Driving up for the Blueberry Festival but having second thoughts.

How’s the town? Full of smoke? Saw air qualify is hazardous but hoping the wind direction will change.

A few months back I posted about an Android app I built called PermitPulse. I got a lot of feedback asking about iOS, so here it is.

Same deal: enter an entry point and up to a 5-day window, and you'll get a push notification within 5 minutes of a permit opening up. First watch is free, $1 per watch after that. No ads, no subscription.

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/permitpulse/id6773133772
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.permitpulse.permit_pulse

Still planning to open up other recreation.gov sites soon, Rocky Mountain National Park is next on the list per a request. Happy to hear other requests.

I know this is a longshot. My family and I are staying at a small cabin on Mitchell Lake just outside of Ely. My boys and I were fishing this morning and somehow my Apple Watch came off my wrist and fell into the lake in about 20 feet of water. Thanks to the location app I know exactly where it is. I just can’t get to it. I’m not super attached to it, but they aren’t cheap so I figured I would see if anyone out there knows anyone with scuba gear that would be willing to help me out. Or anyone that’s better at free diving down to about 20 feet. Thank you.

Looking to play some poker. I saw club fortune has a poker room but not sure even they have games running.

Okay awesome Ely people, I’ll be staying at a lodge that offers Starlink while I am there. But I plan on camping around the area for up to a month in addition to my lodge stay. I will have to work some, and I’m anticipating cell service will be sketchy or nonexistent. I have looked at cell phone signal boosters and a portable Starlink mini. Starlink is $55 a month in addition to the hardware. Does anyone have experience with these technologies?

Coming again in July. I want to spend more and more time in Ely. I would even consider living there June through Christmas. Longer and I think I would miss my grand children too much. I know the area pretty well. Oddly, my two biggest concerns are wine and dating. Is there a good wine shop where I can get high end grape, or at least have them order me cases. I promise you, I’m not a snob, but I don’t drink booze, and I get tired of suds all the time. Im damn spry at 71, and none of the women I know in Phoenix have any interest in living that far north. I’m Northwoods born and raised, but spent my working years here in hades. The notion of living without a partner concerns me. I’m a writer and a researcher. Highly educated, but again, I’m definitely more in tune with the north. I’m have a huge interest in the history and prehistory of the area. What are the odds of finding both?

I got tired of constantly refreshing recreation.gov every day looking to see if the BWCA permit I wanted had opened up, so I made an app. PermitPulse let's you enter a entry point and an upto 5-day window and will notify you within 5 minutes of a permit becoming available.

The first watch is free, and additional watches are $1 each. I know there are a few other sites that do this, but I found them either hard to use or more expensive than I wanted. I’m mainly trying to keep this simple and cheap while covering server costs; no ads or subscriptions.

Side note: I do plan on bringing this to iOS shortly, so keep an eye out. After that, I plan on opening up other recreation.gov managed sites, so if you have a request on what to do next, I'd love to hear it. I already have one for Rocky Mountain National Park.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.permitpulse.permit_pulse

Any word on the street why they canceled the marathon for 2026? Did they lose a sponsor o something? Seemed like it always had a good turnout and my lids always loved the bounce houses.

Hi! Im a new student at M.N Vermilion & im looking for any kayaking routes (preferably river routes) to start exploring while the weather is still good. I have moderate experience coming from the Wisconsin/Twin cities border area. If you know of any routes that a 20 something year old kid would enjoy I'd really appreciate it! 👍

Looking for a roommate in Ely Mn, or even Virginia. Single Male, 26, job already lined up. Any recommendations?

Anyone know if the falls at dry lake loop are still flowing? Or have they dried up by this time of year?

On the morning of Monday, July 28, I have a few court hearings I need to attend over zoom. Im a certified srudent attorney.

I’m nervous about the wifi at Kawishiwi Lodge where I’m staying. I am wondering if you know somewhere in Ely that would allow me to have a space to take those hearings - I’ll have headphones and will be speaking.

Hello Ely! Partner and I are looking at moving to the area. Wondering what you do for work, how's the pay vs cost of living, etc? Do you own your home or rent? Do you feel like you live comfortably on your wages? I've been doing some research but curious to hear from people who live in this beautiful area of Minnesota :) Thanks!

Seeing the images from the fires. Looks like the smoke is going right over Ely.

Hi all.

Are there any car rental companies in ely? If not, what’s the closest? I’m guessing the answer is no / Hibbing or Duluth but thought worth checking

Hi. I'm visiting Minnesota from the UK in July next year. My main reason for visiting is i'm going on a 4 day camping trip to the BWCAW, setting off from Ely. What is the best way of getting to Ely from Minneapolis? I have been looking at hire cars and while that is looking like the best option, I have a situation where I will be renting a car and leaving it in Ely for the 4 days while i'm out camping which seems like a bit of a waste of money. I will also have extra bags with me that I won't be able to take camping with me so will need storage for those and I was thinking just leaving them in the hire car would be the best situation. Is there a better way of doing this that I am missing? Is there public transport I could get from Minneapolis instead and then some bag storage options in Ely? I have checked with my outfitter and they don't offer a shuttle service unfortunately. Someone suggested on another subreddit I could rent a U-Haul in Minneapolis and then return it in Ely? Could this be feasible? Thanks!

Hello, was just up in the BWCA over the past few days, drove through town and only the old flag was up on the main stretch. What gives?

Hi Ely fam! I have a friend who lives there and I would like to send them a package. Would they have an easy local drop off way to ship a return if the item doesn't fit? Or would they have to drive a ways?

Thanks for the assist. I don't want to ask them since it is a surprise.

Great time up in Ely over the fourth of July during the all class reunion!!

Good job Ely!!

I’m on echo trail and the rain is hitting hard af.