ELY—More than fifteen Boundary Waters enthusiasts recently attended a “Crew Leader Training” retreat at Camp Widjiwagan on Burntside Lake to highlight safety and best leadership practices for working with volunteers on trail maintenance projects in the BWCAW. The Boundary Waters Advisory Committee, or BWAC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advocates for hiking trails in the wilderness, sponsored the training event.
The training brought together trail enthusiasts with a combined total of over 113 years of experience guiding trail-clearing trips in the Boundary Waters. They came with a variety of backgrounds and leadership skills. Attendees were happy to get outside for a little recreation in the snow during breaks from training.  The training included a visit from U.S. Forest Service trails lead and coordinator Mike Running.
Trails maintained by BWAC, such as the Powwow, Eagle Mountain, Brule Lake, and Sioux Hustler hiking and backpacking trails, together comprise over 70 of the approximately 200 miles of maintained hiking trails in the BWCAW. More information is available at: Boundary Waters Advisory Committee: https://www.boundarywaterstrails.org/ 
BWAC is holding a Spring Trails Kickoff on March 23, in partnership with the Border Route Trail Association and the Kekekabic Trail Chapter of the North Country Trail Association. Contact Mel Yackley, BWAC vice president at 763-807-7955 for more information about this event.