Staff reports
The big news on the Banadad is that after 20 years of managing the Banadad Ski Trail, Boundary Country Trekking has turned over the management duties to a newly formed non-profit — the Banadad Trail Association. The mission of the Association, according to president Karen Monsen, “is to maintain and enhance the Banadad Ski Trail, preserve the history of the forest and the trail, and promote the appreciation and care of wilderness lands.”
The Association has retained Boundary Country Trekking as the Trail’s maintenance coordinates.
In other Trail news, more of the Trail’s remote interior within the BWCA was widened this summer. In August a five-person crew from the Minnesota Conservation Corps (MCC) working out of a “spike camp” along the trail, widened and cleared another two miles. According to the Trails maintenance staff, “Due to its remoteness, it has been neglected for years and was about to be choked off by brush. It is now cleared six to eight feet wide and all the overhanging brush is gone. MCC did a great job!”
On the other end of the Banadad outside the BWCA, with the aid of a Minnesota DNR grant the Tall Pines Trail has finally been re-surfaced by a bulldozer. Four years ago the trail was hand cleared but due to the Trail’s rough surface grooming was impossible and skiing difficult. Finally with the bulldozing completed the rocks and ruts are gone and the Trail is groomed and ready for skiers.
Skiers traveling the BWCA’s Banadad Ski Trail this winter will also be greeted midway along the trail by greatly improved overnight accommodations. A new 20-foot yurt was erected earlier this fall at Bedew Lake. Olga’s Yurt (as this new yurt is called) replaces the old Olga’s hut. The name Olga is of a mythical character created by guests staying at the yurt camp many years ago. Olga’s Yurt will serve as the main lodging at the camp with overnight accommodation for up to seven guests and house the camp’s dining facility. The older Croft yurt will provide additional lodging for another four guests.
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