Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Friedrichs.
Hi Joe, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I’ve been an environmental journalist and outdoor writer for about 20 years since graduating from the University of Montana in Missoula in 2004. I’ve been working in this capacity near the Boundary Waters for the past 12 years. In 2024, I launched a Boundary Waters media company called Paddle and Portage. We share stories and news from the BWCA and Quetico. I also have a book coming out this spring, “Last Entry Point: Stories of Danger and Death in the Boundary Waters.”
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Sharing stories is the core of what I do, including my own. Everyone’s journey is a struggle to some extent. I’ve been broke, homeless, and confused for years at a time. I have a Boundary Waters media company and have written several books. I got lucky, but I just kept at it. The bottom isn’t as far from the middle as most people think. I’ve bounced back and forth between both worlds for most of my adult life. I am still determining what the top is like. I’m not interested in that scene. I want to write stories and go fishing when I can.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I tell stories about people who visit or are connected to the Boundary Waters. I write about people and do some audio storytelling. In my book “Last Entry Point,” I share some powerful stories about people who died in the Boundary Waters. Writing about death isn’t an easy subject. I’m fascinated by that, as we’re all going to die. I share stories rooted in truth, even the dark ones that most people don’t want to touch.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Grand Marais is a fascinating little town on the edge of Lake Superior and the Boundary Waters. A lot is going on here, at least for a small town. Some strange things happen here. Violence, greed, a lot of “look at how cute this little town is” and that type of hype. It’s interesting to sit back and watch it all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://paddleandportage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paddle_and_portage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paddleandportagebwca
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/paddle_portage
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Paddle_and_Portage
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/boundary-waters-podcast
