Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of the Superior National Forest
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, in addition to being a canoeists’ heaven, also has more than 200 miles of hiking and backpacking trails. These trails offer unparalleled solitude and freedom from busy city life. Most of these trails are maintained by volunteers. BWA Committee volunteers have an incredible story to tell about saving the 30 mile long BWCAW Powwow Hiking Trail, burned almost entirely in the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire. Now, eight years later, the Powwow has been saved thanks to hundreds of volunteers, both novice and experienced wilderness trippers, who ventured and camped on the trail sawing dead falls and new jack pine growth. Hear their story and learn what needs to be done to completely rehabilitate the Powwow for backpackers like you, and how to hike it in 2020.
Adventure awaits volunteers on this canoe and hike clearing trip to the historic Powwow Trail north of Isabella, Minnesota. This crew will paddle and portage Lakes One, Two and Three to access the beautiful rugged west side of the Powwow Trail.
Big Logs for the big dogs! Rick and Lucas are returning to the Northern Tier this fall to cut the hundreds of pesky step-over logs across the trail. If you have Silky Katana Boy experience - we need you! If you want to learn to use these amazing lightweight saws - we’ll train you.
New to the Boundary Waters or don't have the time or equipment for a backpacking trip this fall? We will spend a full day Saturday hiking and clearing. Our goal for this trip will be to clear any treefalls within the first four miles from the trailhead, in addition to removing all the encroaching brush along this section. This is a great way to get an introduction to the Boundary Waters and make some new friends, all while making a meaningful contribution to maintaining the Powwow Trail!
The 2019 Powwow circumnavigation and survey trip is reserved for participants who have already volunteered on a BWAC Powwow trail clearing trip.
Our crew will circumnavigate the entire Powwow Trail, surveying for sections needing priority clearing and creating waypoints for trail highlights. We will confirm GPS locations of the known campsite fire grates and record the number of tent pads, standing hazard trees, and water access information at each site. If time and conditions allow we will locate and clear a corridor to the South Wilder Lake campsite.
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, in addition to being a canoeists’ heaven, also has more than 200 miles of hiking and backpacking trails. These trails offer unparalleled solitude and freedom from busy city life. Most of these trails are maintained by volunteers. BWA Committee volunteers have an incredible story to tell about saving the 30 mile long BWCAW Powwow Hiking Trail, burned almost entirely in the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire. Now, eight years later, the Powwow has been saved thanks to hundreds of volunteers, both novice and experienced wilderness trippers, who ventured and camped on the trail sawing dead falls and new jack pine growth. Hear their story and learn what needs to be done to completely rehabilitate the Powwow for backpackers like you, and how to hike it in 2020.
Take a part in the miracle on the BWCAW Powwow Trail! Powwow is coming back to hiker use with help of volunteers. We will clear several miles of the path from the trail head going north toward Pose Lake. Last fall there were roughly 400 treefalls in a three mile long segment of the trail. Volunteer crews worked hard in May and September to clear numerous treefalls and jack pines. We will focus on new treefalls and remove brush crowding the trail.
We will depart the Twin Cities area on Wednesday afternoon and drive 4-5 hours to the Pow Wow trailhead. We will backpack a mile in Wednesday night, and will hike the remaining seven miles to our work area Thursday. Friday and Saturday we will clear as a crew. We will begin clearing west of Lake Diana and will clear toward Campfire Lake. Sunday morning we will admire our handiwork, then hike out and enjoy the work of those who went before us as we walk back to the trailhead. We will then drive back to the Twin Cities metro area.
New to the Boundary Waters or don't have the time or equipment for a backpacking trip this fall? We will spend a full day Saturday hiking and clearing. Our goal for this trip will be to clear any treefalls within the first four miles from the trailhead, in addition to removing all the encroaching brush along this section. This is a great way to get an introduction to the Boundary Waters and make some new friends, all while making a meaningful contribution to maintaining the Powwow Trail!
“Wilderness to the people of America is a spiritual necessity, an antidote to the high pressure of modern life, a means of regaining serenity and equilibrium.”
