I am writing about the snowmobile trail controversy at the vicinity of South Fowl Lake. The environmentalists are missing the boat. There is a more looming threat to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and to its visitors that we should be concerned about.
Thirty-five years ago, the legislature passed the “BWCA Wilderness Act of 1978.” Following that passage, the U.S. Forest Service built the Pow Wow Trail (PWT). Since then, hikers have cherished the 31-mile trail for its solitude and remote campsites until the Pagami Creek Fire in August 2011. When the fire died, the PWT vanished into ashes.
The Forest Service attempted to clear and mark sections of the Pow Wow Trail. Despite that effort, I counted 1,200 treefalls in September. Rock cairns were rendered invisible by brush and fireweed out of control. Without adequate maintenance hikers won’t be able to hike the PWT. The Forest Service, citing lack of use and funds, may close it as they did in 1993. If that happens, PWT will be lost forever.
Maintaining hiking trails in Minnesota wilderness is a big job. The Forest Service will need significantly more funding and volunteers to help them do it. What if the groups bringing the lawsuit redirected the funds from attorney costs to pay for Minnesota Conservation Corps and Americorps crews to save the trails in wilderness? Unlike cell towers and snowmobile trails, the Pow Wow Trail is inside the BWCAW.
This change in paradigm would be a wonderful way to defend the BWCA wilderness.
My name is Martin Kubik, I am a hiker and have never driven a snowmobile. I am the founder of the Kekekabic Trail Club and Boundary Waters Advisory Committee. To see photos of the entire Pow Wow Trail in 2012 and 2013 backpacking trips, see: www.bwac.smugmug.com. For more about the BWAC, visit www.bwac. homestead.com.
Martin Kubik
Boundary Waters Advisory
Committee
Minneapolis
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