Greetings, Meetup/Friends-of-BWCA-Trails Members,

Spring is in the air across Minnesota, and BWAC’s long awaited clearing season is well underway. As I write this letter, three clearing crews are dispersed on the Powwow Trail and BWAC’s tenth and final spring trip departs this Thursday, May 20.

Spring Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC) highlights—

Volunteers on trail. BWAC is continuing to clear downed trees and new growth on the historic Powwow Trail in the BWCAW. Ten clearing trips, a total of 57 volunteers, were organized for spring 2021. Two of the most remote, uncleared segments of the trail—from Superstition to Mirror Lakes on the west, and the beautiful South Wilder Lake campsite vicinity on the loop north—have been cleared or are finally being cleared this weekend.

Hiking is Hip. You’ve heard the news. Many of us were eager to get away to the woods and lakes to help preserve our health and sanity during 2020. Entry permits for the BWCAW were way up in 2020. In-season canoeing permits increased by 25% and in-season hiking permits increased by an astounding 86% from 2019 to 2020. You can find more detailed data here: USDA Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Superior National Forest Permit & Visitor Use Report 2016-2020.

Latrines on the Loose. Campsites are coming. The U.S. Forest Service and BWAC are working together to return designated camping locations to the Powwow Trail. Eight campsites along the loop were incinerated in the 2011 Pagami Creek fire. Many thousands of volunteer hours have now opened the trail, but hazard trees remain at campsite locations, and latrines need to be installed. BWAC crews have moved toadstool latrines and skids to three locations; the digging and tree felling by the USFS is expected in the coming months.

BWAC can help you help a trail this fall. Planning has already begun for fall maintenance trips. As a Meetup/Friends-of-BWCA-Trails member, you will receive notification of events and clearing trips as they are announced. I hope you can make time to join a fall crew and experience the hard work and rewards of keeping a wilderness trail accessible and safe.

Trails don’t maintain themselves. I am privileged to work with committed BWAC leadership, to know many of our current trail volunteers, and to extend the BWAC mission to potential volunteers. Thank you for your interest and support of BWAC and of trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Whether you volunteer to maintain a wilderness trail with BWAC or hike your own hike, may you find a way to connect with the woods this summer or fall.

Sincerely,

Susan Pollock

President

The Boundary Waters Advisory Committee

www.BoundaryWatersTrails.org

About the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC). BWAC is an all-volunteer Minnesota nonprofit, established in 2002. The BWAC mission is to preserve existing historic and intrinsically beautiful trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness of the Superior National Forest. BWAC volunteers maintain trails in the BWCAW under a signed agreement with the U.S. Forest Service. Learn more at www.BoundaryWatersTrails.org.

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