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Last Entry Point: Stories of Danger and Death in the Boundary Waters
Hypothermia, lightning strikes, high winds, medical emergencies, miscalculations—the dangers are real in canoe country. Last Entry Point shares tales of tragedy and near-tragedy in the Boundary Waters while offering guidance on how to avoid worst-case scenarios.
Paddlers and hikers planning an excursion into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park—that storied region along the Minnesota–Ontario border made up of rock, water, and pine—usually conjure visions of sunny days, pleasant breezes, and starry nights. Though every guidebook advises being prepared, most adventurers escaping to these remote areas assume that all will be well.
But even those who are thoroughly prepared—who wear their life jacket and scrupulously map their route and scan the skies for impending weather—may still encounter the unexpected. And in those cases, being ready for anything can mean the difference between a memorable trip and a life-changing, or life-ending, event. In Last Entry Point , experienced paddler and longtime regional journalist Joe Friedrichs gathers tales that involve tragedy or near-misses, interviewing people who confronted danger and walked away, as well as those whose loved ones died in the wilderness. He talks with search and rescue teams to learn what goes into finding those who go missing or who experience a medical emergency miles from help. In his explorations he considers what it means to step into the wilderness, to calmly troubleshoot problems as they present themselves, to survive a rapids or extreme weather when others in your party do not, and to be left behind when an adventurer in your life does not return home.
These narratives of tragedies and hazards may seem calculated to warn BWCA enthusiasts away from their dreams, but in fact they are meant to encourage all paddlers and hikers to think through what could happen, and to be prepared for all contingencies so that, ideally, they return with their own tales that are memorable for only the best of reasons.
Paddlers and hikers planning an excursion into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park—that storied region along the Minnesota–Ontario border made up of rock, water, and pine—usually conjure visions of sunny days, pleasant breezes, and starry nights. Though every guidebook advises being prepared, most adventurers escaping to these remote areas assume that all will be well.
But even those who are thoroughly prepared—who wear their life jacket and scrupulously map their route and scan the skies for impending weather—may still encounter the unexpected. And in those cases, being ready for anything can mean the difference between a memorable trip and a life-changing, or life-ending, event. In Last Entry Point , experienced paddler and longtime regional journalist Joe Friedrichs gathers tales that involve tragedy or near-misses, interviewing people who confronted danger and walked away, as well as those whose loved ones died in the wilderness. He talks with search and rescue teams to learn what goes into finding those who go missing or who experience a medical emergency miles from help. In his explorations he considers what it means to step into the wilderness, to calmly troubleshoot problems as they present themselves, to survive a rapids or extreme weather when others in your party do not, and to be left behind when an adventurer in your life does not return home.
These narratives of tragedies and hazards may seem calculated to warn BWCA enthusiasts away from their dreams, but in fact they are meant to encourage all paddlers and hikers to think through what could happen, and to be prepared for all contingencies so that, ideally, they return with their own tales that are memorable for only the best of reasons.
- GenresNonfictionEnvironment
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2024
32 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 20, 2025
Strongly recommend this book if you enjoy canoeing and camping! Having been to the Boundary Waters several times myself, it was cool being able to know some of the places where events from this book occurred.
September 14, 2024
After reading a review, I requested this book from the public library. It was merely coincidence that this volume about danger and death became available the week that my husband was in the Boundary Waters with two other guys.
But rather than keep me up worrying, it kept me up reading. Friedrichs lives on the edge of the BWCA and has written extensively about, and cohosted an award-winning podcast about, the area. He interviewed many survivors of life-threatening situations in the BWCA as well as the loved ones of those who didn't come home. Fascinating information came from the those who provided rescue services in the area.
Not morbid, it's rather a compassionate, cautionary tale about what can happen in the more than a million acres of wilderness on the U.S./Canada border. Sudden, powerful storms; huge trees blown over or struck by lightning; dangerous rapids; and water so cold it literally takes your breath away.
As beautiful as the BWCA is, it's not for the faint of heart, though I, a lifelong member of that group, have paddled there with my husband on several day trips and this book made me want to go back.
But rather than keep me up worrying, it kept me up reading. Friedrichs lives on the edge of the BWCA and has written extensively about, and cohosted an award-winning podcast about, the area. He interviewed many survivors of life-threatening situations in the BWCA as well as the loved ones of those who didn't come home. Fascinating information came from the those who provided rescue services in the area.
Not morbid, it's rather a compassionate, cautionary tale about what can happen in the more than a million acres of wilderness on the U.S./Canada border. Sudden, powerful storms; huge trees blown over or struck by lightning; dangerous rapids; and water so cold it literally takes your breath away.
As beautiful as the BWCA is, it's not for the faint of heart, though I, a lifelong member of that group, have paddled there with my husband on several day trips and this book made me want to go back.
August 20, 2025
interesting stories about the dangerous realities of the BWCA. Some stories I found a little vague, and would have loved more detail or play-by-play. but we are talking about real people here, so maybe that was the author's show of respect.
what I really would have loved were sections after certain stories about what TO DO to avoid disaster. lightning struck the family sleeping in the tent? cool, where's the safest place to be during a lightning storm? wildfire blasted a woman out of her kayak in the water? okay, what should she have done differently, if anything? I'd imagine the people reading this book have experience in the BW and general know-how for dangerous situations, but not everyone does. we love and want a lil education next to tales of caution!
what I really would have loved were sections after certain stories about what TO DO to avoid disaster. lightning struck the family sleeping in the tent? cool, where's the safest place to be during a lightning storm? wildfire blasted a woman out of her kayak in the water? okay, what should she have done differently, if anything? I'd imagine the people reading this book have experience in the BW and general know-how for dangerous situations, but not everyone does. we love and want a lil education next to tales of caution!
May 11, 2025
Well written, especially covering the loss of lives in the Boundary Waters.
July 17, 2024
Joe Friedrichs is a wonderful writer who has crafted a well-organized, thoughtful, and engaging account about the Boundary Waters (BWCA) in Minnesota, a one-of-a-kind place on Earth. Friedrichs, after making his first trip to the BWCA, fell in love with the untamed wilderness and moved to Minnesota, making his home near the edge of the BWCA. He has made many trips to the BWCA, and his knowledge about the area and his understanding about the type of people who find both peace and adventure there add immeasurably to his book.
Friedrichs’s stories are about people who have died or almost died in the Boundary Waters due to lightning, drowning, fire, cold, and falling trees. He also tells about a couple of people who entered the BWCA, disappeared, and were never seen again. While the majority of Friedrichs's book covers tragic and near-tragic events, he also writes about other topics connected to the BWCA.
As Friedrichs vividly describes the many lakes, rivers, portages, and trails, readers are immersed in the beauty of the nearly untouched primitive wilderness that draws so many people to the Boundary Waters. He covers some of the history about how the area became a designated wilderness, and he discusses the role of fire in the life of a forest. Readers learn about the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, the Cook County Sheriff's Department, and other rescue teams who all work together to find and rescue people who are in trouble. Or sadly, when someone has died, who work together to recover the person's body.
Even though Friedrichs writes about people who have died in the BWCA, he tells those stories respectfully and compassionately. He makes sure that each person he writes about is more than just the story of their death, more than just a statistic. During the research for his book, Friedrichs talked to the loved ones of those who had died in the BWCA, even traveling to other states to speak with their family and friends.
While people can certainly learn from Friedrichs's book that one needs to be prepared and practice safety when going into the wilderness, his book isn’t a how-not-to-do-things book. Because almost every single person in his book who died or almost died was prepared, experienced, and serious about safety. Instead, some unforeseen, powerful event, usually weather-related, overtook a person or people, and then no matter how much planning had been done or safety had been practiced, it all came down to luck. Humans like to believe they can control and prepare for every outcome, and that if they do, disaster will be averted. But this isn't always true.
Friedrichs’s stories are about people who have died or almost died in the Boundary Waters due to lightning, drowning, fire, cold, and falling trees. He also tells about a couple of people who entered the BWCA, disappeared, and were never seen again. While the majority of Friedrichs's book covers tragic and near-tragic events, he also writes about other topics connected to the BWCA.
As Friedrichs vividly describes the many lakes, rivers, portages, and trails, readers are immersed in the beauty of the nearly untouched primitive wilderness that draws so many people to the Boundary Waters. He covers some of the history about how the area became a designated wilderness, and he discusses the role of fire in the life of a forest. Readers learn about the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, the Cook County Sheriff's Department, and other rescue teams who all work together to find and rescue people who are in trouble. Or sadly, when someone has died, who work together to recover the person's body.
Even though Friedrichs writes about people who have died in the BWCA, he tells those stories respectfully and compassionately. He makes sure that each person he writes about is more than just the story of their death, more than just a statistic. During the research for his book, Friedrichs talked to the loved ones of those who had died in the BWCA, even traveling to other states to speak with their family and friends.
While people can certainly learn from Friedrichs's book that one needs to be prepared and practice safety when going into the wilderness, his book isn’t a how-not-to-do-things book. Because almost every single person in his book who died or almost died was prepared, experienced, and serious about safety. Instead, some unforeseen, powerful event, usually weather-related, overtook a person or people, and then no matter how much planning had been done or safety had been practiced, it all came down to luck. Humans like to believe they can control and prepare for every outcome, and that if they do, disaster will be averted. But this isn't always true.
October 17, 2024
Hypothermia, lightning strikes, high winds, medical emergencies, miscalculations—the dangers are real in canoe country. Last Entry Point shares tales of tragedy and near-tragedy in the Boundary Waters while offering guidance on how to avoid worst-case scenarios.
Paddlers and hikers planning an excursion into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park—that storied region along the Minnesota–Ontario border made up of rock, water, and pine—usually conjure visions of sunny days, pleasant breezes, and starry nights. Though every guidebook advises being prepared, most adventurers escaping to these remote areas assume that all will be well.
But even those who are thoroughly prepared—who wear their life jacket and scrupulously map their route and scan the skies for impending weather—may still encounter the unexpected. And in those cases, being ready for anything can mean the difference between a memorable trip and a life-changing, or life-ending, event. In Last Entry Point , experienced paddler and longtime regional journalist Joe Friedrichs gathers tales that involve tragedy or near-misses, interviewing people who confronted danger and walked away, as well as those whose loved ones died in the wilderness. He talks with search and rescue teams to learn what goes into finding those who go missing or who experience a medical emergency miles from help. In his explorations he considers what it means to step into the wilderness, to calmly troubleshoot problems as they present themselves, to survive a rapids or extreme weather when others in your party do not, and to be left behind when an adventurer in your life does not return home.
These narratives of tragedies and hazards may seem calculated to warn BWCA enthusiasts away from their dreams, but in fact they are meant to encourage all paddlers and hikers to think through what could happen, and to be prepared for all contingencies so that, ideally, they return with their own tales that are memorable for only the best of reasons.
Paddlers and hikers planning an excursion into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and Quetico Provincial Park—that storied region along the Minnesota–Ontario border made up of rock, water, and pine—usually conjure visions of sunny days, pleasant breezes, and starry nights. Though every guidebook advises being prepared, most adventurers escaping to these remote areas assume that all will be well.
But even those who are thoroughly prepared—who wear their life jacket and scrupulously map their route and scan the skies for impending weather—may still encounter the unexpected. And in those cases, being ready for anything can mean the difference between a memorable trip and a life-changing, or life-ending, event. In Last Entry Point , experienced paddler and longtime regional journalist Joe Friedrichs gathers tales that involve tragedy or near-misses, interviewing people who confronted danger and walked away, as well as those whose loved ones died in the wilderness. He talks with search and rescue teams to learn what goes into finding those who go missing or who experience a medical emergency miles from help. In his explorations he considers what it means to step into the wilderness, to calmly troubleshoot problems as they present themselves, to survive a rapids or extreme weather when others in your party do not, and to be left behind when an adventurer in your life does not return home.
These narratives of tragedies and hazards may seem calculated to warn BWCA enthusiasts away from their dreams, but in fact they are meant to encourage all paddlers and hikers to think through what could happen, and to be prepared for all contingencies so that, ideally, they return with their own tales that are memorable for only the best of reasons.
May 24, 2025
This book was really interesting and I could not put it down once I started reading it. I have been in the BWCA many times, mostly base camping with only one in country. I think if I had read this first, I may never have gone.
The BWCAW is a wilderness. It is not tame and it is not predictable. We were there once when a fire was going and have been there in wind and rain and high waves and I remember staying awake most of the night in a storm worrying about all the roots under our camping spot and what would happen if the tree was hit by lightning. Figured my Thermarest would save me. No, I guess it would not.
This was a sad book because people have died in the Boundary Waters and more since this was written Two men who lived near me died last year going over a waterfall.
The BWCA is one of the most beautiful places anywhere and no motors allowed. We had trips where we never saw another person or maybe saw a couple canoes go on by. Nowhere else in Minnesota can you sit on your island and watch an eagle catch a fish and then eat it in front of you, right across the water on his island.
The people written about in this book loved this area and most were just victims of circumstance, but it is still a very sad thought of losing someone in there. I can't imagine the panic and fear and the having to get help. This book really captured all of that. Lives were lost and families grieved. I think this book would be a perfect thing to have anyone read who is going to go to the Boundary Waters. There were things I was not aware of that would be a great help for anyone going in.
The BWCAW is a wilderness. It is not tame and it is not predictable. We were there once when a fire was going and have been there in wind and rain and high waves and I remember staying awake most of the night in a storm worrying about all the roots under our camping spot and what would happen if the tree was hit by lightning. Figured my Thermarest would save me. No, I guess it would not.
This was a sad book because people have died in the Boundary Waters and more since this was written Two men who lived near me died last year going over a waterfall.
The BWCA is one of the most beautiful places anywhere and no motors allowed. We had trips where we never saw another person or maybe saw a couple canoes go on by. Nowhere else in Minnesota can you sit on your island and watch an eagle catch a fish and then eat it in front of you, right across the water on his island.
The people written about in this book loved this area and most were just victims of circumstance, but it is still a very sad thought of losing someone in there. I can't imagine the panic and fear and the having to get help. This book really captured all of that. Lives were lost and families grieved. I think this book would be a perfect thing to have anyone read who is going to go to the Boundary Waters. There were things I was not aware of that would be a great help for anyone going in.
November 12, 2024
My husband and I spend 10 days in the Boundary Waters every summer and often take a shorter trip there in the fall. Aware of the danger, awed by the beauty, and enchanted by the sense of accomplishment of being in the wilderness, we keep going back.
This book doesn’t change my desire to be out there. (Although my Dad read it and says I can never go back.) We’ve had scary moments ourselves. I’ve left my own skin and blood out there from various falls and scrapes. We were camping on the north end of the Kawishiwi in 2019 and rode out the same storm that injured the girls scouts. In 2022, we hunkered under our emergency tarp at an empty campsite on Adams when a surprise storm caught us during a day trip. From under our tarp, we didn’t see the lightning that hit, but the ground shook, the thunder was deafening. and the sulfur smell was sickening.
It can be scary.
Reading about all of the places we’ve been (our entry point is the Kawishiwi and we paddle through the burn. Fishdance is our absolute favorite - we’ve had some magical moments there ourselves) made it nearly impossible to put the book down and certainly made my belly a little jumpy.
But we will be back. The place fills my soul and I simply must return. However, a bit more caution will be applied to our decisions.
Thank you for the work, physical and emotional, of writing this book.
This book doesn’t change my desire to be out there. (Although my Dad read it and says I can never go back.) We’ve had scary moments ourselves. I’ve left my own skin and blood out there from various falls and scrapes. We were camping on the north end of the Kawishiwi in 2019 and rode out the same storm that injured the girls scouts. In 2022, we hunkered under our emergency tarp at an empty campsite on Adams when a surprise storm caught us during a day trip. From under our tarp, we didn’t see the lightning that hit, but the ground shook, the thunder was deafening. and the sulfur smell was sickening.
It can be scary.
Reading about all of the places we’ve been (our entry point is the Kawishiwi and we paddle through the burn. Fishdance is our absolute favorite - we’ve had some magical moments there ourselves) made it nearly impossible to put the book down and certainly made my belly a little jumpy.
But we will be back. The place fills my soul and I simply must return. However, a bit more caution will be applied to our decisions.
Thank you for the work, physical and emotional, of writing this book.
March 8, 2025
Having visited the Boundary Waters in my early 20s and lived in MN my whole life, I could relate to much of the book. I've closely followed the St. Louis County Rescue Squad the last couple of years, so it was interesting to hear more about their involvement in the BWCA. The stories were eye-opening to the potential dangers, something I definitely did not consider in my visit. The book tackled the stories in a respectful way and memorialized the people who perished in the BWCA, telling the stories of their lives, not just how they died. I appreciate the detail the author clearly put into researching each of the stories by traveling to meet friends and family, interviewing rescuers, and so much more. The author has a unique perspective, having lived near there for so long and having a job that allowed them to meet so many characters in the book. He also included his own personal story of survival in the final chapters. I also appreciated the message of exercising caution and coming prepared, but not letting the fear prevent you from truly living your life.
April 24, 2025
This book was okay. A journalist explores a few personal stories of death or near death in the BWCA. It made me never want to go there and also, made me want to go there :) I like the theme that death is inevitable and you may as well risk death somewhere beautiful. What I didn't like was how it meandered from intense stories of death to more policy related info... I liked the info but found the flow of the book disrupted. There is a very brief chapter about the land belonging to indigenous people, but it feels tacked on and performative. The author also saves his own near death experience for the end of the book, which feels a little cheap, or like maybe that's the actual reason he wanted to write the book. I would have enjoyed more pictures.
July 2, 2024
Well researched and compassionate stories of people that encountered danger in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota. The author is a journalist who knows how to dig deeper to get the facts. He interviewed some of the people who experienced danger and family members of victims who did not survive. A brutally honest view of life and death. A must read for anyone that is planning a trip there. And if not....A great read for anyone that is interested on what Mother Nature can dole out. This is a quick read with maps and descriptions of the raw wilderness in northern Minnesota along the Canadian border.
September 26, 2025
3.5 - The stories of people’s experiences in the boundary waters were SO interesting and I have a lot of respect for the families who shared their stories, but I wish some of them were a little more in-depth and like one other reviewer pointed out, included details about how the situation could have been prevented. While I enjoyed reading about the history of the BWCA and the indigenous groups, it felt out of place for the main purpose of the book and made the reading experience feel a little disjointed. The book read more like a very long feature article rather than a non-fiction book, which makes sense given the authors background in journalism.
August 19, 2024
This is a fascinating book. It really made me wonder what I was thinking when taking my grandson on a Scout trip to the Boundary Waters a few years ago. I had not realized the dangers! The book is very well written with just enough detail. I like how Friendichs weaves his own experiences in the BWCA and writing this book into the story itself. A great companion book to Cary Griffith's Gunflint Burning, Gunflint Blowdown, and Lost in the Wild.
August 29, 2024
Amazing read. Well written and researched. I started the book and I thought it would be sad. The book is absolutely the author’s vision, cautionary and educational . I like being outdoors but I know my limits. After reading this book, I am curious and hopeful. I feel a spark to learn so much more about the BWCA. Learn more about wilderness survival and continue to live life.
October 10, 2024
Boundary Waters is a special place, and this book tells tales of some of those who live in the area and others who have lost their lives here. There are definitely passages I would have edited differently, but overall I was quite riveted by the stories of those who come to this wilderness area. Posniak’s story was especially heartbreaking.
December 12, 2024
This book is a great reminder of the beauty and splendor of the wild. It’s also a reminder to know your limits, take your time to appreciate everything around you, and be cautious. Always wear a life jacket when paddling and if you capsize in a canoe, worry about yourself first, your partner second and if you can save your gear, do that when you’re all safe.
January 20, 2025
Coming from one of Minnesota's northernmost counties, I grew up on stories of wilderness tragedies and 'incidents'. Friedrichs does a great service to his subjects by letting them and those that knew them do the telling in these accounts of wilderness trips that have gone fatally wrong. Recommend this!
May 8, 2025
I enjoyed this book. I was truly fascinated by how rugged and unforgiving the BWCA is. I think the author really did great research and excellent interviews for this book. I learned a lot from this book about the BWCA. Fire, storms and just a split second of not being on top of your game can have catastrophic consequences in this place. N
May 8, 2025
This book was so good and very well written. I give it a 10/10 and despite all of the death and hardships only makes me want to get out to the Boundary Waters more, paddle and fricking live life because life happens no matter where you are located or what you are doing so let’s get out there and go and do it despite our fears!
December 30, 2025
A very powerful page turner!
As a veteran BWCA camper of over 30 trips, I realize how fortunate I have been to survive one of the most magnificent areas on earth. I too, am a survivor of the July 4th Blowdown of 1999. To those that lost their lives, over the years, I salute you, and thank you Joe for enlightening us on the gravity of this place.
As a veteran BWCA camper of over 30 trips, I realize how fortunate I have been to survive one of the most magnificent areas on earth. I too, am a survivor of the July 4th Blowdown of 1999. To those that lost their lives, over the years, I salute you, and thank you Joe for enlightening us on the gravity of this place.
July 10, 2025
Intriguing book about the Boundary Waters and people who have died or nearly died while hiking or paddling in the area. It’s a reminder to be prepared.
July 22, 2025
An informative set of stories from an author with great knowledge and care for a place and people.
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December 1, 2025A fairly interesting read.
December 16, 2025
Very interesting read. So many things I would’ve never imagined or even thought about.
December 20, 2025
Such a great read of both the challenges and beauty of the BWCA and quickly things can change.
January 14, 2026
Well-written stories about deaths due to mishaps, weather, and mystery in the Boundary Waters. I will never look at that part of MN the same again. I'm glad to have read the book.
November 21, 2024
A collection of accounts of wilderness hazards in the Boundary Waters, a million acres of lake and forest in northern Minnesota. The combination of remoteness, terrain, weather, and cold water presents myriad risks, and Friedrichs approaches these stories from a mindset of analysis and preparation. The stories are also told with compassion and humanity.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews