Are the PMAs one lake with a designated campsite or campsites or can you camp anywhere?

Can anyone point me directly to an online map with PMAs outlined? Are they one lake, a group of lakes or are they side routes? What are they like? How many are there?

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There was a decent Backpacker Magazine article on one of the PMAs that I recall being fairly descriptive.  I've only been through the Sundial PMA from Beartrap through Sunday to Iron.  You could definitely tell the portages were not maintained, and some bushwacking was in order.  Often felt like we were following game trails, but that's half the adventure.  It's a great way to get more solitude, that's for sure.

Back in the 90's, I made an ill-fated trip into the Tick Lake PMA to Jackfish Lake. The jackfish in this lake are much like what was reported in the latest BWJ. We were not warned about these monsters, we had only heard vague references to them. We dismissed them as fables and were ill-prepared for what we would face.

We failed to carry the 7-strand steel cable, to be used as line. We also did not cut & trim a jackpine to be used as a rod &/or club. Rather, we were fishing with ordinary tackle. My buddy hooked one & made it so mad that it rocketed out of the water and consumed my buddy as it dove into the lake. I was soaked from the splash and horrified at what I had just witnessed. Then fear gripped me as I realized I was all alone on a remote monster laden lake.

I few yards away, I heard a faint cry for help. It turned out to be my buddy who had managed to trigger the monster's gag reflex on the way down. I paddled over and helped him clean up. It turned out that other than a shock reaction, he was none the worse for wear. We left immediately and promised never to reveal the actual presence of these monsters. But I know our secret is safe, because no one will believe any of what they just read...

I believe OS!
I know a man that has a close working relationship with the Good Lord, would NEVER be anything less than truthful  ;D

There are quite a few PMAs.  The rook website is a good resource.  

Their location in the BW can be misleading, as they are mostly bushwacking, not your typical BW or Q experience.

There are no designated campsites, but you may find some old leftover sites which are hidden, and steel grates have been found, as well as old wooden thunderboxes.  You may also find makeshift sites that have been created by PMA campers, though in our case we've made them far from the waters edge.  There are also some old portage routes that you might stumble across, but they are very overgrown and not really there anymore, but you might find the evidence.  A few old relics and even some newer artifacts have been found.

solotripper wrote on Oct 11^th, 2010 at 2:31pm:

I believe OS! I know a man that has a close working relationship with the Good Lord, would NEVER be anything less than truthful  ;D

Tho he has been known to tell some great campfire tales...

DB's, lookin' for a bushwack!

My understanding, as of a few years ago, is that one needs a valid EP permit and then file for the PMA permit; is this still the case?

Also heard of some folk doing the Barto Creek area...recall that it was here and via some folk up at Sawbill. They recounted a bushwack and the bugs to match.

Sounds like fun! ;)

Barto Creek is not in a PMA, though the area has been visited in the last few years.  

The last time we did a PMA (07 I think), the process was as Merlin described it.  The PMA permit must be reserved and picked up via a ranger station, not through your outfitter.  I believe there are zones within some of the PMAs, and they only issue one permit per PMA/Zone per party per night.

True ;)

marlin55388 wrote on Oct 12^th, 2010 at 5:52am:

DB's, lookin' for a bushwack!

No more bushwhacks for this paddler until either the kid gets older or I get younger.

My apologies. I do appreciate the PMs (I really did and I'm not crying Wolf 'cause who knows...) but I was doing the Q comment thing and I got to wondering how things work in places I've not been.

So do you essentially reserve a PMA for individual dates? Can you do multiples and basecamp or is it a one nighter?

Not trying to make a BW/Q comparison, just attempting to understand what things are like elsewhere. I just wanna learn stuff. My goal is to have any lakes I anticipate spending any time at all on, all to myself. Or, if they are big enough, I'll consider sharing... For me it's more location, location, location. Increasing degrees of difficulty is but a necessary evil to avoid whenever I can. I just would rather not see anyone else unless I planned to do so.

On my last trip, I ran into two guys on the Fern to Oly portage. I saw one other canoe in the distance on Sturgeon and got all the way to Jean before I traded greetings with another soul. Guess who? Same guys from the Fern to Oly portage. They snuck up on me both times and only now do I wonder where they went.

If all you plan to do is pass on through...no special permit required.  Want to stay overnoght?  The station issuing your regular permit can reserve a section of a PMA at no additional cost...you just have to got there in person to pick it up.

US Forest Service doen't advertise the PMA's, but they do have a map booklet (I called USFS at Duluth, last spring, and they graciously sent the info) very useful for picking out PMA and zone within that; the maps are not highly detailed, but give you enough to draw in the boundaries on your trip map(s).  My buddy and I had entry via Hog Creek and did a loop to come out at Kawishiwi.  We reserved a PMA site for one lake along the way; reserved at Tofte, where we picked up the BWCA permit.  It was worth a bit of extra effort (followed a grown-over portage, although, in theory, they don't want you to use traces of trails or campsites but rather to " leave no trace..".).  There are some pretty gems back in those places, and maybe best when they are on the way to no where else...   Ripple  

Due to the bushwacking nature of travel within PMAs, I would really suggest permitting through the Forest Service, even if you plan on paddling through and not staying the night.  At least you have a backup.  From experience, what looks like a fairly easy travel day can turn into a very exhausting slog in the PMAs.

Agree with JJCanoeguide.  We picked a lake in one PMA that was relatively accessible, and we came out the same way.  A mile or two of PMA creek on the map can take a goodly amount of effort and time!

Here's the link to the Backpacker Magazine article about the PMA near our place at the end of the Gunflint Trail.     (You need to Login or Register
My husband went with on this trip and I've been in those lakes before.  They aren't as difficult as some of the other ones sound.

Happy Camping,
Sue