Too many of us reap the rewards of their work without really contributing. I am guilty and need to pitch in more for causes like this. Without their work and others, Pow Wow Trail would not exist anymore. A big thank you!

Keep on hiking - thanks to you

I'll second that. My wife and I hiked the BRT this summer and I could not believe the amount of work that went into just one section, the blowdown near Clearwater and Mountain Lakes. Volunteers for organizations like these do some incredible work.

Thanks for the info, Pinetree. Now I am really curious about historic and lost trails of the BWCA.

It's amazing the work they do! It's also a kind of weird article. To my understanding, there is no "returning to use historic trails" without major changes to USFS policy. From what I understood, they were told in no uncertain terms that the LLC would not be reopened. PowWow East would require the elimination of a PMA, something which has never happened. Kelso Mountain, which had the same federal status, doesn't really have much of a recreational purpose. Other trails such as the Lower Basswood Falls trail could be reopened as a spur off of Angleworm, but would take tremendous work. Regardless, any trail reopening would require the designation of a new entry point, something that hasn't happened for a long time. I'm amazed at the work they do, and agree the BWCAW has more hiking potential than has been utilized, but I don't see the USFS budging on that one. They nearly closed the Sioux Hustler in 93, the Kekekabic around the same time, and the PowWow after Pagami, and it's the volunteers we have to thank for their existence.

That said, I wouldn't mind if something like the North Arm Trails or Banadad became less seasonal and available for year-round use.