Trip #3: GPS Marking Re-Route on the Sioux-Hustler Trail with Kait and Katie

INVITE ONLY
MESSAGE Kaitlyn Birk OR Katie Larson TO ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP.

TRIP OVERVIEW
Our work will be scouting and GPS marking potential re-routes around the first beaver dam run-off area in coordination with the US Forest Service. Minimal trail clearing will be done only as necessary. We work rain or shine.

ITINERARY

Friday, May 8

• Carpools depart around noon from the Twin Cities to the BWCAW, meeting at a common place along the drive. We will camp at an established Forest Service campsite TBD.

Saturday, May 9

• 6:30 am wakeup. We will meet in the morning for breakfast, followed by caravanning to the trailhead to begin our hike. At the trailhead, we will review USFS standards and what is expected for this trip.
• Hike in approximately 4.5 miles to the first beaver dam crossing and start our scouting.
• After a full day of scouting and GPS tracking, we will continue on the trail to camp at one of the sites along the trail (TBD).
• Dinner and tales of the trail at camp.

Sunday, May 10th

• 6:30 am wake up, quick breakfast, break camp.
• Hike back to the entry point; note we may spend some additional time scouting/revising our previous day's work.
• Carpool back to the Twin Cities; keep in mind we may arrive back late.

NEED TO KNOW
Pre-requisites:

1. Prior backpacking experience.
2. Physically able to backpack 4.5 miles in 2 hours on rough terrain.
3. Physically able to work 8 hour days bending, kneeling, digging, and lopping brush.
4. Attend the required Crew Member Orientation (April 14th at REI Bloomington).
5. Attend a required local hike and gear shake-down event before the trip with your crew and trip 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: McKenzie maps, safety glasses, hard hats, trail clearing tools, safety training, and BWCA permits. Water sterilization devices and bear canisters are available for use as needed.

Anticipated Temperatures/Weather Conditions: Crew members should prepare for anything from hot to rainy or snow and cold days and/or nights. Late April typically has pockets of snow and flooded trail. Crew leaders will discuss specifics closer to trip dates.

Food: Bring your own easy-to-cook, or no-cook, food to enjoy during the 3 days. Confirm your food fits inside your IGBC-approved, bear-proof container or Ursack with odor-proof liner. Hanging food may not be possible depending on our campsite.

Cost:

• $40 registration cost on Meetup (to offset admin, tool maintenance and map costs) and
• $20-30 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 and tobacco-free trip.
• Participation is subject to BWAC rules, i.e., trip leaders can deny participation to anyone for any or no reason. If you sign up for this trip without prior approval of the trip leaders, your sign-up is considered a donation to BWAC.
• Please note the trip could be cancelled due to bad weather, fire danger, or other circumstances beyond the control of BWAC.

Thank you for considering this trip. By investing your time you will be creating lasting value for wilderness hikers and helping preserve this trail for future generations!