Packing of the Banadad Ski Trail Underway

With about four inches of snow now on the ground, the final stage of maintenance of the Banadad began yesterday. This stage is the packing, which is done by snowmobiles running back and forth along the trail to compact the snow in preparation for setting track. During this process any remaining trees and brush blocking the trail are cleared with handsaws and nippers. Usually the packing takes about of week. After that as soon as another four to six inches of snow falls tracks can be laid down and the Banadad will be opened for skiing.

Maintenance of the Banadad Continues

February 8 and 9, Lee Wenzel fromt the NSSTC and a friend spent two days widening one and one-half miles on the western end of the Trail. The crew spend their nights at the Croft Yurt after walking the eight miles from western trailhead to the Yurt. In addition to the widening, the they removed all but one of the larger trees blocking the trail's western end.

February 14, Al Berglund using a tractor and brush-hog cut the side brush along the 5 mile Moose Trail. This trail is used as the snowmobile access to the Croft Yurt and as skating trail for those staying at the croft and at the Trail's eastern it is tracked for local skiers.

Boundary Country at the Twin Cities Winter Sport Show

If you are looking forward to winter and live in the Twin Cities area you should plan to attend Midwest Mountaineering's annual Winterfest http://www.midwestmtn.com. This event is scheduled for Friday, November 21 through Sunday, November 23 at Midwest Mountaineering's Store located at 309 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis, and in large tents erected behind the store.

We at Boundary Country Trekking (BCT) will have a booth at the show and will be providing information about our winter Nordic Skiing program- including, ski and snowshoe vacations at the Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B and Ski-in Cabins, Yurt to Yurt and lodge to Lodge Skiing, and of course skiing the BWCA's longest tracked trail the Banadad.

This year we have spent on lot of time clearing the Banadad Ski Trail in anticipation of the ski season. With the assistance of eight volunteers from the Minnesota Conservation Corp (YCC), three-quarters of a mile of the Trail’s remote interior by “Moose Kill Hill” was widened. Brush was encroaching into the Trail along this section; after the YCC completed their work this section of trail looked great! In addition the old Olga’s Hut, midway along the trail and used as sleeping quarters for larger groups was replaced. This overnight stop along the Banadad will now be able to comfortably accommodate nine people again.

The Banadad Ski Trail is maintained and operated carbon neutral.

Attending the show for BCT will be Ted Young and his daughter Karla Miller. They would love to have you attend the show and stop at BCT's booth to say hi!

This announcement is brought to you by Boundary Country Trekking providing secluded lodging and Adventure Vacations on Minnesota's Gunflint Trail, BWCA, the Iron Range and Lake Superior's North Shore. For additional information go to Boundary Country or call 800-322-8327.

Getting the Banadad Trails Ready for Skiing

According to Ted Young co-owner of Boundary Country Trekking and Banadad Trail Coordinator, “opening the 39.8 kilometers of the Banadad Ski Trail System is no easy undertaking. Twenty-seven Kilometers of the trail system are located within the BWCA where only hand tools can be used to cut the summers accumulation of brush and down trees and crews are only able to travel to the work site under their own power-by foot or canoe. The remaining portion of the trails, outside the BWCA, power equipment including mowers is allowed and when possible used. Annually some 500-600 of labor is require to open the trails for skiing each year. This year’s maintenance will be no acceptation.”

Over the pasts two weekends nine volunteers from the North Stars Ski Touring Club and thirteen volunteers from Adventure Vacations, a Twin Cities based adventure travel company logged 332 hours cutting brush and down trees along the Banadad and hand cleared the Tall Pines Trail. Prior to this volunteer effort, Boundary Country Trekking, staff had cleared and mowed the Lace Lake, and Seppala Trails outside the BWCA. Earlier this summer a group of eight youth and staff from the Minnesota Conservation Corp spent two days widening approximately 1.2 kilometers of an overgrown portion of the Banadad around Moose Kill Hill.

As a result of these efforts, to date the Lace Lake, Tall Pines and Seppala Trails and the first 1.6 Kilometers of the Banadad now only needs snow to be opened for skiing. Along the 32 kilometer Banadad, most of which is within the BWCA, crews have cleared 21 kilometers.

Minnehaha’s Academy’s High School Ski Team is scheduled to work on the trail in mid-November. They will round out this years volunteer maintenance effort. Then, as in past years, the remaining clearing of the Banadad will occure when snow arrives and the trail packing by snowmobile groomers can take place. These groomers, as they pack, will hand-cut the remaining brush in the remote interior sections of the trail, which volunteers could not reach.

Young when on to state that, “normally there is enough snow to start skiing on the Lace Lake, Tall Pines, Seppala and the eastern end of the Banadad by Thanksgiving. Packing and tracking of the full length of the Banadad is usually completed and the trail opened for skiing by mid-December.”

North Star Ski Touring Club Writes about Weekend of Trail Clearing on the Banadad

Andrea Johnson, NSSTC -Nine North Stars arrived at host Ted and Barbara Young's Poplar Creek B & B on the evening of Thursday, October 16, ready to clear the BWCA’s Banadad Ski Trail. The group was put-up in the Little Ollie Lake Cabin and one of the rooms in the Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B. Each day a huge farm-style breakfasts was prepared for us and we returned to mouth-watering dinners and a refrigerator stocked with beer.



On Friday morning, we paddled across a very calm Poplar Lake. We left our canoes at one end of Mead portage and hiked a long trail, part of which was steep and rocky. The day's work consisted of nipping alders and overhanging pine branches as well as cutting down and removing larger trees. Two men took down a stony berm in the trail.

Hiking to our canoes in the late afternoon, I noticed gold underfoot – gold leaves, gold cedar tips, gold pine needles – a welcome cushion for tired feet.

The second day, we drove to a different area on the Banadad. Our group cleared from the western Banadad Trailhead in approximately four miles. A few of us ate our trail lunches sitting in the sun on a bridge crossing a rushing creek between East Dawkins and West Dawkins lakes.

In the evening, several North Stars attended a meeting which saw the initial formation of the BWCA Banadad Trail Association, a non-profit dedicated to maintenance of the Banadad for future generations Ted agreed to continue to serve as Trail Maintenance and Grooming Coordinator.

Our last day, we hiked to an area near Tall Pines yurt where we worked through the morning clearing the western side of the Tall Pine Yurt.

Then we showered, packed, and ate lunch with in the B & B Guesthouse dining room. Ted thanked us for successfully clearing more than seven miles of the Banadad and he noted that North Stars have volunteered trail-clearing there for over 25 years, longer than any other group of volunteers. Barbara pointed out that only she has “volunteered” for Ted longer than the North Stars.

Together, we all shared the highlights of our invigorating trail-clearing experience: beautiful fall weather; lovely small trees on the side of the trail -trees that will need nipping in future years; fascinating lichens, fungi, and rare sphagnum moss spores; a old two-holer outhouse along side the trail at the site of the "Old Logging Camp" which one North Star passionately wishes to be forever preserved; lively discussions touching on diverse topics, including politics; and absolutely fabulous meals, including a roast turkey dinner and an ethnic Nordic brunch.

Trip leader Tom Rice summed it up: “Great crew! Great hospitality!”

Volunteers Needed for Fall BWCA Ski Trail Clearing

Join the "Banadad Beavers" for a Work Weekend clearing the summer's accumulation of brush and downed trees and bridge replacement projects along the Banadad Ski Trail. Most of the Banadad is located within the BWCA, where the use of power equipment for maintenance is prohibited. As a result, just to get the trail open for skiing each year requires some 600-650 hours of hand labor. Your help is needed!

This Fall's Trail Clearing Weekend Schedule

• October 4 – Saturday work all-day; Reduced rate lodging available through Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B.

• October 9-12 – Sponsor, Adventure Vacations, a Twin Cities based touring company- for more information contact Karen at 651-644—0333 or 866-910-0300

• October 11- Saturday work all day; Reduced rate lodging available through Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B.

• October 23-26 Sponsor, North Star Ski Touring Club for more information contact Tom Rice tjr@rhys.net.

• November 6-9 Sponsor Minnehaha Academy Ski team; also open on Saturday, November 8 to others. Work all day; Reduced rate lodging available through Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B

• November 15 - Saturday work all-day; Reduced rate lodging available Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B.

All volunteers receive special reduced lodging rates at Poplar Creek Guesthouse or at the Banadad Yurts and free parking along the Banadad Ski Trail during the 2008-09 Ski Season.

Following the trail clearing the east end of the Banadad is normally open for skiing with the first good snow- sometime near the end of November. However the entire Banadad and the Croft Yurt is not available until about mid-December.

Banadad Ski Trail Maintenance Schedule
2008-09

• September 30 open

• October 9-12 Adventure Vacations Tours for more information contact Karen at 866-910-0300 or in the Twin Cities @ 651-644-0333 or go to www.adv-vac.com .

• October 11 open

• October 23-26 North Star Ski Touring Club contact Tom Rice at tjr@trhys.net

• November 7-10 open

For additional information, to lend a hand, or possible other dates contact- Ted at 218-388-4487

MCC Takes on the Banadad Ski Trail

MCC Girls apply "warpaint" (mud) to take on the Banadad

One Island Lake Portage-The Minnesota Conservation Corp, six youth and two group leaders, yesterday head-out by canoe from the One Island Portage along the Moose Trail. Their destination- Rush Lake from where the group will spend the next four days brushing and widening the remote interior section of the Banadad Ski Trail around Moose Kill Hill. Seagull Lake, resident and winter Boundary Country Trekking employee accompanied the group to supervise the trail work. It is expected the crew should widen about a mile of the trail which when completed would finish the widening of all the remaining remote interior of the east end of the Banadad.

Banadad Ski Trail Carbon Offset Award Announced

Seagull Lake Resident, Jim Raml was the recipient of this year’s Banadad Ski Trail Carbon Offset Award of $134.44. Raml is planting some five thousand trees on his property ravaged by last Spring’s Ham Lake Fire. The planting of his property got underway this week.

“This award,” according to Ted Young, Banadad Trail Manager, “should at least help Jim plant a small portion of the tree needed to reforest his burned over property.”

According to calculation made at the end of the ski season this year’s maintenance and snowmobile grooming of the Banadad released 1.733 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. The CO2 was produced by five mid size cars and one large van traveling some 3900 miles with volunteers maintenance crews to and from the Twin Cities to the trail, and 995 miles of snowmobile trail grooming.

In calculating the cost of off-setting this carbon the Chicago Climate Exchange's "Forest Accumulation Tables” for the amounts of CO2 that can be sequestered/acre by age group of white and red pine surviving for a least ten years was used. This was then multiplied by the amount of CO2 the Trail produced times the number of trees planted/acre times the cost/tree. From this it was determined that in order to sequester the carbon the Banadad produced this past year 335 trees would have to be planted at cost of $.134.44.

“It should also be noted” Young went on to state “that, Raml was the driving force behind and the author of a quarter of a million dollar Scenic Byways grant application, that if approved, will provide much of the funds necessary for the Gunflint Ranger District to implement their proposed Ham Lake Fire reforestation program.”

Banadad Ski Trail Now Closed for Skiing- See You Next Winter

While the trail is now closed for the season. During the non-snow months, the trail is open for hiking. Later in the summer and into the fall we will be conducting the trail's annual maintenance and we are looking for volunteers to help. Information on how you can help is posted under Trail
Maintenance.

Snow along the Banadad Trail is slowly melting away, In sunny areas the brown vegetation is completely exposed yet in the woods up to a foot of snow still remains. Most of the snow went when a heavy rain drenched the area on Monday night.

Banadad Ski Trail- May 24, 2008

This morning the temperature is hovering at 38 degrees but rain followed by snow is expected by tonight and into tomorrow. The lakes remain ice covered.

The Poplar Creek at the Ski-Snowshoe bridge below the Poplar Creek Guesthouse is still well below flood stage.

Poplar Creek foot bridge- October 24, 2008

If the predicted rain and snow occurs, this bridge will likely be underwater.

Banadad SkiTrail Still Open for Business

There still is six inches of snow on most of the Banadad and there are very few bare spots. However the trail is no longer being tracked. Morning temperatures this past week have been in the lower twenties; afternoons have warmed to the mid forties.

Photo taken today at the eastern trail head.

The snow cover on the trail should last for another week at least. For you die-hearts, who want to make your own tracks, the Banadad remains open for very good spring skiing.

Banadad Trail Ski Report- Still Skiing

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 14"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 10"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: o

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 0

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: Lace Lake, east end of Banadad to Logging Camp re-tracked on April 2. Even with the warm weather the last two days the track remains. Great snow cover with no bare spot on the trail yet.


ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Good Spring Skiing; additional snow expected tonight, April 5 and continuing through tomorrow. Stay tuned you don't have to put away those skis yet.

Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabins and Yurts
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web

Banadad Trail Snow Report

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 19"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 14"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 6"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: Lace Lake, Tim Knapp and eastern most-end of Banadad tracked March 26.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing continues to be excellent; trails are in great shape.

Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabins and Yurts
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web

Bandad Ski Trail Snow Report

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 19"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 14"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 0

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: All trails tracked- Banadad tracked March 15, Lace Lake and eastend trails tracked March 14.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing continues to be excellent; trails are in great shape. Great BWCA crust skiing ushered-in with Spring thaws and re-freezing.

Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabins and Yurts
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web

Banadad Trail Snow Report

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails


SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 19"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 14"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 0

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 0

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: All trails tracked- Banadad tracked March 6, Lace Lake and eastend trails tracked March 7.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing excellent; trails are in great shape.

Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web

Banadad Trail Snow Report

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 19"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 14"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 3"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: All trails tracked- Banadad tracked February 15 and16, Lace Lake and eastend trails tracked February 16

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Skiing excellent; trails are in great shape.

Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web

Banadad Trail Snow Report

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 23"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 17"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: trace

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 12"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: All trails tracked- Banadad tracked January 18, Lace Lake and eastend trails tracked January 17

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Trails are in great shape.

Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web

Banadad Trail Snow Report

Snow Conditions - by Boundary Country Trekking

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 23"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 12"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: 3"

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: 12"

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: East end of to Meeds Lake portage -Banadad 6 km. Lace Lake and Knapp- 7.2 km.
Lace Lake Trail re-tracked January13.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open
ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Trails are in great shape.

Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web

Banadad Trail Snow Report

Snow Conditions - by Boundary Country Trekking

Banadad and Adjoining Ski Trails- Gunflint Trail, Minnesota. Ski and snowshoeing Trails- map

DATE:1/8/08

SNOW DEPTH IN WOODS: 16"

COMPACTED BASE ON TRAIL: 8"

NEW SNOW PAST 24 HOURS: dusting

NEW SNOW PAST 7 DAYS: less then an inch

GROOM/TRACKED TRAIL: All Trails tracked - Banadad 32 km. Lace Lake and Knapp- 7.2 km.
Lace Lake Trail re-tracked January 7.

SNOWSHOE TRAILS: 6 miles open

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: Trails are in good condition but maybe ice in sunny spots

Lodging at Poplar Creek Guesthouse B&B, Ski-in Cabin and Yurt
Boundary Country Adventure Trips - Ski Yurt to Yurt and/or Lodge to Lodge- on the web