2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #9 Powwow Trail
A mixed group of new and returning volunteers basecamped at the beautiful Isabella site on the Powwow Trail last weekend, and focused on clearing heavy brush growth west of the "wye". Amazing (and tiring) work was done digging out root balls encroaching on the trail, but that didn't stop us from telling stories around the campfire and going for a refreshing swim after we knocked off for the day. Additional work was done near the campsite to ensure the Isabella waterway will be safe to cross for future hikers!
A mixed group of new and returning volunteers basecamped at the beautiful Isabella site on the Powwow Trail last weekend, and focused on clearing heavy brush growth west of the "wye". Amazing (and tiring) work was done digging out root balls encroaching on the trail, but that didn't stop us from telling stories around the campfire and going for a refreshing swim after we knocked off for the day. Additional work was done near the campsite to ensure the Isabella waterway will be safe to cross for future hikers!
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #8 Powwow Trail
Crew #8 - The "BWAC Bigboys" completed a spring circumnavigation around the Powwow Trail. Winter storms brought down many new deadfalls, so the crew’s work was plentiful. During the circumnavigation, 250 treefalls were cut and removed from the trail to allow hikers a navigable path for the season. The Diana creek bridge was also repaired for crossing.
Crew #8 - The "BWAC Bigboys" completed a spring circumnavigation around the Powwow Trail. Winter storms brought down many new deadfalls, so the crew’s work was plentiful. During the circumnavigation, 250 treefalls were cut and removed from the trail to allow hikers a navigable path for the season. The Diana creek bridge was also repaired for crossing.
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #6 Powwow Trail
Crew #6, aka The Latriners, completed their mission to clear 0.63 miles of the Powwow Trail north and south of the Path Lake campsite. They also carried a latrine from the point where it was left by crew #5 to south of Path Lake campsite.
Crew #6, aka The Latriners, completed their mission to clear 0.63 miles of the Powwow Trail north and south of the Path Lake campsite. They also carried a latrine from the point where it was left by crew #5 to south of Path Lake campsite.
The crew enjoyed a 6-mile paddle to and from the Kawishiwi Lodge to Lake Three, a 2.5 mile hike, two days of navigating brush growing on the trail, cutting through one huge white pine, and a genuinely good time was had by all!
The weather was mostly fine, but at one point it threw a little hailstorm at them.
Big thanks as always to Kawishiwi Lodge for sponsoring BWAC’s trail clearing trips by providing the canoes and a discounted stay at their bunkhouse.
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #7 Powwow Trail
Crew #7 had a successful trip to the Superstition Lake area of the Powwow Trail over Memorial Day weekend. In addition to trail clearing, they had a mission: a new latrine installation at Superstition! We are so glad trail users will now have access to a latrine at this remote site.
In addition to this accomplishment, the crew cleared a quarter mile south from the campsite in rocky, exposed terrain.
Crew #7, aka Groundbreaking Latrine… with A Chance of Hail, had a successful trip to the Superstition Lake area of the Powwow Trail over Memorial Day weekend.
Following an 11+ mile hike to basecamp, the crew had a mission in addition to trail clearing: a new latrine installation at Superstition! With guidance from the U.S. Forest Service–Superior National Forest, the crew dug a hole for the latrine, assembled it, and installed it, which is a first for BWAC volunteers. We are so glad trail users will now have access to a latrine at this remote site.
In addition to this accomplishment, the crew cleared a quarter mile south from the campsite in rocky, exposed terrain, which meant mostly hot working conditions. It also turns out our work helmets are useful for more than just trail work, as the crew was happy to have them on while being pelted during a full ten minute hailstorm mid-workday Saturday.
There’s never a dull moment with our volunteers!
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #5 Powwow Trail
Rain, wind, sleet, and mud couldn’t stop Crew #5 this past weekend.
The crew cleared 1.5 miles of the Powwow Trail from brush and treefalls as well as hauled a latrine to the Rock of Ages Lake campsite.
Rain, wind, sleet, and mud couldn’t stop our fifth trip this past weekend.
Crew #5, aka The Danglers, cleared 1.5 miles of the Powwow Trail from brush and treefalls as well as hauled a latrine to the Rock of Ages Lake campsite. Despite cold temps and storms, spirits stayed high with loon calls and beaver tail slaps at night and campfires to dry work gloves and soggy socks.
Huge thanks to our hard-working crew of nine, the U.S. Forest Service–Superior National Forest, and Kawishiwi Lodge for their support. Let’s hear it for trail work with purpose, sweat, and a little wilderness magic!
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #4 Sioux-Hustler Trail
Crew #4's initial day on the Sioux-Hustler Trail was quite warm, and they capped it off with a swim at their campsite on Agawato Lake. However, a short-lived but severe storm that evening downed trees across the lake and behind their campsite. Temperatures steadily dropped over the weekend, and on their final day, snow flurries accompanied them as they hiked out.
In total, the crew cleared approximately 75 treefalls to restore the trail from the entry point to Emerald Lake.
The initial day for Crew #4, aka The Four Seasons, on the Sioux-Hustler Trail was quite warm, and they capped it off with a swim at their campsite on Agawato Lake. However, a short-lived but severe storm that evening downed trees across the lake and behind their campsite. The following days were spent clearing the trail, working their way up to the northeast bay of Emerald Lake.
Temperatures steadily dropped over the weekend, and on their final day, snow flurries accompanied the crew as they hiked out. In total, the crew cleared approximately 75 treefalls to restore the trail from the entry point to Emerald Lake.
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #2 Sioux-Hustler Trail
Crew #2 experienced temps in the low 40s overnight and highs approaching an unseasonably warm 90F during the day on the Sioux-Hustler Trail. Crew members cleared 9.25 miles of tree falls (127 trees in total!!) from the Sioux-Hustler trailhead to the Devil’s Cascade campsite and the Shell/Little Shell campsite spur.
Crew #2, aka The Tree Piranhas, experienced temps in the low 40s overnight and highs approaching an unseasonably warm 90F during the day on their Sioux-Hustler Trail clearing trip.
Crew members managed to clear 9.25 miles of tree falls (127 trees in total!!) from the Sioux-Hustler trailhead to Devil’s Cascade campsite and the Shell/Little Shell campsite spur.
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #3 Brule Lake Trail
Two crews arrived at the Crescent Lake Campground on Thursday evening to set up multiple basecamps for several days of trail clearing on the nearby Brule Lake Trail.
Weather conditions were very favorable over two full days of trail clearing netting one full mile cleared to U.S. Forest Service-Superior National Forest standard.
Two crews arrived at the Crescent Lake Campground on Thursday evening to set up multiple basecamps for several days of trail clearing on the nearby Brule Lake Trail.
Weather conditions were very favorable over two full days of trail clearing, netting one full mile cleared to U.S. Forest Service-Superior National Forest standard. Crews also tackled a large patch of very overgrown alders that had severely constricted the trail.
Skies were mostly clear during work days, with only a short sprinkle on Friday, and no bugs!
2025 Spring Trail Crew Recap: Trip #1 Brule Lake Trail
It’s finally the season opener for our trail crews! Crew #1 has returned from the Brule Lake Trail. Thanks to our crew’s efforts, the trail is now safe for hikers to navigate the center 2.75 miles west of Ball Club Creek.
It’s finally the season opener for our trail crews! Crew #1, aka The Pungee Patrol, has returned from the Brule Lake Trail. The crew began the trip battling 18 hours of rain, snow, flooded trail, an 8-inch snow pack, and new treefalls. Thanks to our crew’s efforts, the trail is now safe for hikers to navigate the center 2.75 miles west of Ball Club Creek.
Two upcoming trail crews will be tackling the remaining 2.5 miles from the trailhead.
⚠️Note to hikers: The trail crossing of Ball Club Creek is flooded with a swift water current
2025 Spring Crew Member Orientation and Safety Training
We had an incredible turnout Tuesday night for our Spring 2025 Crew Member Orientation at REI Bloomington. This is a required part of the process for crew members as we prep them for our clearing trips, where we cover our history and mission, safety, trail standards, and gear. We look forward to another successful trail clearing season!
We had an incredible turnout Tuesday night for our Spring 2025 Crew Member Orientation at REI Bloomington. This is a required part of the process for crew members as we prep them for our clearing trips, where we cover our history and mission, safety, trail standards, and gear.
As our Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness trips are done in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service–Superior National Forest, attendees are also provided the opportunity to view required videos related to obtaining wilderness permits ahead of our trips. Our goal is always safe and fun trips, and this level of preparedness for our volunteers is a key part of that.
We look forward to another successful trail clearing season!
