Scenes from the Border Route Trail. Where is the BRT?

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1 Scenes from the Border Route Trail NCTA s Group Hike of the Border Route Trail (BRT) September 21-26, 2010 Where is the BRT? The BRT is located in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota in Cook County The closest towns to the BRT are Grand Marais (west end) and Grand Portage (east end) 1

2 West trailhead Kekekabic Trail Gunflint Trail BWCAW boundary Stairway Portage Long Portage Long Portage BWCAW boundary Pigeon River 270 view Superior Hiking Trail East trailhead What is the BRT? The BRT is a wilderness footpath extending 65- miles East-West from the Gunflint Trail to Otter Lake Rd. About 35 miles of the BRT pass through the BWCAW It is part of the NCT s Arrowhead Re-route 2

3 The NCTA is currently pursuing legislation in Congress to make the Arrowhead Re-route the official route of the NCT Who manages the BRT? Just like other sections of the North Country Trail, the BRT was built and is maintained primarily by volunteers It was the first long backcountry trail built by volunteers in Minnesota primarily the Minnesota Rovers Outing Club Volunteers from the Border Route Trail Association currently maintain the Trail with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service and Conservation Corps Minnesota 3

4 Special considerations Inside the wilderness volunteers cannot use motorized maintenance equipment Hiking the BRT within the BWCAW requires obtaining a permit and making reservations with the U.S. Forest Service for your entry point. A permit quota and user fee system is in force for entry points for ALL overnight use between May and September During October-April a free, self-issued permit is required for overnight hiking use For all day use, a free, self-issued permit is required Permits, reservations, or fees are not necessary for hiking on the sections outside the BWCAW 4

5 Special considerations, cont. The BRT is not blazed in the BWCAW There are side trails that intersect with the BRT on the western half.these form great loop day/weekend hike opportunities for those unwilling to hike the entire 65 miles Mucker Lake Trail Bryce-Breon Trail Crab Lake Trail South Lake Trail Daniel s Lake Trail Caribou Rock/Split Pines Trail The 2010 hike group Bruce Johnson Tom Moberg Mike Doyle Florence & Carter Hedeen Harlan Liljequist 5

Sunday: travel up to Grand Marais & Heston s Resort Our hike

eastern ends, which fall outside the BWCAW, and backpack the

Resort on Gunflint Lake on 9/19 and 9/20 Heston s shuttled

6 Sunday: travel up to Grand Marais & Heston s Resort Our hike s itinerary Our plan was to dayhike the far western and far eastern ends, which fall outside the BWCAW, and backpack the middle portion inside the BWCAW The group stayed at Heston s Resort on Gunflint Lake on 9/19 and 9/20 Heston s shuttled vehicles to McFarland Lake & the eastern trailhead for us. 6

7 Day 1: Gunflint Trail to Loon Lake Rd. Start Heston s End The day s hike included Magnetic Rock, traversing part of the 99 blowdown & Ham Lake fire area, navigating the extensive XC ski trail system, and enjoying fantastic overlooks of Gunflint Lake 7

8 The BWCAW has been shaped by wind and fire 8

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11 Day 2: Loon Lake Rd. to South Lake Trail campsite Breidal Veil Falls End Start BWCAW boundary The day s hike included traversing part of the Ham Lake fire burned area, Bridal Veil Falls, entering the BWCAW, Topper Lake, and Mucker Lake 11

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15 Day 3: South Lake Trail campsite to E. Rose Lake campsite Start Stairway portage End Rose Lake cliffs The day s hike included Stairway portage, Rose Lake cliffs, and unbelievable old-growth above Rose Lake 15

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19 Day 4: E. Rose Lake campsite to Clearwater Lake campsite Start Long portage Watap Lake vistas End The day s hike included Long portage, a constant battle with hypothermia, a quick visit to Canada, and fantastic views above Watap Lake 19

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22 Day 5: Clearwater Lake campsite to Pine Lake campsite Start Gogebic Lake End The day s hike included a constant battle with hypothermia, a quick visit to Canada, and fantastic views above Watap Lake 22

23 Day 6: Pine Lake campsite to McFarland Lake Start Woods campsite BWCAW boundary End The day s hike included the storm clouds departing, great views of John Lake, leaving the BWCAW, and a great campsite at McFarland Lake 23

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26 Day 7: McFarland Lake to Otter Lake Rd. Start Pigeon River 270 Vista End The day s hike included early morning frost, fog over the lakes, numerous great vistas, and the end of the hike 26

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32 Day 8: Grand Marais We stayed on Sunday night in Grand Marais at Lund s, ate at My Sister s Place, and then did some sightseeing on Monday morning. 32

org Visit the Insight blog post about our hike - http://www.northcountrytrail.org/insight/?

33 For more info Obtain a copy of the BRT guidebook Look for an article about our hike in the next North Star Visit the Border Route Trail Association s website Visit the Insight blog post about our hike - Visit Tom Moberg s BRT hike photo gallery - Visit Todd McMahon s BRT hike photo galleries

Purpose of tonight s presentation. The North Country Trail in ND, MN, and WI: what's new in our neighborhood on the nation's longest hiking trail?

Purpose of tonight s presentation. The North Country Trail in ND, MN, and WI: what's new in our neighborhood on the nation's longest hiking trail? The North Country Trail in ND, MN, and WI: what's new in our neighborhood on the nation's longest hiking trail? Matthew Davis North Country Trail Association Regional Trail Coordinator for MN & ND Midwest