Training Day (weekend)

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/0/4/e/600_113457422.jpeg Join us on annual training weekend in the BWCAW! Intended for aspiring co-leader candidates and veteran crew leaders alike. Car pool from Twin Cities to Grand Marais and Eagle Mountain Parking Lot. Sun will be disappearing over the horizon as we hike toward to Whale Lake. We will filter water at dusk and then the adventure will begin. Instead of taking a path to Eagle Mountain, we will veer off into the woods along the barely discernible foot of the mighty Eagle Mountain. Compass work will be essential, last time we tried to follow our instinct, we ended up back at Whale Lake. Yes, that part about wondering in circles in the desert or at night is really true. We will head for the mysterious "Boulder Field" with rocks size of refrigerators and nearly fluorescing yellow fungi (or is it a lichen?). Hope it does not rain, because slippery rocks are treacherous. Candidates will be given every opportunity to lead using map, compass, and encouraged to read natural features of the landscape. Much later we will aim straight up to true north and scale the SW face, the steepest slope on the Eagle Mountain. It might be midnight or 1 a.m., but, who is counting time when you are having fun in the wilds? After few hours of rest and breakfast on top of Minnesota's highest point, we will bushwack again. This time we will descend on the west slope in the a hidden valley. Hope the creek runs otherwise we will have no water. We will bushwack over a rocky ridge (phenomenal sight) and then hopefully connect with the Brule Lake Trail, water up next crossing, cut a few treefalls along the way and on Sunday morning emerge on the west end of the Brule Lake Trail near the forbidden area 52. Candidates will be expected to master common deciduous and coniferous trees by the end of the hike. Disclaimers: This trip is free of tobacco products, alcohol, both recreational and hard drugs, pets, certain electronic devices, and subject to BWAC trip policy listed in the Files section. Candidates must be in excellent physical condition and able to tolerate language arts. Must be willing to wear safety glasses (provided free of charge). Contact organizer for interview/ permision to register. Anticipated return by Sunday evening by 7pm. If you want to increase your selfconfidence in the wilderness, master the map and compass skills, and help the USFS maintain hiking trails while identifying trees and treefalls, then this a a trip for you.