Details

All participants must be pre-approved by a crew leader before registering. Message or email Rick (rkloetzke7@gmail.com), crew leader, or Valentin (valentin.povarchuk@boundarywaterstrails.org), co-leader, for approval and registration instructions. Do not hesitate to contact us as soon as you can.
Join Rick and Valentin on this 4 day backcountry trail clearing weekend. We will be hiking 6 miles into the beautiful Pose Lake campsite, which will be our base camp. We will be working to clear the trail towards South Wilder.

WHY VOLUNTEER?
You will meet other like-mined 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.

PLAN:
We will be meeting at Kwik Trip in Two Harbors MN on Thurs. Sept 22nd @ 10:00am. From there we will travel to EP #86 with an estimated trail departure of 12:00.
Friday and Saturday will be spent clearing the abundant new growth and recent tree falls to trail standards as we make our small section of the trail clear for hiking again.
On Sunday, we will break camp and hike back to civilization. We plan to be back in the metro area by 5:00 p.m., however flexibility is required due to unknowns of wilderness and freeway travel.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Thick brush and tree fall on the trails, cool, warm and possibly wet weather. Very remote areas, being with a good group of people and 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.
Trail clearing experience is not required or expected: BWAC provides all
tools and safety training for our crews.
We will meet for a training hike (tbd) 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.meetup.com/Friends-of-BWCA-Trails/pages/23715529/August_16-

Cost: $25 Meetup registration, your food while on trail, gas round trip for your vehicle or shared vehicle.

BEFORE YOU REGISTER:
This trip will fill up and registration sequence will be in order of approval. This is a remote trip on a wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Due to the remote nature and weather variables, it could turn into an advanced trip.
Early fall generally makes for ideal hiking - cool conditions, and the days aren't too short yet. However, weather can vary widely, and neither hot and dry nor cold and wet conditions would be totally unexpected. Due to ongoing concerns with Covid-19, physical distance will be maintained for the duration of the trip, including a convoy to and from the trailhead and during work on the trail.

All volunteers must read and sign the BWAC participant liability form, BWAC health & medical self-disclosure form, BWAC policy for trips under covid-19, and the USFS volunteer agreement group signature form.
Visit www.BoundaryWatersTrails.org for to review required forms and for a suggested gear list.

All volunteers must also attend a training hike on August 29th and a crew training session on September 8th. More details to come.

We welcome new volunteers; no experience required. Crew leaders will balance novice participants with more experienced members.

Volunteers are bringing back the Powwow Trail—you can be part of the success story! The Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC) is a 100% volunteer-run Minnesota nonprofit that has been restoring trails in Minnesota's BWCAW since 2002.

Thank you for volunteering!