Details
YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO TRIP REGISTRATION.
MESSAGE THE CREW LEADERS VERENA WALTHER OR ERIC THURSTIN TO EXPRESS INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP - INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER AND A GOOD TIME TO REACH YOU.
WHAT TO EXPECT
For this BWAC volunteering adventure, we will meet at Kawishiwi Lodge on Thursday evening (leaving the Cities Thursday afternoon), and spend the night in one of their bunkhouses. We will depart from Kawishiwi Lodge early on Friday morning and paddle from Lake One to Lake Three (with two short portages), then stash our canoes where the Powwow Trail meets Lake Three. We will then backpack 1.5 miles to the Rock of Ages Lake campsite and set up base camp for 3 nights. The goal is to clear trail with saws, loppers, and root slayers North of the campsite, but our circumnavigation crew will let us know priority areas after their spring Powwow trail survey.
ITINERARY
Thursday, May 15 (Day 1): In the late afternoon, carpool from the Twin Cities to the Kawishiwi Ranger Station in Ely to pick up permits. We’ll spend the first night at a campground or the bunkhouse at Kawishiwi Lodge and get organized for the next day’s departure.
Friday, May 16 (Day 2): In the morning we will paddle from Lake One to Lake Three, and then hike to Rock of Ages, around 1.5 miles. This will be a long day, but we’ll set up camp and stay at this camp for all 3 nights. In the evening we’ll go over safety training, tool usage, USFS trail standards, and a specific plan for the following day.
Saturday, May 17 (Day 3): After a good nights sleep in the woods and breakfast, we will start trail clearing in groups of 2-3 depending on trail conditions. We’ll break on trail for lunch, and then continue clearing with breaks in-between until late afternoon (4-5pm). We’ll return to camp to prepare our backpacking dinners, and enjoy each other's company.
Sunday, May 18 (Day 4): Repeat Day 2 on a different section of the Powwow Trail.
Monday, May 19 (Day 5): Rise and shine early, eat breakfast and pack up camp, then backpack out to find our stashed canoes, paddle Lake Three to Lake One, and carpool back to the Twin Cities.
NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:
Physically able to paddle 6 miles, backpack 2 miles and clear trails with hand tools.
Attend the required spring crew member training event (April 29, 2025).
Attend a required local hike or gear shake-down event before the trip with your crew 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 (at no cost) to use: McKenzie maps, safety glasses, hard hats, water sterilization devices, trail clearing tools, safety training, BWCA permits, bear cannisters.
Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy or cold days and/or nights. Crew leaders will discuss specifics closer to trip dates.
Food: Bring your own easy-to-cook, or no-cook, food to enjoy during the 3-4 days. Confirm your food fits inside your IGBC-approved, bear-proof container.
Cost: $40 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool and map costs)
Cost: $25 Bunkhouse
Cost: $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.