July Update :: Trips and More!

Dear BWAC members and Meetup/Friends-of-Trails,

 I hope that late July finds your and your loved ones in good health. BWAC is alive and well and will be getting back on trail with clearing crews this fall. Here is what’s been up with the club:

The Powwow Trail—current conditions. Spring and summer reports confirm that the Powwow remains the toughest trail in the BWCAW, but Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC) volunteers have made the Powwow increasingly navigable for experienced hikers. Thousands of massive tree fall tangles and unsafe, confusing post-fire growth have been largely removed.

2020 Spring and Summer clearing and surveys. Special thanks to all new and returning volunteers who had registered for our May clearing trips. The pandemic shut the door on what are traditionally optimal work days in the Boundary Waters—long daylength, insignificant foliage, crisp working weather. A couple dozen club members, and several groups or individuals we have learned about through the BWAC facebook page, visited the trail May-July. Winter damage was minimal. Priority segments for major clearing remain. Eighty percent of the trail, while navigable, needs clearing to U.S. Forest Service standards for a safer and more enjoyable wilderness experience.

Coming up—fall trips. We invite you to experience a hands-on, play-in-the-dirt environmental stewardship clearing trip this fall with BWAC. Our crew leadership is hashing out dates and routes right now for September and October clearing trips. Crews will be smaller and volunteers will be social distancing, but we expect a variety of trips and that many outdoor enthusiasts will be eager to be in the wilderness.

Tromp the tread! Trails are better defined and maintained when hikers and backpackers use them. As the Powwow sees more use, BWAC is working with our trail partner and Superior National Forest land manager, the US Forest Service, to prioritize locations for restoration of safe, hygienic campsites along the 30 mile trail.

Local events and hikes. Watch for local hikes during August posted on the BWAC meetup site, https://www.meetup.com/Friends-of-BWCA-Trails. Register for a hike to meet experienced volunteers or thinking-about-but-want-to-know more-potential volunteers, and to find out what happens before and during a BWAC trip.

Minnesota’s BWCAW wilderness trails belong to all of us. BWAC will continue to forward what our allies, sponsors and volunteers already know: BWAC stewards wilderness trails in the BWCAW with integrity, hard work, and fun. I am happy to talk trails or trail advocacy with you. Email or call with any concerns or to find out more about how you can help

Sincerely,

Susan Pollock

President