Based on the accuracy of CBS News and Yahoo, I would not start packing yet.

MB

db wrote on Apr 29^th, 2021 at 6:51pm:

That was my bet a while back and at the time, umm, well, we've all been windbound before - right?

Have hope!

I'd subscribe to that!

Nope this year.

Glad for that Bill! I read that Canada may be considering easing border closure restrictions by June 21....or so the whispering goes...

No idea what that means for actually crossing the border into say, Quetico. Some folks on another site are making noise about getting a RABC in to be ready. I had read that program has been discontinued....so....I don't know....

If the border is opened at International Falls and I am going to Beaverhouse, I would have no contact with anyone other than the ranger on BH.  Based on prior experiences I can't see the ranger questioning my Covid 19 status.  So if I can get across the border I think I am good to go.  I can already taste the walleye and trout.

Quote:


Therein lay the problem as I see it. As new evidence comes in the powers that be need to get on the same page so people can have confidence in the rules and plan accordingly.
 
I was vaccinated here in MI about a month ago with the J&J vaccine at the local Krogers where I shop.

  Right about then, Kroger changed its policy that required customers/workers to wear masks. If you've been vaccinated you don't need a mask.

Of course that begs the question, how do they or other people know you have been vaccinated?

I've seen a few verbal confrontations over masks, so I decided to make my status known even if not required to.

I bought one of those clear plastic ID card holders on a neck lanyard. When I'm out and about I wear it so people know and I don't have to deal with a mask "KAREN" screaming at me.

  I want to get into Canada but not until they have it all worked out and I know what I'm dealing with before I go and even more important when I try to get back in?

solotripper wrote on Jun 9^th, 2021 at 11:45am:


Sorry if this is a thread hijack, but what you said, Neal, sort of resonated with me in light of my trip to pick up my groceries at Kroger yesterday.  I don't go in the store, but I order and pay online, then just park in the designated spot and a nice young person comes and puts my groceries in the trunk of my car.

While I was waiting for him to serve the person parked close to me, I had my car window open and was able to hear (actually unable to not hear, as it was very loud) the conversation that the man in the car was having with the delivery person.  The employee of Kroger's was wearing a mask, but the customer was not.  And he evidently asked the young employee if he had had the vaccine yet and got a negative reply.

The man was thrilled to hear that.  He went on to say that only stupid people get this vaccine, that "it is a proven fact that more people have died from the vaccine than from COVID."  He went on to rant and rave about how many people had died from the vaccine and that everyone who has had the vaccine is shedding spike protein that makes other people sick.  The kid was very polite, thanked him for letting him know that, and said he guessed he was right not to get the vaccine after all. 

Then the gentleman started in on his view that there is really no such thing as COVID and that the government had made it all up to take away people's freedoms.  And on and on, and on. . .when they got to their opinions about Dr. Fauci I just put up my car window, turned on my music, and waited--much longer than usual because normally the employees don't stand and listen to a customer rant about vaccines and vaccinated "idiots" while other customers are waiting.   

When the kid finally went back and got my groceries, it was just a matter of about five minutes and I was on my way.  I still don't feel all that threatened by my vaccine, which I had in January.  And if somewhere that I go (physical therapy comes to mind since I was there this morning) requires me to wear a mask, I just do it.  I don't argue about my vaccination status.  

I just want the border to open so that I can paddle in Quetico....soon...

Spartan2 wrote on Jun 10^th, 2021 at 8:17pm:


Circling back to the Border opening, it's obvious that when it comes to Covid/Science and of course politics people are all over the place on it.

That's why I said I want to see a comprehensive plan between the US/CANADA to open the border so everyone will know what to expect and how problems will be dealt with?

Depending on what those rules are, we can decide  IF we want to participate or not.

  Personally, I'm done wearing masks in public.
If a private entity requires it, unless it's a do or die situation, I'll just opt out.

solotripper wrote on Jun 11^th, 2021 at 11:43am:

So, when the border finally does open? Do I need to leave the head and/or a little patch of skin on lakers...  declare my Cuban cigars... coming back...

Are potatoes, meat, pot... still an issue entering?

No worries. I'll simply assume I'd still have to wear pants in either direction.

My original comment about whenever they open the border still stands. I want to know exactly what I'll be getting into Covid wise when I go across?

You just had those 2 passengers on that fully vaccinated cruise ship test positive for Covid when they checked all the passengers before they returned to port.

  They are in isolation now and they are doing contact tracing etc. Will they test us both ways going into Canada? Do the same if you test positive?

I don't like surprises. Whatever protocol the respective countries decide on needs to be clear and we'll go from there.

I heard they are looking into a NO pants option when they open the border. db will be pleased

db wrote on Jun 11^th, 2021 at 5:56pm:

To the extent this piece sheds any light on matters (and it doesn't shed much), fyi:

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Jimbo   

Well I was just camping with Pineknot up on LLC and we thought maybe the next best date for the border opening would be September something. Here's hoping.

Wish I could send you a few of our daily downpours.  Three inches worth yesterday was par for the course around here lately.  Constant jungle-like humidity.  Of course, what we're experiencing down here in Florida is close enough to the norm for the season.  The situation you have up there is, well, kind of nuts.  Hey, when it reaches 121.3 degrees in British Columbia, Mother Nature has gone remarkably astray.

I'm hoping there's something left of Quetico to head back to in 2022.  By all accounts, it's pretty ugly up there right now.  Hang in there, Solus... and keep your fire extinguisher handy.

Jimbo   

This is hopeful but Trudeau said something 180 degrees different a day or so earlier. He had been talking "months away."

May not matter much, either way, considering how much of the park is smoldering.  Hmmmm... maybe wood smoke will be proven to inhibit the spread of the Delta variant.

The Devil will be in the details of any reopening, of course. 

Thanks for sharing, Bill!

Jimbo 

Here you go, my American cousins. Some good news for Quetico-bound travellers:

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I still have hope. It even rained up there today!!!

"Even if they think they will be exempt, all fully vaccinated travelers will still need to have a quarantine plan in case a border official finds they do not meet the necessary requirements."

  The Devil will be in the details?

Acipenser wrote on Jul 19^th, 2021 at 10:18pm:


  I have ZERO faith in the bureaucrats handling the Covid issue on either side of the border.

  They've flip-flopped numerous times. I hope what you say turns out to be true but I'll wait till next year to see how it all fleshes out.

  My concern was more about what happens if you get Covid AFTER they let you into Canada. People that have been vaccinated are getting Covid. Not as bad but they still have to quarantine.

Imagine the cost if you have to stay in that motel in Canada after a trip if you get sick there.

If you want to think of ways things can go wrong, have at it.  Personally, I am thrilled with the new information and will plan two trips this year.  How much can go wrong when all you do is cross the border at International Falls and drive to the Beaverhouse parking lot?  I am much more concerned about the fire danger closing the park than I am relative to issues involving Covid-19.  Actually, I am more concerned about bugs than I am about the Canadian government handling of the border crossing.  Furthermore, I think the fishing is going to be great this year because the fish have had over a year to recover from being attacked by all kinds of artificial lures

Just don't try to cheat whatever system it is that they will be enforcing: (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Jimbo   

I just read an article in the Cook County News Herald (Grand Marais, MN that states that while Canada will open their border on August 9, to this point the Biden administration has not reciprocated. Meaning that while you can enter Canada, there’s no guarantee that the US will let you back in. Might be advisable to stay tuned and double check info before crossing.

We’ve been getting a lot of smoke from Canada lately. Not sure what the connection is…

Old Salt wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2021 at 11:30pm:


I called the CBP at Grand Porage, OS. Their response was "there is no way we can keep you out of your own country" 

They actually laughed that much.

Of course, I didn't ask if they'd let YOU back in....

Just a heads up that the union that represents the workers of the Canadian Border Services Agency is in a ‘strike’ position now, so those of you crossing next week might want to budget extra time at the border, on top of the extra time at the border that you’ve already budgeted for! They are essential workers, so they can’t actually walk off the job, but they can ‘work to rule’ and slow things down.

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A news report this morning put border crossing time at International Falls at an average of 7 hours yesterday.

I had also read somewhere that Canadian staffers are conducting "work slowdowns" as a form of protest since they cannot legally walk off the job.

Wishing you good luck & much patience if you are headed north.

Jimbo 

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.

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HighnDry wrote on Aug 12^th, 2021 at 2:32am:


But it’s very scenic…

I'd NEED "METH" to do that bad boy!!

Good points Jimbo.

As a hobby, I've been looking for the "route" that MacKenzie must have followed to travel from Grand Portage through to Athabasca, then the Great Slave Lake to pick up the Deh Cho, aka The MacKenzie river for his ill-fated trip to find the Northwest Passage.  Brian Castner's book, Disappointment River partially covers his own voyage and MacKenzie's story which is fascinating. Peter Pond was quite the character as well.