Hiking and kayaking/canoeing in the Boundary Waters Boundary Waters, Minnesota May 24 th May 27 th, 2013 Comprehensive guide and packing list
Trip at a glance: Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend in the wilderness of the Boundary Waters, a region straddling the United States Canada border. We will spend one day hiking the gorgeous Bass Trail that loops around Bass Lake, one of the pristine lakes in northern Minnesota. The next day will be spent kayaking/canoeing on the Boundary Waters, a popular spot within the Superior National Forest. Kick start your summer by enjoying a weekend away with Peak 4 Poverty. Peak 4 Poverty at a glance: Peak 4 Poverty is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide educational scholarships to AIDS orphans in Africa. We believe that education is the only way to truly eradicate poverty, and we organize mountain climbs as a way to fund raise for our cause. We started out with one step at a time, and with the continual support of our well-wishers, friends and people like you who believe that education is the surest way out of poverty, we have been able to accomplish a few milestones. Peak 4 Poverty has supported over 200 orphans who have been infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. We support six orphanages and have financed nearly 200 years of education. Want to make a difference? Join us as we spend Memorial Day weekend hiking and canoeing in the beautiful Boundary Waters. Located at the border of the United States and Canada, the Boundary Waters offers a unique historical and ecological uniqueness that makes it a popular outdoor location. By hiking with us, you will be contributing Page 2
towards a child s education. It s a win-win for everyone - you get to spend a few days with a group of fun-loving outdoor enthusiasts, our kids get to go to school, and we all get one step closer to a better world. We welcome hikers with any level of experience. 3-day trip to the Boundary Waters Location: Boundary Waters, Ely, Minnesota Saturday Hike Bass Lake Trail & Kawishiwi Falls Elevation Gain: 100 ft. Distance: 5-8 miles round-trip Route: Bass Lake Trail & Kawishiwi Falls Difficulty: Easy to moderate Bass Lake Trail & Kawishiwi Falls: Bass Lake, unique for its ecological history, is surrounded by four other lakes. The Bass Trail loop that circles Bass Lake is a total of 5.6 miles. However an additional 4.7 miles takes you around the adjacent Dry Lake loop which is famous for its scenic overlook. From here, we will hike the popular Kawishiwi Falls Trail which is a total of 1.5 miles. This trail is known for its stunning views of the 70 ft. drop Kawishiwi Falls. Sunday Canoe/Kayak the magnificent Boundary Waters Distance: As far as you would like to paddle Difficulty: Easy to moderate Page 3
Boundary Waters Boundary Waters is situated within the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. It stretches over 100 miles along the US-Canada border and is comprised of over 1,000 lakes, rivers and streams. We will spend the day kayaking and canoeing in the Boundary Waters. We will set out in groups of 8-9 people with the option of a 2 person canoe or a 1 person kayak. We will stop to enjoy a packed lunch and take in the beautiful wilderness that the Boundary Waters has to offer. 3-night camping We will be camping at the South Kawishiwi River campgrounds located in the Superior National Forest. Due to its close proximity to the Kawishiwi River, hikers can enjoy the evenings swimming. Peak 4 Poverty will provide tents; however, each hiker will be required to bring their own sleeping bag. ITINERARY Overview: Day 1 Friday May 24 th 06:15 AM Group from Chicago, IL leaves for S. Kawishiwi River campground, Ely, MN 08:00 AM Group from Des Moines, IA leaves for S. Kawishiwi River campground, Ely, MN 04:30 PM Team arrives at S. Kawishiwi River campground. Enjoy a delicious meal, socialize and relax Day 2 Saturday May 25 th 07:30 AM Wake-up, enjoy a hearty breakfast 08:30 AM Arrive at Bass Lake Trail parking lot. Start hiking the Bass Lake trail 12:00 PM Enjoy a packed lunch on Bass Lake while taking in the beautiful view of the Superior National Forest 03:00 PM Return to parking lot. Head out to Kawishiwi Falls 03:15 PM Arrive at Kawishiwi Falls parking lot. Start hiking the Kawishiwi Falls trail 05:00 PM Return to parking lot and head back to campground 05:15 PM Arrive at campground. Enjoy a hearty meal, relax and socialize Page 4
Day 3 Sunday May 26 th 07:00 AM Wake-up, enjoy a healthy breakfast 08:00 AM Drive to River Point Outfitting Co. Rent canoes/kayaks 12:00 PM Stop and enjoy a packed lunch in the gorgeous wilderness 04:30 PM Return to the River Point Outfitting Co. Return rentals 05:30 PM Arrive at the campground. Enjoy a hearty dinner, relax and socialize Day 4 Monday May 27 th (Memorial Day) 07:00 AM Breakfast, pack-up 08:00 AM Depart for Des Moines/Chicago 04:30 PM Arrive at Des Moines. 06:30 PM Arrive at Chicago, IL Details: Day 1 Friday May 24th Groups from Des Moines, IA and Chicago, IL will leave for South Kawishiwi River campgrounds in Ely, Minnesota. We ask that everyone pack one hiking backpack and one personal item. There is limited space in the cars and we therefore request everyone to pack light. It is a long ride and we want everyone to be comfortable. We will stop on the way for lunch. We anticipate on arriving around 4:30 PM. We will set up camp and begin to cook dinner. Peak 4 Poverty will provide tents however each hiker is responsible for bringing their own sleeping bag. Day 2 Saturday May 25th We will start the day early, enjoying a hearty breakfast before we set out to spend the day hiking. We will hike the Bass Lake trail and for those who would like to continue on, can tackle the Dry Lake trail. We will stop to enjoy a packed lunch during the hike. We will all meet at the parking lot and head out to the Kawishiwi Falls trailhead. We will hike the short trail to the Kawishiwi Falls and enjoy the 70 ft. drop of cascading waters. We will then head back to the campgrounds and enjoy a warm dinner. The rest of the evening will be spent relaxing and socializing. Day 3 Sunday May 26th We will wake up to another fun day outdoors. After enjoying a healthy breakfast, we will head out to the River Point Outfitting Co. where we will rent canoes and kayaks. The company offers 2-person canoes and 1 person kayaks. We will split into groups of 8-9 and spend the day in the Boundary Waters. We will stop to enjoy a packed lunch. This is meant to be a fun day enjoying the outdoors. You can canoe/kayak as far out as you would like however everyone needs to be back at the River Page 5
Point Outfitting Co. by the appointed time. After returning the rentals, we will head back to the campgrounds. After enjoying a delicious meal, the rest of the evening will be spent relaxing and socializing. Day 4 Monday May 27th Breakfast will be served at 7 AM. Due to the long ride back, we will aim to leave around 8 AM. We will stop on the way to grab lunch. Des Moines group is expected to arrive around 4:30 PM while the Chicago group will get in close to 6:30 PM Cost: *$280 (from Chicago or Des Moines)/ $220 (meet us directly at Ely, Minnesota) Price includes: *Transportation: From the meeting point at departure city to the national park and back Meals: This includes all the meals from when we get to the national park to when we leave the national park Campsite fees Canoe/kayak rental Tents A Peak 4 Poverty exclusive t-shirt Online link of all the pictures taken during the trip Price does not include: Meals on the road Health and travel insurance Qualifications: The hikes are rated easy to moderate. Hikers are required to be in good physical condition. If you have any condition that we need to know about, please email us at hikes@peak4poverty.org. Weather: The weather is expected to be in the mid-60s during the day and can drop to the low 40s during the night. Refund and withdrawal Electronic notice of withdrawal must be sent to hikes@peak4poverty.org. Refunds will be given based on the date the notice is received. Date of withdrawal Refund 30+ days prior to departure 75% 30-22 days prior to departure 50% 21 days prior or after departure date 0% Page 6
Limited participation Due to the limited number of spaces available, please submit your application in by May 3 rd, 2013. What to bring for the Boundary Waters expedition: Clothing a. Fleece (temperatures at night can reach the 30-40s. Snow is rare but possible) b. Rain coat/poncho c. Recommend to layer up as it may be warmer during the day and cooler in the evenings d. Wind breaker e. Hiking boots f. Additional pair of shoes (optional for the campsite) g. Recommend to get water resistant cover for backpack in case of rain. h. Hiking pants/track pants/shorts i. Swimsuit (beach near campgrounds) Snacks/Drinks a. Energy giving foods like nutrition bars, trail mix, energy bars etc b. Energy drinks c. 2 water bottles (please fill your water bottles for the road trip. Drinking water is available at the campgrounds) Additional items a. Sleeping bag b. Toiletries (No showers available on campgrounds) c. Toilet paper (during hike) d. Flashlight/headlamp e. Sunscreen f. Sunglasses/cap g. Camera with extra batteries and memory card h. Cell phone charger Page 7