The search for two missing men who went over a waterfall while fishing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of northern Minnesota was hampered by bad weather on Tuesday. St. Louis County Sheriff’s Cmdr. Nate Skelton stated that the cloud cover was too low for aerial surveillance and up to 2 inches of rain was anticipated, making the next few days unpromising for search efforts. A search crew equipped with drones and remotely operated vehicles was camping on site, waiting for conditions to improve in the remote area about 100 miles north of Duluth, close to the town of Ely. To assist in the search, Superior National Forest officials closed trails, campsites, portages, and bodies of water in the area.
The missing men have been identified as Jesse Melvin Haugen, 41, of Cambridge, and Reis Melvin Grams, 40, of Lino Lakes. They went over Curtain Falls, between Crooked Lake and Iron Lake on the Minnesota-Ontario border while fishing in the area on Saturday. The two missing men were part of a group of five in two canoes. One canoe got into distress, prompting the others to offer assistance, leading to both men going over the falls. Two of the men who went over were later rescued, with one being flown to a Duluth hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the fifth man was found at a nearby campsite.
According to Skelton, Curtain Falls is not a straight drop but has a 30-foot descent with a rapid current. The group of men was familiar with the area, with four of them anchored at the top of the falls, fishing, as they had done in the past. It appears that one of them had an issue, prompting the other to try to offer assistance, which ultimately led to both canoes and four people going over the falls. Skelton emphasized the familiarity of the group with the area, indicating that they had experience fishing in that location in the past.
The search efforts were ongoing, with the search crew waiting for better weather conditions to continue their efforts. Skelton mentioned that the crew had drones and remotely operated vehicles at their disposal to aid in the search for the missing men. With the closure of trails, campsites, and bodies of water in the area, authorities were working tirelessly to locate and rescue the two men who went missing over the weekend. Despite the challenging weather conditions hindering the search, the search crew remained committed to their efforts to find the missing individuals.
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of outdoor activities and the importance of being well-prepared and cautious in such remote wilderness areas. Authorities urged outdoor enthusiasts to prioritize safety and always be aware of their surroundings while engaging in activities like fishing and canoeing in areas like the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. As the search continued for Jesse Melvin Haugen and Reis Melvin Grams, the community rallied together to support the search efforts and pray for the safe return of the missing men. The search and rescue teams remained determined to find the missing individuals and bring closure to the tragic incident that unfolded over the weekend.
