Trip #1: Backpack on the Eagle Mt. Trail with Lucas and Zach

YOU MUST SPEAK WITH A TRIP LEADER PRIOR TO TRIP REGISTRATION.
MESSAGE Lucas Raudabaugh OR Zach Thorson TO EXPRESS INTEREST OR ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TRIP - INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND A GOOD TIME TO REACH YOU.

TRIP OVERVIEW
Crew members will backpack from the Eagle Mt. trailhead, 3 miles (2 hours) to Whale Lake. We will set up a Basecamp for three nights. Our work will be scouting, clearing, and preparing boardwalk areas set for summer restoration. We work rain or shine.

WHY VOLUNTEER?
You will meet other like-minded hikers, share your skills and learn new skills from your crew, and have an unforgettable experience helping maintain one of the few hiking-specific trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

ITINERARY

Thursday, April 30

• Carpools depart early am from the Twin Cities to the BWCAW, meeting at a common place along the shore (Tofte). All vehicles caravan to the trailhead.
  After checking individual gear, distributing tools and discussing hiking safety, we will backpack approximately two hours to the campsite. Be prepared for multiple wet crossings.

**Friday / Saturday, May 1st - May 2nd

• 6:30 am wakeup. We will meet in the morning for breakfast, followed by reminders about safety, tool usage, and USFS trail standards. From there, we will make our way to the work area and clear trail, taking time for breaks, until 4-5 pm (crew leader discretion).
• Dinner and tales of the trail at camp.

Sunday, May 3rd

• 6:30 am wake up, quick breakfast, break camp.
• Hike back to the entry point.
• 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 3.5 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 4 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!