November 16- Some Snow but Need More

Yesterday eleven members of Minnehaha Academy's Nordic Ski Team lead by their coach, Anne Rykken, worked on clearing the west end of the Banadad.. The kids on the team thought the work was great fun.

On the westend there is about 1-2" of snow. Not near enough snow to get onto that end of trail with equipment. However, on the east end the snow measures 3-4 inches. Four inches is almost enough, but not quite enough, to get out onto the trail and start packing. While the snowmobiles are out  packing the packing crew will work on clearing the down trees remaining on the  remote section of the east end just beyond the Logging camp.

Banadad Trail Maintenance Report-21 1/2 Miles Completed-3 1/2 BWCA Miles Left to Complete

•  Coming up:  There is still about three and one half miles of the Banadad's east side, inside the BWCA (from 1/4 mile beyond the logging camp to the Whoppee 2 hill) that must be cleared. Because of this section's remote location contract groomers will be removing the down trees here when snow condition allow snowmobiles to start the packing (grooming) of the trail.
• Coming up: November 15-16,  Minnehaha Academy Ski Team. The plan is  to have the ski team cutting brush along the Banadad's west end trail section inside the BWCA. While this area has been cleared the objective with this project is to cut back the brush.
•  November 1 and 2:  North Star Ski Touring Club- 4 volunteers removed large inactive beaver dam blocking Tall Pines Trail and they cut back bush on the  Tim Knopp Trail

• October 15:  Banadad Trail Association annual trail workday - 18 volunteers clear down trees (including clump above) blocking trail in first mile west of eastern trail head inside BWCA and cleared side brush west of Lizz Lake Portage outside the BWCA
• October 15:  All east end trails outside of BWCA were mowed by paid contractors at a cost of $1300. This included the Lace Lake, Tall Pines, Knopp and the 3 miles of non BWCA Banadad.
• October 17 and 18: Two volunteers cleared down trees on the entire west end of the Banadad
•  October 14-16 and 22 :  Paid contractor cleared side brush and removed hundreds of down trees blocking trail along 2 1/2 miles of the eastern side of the Banadad inside the BWCA. Most of these down trees were in the Meads Lake Prescribed Burn area and were likely blown over during a July storm. The cost thus far is $1621 from the Federal SRS Grant and $512 in match from the BTA. Volunteer labor is not included.