October 12-14, 2007- A five person crew from Adventure Vacations, a Twin Cities based adventure travel company widened a three-quarter mile section on the eastern end of the Banadad Ski Trail. The group found a larger number then normal of down trees, which they removed. The down trees were a result of a combination of the heavy rains and winds of the pasts two months. Total time (including BCT staff support) -120 hours
October 22, 2007 - Traveling by ATV Ted Young removed a dozen or more large trees that had fallen across the Tim Knapp Trail and a one mile section of the Banadad outside the BWCA up to the Lisz Lake Portage. Total time - 12 hours
October 23-28, 2007 - A two-person crew lead by Jim Raml spent five days widening a remote interior section of the Banadad west-end. In order to get to the site the crew was driven in by truck along the Moose Trail to the Croft Yurt. From the Yurt the crew hiked in two More mile where they set-up camp. They then worked out of their camp. According to Raml the trail was wet, there were a few large trees down along the way and they experience one cold morning when their water hole froze over. The net result of the crews efforts was a mile of the Banadad near the middle of the west end of the trail was widened. Total time- 86 hours
October 30 - Traveling by ATV the down trees blocking Trail were removed from Lisz Lake Portage west one and one-half miles to BWCA line by Mead's Lake Portage. Total time-11 hours
November 2-4 - A Six person trail-crew of parents and past members of the Minnehaha Academy cross country ski team worked one day clearing from the Meads Lake Portage to just past the Old Logging Camp. On the second day the crew widened about one-half mile of the west end of the trail starting at the Swamp Lake Portage. Total time- 96 hours
November 8-11 - The Twin Cities' North Star Ski Touring Club's seven member team cleared and widened from the westend trailhead three miles east on Friday hand cutting eight large trees along the way. Saturday and Sunday about one and have miles of the eastend of the trail was widened from the Tim Knapp west to just past the Lizz Lake Portage. As an aside- the Tim Knapp trail was name in honor of the club's first president. Total times (includes BCT staff)- 180 hours
Novermber 7- December 19 - Boundary Country Trekking's crews traveling by snowmobile clearing remaining down trees and brush on trail while packing- Total time- 50 hours
December 13- local crew hand cuts center stubble on Lace Lake. Total time- 13 hours
December 21 - Trail opened and first skiers through.
The 41 km. Banadad Ski Trail System is accessible from two trail heads, both with free parking; the eastern trail head is located 30 miles up the Gunflint Trail off the Lima Grade; the west end trail head is on the Gunflint Trail at Fire # 10045. In addition to the Banadad the trail system consists of the Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Tim Knapp Trails. The Banadad is the BWCA longest tracked ski trail and likely the longest wilderness tracked ski trail in the USA. For more info call 218-388-4487.
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