Trip: Paddle and Hike to Path Lake on Powwow with Verena and Goeran

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

MESSAGE THE CREW LEADERS VERENA WALTHER OR GOERAN WALTHER TO EXPRESS INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP - INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER AND A GOOD TIME TO REACH YOU (verenawalther@gmail.com).

WHAT TO EXPECT
For this BWAC volunteering adventure, we will meet at Kawishiwi Lodge on Thursday evening (leaving the Cities Thursday afternoon), and spend the night in one of their bunkhouses (availability is still being clarified - if not available, we will camp at a nearby camp site). We will depart from Kawishiwi Lodge early on Friday morning and paddle from Lake One to Lake Three (with two short portages), then stash our canoes where the Powwow Trail meets Lake Three. We will then backpack 2 miles to the Path Lake campsite and set up base camp for 3 nights. The goal is to clear the trail South of Path Lake towards Mirror Lake with saws, loppers, and root slayers to our trail standards. There is a lot of brush work needed that will require us to dig out lots of roots.

ITINERARY
Thursday, September 25 (Day 1): In the late afternoon, carpool from the Twin Cities to the Kawishiwi Ranger Station in Ely to pick up permits. We’ll spend the first night at a campground or the bunkhouse at Kawishiwi Lodge and get organized for the next day’s departure.

Friday, September 26 (Day 2): In the morning we will paddle from Lake One to Lake Three, and then hike to Path Lake, around 2 miles. This will be a long day, but we’ll set up camp and stay at this camp for all 3 nights. In the evening we’ll go over safety training, tool usage, USFS trail standards, and a specific plan for the following day.

Saturday, September 27 (Day 3): After a good nights sleep in the woods and breakfast, we will start trail clearing in groups of 2-3 depending on trail conditions. We’ll break on trail for lunch, and then continue clearing with breaks in-between until late afternoon (4-5pm). We’ll return to camp to prepare our backpacking dinners, and enjoy each other's company.

Sunday, September 28 (Day 4): Repeat Day 2 on a different section of the Powwow Trail. Can we make it to Mirror Lake?

Monday, September 29 (Day 5): Rise and shine early, eat breakfast and pack up camp, then backpack to our stashed canoes, paddle Lake Three to Lake One, and carpool back to the Twin Cities.

NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:

1. Physically able to paddle 6 miles, backpack 2 miles and clear trails with hand tools. Bending, kneeling and moving through dense brush required.
2. Watch the required training videos for visiting the Boundary Waters by the US Forest Service.
3. 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, hard hats, water sterilization devices, trail clearing tools, safety training, BWCA permits, bear canisters.

Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy or cold 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 4-5 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: $25 Bunkhouse
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.