Details
All participants must be pre-approved by the crew leader before registering. Message or email Caitlin Tegels (caitlin.tegels@boundarywaterstrails.org) or Sara Fulcher (sfulche@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 both new and experienced paddlers and backpackers and invite you to enjoy the long June days with us.
SUMMARY
Join Caitlin and Sara on this backcountry trail clearing trip combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle and portage Lakes One, Two, and Three to access the beautifully rugged west side of the Powwow Trail. We will stash our canoes, and put on our packs for our hike to the final campsite.
WHY VOLUNTEER?
You will meet other like-minded hikers, share your skills and learn new skills from your crew, and have an unforgettable experience helping restore a fire-damaged legacy trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
ITINERARY
We will be departing the Twin Cities @ noon on Wednesday, June 5th, returning late evening on Sunday, June 9th. Times may vary depending on carpools and the unknowns of wilderness travel.
On the evening of Wednesday, June 5th, we will stay at the Fall Lake Campground, with an early departure the following morning to the Lake One entry point. After launch, we will paddle and portage for about a half day to the Lake 3 portage where we will stash the canoes. From there, we will travel on foot to our camp for the weekend. The exact area we will be working will be determined by the results of the May trail survey, starting where trip #11 wraps up the previous week. Expect to carry your gear 1-3 miles from the portage.
Friday and Saturday, our crew will tackle the spruce and other flora taking over the tread of the trail. We will work for roughly 8 hours per day, with breaks for water, snacks, and lunch.
We will pack up our base camp early Sunday morning, hike back to our canoes, and retrace our route out of the wilderness. Arrival times back home will depend on weather conditions Sunday, carpools, and a group victory lunch.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Working hard with a good group of people through thick brush, unpredictable weather, and stubborn insects in very remote area. The satisfaction of a well-maintained trail!
Each participant will carry their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, water, personal gear, and a clearing tool. BWAC may have the gear to share or borrow. Participants should be in good physical shape and have a "can-do" attitude for unknown trail and weather conditions. Trail clearing experience is not required or expected: BWAC provides all tools and safety training for our crews.
Recommended gear list: https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/gear-list-for-trail-clearing-backpacking-canoeing-april
MANDATORY MEETINGS
There is a mandatory safety training and orientation at 6 pm on Tuesday, April 16th at REI in Bloomington.
A training hike will be scheduled in May for the crew to meet each other, check gear, and arrange travel plans.
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/trip-information
The $25 registration fee includes a Mckenzie map of the Powwow Trail and offsets a portion of administrative and tool costs for BWAC. Additional costs will be your trip food, $10 for the Fall Lake campsites, and about $20 shared gas for those not driving. 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.