What once seemed like and ambitious and far-fetched goal to clear the Powwow trail has become

a reality, thanks to the vision and perseverance of dedicated volunteers working in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Today, hikers are able to backpack the trail in three days, and some have even completed the thirty mile journey in a single day. However, the work is ongoing as storms continue to bring down new tangles of dead trees each year, presenting new challenges for trail maintenance. The presentation will outline the four phases of the Powwow Trail restoration:

   -Challenges of retracing the trail after the fire                                                                          

-Work crews cutting removing thousands of deadfalls from the trail                                    

  -Clearing campsites and installing new latrines                                                                       

                     -Reopening the trail and dedication of the new kiosk at the Forest Center Trailhead          

                                                                                                                         
Martin Kubik, who led much of the Powow Trail restoration effort, shared, "Generations of back-

packers will be thankful to volunteers who contributed thousands of hours toiling to bring back the

Powwow Trail. We are also thankful the the US Forest Service for supporting the volunteers so that

the Powwow, one of the longer hiking trails in the BWCA, is again open to the public."                       

Attendees   will gain insight into the value of volunteering in the Superior National Forest, the    positive impact of these efforts on preserving historic hiking trails, and practical information about how to experience the Powwow Trail themselves.                                                                                        

Presenter bios                                                                                                                                                  

 Martin Kubik:   Founder of the Kekekabic Trail Club, the 3M Outdoor Club, the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, and the Boundary Waters Heritage Trails. He is a lifelong advocate for hiking in the BWCAW. Martin has worked as a canoe guide on the Gunflint Trail and as a firefighter for the US Forest Service on the Superior National Forest. After retiring from a 39-year career at 3M Co., he  now enjoys year-round outdoor activities in the Arrowhead, as well as gardening and sewing custom camping gear.                                                                                                                                    

Tiffanie Ellis: A middle school teacher in Duluth and co-founder of the Boundary Waters Heritage Trails. Tiffanie has led numerous volunteer trail clearing trips for the BW Advisory Committee. She is an avid backpacker, explorer of historic trails and a BWCA snow camper.                                        

For more information, please contact Martin Kubik, BWHT President at:                                              

martin.kubik@bwheritagetrails.org or Google Voice 612-460-7137