All essays we received are helping to preserve the BWCA trails. That's because each and every writer expressed, in one way or another, why hiking trails are valuable public resource and that we should preserve them for their intrinsic value.
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"For the Volunteer in Each of Us."
- Who are the Essay Contest Winners?
- Did I win?
- Are the winning essays going to be published? - - When do I get my $5 Midwest Mountaineering
gift certificate for entering the BWCA
Wilderness Trails Essay contest?
- Will there be another contest in the future?
Loosing sleep over these and other questions like these? Don't. Winners and essays will be published here by Sunday, June 12. BWA Committee volunteers are stuffing envelopes with $5 gift certificates from Midwest Mountaineering even as we speak right now. Winners of the three top prizes have been notified, if you were not, you probably did not win. However, you might be included in top ten honorable mentions.
- Who are the Essay Contest Winners?
- Did I win?
- Are the winning essays going to be published? - - When do I get my $5 Midwest Mountaineering
gift certificate for entering the BWCA
Wilderness Trails Essay contest?
- Will there be another contest in the future?
Loosing sleep over these and other questions like these? Don't. Winners and essays will be published here by Sunday, June 12. BWA Committee volunteers are stuffing envelopes with $5 gift certificates from Midwest Mountaineering even as we speak right now. Winners of the three top prizes have been notified, if you were not, you probably did not win. However, you might be included in top ten honorable mentions.
BWA Committee Annual Report summarizes the organization's mission, 2007 accomplishments, vision for BWCA trails and plans for 2009. Click on .pdf icon below to view
BWAC Trail Committee Trail Clearing Trips in Fall 2009
" Put the red dot on the map"
The Trail Committee is organizing three trail clearing trips on the Brule Lake in September and October. The trips will range in difficulty and participants will be able to choose lodging in a rustic cabin or two backpacking options. Participants will receive maps from McKenzie Maps and a T-shirt.
Why are we clearing Brule Lake Trail?
BWA Committee scheduled three trips on Eagle Mountain/Brule Lake Trail in May 2009. But because of unusually deep snow only Eagle Mountain trailhead was accessible and was cleared. The other two crews were re-directed to clear and flag fire ravaged Kekekabic Trail from Gunflint. Out trail patrol crew hiked the Brule Lake Trail in June and counted over 50 treefalls. We are looking for volunteers who love to hike and to take care of trails to help clear the trail. If we clear them now, there will be 50 fewer treefalls to cut next May.
Our crews use hand tools only: Two person cross cut saws, bow saws, lopers and prunning shears. You will need to be in good physical condition, and be able to hike 6-8 miles a day with a day pack ( or 3 miles per day with a backpack and camping gear). You will need sturdy hiking shoes, raingear, 2 water bottles and gear listed here : Recommended Gear and Clothing list (call your trip crew leader with questions).
The bigger picture - red dot.
The campsites in the BWCA are marked with a red dot. Today you won't see a red dot on the Brule Lake Trail and there are very few backpackers hiking it. In other words, the trail is underutilized, and overgrowing as a result. US Forest Service and the volunteer groups felt that a campsite along the trail would make it more "backpacker friendly" and provide a overnight spot for volunteer trail maintenance crews. With a campsite on the trail, volunteers could spend additional four hours clearing trail each day, instead of hiking back and forth to cabin. In fall 2008, BWA Committee crew flagged a spur trail from BLT to Fishook Lake and scoped a potential campsite. A winter crew did initial crew clearing on the spur trail in February at great personal sacrifice (see story on www.bwac.smugmug.com). Now, volunteers who sign up for fall trips, can be a part of the effort to put the red dot on the map, a new campsite.is planned for a lovely pennisula on Fishook Lake. Won't you join us for the adventure? For schedule of trips see Meetup site "Friends of BWCA Trails."
Three hikers backpacked the Brule Lake Trail on hot Saturday of August 15, 2009.
Described as "rigorous" be one of the participants, this was the training trip for the backpacking trip on the Kekekabic Trail over Labor Day weekend. Why "rigorous?" The temps reached 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the bugs were, for most part, intimidating. Nevertheless, the hikers feasted on plentiful blueberries, rasberrries, and juicy thimbleberries. The trio filled out a mock up Campsite Inventory in training for service trip on the KEK. Condition of the site, firegrate, and the pit toilet were duly noted. Total trip was 14 miles of pure hiking satisfaction. Yet, brush grows at rate of up to two feet per year and the trail needs clearing. Won't you join us on Brule Lake Trail clearing trips this Fall? Trips are sponsored by McKenzie Maps and Northface.
