What we’re about
Meet other people interested in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. This group is for volunteers who want to help maintain the wilderness hiking trails in the BWCAW. What's it like? Visit our website at www.boundarywaterstrails.org and stay tuned through MeetUp for events and volunteer opportunities.
Please join our BWAC Meetup group for trip and event postings.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Trip #1 - Sioux-Hustler Trail Circumnavigation SurveySioux Hustler Hiking Trail, Orr, MN$25.00
All participants must be approved by a crew leader before registering
Join Crew Leader Paul Stelter for a survey trip around the Sioux-Hustler Trail. We will be surveying the trail for the upcoming trail clearing season, and doing some “as needed” trail clearing along the way. We will be departing St Paul about 5:30 pm on Thursday May 2nd, camping our first night at Lake Jeanette FS campground. Friday May 3rd, we will be rising at 6:30am and hit the trail after breakfast. Saturday May 4th will also find us on trail. Sun May 5th will be our last day on trail. We will hike back to the trailhead and return to St. Paul, time TBD.
Expectations
Volunteers should be able to hike 10-12 mi. days on trails with mud, rocks, water, brush and tree falls. Be prepared to carry your outfit in all conditions. Being an early season trip we may encounter; snow, rain, heat.The Fine Print
All volunteers must be approved by the Leadership Team before signing up. Leadership Team Contact: pfstelter@msn.comThis trip will be limited to 6 volunteers
All volunteers are required to attend the BWAC training session at REI Bloomington on April 16th. Sign up here.
All volunteers are required to attend the Sioux Hustler Survey Trip group training hike and gear shakedown on Saturday April 20th at Pike Island in Ft. Snelling State Park
All participants must sign the BWAC liability release, BWAC medical health form, and U.S. Forest Service volunteer agreement before trip departure. Review forms at https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/
The $25 registration fee includes a Mckenzie map of the Sioux Hustler Trail and offsets a portion of administrative and tool costs for BWAC. Our trail partner, the U.S. Forest Service, provides the wilderness permit for BWAC volunteer crews.Thank you for choosing to volunteer with the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, where safety is our #1 priority.
Not open - TRIP FULL #2 - Powwow Gateway Backpack-In with Mel, Lynn, and KaitlynPowwow Trail Head, Stony River Township, MN$25.00
TRIP IS FULL. PLEASE REACH OUT TO CREW LEADERS TO BE ADDED TO WAITLIST
All participants must be approved by a crew leader before registering
This is a remote trip on a wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Email crew leaders Mel Yackley (mel.yackley@boundarywaterstrails.org) or Lynn Schwartz (leschwartz77@yahoo.com) or Kaitlyn Birk (kbirk13@gmail.com)
We will reply within a few days. Do not hesitate to contact us as soon as you can. This trip will fill and registration sequence will be in order of approval.
ITINERARY
This is a hike-in trip to clear the area south of the Wye. With only a 1-mile backpack in to our campsite, it is ideal for first-time backpackers. And the campsite on the Isabella River is beautiful! Experience is not required. All tools, training and a gear list will be provided.
Thursday 10 a.m., May 9, we will carpool from the Twin Cities area to Two Harbors. From there, we will caravan to Entry Point 86 for the Powwow Trail, north of Isabella, Minnesota. We expect to leave the trailhead by 4 pm. We will hike in approximately 1 mile to Isabella campsite where we will set up camp before dark.
On Friday, we will clear tree falls and brush, and do needed maintenance of the trail heading north from camp. On Saturday we will continue clearing work. Sunday morning, we will pack up and head back to the trailhead and then on back to the Twin Cities.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each participant will carry their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, personal gear and 2 clearing tools. You should be in good physical shape for full days of travel and working, and have a "can-do" attitude for unknown trail and weather conditions.
Recommended gear list: https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/gear-list-for-trail-clearing-backpacking-canoeing-april
A required local hike will be scheduled in April to meet each other, conduct a gear check and to hash out trip logistics.
There is a required safety training and orientation Tuesday evening, April 16, 2024 at REI Bloomington. Sign up here.
OTHER STUFF TO KNOW:
All participants must sign the BWAC liability release, BWAC medical health form, and U.S. Forest Service volunteer agreement before trip departure. Review forms at https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/
The $25 registration fee includes a Mckenzie map of the Powwow Trail and offsets a portion of administrative and tool costs for BWAC. Additional costs will be your trip food, and about $20 shared gas. Our trail partner, the U.S. Forest Service, provides the wilderness permit for BWAC volunteer crews.
Thank you for choosing to volunteer with the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, where safety is our #1 priority.