Details
*** All participants must be pre-approved by the crew leader before registering. ***
Message or email Eric Rawls (erawls89@gmail.com) and Olivia Calvin (ocalvin05@gmail.com) for approval and registration instructions. Include your non-Meetup email, phone number and a good time to reach you. One of us will call you within a few days to discuss details and registration instructions. We welcome experienced backpackers and invite you to enjoy the warmer early summer weather with us.
GENERAL
Why volunteer? The Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC) has been advocating for and restoring wilderness trails since 2002. We need volunteers like you to rejuvenate the Powwow Trail into the hiking and backpacking destination it once was.
Itching for a long walk in the woods before jumping into volunteer trail work? If so, join us for this hike-in trail clearing trip to Superstition Lake! We’re looking for self-motivated, nature-loving, goal-oriented team members willing to tackle unknown trail and weather conditions to help us take care of the Powwow Trail. Prior trail clearing experience not required, but since we have a whopping ~11 mile hike in, we will be carefully vetting volunteers for fitness and hiking experience!
PLEASE MESSAGE ERIC RAWLS OR OLIVIA CALVIN TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP. YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER FIRST, BEFORE RSVP’ING FOR THE TRIP.
WHAT TO EXPECT
On this BWAC volunteering adventure, we will depart from the twin cities and camp at the Isabella Lake campsite Wednesday night. Thursday morning, we will rise early and hike the remaining ~10 miles to Superstition Lake, where we will set up base camp for 3 nights. We will clear trail for two full days, then hike out and drive on Sunday. The goal is to clear trail, using both saws and loppers, in the vicinity of Superstition.
ITINERARY
Departure, Wednesday, May 29 (Day 1): In the afternoon, we will carpool from the Twin Cities to the the Isabella Lake entry point in the Boundary Waters. We will pass out tools, and hike ~1 mile to the Isabella Lake campsite. We’ll spend the first night there.
Thursday, May 30 (Day 2): In the morning we will hike to Superstition. This will be a long day, but we’ll set up camp and stay at this base for all 3 nights. In the evening we’ll go over safety training, tool usage, USFS trail standards, and a specific plan for the following day.
Friday, May 31 (Day 3): After a good nights sleep in the woods and breakfast, we will start trail clearing as a group depending on trail conditions. We’ll break on trail for lunch, and then continue clearing until late afternoon (4-5pm). We’ll return to camp to hang out and have dinner. It will probably be warm enough to go for a swim!
Saturday, June 1 (Day 4): Rinse and repeat Day 2.
Sunday, June 2 (Day 5): Rise and shine early and backpack ~11 miles out and carpool back to the Twin Cities.
OTHER STUFF TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:
Physically able to hike 11 miles or approximately 6 hours over rough terrain.
Attend the spring crew member training event (will be scheduled soon).
Attend a local hike/snowshoe, gear shake-down, or local camping event before the trip with your crew leaders.
Personal Gear: Gear lists will be provided and a gear shakedown meeting will be held to assess team members’ gear needs. Each team member will be responsible for carrying their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, water, personal gear, borrowed trail tools, and their share of group gear. If there is something you do not have, please let the crew leaders know well in advance of the trip. We will check essentials before carpooling out - be prepared for a brief group meeting before we leave the twin cities.
BWAC Gear: BWAC will provide (at no cost) to use: McKenzie maps, canoes, paddles, PFDs, safety glasses, water sterilization devices, trail clearing tools, safety training, BWCA permits.
Anticipated Temperatures: We’ll know as we get closer to the date, but likely to be very mild.
Food: Bring your own easy-to-cook, or no-cook, food to enjoy during the 5 days. And make sure it fits inside your bear-proof container.
Cost: $27 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool and map costs) + TBD carpool gas money.
THE FINE PRINT: Participants are required to sign a (1) liability release form, (2) confidential health form, and (3) USFS trip form prior to the trip. This is a pet-free and tobacco-free trip. Participation is subject to BWAC rules, i.e. trip leaders can deny participation to anyone for any or no reason.