INTRODUCTION AND ITINERARY

Want to see more of the trail by foot? Join Zach and Dimitris as we hike from the trailhead toward the wild western edge of the Powwow and mysterious Superstition Lake. The hike to the worksite is 11 miles in a rapidly recovering post-fire wilderness. We will hike through two of the surviving stands of pre-fire growth on our way to clear newly flagged trail near Superstition Lake.

Thursday afternoon, Sept 12th, we will carpool from the Twin Cities area to BWCAW entry point 86, the Powwow Trail. We will night hike one mile in on an old logging road-turned trail to a designated campsite and set up camp. Friday up and at 'em for the now ten mile hike to Superstition Lake to set up our three night base camp. Saturday and Sunday we will use Japanese landscaping saws and Fiskars loppers to liberate the fire burned trail, picking up where the previous crews left off. Monday, Sept 16th, will see us packing out and returning to the Twin Cities, tired but rewarded by the knowledge of leaving a great trail and experiencing the camaraderie of our unique crew.

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.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Thick brush and tree falls, step-overs and brush during the hike, all weather conditions, very remote area, working with a good group of people, working hard to reopen the Powwow Trail for everyone to enjoy.

Each participant will carry their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, personal gear and a clearing tool. BWAC may have gear to share or borrow. Participants should be in good physical shape and have a "can-do" attitude for unknown trail and weather conditions. There is a required crew safety and orientation meeting at Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis. Trail clearing experience is not required or expected: BWAC provides all tools and safety training for our crews.

We will have a hike locally prior to the trip to meet each other and conduct a gear check for major gear components: footwear, pack, rain gear, layers, sleep system, tent. Your crew leaders will make sure you bring what you need to be safe and comfortable, and offer advice and suggestions.

A sample gear list can be found here:
https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/gear-list-for-trail-clearing-backpacking-canoeing-april

COST:

Cost: $25 Meetup registration and about $15 shared gas cost.

BEFORE YOU REGISTER:

If you're new to backcountry camping you will need to contact one of the leaders before signing up. Due to the remote nature and weather variables, this trip could turn into an advanced trip. Crew leaders will balance the number of novice participants with more experienced members.

Thank you for volunteering! Powwow Trail: Open the Loop in 2019.