Paddle and Portage Podcast

Paddle and Portage Podcast
  • 5.0 (2)
  • WILDERNESS
  • UPDATED TWICE WEEKLY

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. 

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    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 3-years-old. These days, Bob is busy running Carlson Roasting Company and Loons Nest Coffee. He still enjoys paddling in the BWCA with his family. Chasing lake trout and walleye are part of the experience on a Carlson-family adventure, but it's more about sharing a passion for the canoe country with the next generation of paddlers, as Bob shares in this video episode of the podcast. This episode was recorded at Canoecopia 2026 in Madison, Wisc.  Support for the episode comes from Canoecopia, Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center, and Friends of the Boundary Waters.

    34 min

  2. 23 APR

    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 Peterson State Fish Hatchery, which is managed by the Minnesota DNR. The hatchery is located near the Root River and the popular tourist town of Lanesboro.  Assistant Fisheries Supervisor Ryan Wierzba led us on the tour. Among other things, we discuss how splake are made and how they end up in the lakes in and around the BWCA. What is a splake? It's a lake trout and brook trout hybrid. And they're damn tasty, many anglers agree.  This episode is supported by Sawbill Canoe Outfitters and Borderland Lodge.

    28 min
  3. Forest Service to Utah Update & Talking BWCA and Books with a Duluth Writer

    10 APR

    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 close or repurpose all nine of its regional offices, create 15 state offices, and shutter research and development facilities in more than 30 states, including a site in Ely on the edge of the Boundary Waters. The specifics on what “research and development facility” in Ely will be closing remains in question a week after the announcement came out. Paddle and Portage media spoke with officials from the Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps April 4, as it’s possible they are included in the situation, specifically a historic research lab they now manage in Ely via a lease with the Forest Service.  Learn more in this episode of the podcast.  Also featured in the episode is Duluth writer Alex Messenger. Alex talks about his new book, "The Ice on the Lake." He also shares stories about search and rescue operations he's been on in the Boundary Waters, as well as the time he was mauled by a grizzly bear in Canada.  This episode is sponsored by Voyageur Canoe Outfitters on the Gunflint Trail, and Bending Branches Canoe & Kayak Paddles.

    27 min

  4. 1 APR

    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 duo rejuvenated this year. A surge of outdoor activity in late March played a role in this newfound understanding of late winter in the Boundary Waters, as is shared in this episode, which is sponsored by Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters, Loons Nest Coffee, Friends of the Boundary Waters, and Ely Outfitting Company.

    43 min

  5. 26 MAR

    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 doesn't need your approval to know his work is being done the right way. He knows it. And most everyone who has some of his product knows it too. Kevin has built small batches of garments near Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters for more than 20 years. He runs his business the same way he always has: Old school. Customers order direct. No waitlists. Manufacturer to customer. No B.S. In this episode of the podcast, we learn about the journey of Kevin Kinney.  This episode is sponsored by Bending Branches Canoe & Kayak Paddles and Borderland Lodge.

    27 min

  6. 20 MAR

    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 readers from Minnesota’s Boundary Waters into the Canadian barrens, a region rarely seen by most BWCA paddlers. The book tells the pull this area had on one of Minnesota’s most accomplished paddlers, Bob O’Hara. Rodgers recently met up with Joe Friedrichs on the shore of Lake Superior in Grand Marais to discuss the book and other topics relevant to the Boundary Waters. This episode is sponsored by Tuscarora Lodge & Canoe Outfitters and Ely Outfitting Company.

    46 min

  7. 12 MAR

    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 the peace, beauty, adventure and challenge of the BWCA, she vowed to return. And return she did. In 2025, Mona completed a 200-mile solo trip across the border lakes of the Boundary Waters. It was her first solo adventure after completing nearly 70 trips to the BWCA.  In this episode, we share Mona's story of her first solo trip, and how it intersects with decades of introducing others to wilderness paddling.  This episode is sponsored by Loons Nest Coffee and Sawtooth Outfitters.  Special thanks to Mike Gauthier, Sue Sullivan, Paula & Fred Furlich, Lisa DeLaney, Joanie Ouellette, Ruthie Davis, and Kevin Kenow for supporting Mona's trip and helping to make this episode possible.

    24 min

  8. 1 MAR

    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 enthusiast, Tim passed away in December 2025 after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 60. Tim worked at the University of Minnesota Duluth outdoor education program. He was also a co-founder of the Duluth Folk School. He was a certified canoe instructor who introduced the Boundary Waters to many people during the past 30 years.  In this episode, we hear the story of Tim Bates, a quiet legend of the Boundary Waters.  This episode is supported by Bent Paddle Brewing Company and Friends of the Boundary Waters.  Special thanks to Julie Bates, Kelly Bates, Ken Gilbertson, and Pat Kohlin for making this episode possible.

    31 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Paddle and Portage Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    101
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Paddle and Portage Podcast

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