Volunteer on the Pow Wow Trail and Be Part of a Boundary Waters Legacy in 2018
Details
Did you know that BWCA Wilderness has 200 miles of backpacking trails? Maintaining these trails with saws and loppers can be hard and challenging, especially after a catastrophic event. One such event occurred in August 2011, when a lightning strike started Pagami Creek Fire. Initially small, the fire grew to devour 93,000 acress, most of it in the BWCAW. Consumed by the fire was most of the Powwow Hiking Trail near Isabella, a trail prized by backpackers for its solitude. In years following the fire, thousands of dead and charred trees fell across its path. US Forest Service cleared the trail in two years following the fire, but many more trees kept coming down making backpacking all but impossible. Since then volunteers from the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, a grass roots with a mission to save wilderness trails picked up where the Forest Service crews left of. One such crew from the Duluth Outdoors Meetup, sponsored by the Frost River, cleared three miles of trail in May. Other crews followed, and now about 7 miles of trail needs to be cleared this fall to make the path entirely passable. Find out how you can be an effective wilderness trail advocate, just by spending a weekend on the Powwow Trail. Our experienced crew leaders will teach you camping skills, and how to stay safe while cutting treefalls with hand tools. Discover the new you, the passionate volunteer, and become a steward of our Boundary Waters Wilderness this fall.
BWCA Wilderness Act of 1978 40th anniversary memento: All 2018 volunteers participating in Powwow Trail clean up will receive a Snowpeak brand Titanium bowl with laser engraved 40th anniversary logo. Find out how to get yours. See photos at https://www.meetup.com/Friends-of-BWCA-Trails/photos/29242378/
Presented by Martin Kubik, a long time advocate for wilderness trails, founder of the Kekekabic Trail Club, Boundary Waters Advisory Committee and the 3M Outdoor Club. Join Martin for a pint at Bent Paddle after the presentation and share your hiking story!