YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO TRIP REGISTRATION.
MESSAGE THE CREW LEADERS CAITLIN TEGELS, KAIT BIRK, OR KATIE LARSON 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 depart from the Powwow Trailhead (BWCAW EP #86) on Thursday afternoon and backpack one mile up the trail to the Isabella River campsite, where we’ll make base camp for three nights. Our goal is to clear the trail west of the Wye toward Marathon Lake with saws, loppers, and root slayers to our trail standards. Plenty of brush for everyone!
ITINERARY
Thursday, October 9th (Day 1): Vehicles will depart the Twin Cities en route to Two Harbors. From there, we will caravan to the trailhead. We'll split up tools and group gear, then hit the trail and backpack in one mile to set up basecamp prior to sunset.
Friday, October 10th (Day 2): After breakfast, we will make up day packs with our tools, PPE, food for the day, and personal gear. After discussing safety training, tool usage, and USFS trail standards, we will hike 3-4 miles to our worksite, taking breaks as needed until 4-5 pm. Then we’ll return to camp to prepare dinner, and enjoy each other's company.
Saturday, October 11th (Day 3): After a good nights sleep in the woods and breakfast, we will again prepare day packs, have a safety briefing, and hike to where we left off clearing on Friday. We will clear trail, breaking on trail for lunch, and then continue clearing with breaks in-between until late afternoon, approximately 4-5pm. We’ll return to camp to prepare our dinners, and enjoy each other's company.
Sunday, October 12th (Day 4): Crew members will be up early for breakfast and to break camp. We will hike out in the same fashion as we hiked in. From there, crew members will carpool home.
NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:
- Physically able to backpack for up to one mile, hike with a day pack and tools for four miles.
- Watch the required USFS Boundary Waters training videos if you weren't on a spring 2025 BWAC trip.
- Attend a required local hike or gear shake-down event before the trip with your crew 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 (at no cost) to use: McKenzie maps, safety glasses, whistles, hard hats, water sterilization devices, trail clearing tools, safety training, BWCA permits, and bear canisters.
Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy or freezing days and/or nights. 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.
Cost: $40 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool and map costs)
Cost: $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.
