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 #4 - Canoe-in Sioux-Hustler Trail / Devil's CascadeBWCA Entry Point #14, Tower, MN$25.00
< This trip is full - hope to see you in the fall >
**All participants must be pre-approved by the crew leader before registering.** Message or email Verena Walther (verenawalther@gmail.com) or Goeran Walther (goeran.walther@gmail.com) for approval and registration instructions, including when the RSVP will be open for this trip. Include your non-Meetup email, phone number, and a good time to reach you. One of us will call you within a few days to discuss details and registration instructions.Crew Leaders:
Verena Walther
Goeran WaltherSummary
Join Verena and Goeran on this backcountry trail clearing trip combining canoeing and backpacking. This crew will paddle North on the Little Indian Sioux River, and Upper and Lower Pauness Lake to get to our camp site by Devil's Cascade. From there we will clear the nearby section of the Sioux-Hustler Trail from tree falls and brush. This is a remote trip on a wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Some backpacking and canoeing experience is required. Tools and training will be provided. Do not hesitate to contact us as soon as you can if you are interested! Registrations will be in order of approval.Itinerary
On Thursday morning, we will either carpool from the Twin Cities area or meet directly at our entry point #14 into the Boundary Waters. We will pack our canoes and then head out from the entry point #14 up the Little Indian Sioux River. We will canoe and portage approximately 7 miles up the Little Indian Sioux River through Upper and Lower Pauness Lake and make our base camp at a the Devils Cascade camp site.Friday and Saturday, we will be hard at work clearing the South West side of the trail loop.
On Sunday morning, we will pack up our camp, and canoe back to Entry Point #14. We will be stopping for a meal together on our way home if desired.
What to expect
Each participant will carry their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, personal gear, and trail clearing tools. You will be responsible for providing your own gear (we provide work 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. Good communication throughout the team will be key. We will work for roughly 8 hours per day, with breaks for water, snacks, and lunch.Recommended gear list: https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/gear-list-for-trail-clearing-backpacking-canoeing-april
A required training hike will be scheduled for May 4, 2024 to meet each other in the Twin Cities. You will meet your fellow crew and crew leaders, and we will conduct a gear check, hash out trip logistics, and get to know each other on a short hike. Location to be determined. Plan to fill out your forms there if you have not already turned them into your crew leaders.
There is a required safety training and orientation on the evening of April 16th for all BWAC volunteers. Sign up here.
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 restore and maintain one of the beautiful hiking trails in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.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 www.BoundaryWatersTrails.org.The $25 registration fee includes a map of the Sioux Hustler Trail and offsets a portion of administrative and tool costs for BWAC. Additional costs will include the cost of dinner on the way home and chipping in for gas for those not driving. Our trail partner, the U.S. Forest Service provides wilderness permits and canoes for our BWAC volunteer crews.
Thank you for choosing to volunteer with the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, where safety is our #1 priority.
- Trip #5 - Eagle Mountain and Brule Lake Trail Clearing with Lucas and EricBrule Lake / Eagle Mountain Trails, Lutsen, MN$25.00
Please contact the trip leaders, Eric Rawls (erawls89@gmail.com) or Lucas Raudabaugh (lucas.raudabaugh@boundarywaterstrails.org) before registering to discuss if this trip is a good match for you. After you get permission from the crew leader you will get additional info.
Join crew leaders Lucas Raudabaugh and Eric Rawls on our first clearing trip to the Brule Lake Trail. We will hike to Eagle Mountain (the highest point in MN!!!), assess conditions, and clear the Brule Lake Trail. Conditions are unknown since we've never cleared here before!
Trip schedule:
Thursday May 16:
• Carpools will depart the Twin Cities Metro Area for the Brule Lake Trail
• Brief (3-mile) hike in
• Group dinner at the camp siteFriday May 17, & Saturday May 18:
• Breakfast at the camp site
• Safety talk and tool review given by crew leaders
• Work together as a team to maintain the trail.
* Section completion breaks and lunch break
• Return to camp site for group dinner.Sunday May 19
• After breakfast, break camp and return to the CitiesRegistration cost: $25
Additional costs will include carpooling gas and meals.BWAC will provide:
Safety glasses, tools, first aid kit, map for the group.Prerequisites:
• Required attendance at Spring Crew Member Orientation at REI in Bloomington on April 16th. Sign up here.
• Required attendance at a full crew hike session in Early May, where you meet your fellow crew members. We will cover crew expectations in more detail in addition to a hike.
• Participants should in good physical condition, able to hike 8 miles a day, be able to kneel to lop and saw at ground level, work well with other crew members, and goal oriented with safety in mind for both self and the team
• Participants are required to sign a BWAC Health & Medical form, BWAC Liability Release form and a USFS Volunteer Service Agreement form prior to the trip at the orientation or group hike.
• Participants will be required to follow leaders' directions, and to wear safety glasses and leather gloves when clearing or hiking. Trip leaders have the right to refuse participation to anyone for any
reason.
• This trip is tobacco and pet free.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 a lasting value for wilderness hikers and helping preserve this trail for future generations!
Not open - Trip #6 - Canoe-In Sioux-Hustler from Shell LakeBWCA Entry Point #14, Tower, MN$25.00
*** All participants must be pre-approved by the crew leaders before registering. ***
Date: Thursday May 16th - Sunday May 19thCrew Leaders:
Gretchen Gosnell
Katie Larson
Kaitlyn BirkPlease message or email Katie Larson (larsonkatie77@yahoo.com) and Kaitlyn Birk (kbirk13@gmail.com) for approval and registration instructions.
This is a remote trip on a wilderness route in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Do not hesitate to contact us as soon as you can if you are interested! Registrations will be in order of approval.
ITINERARY
This is a Canoe and backpack work trip to the Sioux-Hustler Trail in the BWCAW. Some backpacking and canoeing experience is required. Tools and training will be provided. Additionally, we will provide you with a gear list.Thursday morning, we will either carpool from the Twin Cities area or meet up in Duluth to head for the Little Indian Sioux River, entry point #14. We will canoe approximately six miles up the river to Upper Pauness Lake and make our base camp at a site nearby, anywhere between one-two miles hiking based on what site we pick.
Friday and Saturday, we will be hard at work clearing the bottom right side of the loop of the trail around Shell Lake, where there's fallen trees and brush.
On Sunday morning, we will pack up our camp, hike back to our canoes and canoe back to Entry #14. We will be stopping for a meal together on our way home if desired.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each participant will carry their own pack, shelter, sleep system, food, personal gear, and tools. You will be responsible for providing your own gear (we provide work 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. Good communication throughout the team will be key.Recommended gear list: https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/gear-list-for-trail-clearing-backpacking-canoeing-april
A required training hike will be scheduled for May 1st to meet each other in the twin cities. You will meet your fellow crew and crew leaders, and we will conduct a gear check, hash out trip logistics, and get to know each other on a short hike. Location to be determined. Plan to fill out your forms here if you have not already turned them into your crew leaders.
There is a required safety training and orientation on the evening of April 16th for all BWAC volunteers. 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 www.BoundaryWatersTrails.org.The $25 registration fee includes a map of the Sioux Hustler Trail and offsets a portion of administrative and tool costs for BWAC. Additional costs will include the cost of dinner on the way home and chipping in for gas for those not driving. Our trail partner, the U.S. Forest Service provides wilderness permits for our BWAC volunteer crews.
Thank you for choosing to volunteer with the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, where safety is our #1 priority.
Not open