Proper food storage and bear-aware camping practices aren't just recommendations—they're life-saving skills that every Boundary Waters visitor needs to master. Alex Messenger learned this lesson the hard way when a 600-pound grizzly bear nearly killed him during a remote Canadian wilderness expedition, an experience that transformed him into one of the region's most passionate advocates for bear safety and wilderness preparedness.

On this episode of the Big Red Canoe Podcast, Alex channels his hard-won wisdom into practical advice for Boundary Waters visitors, covering everything from the U.S. Forest Service's mandatory food storage regulations to proven bear hang techniques that actually work. As a volunteer with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, he's seen firsthand how proper preparation prevents emergencies, and he and host Dave Meier deliver essential knowledge for safely sharing Minnesota's BWCA wilderness with its black bear population.

At 17 years old, Alex was living every wilderness enthusiast's dream—42 days paddling through the remote Canadian tundra, hundreds of miles from civilization. But on day 29 of what should have been the adventure of a lifetime, that dream became a nightmare when he found himself face-to-face with an apex predator, armed with nothing but a camera case and his wits. The harrowing attack, which he details in his memoir "The 29th Day," offers more than just a gripping survival story—it provides crucial insights into bear and human behavior, wilderness medicine, and the split-second decisions that can mean the difference between life and death in bear country.

Whether you're a seasoned wilderness traveler or planning your first backcountry adventure, this episode provides the tools and mindset needed to explore bear country confidently and responsibly.

1:00 Introduction - Alex's background growing up going to the Boundary Waters

15:00 Alex describes the bear attack detailed in his book "The Twinty-Ninth Day"

46:00 Bears in the Boundary Waters, solo camping, Food safety, Bear safety tips

For more on Alex, visit his website: https://www.alexmessenger.com/

You can order The Twenty-Ninth Day from Blackstone Publishing, or your favorite purveyor of fine books.

Visit https://www.friends-bwca.org/podcast for more information and resources from this episode.

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The Boundary Waters faces one of its greatest threats in decades. Hidden in the latest reconciliation bill is a dangerous provision that would hand hundreds of thousands of acres near the BWCA to toxic copper-sulfide mining companies—while blocking any legal challenges. This reckless giveaway threatens to bring industrial mining right to the doorstep of America’s most pristine wilderness, risking irreversible damage to our clean water and wild places.

Senator Tina Smith is fighting back with legislation to stop this attack on our public lands. She joins us for a critical conversation about what’s at stake and how we can defend the Boundary Waters together.

Visit https://www.friends-bwca.org/podcast for more information and resources from this episode.

Website:
https://www.friends-bwca.org

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BWCAW

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FriendsBWCAW

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/FriendsOfTheBWCA

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/friendsbwcaw/

Donate:
https://www.friends-bwca.org/donate/

Author Frank Bures joins us on the podcast to discuss his compelling new book, Pushing the River: An Epic Battle, a Lost History, a Near Death, and Other True Canoeing Stories.

Frank shares riveting tales from a century of canoe racing, including the forgotten history of the Paul Bunyan Canoe Derby—a grueling 450-mile race on the Upper Mississippi that changed modern canoeing forever.

The conversation takes a personal turn as Frank recounts his own harrowing rescue on the Mississippi and other contemporary stories of adventure and survival, including the terrifying escape of two kayakers from the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire in the Boundary Waters.

Learn More about the Book and Author at FrankBures.com

Dave and Frank explore our essential connection to natural spaces and the urgent need to protect these environments in today's political landscape, whether it be the Boundary Waters or the mighty Mississippi River.

Drawing from his background as a former trips director and camp naturalist at YMCA Camp Olson, as well as his experience supporting Guinness World Record paddling teams on the Mississippi, Frank offers unique insights into the transformative power of river journeys.

Support the Friends of the Boundary Waters' Open Water Spring Fundraiser and have your gift doubled with generous match!

Visit https://www.friends-bwca.org/podcast for more information and resources from this episode.

Website:
https://www.friends-bwca.org

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BWCAW

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FriendsBWCAW

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/FriendsOfTheBWCA

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/friendsbwcaw/

Donate:
https://www.friends-bwca.org/donate/