Search and rescue respond to capsized canoe on Alton Lake in BWCAW, entire party safe and uninjured

Cook County search and rescue and first responders responded to a call at approximately 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, of two canoeists hanging on to their capsized canoe on Alton Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), west of Sawbill Lake.

According to officials, the capsized canoeists were spotted by a separate party on shore using binoculars. Once arriving on the scene, search and rescue were able to recover the two canoeists, who were uninjured and did not require medical attention.

The two canoeists reported to search and rescue officials that three other members of their party were still missing following the capsized incident. They told search and rescue that the missing party were also novices and had no food or camping gear with them.

A U.S. Forest Service Beaver airplane was then requested to begin search efforts in the BWCAW. At the time, officials said the Beaver airplane was unavailable. A helicopter was then deployed to help with search efforts.

Later that afternoon, at approximately 3 p.m., the three missing individuals walked into Sawbill Canoe Outfitters. No injuries were reported.

First responders reported conditions on Alton Lake on Saturday afternoon were windy, with many white caps. The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for Sunday, Oct. 6, with northwest winds reaching as high as 45 mph across northern Cook and Lake Counties. “Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down, and a few power outages may result,” the National Weather Service wind advisory states.