Details

All participants must be approved by a crew leader before registering

This is a remote trip on a wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Email crew leaders Mel Yackley (mel.yackley@boundarywaterstrails.org) or Lynn Schwartz (leschwartz77@yahoo.com) or Kaitlyn Birk (kbirk13@gmail.com)

We will reply within a few days. Do not hesitate to contact us as soon as you can. This trip will fill and registration sequence will be in order of approval.

ITINERARY

This is a hike-in trip to clear the area south of the Wye. With only a 1-mile backpack in to our campsite, it is ideal for first-time backpackers. And the campsite on the Isabella River is beautiful! Experience is not required. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.

Thursday 10 a.m., May 9, we will carpool from the Twin Cities area to Two Harbors. From there, we will caravan to Entry Point 86 for the Powwow Trail, north of Isabella, Minnesota. We expect to leave the trailhead by 4 pm. We will hike in approximately 1 mile to Isabella campsite where we will set up camp before dark.

On Friday, we will clear tree falls and brush, and do needed maintenance of the trail heading north from camp. On Saturday we will continue clearing work. Sunday morning, we will pack up and head back to the trailhead and then on back to the Twin Cities.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Each participant will carry their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, personal gear and 2 clearing tools. You should be in good physical shape for full days of travel and working, and have a "can-do" attitude for unknown trail and weather conditions.

Recommended gear list: https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/gear-list-for-trail-clearing-backpacking-canoeing-april

A required local hike will be scheduled in April to meet each other, conduct a gear check and to hash out trip logistics.

There is a required safety training and orientation Tuesday evening, April 16, 2024 at REI Bloomington. Sign up here.

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/

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, and about $20 shared gas. 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.