November News and volunteer with BWAC at the Midwest Mountaineering Expo
Dear BWAC Members and Friends,
Thank you for your enthusiastic advocacy for wilderness trails in the Superior National Forest. Whether you joined a work crew, hiked the Powwow Trail, learned about or talked about the BWAC mission with a friend, you made a contribution to keeping BWCAW trails safe and accessible.
What’s up with BWAC?
Your help is needed November 19-21 to staff the BWAC booth at the Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Adventure Expo. https://www.outdooradventureexpo.com/ No backpack or dehydrated meals required. We love browsing the sale, the exhibitor booths, the presentations and the opportunity to let folks know about our unique BWAC volunteer opportunities. Job description: greet visitors and be an ambassador for our rewarding trips. Two to three volunteers for each shift are needed. Sign up for a shift at https://www.meetup.com/Friends-of-BWCA-Trails/events/.
More than fifty supporters made the trek to the Powwow Trailhead October 30 to celebrate Ten Years of Powwow Trail Restoration and Forest Recovery. The sun shone; the speakers were top-notch; the cake and cocoa were perfect. Many attendees experienced the first mile of trail on a hike to the Isabella River bridge. The celebration was hosted by BWAC in collaboration with the land manager, the Superior National Forest. KBJR6, Duluth NBC affiliate, story and video here: //kbjr6.com/2021/10/30/ten-years-of-restoration-bwcas-powwwow-trail-ready-for-backpackers/
2021 Accomplishments. Shout out to BWAC's impressive crew leaders and crew members. Numbers are still coming in but it looks like 125 generous volunteers pitched in to clear the Powwow trail on twenty-one crews. Crews were able to reach about 75% of the trail this year, despite spring trips limited in size and BWCA Wilderness-wide closures.
Looking ahead. BWAC will be back. Brush and shrubs keep encroaching and burned trees keep choosing the trail corridor to block. We hope you can plan to return, or to be a first-timer, to trail in 2022.
Volunteer Recognition and Annual Meeting. Membership party! Plans are percolating for crew reunions, a catered dinner, a special guest speaker, and the BWAC annual meeting during the first half of February. Stay tuned for an announcement.
Powwow Trail Hiker Guide. The long-awaited PWT Hiker Guide was first released in October 2020. Testimonials from the trail in 2021 confirm that it is being used to plan trips and get out and backpack the trail. Look for the 2nd edition on www.BoundaryWatersTrails.org after December 1. If you would like to be sent a pdf now, please email info@BoundaryWatersTrails.org.
BWAC is grateful for your support, whether you are a past or future wilderness trail advocate. Call or email me at Susan.Pollock@BoundaryWatersTrails.org with any questions, to find out more about how you can help, or to say hello.
Sincerely,
Susan Pollock, President
The Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC)
612 644-4562