Skip to main content

Presentation on Powwow Trail this Tuesday

Boundary Waters Advisory Committee will present “Volunteers to Bring Back the Powwow Trail” on April 16, at noon at the Tuesday Group meeting Grand Ely Lodge.
Martin Kubik, lifelong BWCAW trails advocate, will talk about how volunteers, in collaboration with the US Forest Service and Frost River are working to restore the historic Powwow Trail, which was ravaged by the Pagami Creek Fire in 2011.
Emerging from ashes, this trail is now rising amidst of new, vigorous, green growth of healthy jack pine forest.
BWA Committee, a grass roots non profit has now worked since the 2011 Pagami Creek Fire to restore the favorite hiking trail.
Although the path was cleared by the Forest Service crews after the fire, the USFS ceased maintenance and thousands of trees fell across the path while a vigorous growth of jack pines has obliterated the trail, making it impassable.
“Volunteers have worked hard and cleared 25 miles of the Powwow Trail in 2017-2018 season,” said Kubik.
“The Forest Service has helped by clearing portages and providing canoes for the interior crews. And Kawishiwi Lodge provided bunkhouses, parking and made it easier to disembark for the crews traveling to the Powwow Trail via Lake Three.”
Organizers have toiled tirelessly and recruited more than 80 volunteers and hope for additional 20 for May trips to “Open the Loop!” and to make the loop trail passable again since 2016.
The presentation will include slides from almost every year after the fire, demonstrating new life in a forest coming back.
Putting the incredible effort aside, the Powwow Trail provides excellent opportunity for viewing post fire ecology as young jack pines resemble thick green carpet-like cover in the emerging forest, now five to eight feet tall.
Senior hikers will enjoy hiking on the Powwow Trail safely because one half of the length follows old logging roads that are very level.

Sign up for News Alerts

Subscribe to news updates