Details
YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO TRIP REGISTRATION.
MESSAGE Kait (kaitlyn.birk@boundarywaterstrails.org) AND/OR Gretchen (gretchen.godbout@boundarywaterstrails.org) TO EXPRESS INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP - INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND A GOOD TIME TO REACH YOU.
TRIP OVERVIEW
Join BWAC for a rigorous volunteer maintenance trip on the Powwow Trail! Crew members will hike 6 miles in to set up a dispersed basecamp near Lake Diana, then spend two days clearing tree falls, tangles, and performing essential trail maintenance. We work rain or shine.
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 maintain one of the few hiking-specific trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
ITINERARY
Thursday, October 15th (Day 1)
*Early morning carpool from the Twin Cities to meet in Two Harbors.
Caravan to Entry Point 86 for the Powwow Trail, north of Isabella, MN.
*Arrive at the trailhead by 12:00 PM and get on-trail by 1:00 PM.Backpack approximately 6 miles to the Lake Diana Green zone (approximately a 3–4 hour hike). We will set up a dispersed basecamp. (Note: There is water access at Lake Diana, but no latrine).
*Dinner at camp and evening rest.
Friday and Saturday, October 16th & 17th (Day 2 & 3)
In the morning, we will review safety, tool usage, and USFS trail standards.
*Hike up to 2 miles from camp to our work site each day.Perform trail maintenance, clearing tree falls and tangles (roughly 8-hour workdays, taking time for breaks, until 4–5 PM).
*Return to camp for dinner and tales of the trail.
Sunday, October 18th (Day 4)
Clean up camp and hike the 6 miles back to the trailhead.
*Carpool back to the Twin Cities (keep in mind we may arrive back late in the day).
NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:
Prior backpacking experience.
Physically able to hike/backpack 6-8 miles in 3-4 hours on rough terrain.
Watch required orientation slides if spring orientation training was not attended.
Attend a required local hike and gear shake-down event before the trip with your crew and trip 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.
BWAC Gear: BWAC will provide Maps, safety glasses, hard hats, trail-clearing tools, safety training, and BWCA permits. Water sterilization devices and bear canisters are available for use as needed.
Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy or cold days and/or nights. Also be prepared for bugs. Crew leaders will discuss specifics closer to trip dates.
Food: Bring your own easy-to-cook, or no-cook, food to enjoy during the 4 days. Confirm your food fits inside your IGBC-approved, bear-proof container or Ursack with odor-proof liner. Do not assume you'll be able to hang food.
Costs:
40 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool, and map costs) and
*20-30 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, alcohol-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. If you sign up for this trip without prior approval of the trip leaders, your sign-up is considered a donation to BWAC.Please note the trip could be cancelled due to bad weather, fire danger, or other circumstances beyond the control of BWAC.
Thank you for considering this trip. By investing your time you will be creating lasting value for wilderness hikers and helping preserve this trail for future generations!