All participants must be pre-approved by the crew leader before registering. Message or email Mark Jurmu, crew leader, for approval and registration instructions. You may contact me through MeetUp or at jurmu87@gmail.com - I will reply within a few days. This is a remote trip on a wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Do not hesitate to contact me as soon as you can. This trip will fill and registration sequence will be in order of approval.
ITINERARY
This is a hike-in trip to clear the area west of Lake Diana. This will be a rigorous trip with a 6-mile hike in Thursday morning and back out Sunday morning. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
Early Thursday morning, September 15, we will carpool from the Twin Cities area to meet in Two Harbors. From there, we will caravan to entry point 86 for the Powwow Trail, north of Isabella, Minnesota. We expect to arrive at the trailhead by 12:00 and get on-trail by 1pm. We will hike in approximately 6 miles to Lake Diana Green zone where we will disperse camp. There is access to water at this location, but no latrine.
On Friday and Saturday we will hike up to 2 miles to our work site where we will clear tree falls and tangles, and do needed maintenance of the trail. Plan on roughly 8-hour work days, with breaks. On Sunday morning, we will pack up and head back to the trailhead and then on back to the Twin Cities.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each participant will carry their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, personal gear and a clearing tool. You should be in good physical shape for full days of travel and working, and have a "can-do" attitude for unknown trail and weather conditions.
Recommended gear list: https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/gear-list-for-trail-clearing-backpacking-canoeing-april
A required local hike will be scheduled in August or September to meet each other, conduct a gear check and to hash out trip logistics.
OTHER STUFF TO KNOW:
All participants must sign the BWAC liability release, BWAC medical health form, and U.S. Forest Service volunteer agreement before trip departure. Review forms at https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/
The $25 registration fee includes a Mckenzie map of the Powwow Trail and offsets a portion of administrative and tool costs for BWAC. Our trail partner, the U.S. Forest Service, provides the wilderness permit for BWAC volunteer crews.
Thank you for choosing to volunteer with the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, where safety is our #1 priority.