Boundary Waters Advisory Committee (BWAC)

YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO TRIP REGISTRATION.

CONTACT MARK JURMU @ jurmu87@gmail.com TO EXPRESS INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP - INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND A GOOD TIME TO REACH YOU.

TRIP OVERVIEW
Crew members will hike from the Powwow Trailhead to Pose Lake (approx. 6 miles). Here we will set up base camp for the next 3 nights. We will work toward South Wilder Lake clearing treefalls, brushing, and rerouting around flooded area. We work rain or shine!

WHY VOLUNTEER?
You will meet other like-minded hikers, share your skills and learn new skills from your crew, and have an unforgettable experience helping maintain one of the few hiking-specific trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

ITINERARY
Thursday, May 29th (Day 1)

• In the morning carpool from the Twin Cities to the BWCAW trailhead.
• After checking individual gear, distributing tools, and discussing safety, we will backpack 6 miles to camp (approximately a 3 hour hike). Be prepared to embrace the suck with multiple water crossings.

Fri and Sat., May 29th-30th (Days 2-3)

• In the morning we'll discuss safety, tool usage, and USFS trail standards and hit the trail at 8am. We'll make our way to the work area and clear trail, taking time for breaks, until 4-5 pm (crew leader discretion). Be prepared for multiple water crossings, potentially knee deep.
• Dinner and tales of the trail at camp.

Sunday, May 31st (Day 4)

• Clean up camp and repeat the backpack back to the entry point, leaving at 8am.
• Carpool back to the Twin Cities; keep in mind we may arrive back late.

NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:

1. Prior backpacking experience.
2. Physically able to hike / backpack 6 miles on rough terrain.
3. Attend the required Crew Member Orientation (April 14th at REI Bloomington).
4. Attend a required local hike and gear shake-down event before the trip with your crew and trip 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: McKenzie maps, safety glasses, hard hats, trail clearing tools, safety training, and BWCA permits. Water sterilization devices and bear canisters are available for use as needed.

Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy or cold days and/or nights. Also be prepared for bugs. Crew leaders will discuss specifics closer to trip dates.

Food: Bring your own easy-to-cook, or no-cook, food to enjoy during the 4 days. Confirm your food fits inside your IGBC-approved, bear-proof container or Ursack with odor-proof liner. Do not assume you'll be able to hang food.

Costs:

• $40 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool and map costs) and
• $20-30 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 and tobacco-free trip.
• Participation is subject to BWAC rules, i.e., trip leaders can deny participation to anyone for any or no reason. If you sign up for this trip without prior approval of the trip leaders, your sign-up is considered a donation to BWAC.
• Please note the trip could be cancelled due to bad weather, fire danger, or other circumstances beyond the control of BWAC.

Thank you for considering this trip. By investing your time you will be creating lasting value for wilderness hikers and helping preserve this trail for future generations!

YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO TRIP REGISTRATION.

MESSAGE SARA FULCHER (sfulche@gmail.com) AND/OR LUCAS RAUDABAUGH (Lucas.raudabaugh@boundarywaterstrails.org) 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
Crew members will paddle and portage down the Little Indian Sioux River across to Hustler Lake on the east side of the Sioux-Hustler Trail. We will set up a basecamp, then clear treefalls, brush, and dig roots along Hustler Lake. We work rain or shine.

ITINERARY
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 (Day 1)

• Wednesday afternoon: Depart Twin Cities, carpooling as much as possible.
• Vehicles will drive to USFS campground and camp for the evening. Dinner in the car or at camp, something quick and easy.

Thursday, June 4 (Day 2)

• Rise and shine early, breakfast. Pack up.
• Head to entry point to receive canoes and gear from USFS.
• Paddle 11 miles along the river and lakes, with 7+ portages in between. Longest portages are 265 and 222 rods (0.8 and 0.7 miles, respectively). All group members must be able to pack light and physically capable of doing single shot portages.
• Setup base camp on Hustler Lake near the trail.

Friday & Saturday, June 5th and 6th (Days 3&4)

• Wake up at 6:30 am. We will all meet in the morning for breakfast. After a group meeting about safety, tool usage, and USFS trail standards, we will make our way to the work area and clear trail, taking time for breaks and lunch, until 4-5 pm (crew leader discretion).
• Dinner and tales of the trail at camp.

Sunday, June 7th (Day 5)

• 6:30 am wake up, quick breakfast, break camp.
• Repeat the paddle/portages in reverse back to Little Indian Sioux entry point.
• Carpool back to the Twin Cities; keep in mind we may arrive back late.

NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:

1. Prior canoeing and backpacking experience.
2. Physically able to canoe and portage all day.
3. Physically able to work 8 hours, bending, lifting, kneeling, sawing, lopping, and digging.
4. Attend required Crew Member Orientation (April 14th @ REI Bloomington).
5. Attend a required local hike and gear shake-down event before the trip with your full crew and trip 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, canister stove, 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: McKenzie maps, safety glasses, hard hats, trail clearing tools, safety training, and BWCA permits. Water sterilization devices and bear canisters are available for use as needed.

Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy to freezing days and/or nights. Also be prepared for bugs. Crew leaders will discuss specifics closer to trip dates.

Food: Bring your own easy-to-cook, or no-cook, food to enjoy during the 5 days. Confirm your food fits inside your IGBC-approved, bear-proof container or Ursack with odor-proof liner. Do not assume you'll be able to hang food*.***

Costs:

• $40 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool and map costs) and
• $20-30 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 and tobacco-free trip.
• Participation is subject to BWAC rules, i.e., trip leaders can deny participation to anyone for any or no reason. If you sign up for this trip without prior approval of the trip leaders, your sign-up is considered a donation to BWAC.
• Please note the trip could be cancelled due to bad weather, fire danger, or other circumstances beyond the control of BWAC.

Thank you for considering this trip. By investing your time you will be creating lasting value for wilderness hikers and helping preserve this trail for future generations!

YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO TRIP REGISTRATION.
E-MAIL Jane Been (maryjanebeen@gmail.com) TO EXPRESS INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP - INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND A GOOD TIME TO REACH YOU.

TRIP OVERVIEW
Crew members will carpool to the Powwow Trailhead early Thursday morning. We will then backpack 11.2 miles along the southern loop of the Powwow Trail to Superstition Lake, where we’ll make base camp for three nights. We work rain or shine.

WHY VOLUNTEER?
You will meet other like-minded hikers, share your skills and learn new skills from your crew, and have an unforgettable experience helping maintain one of the few hiking-specific trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

ITINERARY
Thursday, June 11th (Day 1)

• 5 AM carpool from the Twin Cities to the BWCAW.
• After checking individual gear, distributing tools, and discussing safety, we will backpack 11.2 miles to camp (approximately a 6 hour hike). Be prepared for multiple water crossings, potentially knee deep.

Friday-Saturday, June 12-13th (Days 2-3)

• In the morning we'll discuss safety, tool usage, and USFS trail standards. Then we'll make our way to the work area and clear trail, taking time for breaks, until 4-5 pm (crew leader discretion).
• Dinner and tales of the trail at camp.

Sunday, June 14th (Day 4)

• Clean up camp and repeat the backpack back to the entry point.
• Carpool back to the Twin Cities; keep in mind we may arrive back late.

NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:

1. Prior backpacking experience.
2. Physically able to backpack 12 miles in 5-7 hours on rough terrain.
3. Attend the required Crew Member Orientation (April 14th at REI Bloomington).
4. Attend a required local hike and gear shake-down event before the trip with your crew and trip 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: McKenzie maps, safety glasses, hard hats, trail clearing tools, safety training, and BWCA permits. Water sterilization devices and bear canisters are available for use as needed.

Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy or cold days and/or nights. Also be prepared for bugs. Crew leaders will discuss specifics closer to trip dates.

Food: Bring your own easy-to-cook, or no-cook, food to enjoy during the 4 days. Confirm your food fits inside your IGBC-approved, bear-proof container or Ursack with odor-proof liner. Do not assume you'll be able to hang food.

Costs:

• $40 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool and map costs) and
• $20-30 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. If you sign up for this trip without prior approval of the trip leaders, your sign-up is considered a donation to BWAC.
• Please note the trip could be cancelled due to bad weather, fire danger, or other circumstances beyond the control of BWAC.

Thank you for considering this trip. By investing your time you will be creating lasting value for wilderness hikers and helping preserve this trail for future generations!

CONTACT TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO REGISTRATION.

MESSAGE Trip leaders Lucas Raudabaugh, Valentin Povarchuk, OR Zach Thorson TO EXPRESS INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP - INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND A GOOD TIME TO REACH YOU.

TRIP OVERVIEW
Join the Soggy Bottom Boardwalk Build crew on the Eagle Mt. Trail - the highest use hiking trail in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
*** No backpacking or construction experience is required, just a Safety First and can-do attitude for potential hot, buggy, and wet boggy work conditions. We work rain or shine ***

After two years of collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service of the Superior National Forest, BWAC is ready to begin restoration of three boardwalk sections in 2026 and 2027. This year, we have materials ready for the 300 foot long boardwalk through the bog.
Due to BWCAW regulations, this will be a hand tool only building project.
Crew member jobs: dry land construction, wetland construction, and wetland demolition.

Itinerary:

5 PM, Thursday, June 25th - Basecamp at U.S. Forest Service campground near the trailhead.

7 AM, Friday, June 26th and Saturday, June 26th - Travel to Eagle Mt. trailhead, hike in 1.5 miles to work area. Replace aged-out boardwalk at the direction of the U.S. Forest Service and BWAC trip leaders. Snack, water, and lunch breaks.

5 PM - Hike out and return to basecamp.

9 AM, Sunday, June 28 - Depart U.S. Forest Service campground.

Personal Gear: For basecamp - each crew member will be responsible for providing their own shelter, sleep system, food, and personal gear. (NOTE: the basecamp will be located at a campsite suitable for car camping, so you can sleep and eat in relative luxury!) For workday - provide and carry personal work gloves, daypack, lunch and snacks, and two liters of water capacity. If there is something you do not have, please let the crew leaders know well in advance of the trip.

BWAC will provide: campground reservation, wilderness entry permits, group first aid kit, construction and clearing tools, safety glasses, hard hats, knee pads, group tarp, and safety training. Water sterilization devices are available for use as needed. Crew members will also carry their share of borrowed tools and safety gear.

Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from cool rainy days, hot sunny days, insects, and wet boggy work conditions. Crew leaders will discuss specifics closer to trip dates.

Food: 3 Breakfasts and dinners at Basecamp.
2 no-cook lunch and snacks for on-trail. Tap water is available at the campground, and wild water on-trail.

Costs:

• $40 registration cost on Meetup (to ensure commitment, offset admin, tool and map costs) and
• $20-30 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 and tobacco-free trip.
• Participation is subject to BWAC rules, i.e., trip leaders can deny participation to anyone for any or no reason. If you sign up for this trip without prior approval of the trip leaders, your sign-up is considered a donation to BWAC.
• Please note the trip could be cancelled due to bad weather, fire danger, or other circumstances beyond the control of BWAC.

Thank you for considering this trip. By investing your time you will be creating lasting value for wilderness hikers and helping preserve this trail for future generations!