mona Gauthier led her first trip to the BWCA in August 1983. At that time, she was a recent college graduate with limited resources and made do with gear and equipment that was available. Inspired by…
Tim Bates: An Unsung Hero of the Boundary Waters
Tim Bates met his wife on the Gunflint Trail. For decades, he paddled and portaged a canoe past thousands of BWCA visitors, though most never knew his name. A gifted paddler and wilderness…
Paddling North: How Stories Inspire Adventure
Sometimes the hardest part of wilderness travel – be it a winter trip to the Boundary Waters or a canoe trip to Quetico – isn’t the actual adventure itself that is the most taxing. What can be the…
BWCA News Track: Politics and Mining in an Election Year
The BWCA is making national headlines in early 2026, with a proposed mine near the edge of the wilderness being the primary news item drawing attention to the region. A vote to reverse a mining ban…
BWCA Winter Camping: Mind Games
The core Paddle & Portage team spent a combined 24 nights in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in January. Many miles were covered over the course of multiple trips. Lake trout were…
The Paddler's Symphony: A Minnesota Music Teacher's Opus
Sarah Kremer is a music teacher and musician who lives in Minnesota. She's also a paddler. Her first trip was a 30-day epic to Woodland Caribou. She was a teenager on that first trip. The next…
The Lost Lakes Deep Dive with Jon and Erin
Erin Walker is a frequent contributor to Paddle and Portage media. She also appears regularly on The Lost Lakes YouTube channel. In this interview, Erin talks with Jon, the founder Lost Lakes about…
Finding BWCA Inspiration with Buck Benson
Buck Benson is 74 years old. Born and raised in Grand Marais, he still lives near his hometown on Minnesota's North Shore of Lake Superior. Buck doesn't think much about his age. He certainly doesn't…
Canoecopia Nears and BWCA News Update
Canoecopia is the largest paddling expo in North America. The annual event takes place March 13-15 in Madison, Wisc. Paddle and Portage Podcast host Joe Friedrichs spoke with Darren Bush of…
Go Live Day for BWCA Permits - Ginny Nelson from Spirit of the Wilderness in Ely
Ginny Nelson is a co-owner and manager for Spirit of the Wilderness outfitters in Ely, Minnesota. In this video podcast, Ginny talks with Joe Friedrichs from the Paddle and Portage Podcast about the…
Frequently Asked Questions
Paddle and Portage Podcast has published 105 episodes since January 2024, covering topics in Sports, Wilderness.
Paddle and Portage Podcast is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 32m.
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