Boundary Waters Snowbank Lake BCM Course Area Guide

Backcountry

Trip Code ________________________

Team Leader ________________________

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Table of Contents

Trail Summary ...................................................... 3

Trail Information .............................................................. 3

Trail Description .............................................................. 4

Route Description............................................................ 5

Trail Distances ................................................................ 5

Trail Elevation Profile ...................................................... 5

Map ....................................................................... 6

Key to Trail Map.................................................... 8

Camp Site Information .................................................... 8

Map Legend .................................................................... 9

Hazards ........................................................................... 9

Recommended Destinations ......................................... 10

Fishing ........................................................................... 10

Summits ........................................................................ 11

Daily Outline ....................................................... 12

Curriculum Checklist ........................................... 13

Team Leader Recommendations ....................... 14

Team Leader Comments .............................................. 14

Team Leader Feedback Form ...................................... 15

Emergency Information ....................................... 16

BCM Phone Numbers ......................................... 16

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Trail Information

Trailhead Name: Snowbank Lake

Trailhead Camp: Camp at Wilderness Wind Base Camp

Permit #: Vistor Permit (List agency adult on permit.)

Permit Pick-Up: Wilderness Wind issues permit on Day 2 on behalf of the Forest Service. The team leader Superior National Forest Outfitter Guide Identi-fication Card is in the trip binder.

Wilderness Permit: BWCAW Special Use 10-year Permit

Permit Pick-Up: N/A

Trail Name(s): Snowbank Lake Boot Lake Ensign Lake Disappointment Lake

Type of Trail: Loop

Mileage: 17 - 37 miles

Alternate Routes: Snowbank to Lake One Shuttle Route

Alternate Mileage: 34 miles

Trail Location: Superior National Forest Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Kawishiwi Ranger District

Maps: Fisher-11 Fisher-31 for Snowbank to Lake One Route OR McKenzie #114 McKenzie #18, #19 for Snowbank to Lake One

USGS Maps:

Flora/Fauna: Canoe Country Flora by Mark Stensaas Canoe Country Wildlife by Mark Stensaas

Weather Trends: Avg. Low 48-53, Avg. High 72-78

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Trail Description

The Boundary Waters is a pristine, yet rugged wilderness. The lakes are cut from granite and surrounded in old pine growth. Snow-bank Lake is located just west of the most remote part of the Bound-ary Waters Wilderness. Just east of Snowbank Lake, most of the trees were blown down in the storm of 1999. The advantage of Snowbank trailhead (aka entry point), is that it allows access to more remote areas of the wilderness, and it is ac-cessible from the town of Ely, MN and our base camp. One chal-lenge for the route is that it starts on a medium large lake. When there are winds, the lake can get choppy. A common problem area is the north east part of the lake. When westerly winds blow, there is a long fetch for waves to build into 1-2+ feet. An out for this is to avoid most of the lake and travel to Parent or Disappointment Lake. Note that part of the lake does allow for motorized traffic. Once you reach the far side of the lake, you will be in the wilderness. The portages north of the lake tend to be longer, in the range of 180-220 rods, so you may wish to plan your route to finish your trip from the north. Of course, then you may have waves to contend with!

Snowbank to Lake One Shuttle Route

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Route Description Overview The main route on the map is the loop route from Snowbank Lake to Kekekabic Lake and back. To shorten the route, take the shortcut through Gibson Lake. To lengthen the route, head up to Birch Lake. If you prefer, consider the Snowbank to Lake One Shuttle Route and have our outfitter partner pick you up at Lake One. Details Snowbank Gibson Loop: Major Lakes: Snowbank – Boot – Ensign – Ashigan – Gibson - Jitterbug – Disappointment – Snowbank Mileage: 17 miles, Portages:12, Longest Portage: 200 rods Good for: Short route for girls who are struggling. Also, a backup in case of majors issues with medical, group behavior or weather. Alternates: Add a base camp day on Ensign or day trip over to Ima Lake for a good girls’ route or a short boys’ route. Do route backwards. Maps needed: MacKenzie #9 or Fisher F-11 or F-31 Snowbank Birch Gibson Loop: Major Lakes: Snowbank – Boot – Ensign – Trident – Birch – Carp – Vera – Ensign – Ashigan – Gibson - Jitterbug – Disappointment – Snowbank Mileage: 28 miles, Portages: 20, Longest Portage: 220 rods Good for: boys of average/low-average ability/teamwork or stronger girls Alternates: Head straight back from the second visit of Ensign to save miles if group is having a hard time. Jump onto longer Kekebabic loop route at Knife if group is doing great. Do route backwards. Maps needed: MacKenzie #9 or Fisher F-11 or F-31 Snowbank to Lake One Shuttle Route Major Lakes/Rivers: Snowbank – Disappointment – Ahsub – Jordan – Tho-mas – Kiana – Insula – Hudson – Four – Three – Two – One – K. River Mileage: 34 miles, Portages: 19, Longest Portage: 179 rods Good for: boys of average ability and good teamwork or very strong girls Alternates: add Alice Lake to extend the trip a few miles and portages. Maps needed: MacKenzie #8, 9, 18 and 19 or Fisher F-31 Snowbank Kekebabic Loop Major Lakes: Snowbank – Boot – Ensign – Vera – Knife – Spoon – Kekekabic – Wisini – Fraser – Thomas – Hatchet – Jordan – Disappoint-ment – Snowbank Mileage: 36.5 miles, Portages: 23, Longest Portage: 220 rods Good for: boys of average ability and good teamwork or very strong girls Alternates: Consider inland Missionary-Diz cutoff with windy weather. It is about the same distance. Do route backwards. Paddle over to Birch on the way back to add a couple of miles. Maps needed: MacKenzie #8, 9 or Fisher F-11 or F-31

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Only portages and camps described in the guide are marked on this map, while all are on supplied trail maps.

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Only portages and camps described in the guide are marked on this map, while all are on supplied trail maps.

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Camp Site Information

Favorites

5- Lake Insula – UTM 629556E 5309073N

"Phil's Beach" is a beach camp, north, on the eastern shore . It is the one nearest the letters “19” on the Fischer map. This site is very popular since it is one of the rare beach camps, so try to get in early.

6- Lake Insula – UTM 628579E 5307653N

"Bernie's Hilton" is an awesome camp on an island straight east of the letters “25” on the Fischer map. It is huge and sits nicely above the lake. There is a great star gazing rock down near the water and a great jumping rock on the south side of the island.

Good Alternative

1- Snowbank Lake – UTM 620420E 5316998N

Descent camp in a protected cove, it is a long narrow site. Tent spots are good. Bugs may be an issue in June.

2- Disappointment Lake – UTM 622855E 5316288N

The north island camp is pretty good. It has a great bear hanging tree limb and some rocks to sit out on for eating or star gazing.

3- Abinodji Lake – UTM 623713E 5319137N

The only camp site on this lake is not used much. The kitchen is good, but tent sites are limited due to the steepness of the terrain and tree roots. Camp site is above the lake.

7- Lake Four – UTM 619120E 5306335N

On large northern peninsula is a very nice camp, sits above the lake.

Not Recommended

4- Ensign Lake – UTM 624033E 5321480N

The camp site on the south shore due east of the words Lake on the Fischer map is buggy and weedy. Not recommended.

Lake One and Two camps – tend to fill up quickly.

Refer to trail map for corresponding numbered campsites.

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Refer to trail map for corresponding hazards.

Map Legend

Campsites (Not all sites are recommended.)

Kitchen area

Reported Water Source (River, Pond, Creek, Spring)

Portages

Point of Interest

Hazards

Fishing

Main Route

--- Alternate Routes

Hazards

On water, the hazards are rapids, waterfalls, and drowning. On land, falls are a risk on rough portages with steep slopes, tree roots, or stone slabs (sometimes on an angle). There are also some cliffs. Fires and subsequent smoke can be hazards on land and water.

Animals Black bears

Wolves

Moose and other large mammals

Poisonous Plants

Poison Ivy is present, but uncommon.

Weather Hazards

Thunderstorms

Hypothermia

90 degree weather (which is very rare, but possible)

Lightening Exposures

Lightening strikes occur on the water and on land.

No Water Between

Make sure you have plenty of water on long port-ages.

High Waves High Waves are a problem, especially on large lakes and in the afternoon. Snowbank Lake can be a prob-lem.

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Points of Interest

Hike to Kekekabic Lookout Tower. (View unknown.)

The cascading waterfall at the east end of Cattyman Lake.

Fishing

Ima Lake- Shallow channel loaded with pike & walleye at Jordan Portage. Lake trout around first large island.

Hudson & 4- Walleye and Smallmouth Bass below rapids, leeches

Lake Three- East side, Walleye in shallows and edge of channel.

Ensign- Small mouth in channel west of Boot portage.

Knife- Deep dropoff by bay: bass in shallows, pike/walleye deep

Area History

The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) was es-tablished in 1978 by Congress through BWCA Wilderness Act. This act restricted logging, mining, and most motorized access to this 1,000,000+ acre area in northern Minnesota. Located in the Superior National Forest, the BWCAW has more than 1500 miles of canoe routes and 2000+ camp sites.

Local Environment

BWCAW has the largest virgin forests east of the Rocky Mountains, and some of the oldest exposed rock in the world (up to 2.7 billion years old). Between 2.6 and 1.6 billion years ago, the ocean en-croached into this area, creating inland seas that deposited sedi-mentary rocks including: quartzite, shale, sandstone, flint, and the iron ore that was later mined by settlers. Also during this time, peri-ods of mountain building, intruded granite magma into the existing sedimentary rocks, creating regions of softer and harder bedrock, which is the solid rock underlying the soil.

Between 2 million and 10,000 years ago, glaciers of the Ice Age, gouged out the softer rock, creating the lakes and ridges of the Boundary Waters. The ice scoured rock ledges, leaving behind par-allel grooves called striations. When the glaciers melted, a scatter-ing of rocks called glacial debris, ranging from small pebbles to large boulders, were left stranded. The glacial debris completely covered the state, except the exposed bedrock of the border lakes.

Refer to trail map for corresponding locations.

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Challenge Day

Challenge day is when the teens face and overcome a significant challenge. This challenge may be the symbol of accomplishment for the trip. The challenge can be a long portage or an unexpected event. Talk up the challenge, strategize, motivate, overcome, and celebrate. Challenge day should be during the later part of the trip, once the group is feeling successful and ready to push themselves. Potential Portages for Challenge Day* With a counter clockwise loop, you can do the Ensign-Boot Portage or the two Vera Lake portages on Day 6. The Snowbank-Disappointment Portage could be a challenge for less strong groups doing an out-and-back. Alternate Challenge Days 1. The group might face a big storm or strong headwinds. 2. An injury can motive a group to step it up for the team. 3. The biggest challenge can be a long paddle to find a campsite. 4. A really long padding day due to falling behind (weather reasons or otherwise) can also be the group’s biggest challenge.

Portages

Snowbank-Disappointment* (140 rods)- Long, but easy, not steep Haven-Abinodji Portage (80 rods) - Steep, rocky, and difficult. The Abinodji Lake camp site may not be available. Boot-Ensign Portage* (220 rods)- Long; flat in the middle with nice views, a pond about 1/3 the way through becomes a “false” end. Knife-Vera Portage* (200 rods)- Difficult, steep: steep stone slab Vera-Ensign Portage* (180 rods)- Not easy: rocky with a section where the stone slabs tip left or right Ima-Hachet Portage (50 rods)- Rocky, narrow, moderate difficulty. Ima-side cramped, feet wet. Hachet-side, portage is hard to find. Short Hachet Lake Portages- Rocky, tree roots. When water is not swift, it is easier to walk canoes thru creek and rapids. Insula-Kiana Portage (180 rods)- Moderately difficult terrain. Lake 1 and 2 Portages- Overcrowded, especially on weekends. Avoid mixing gear with others'. Wait for others to finish portage.

Refer to trail map for corresponding locations.

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Recommendations

Day 1

WW

Chicago groups ensure early departure so that your group can arrive in time to make dinner.

Make dinner at base-camp.

Issue sleeping bags, liners, and headlights.

Complete pre-trip surveys.

Day 2

WW

Repackage food

Issue clothing and dinnerware

Set-up tents for the trip before you package them

Check out backcountry gear using checklist.

Inspect all gear.

Team-building activities

Practice canoe strokes, portages & t-rescue: Armstrong Lake

Start packing the Duluth Packs.

Get permit from Kathy

Watch the LNT video from the Forest Service

Load canoes onto canoe trailer

Day 3

IN THE

FIELD

Depart for Snowbank Trailhead early as camp sites can fill up early (at Disappointment Lake).

Day 4

Teens may start complaining about the difficulty of the journey. Be proactive with a discussion.

Day 5

This is the middle day of the wilderness journey. Teens should hopefully turn the corner and start feeling good about the journey sometime today.

Day 6

Last full day in the wilderness.

If the teens are ready, put them in charge.

Day 7

WW

Try to be at takeout by 1130.

Don’t forget lunch!

Clean Gear

Laundry

Pick up food for Day 8

Celebration Dinner

Awards are issued to the teens and adults.

Evaluations and surveys (or on drive, Day8.)

Day 8

HOME

Be prepared for the group to leave early. Finish all tasks the evening before, on Day 7.

Don’t forget to thank Kathy and the WW staff.

Make arrangement to pay for gas and meals on the way home. Perhaps send grocery food.

Report to the Regional Program Manager when the group safely returns to the agency.

Daily Outline

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Day 1

Welcome

Introductions & Ice Breaker

Expectations

Policies

7-Day Overview

Day 2

Trust Activity

Policies Review

Daily Activities

Quote of the Day

Reflection Roundtable

Journaling

Lessons

Canoe Strokes

Portaging

T-Rescues

Lost & Alone

Camp Craft 101

LNT

Group Travel

Food Waste Disposal

Campsite Selection

Health & Hygiene 201

Cat-Holes

Dry Bag Packing

Food Protection

Water Treatment

Lightning Safety

Outcomes

Set expectations, roles & responsibilities.

Establish structure & daily routine.

Build Trust.

Establish common understanding of trip purpose.

Reflect on physical and emotional stresses.

Understand one is capable of overcoming & learning from chal-lenges.

Work as a team to overcome challenges.

Support and encourage each other to overcome challenges.

Peak hike: overcome challenges, reflect, and learn from experi-ences.

Celebrate achievement.

Create Meaning: How did we overcome challenges?

Create Meaning: What are our strengths and weaknesses?

Create Meaning: How do we transfer what we have learned home?

Setting individual goals for the future.

Record learning and achievement in something tactile that teens can take home with them as a reminder of their experience.

Curriculum Checklist

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Team Leader Comments

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This is an area for free form comments for future Team Leaders.

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Team Leader Feedback Form

Recommended points of interest or recreational locations?

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Trail Hazards? ________________________________________

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Animal life? ___________________________________________

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Cell Phone Coverage? _________________________________

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Suggested Flora/ Fauna Guidebooks? ______________________

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Describe any new camp sites. Do you have any additional infor-mation regarding listed camp sites? _____________________________________________________

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Stores or gas stations to recommend (near base camp or trail)?

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Recommended rest areas (driving) or base camp gathering spots?

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Emergency Information

Location Base Camp Backcountry (On-Trail)

Hospital

Ely-Bloomenson Commu-nity Hospital 328 W Conan St, Ely, MN 218.365.3271

Ely-Bloomenson Commu-nity Hospital 328 W Conan St, Ely, MN 218.365.3271

911 Services? Yes Limited

Local Contact Lake County Sheriff 218.749.6010

Kawishiwi Ranger District 118 S 4th Ave Ely, MN 55731 218.365.7600

Cell Phone Coverage?

Spotty Limited

BCM Phone Numbers

Emergency Phone Number 800.208.2483

If an emergency arises on trip that needs immediate assistance, call the emergency number first to reach a BCM staff member. If you do not receive a return call within 20 minutes, contact BCM staff directly. Re-gional BCM office numbers are listed below. Cell phone numbers and office extensions are on the inside cover of the Field Handbook.

Denver Office 303.271.9200

Chicago Office 847.397.7304

Pacific NW Office 310.871.7557 (cell)

Urban Family Gateway San Francisco Office

510.895.8607

Emergency Exit: Canoers can exit at Snowbank Lake, Moose Lake or Lake One. Cell Phone Coverage: Verizon provides the best service. In the back-country, call 218.749.6010 for Lake County Sheriff Emergency.