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BRT Maintenance Update
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Ed Solstad
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May 26, 2009 11:14 PDT
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Here is an update on the status of the Border Route Trail from McFarland
Lake to the Swamp River connection with the Superior Hiking Trail:
McFarland Lake to Tilbury Trail: Deadfall removal - May, 2009; Brushing
- Sept, 2008.
Tilbury Tr to Stump River Bridge: Deadfall removal - May, 2009; Brushing
- May, 2008.
Stump River Bridge to Otter Lake Junction: Deadfall removal - May, 2009;
Brushing - Sept, 2007.
Otter Lake Access Tr: Deadfall removal - May, 2009; Brushing - Sept, 2008.
Otter Lake Junction to Swamp River Trailhead: Deadfall removal - July;
2008; Brushing - Sept, 2007.
Notes: As of 5/26/09, the entire Pigeon River Cliffs Section was in
relatively good hiking condition with the following item to be aware of:
When traveling westbound from the Portage Brook picnic table, a hiker
reported that the trail disappeared into a swamp. It actually follows
the top of an old beaver dam to your left. Obviously it is in need of
flagging and/or signage and alder removal. Persevere and you'll come to
the bridge and be able to continue on your way with minimal difficulty.
On our next maintenance trip scheduled for the weekend of July 25th and
26th, we'll take care of this problem plus do deadfall removal and
brushing from the Stump River Bridge trough to the Otter Lake Road
trailhead. We will also take measurements with the idea of possibly
extending the Portage Brook bridge across to the high ground at the
campsite.
The BRT from the Gunflint Trail trailhead across from the Kek through to
the Crab Lake Trail just inside the BWCAW is in good hiking condition
with the exception of possible navigational difficulties through the Ham
Lake Fire burn area from Magnetic Rock to Warrens Rd. The next
maintenance trip to the Gunflint Section is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend.
I'll forward information on the BWCAW sections as soon as I get reports
back from the leaders of the spring maintenance trips.
If any of you have recently hiked the trail, we'd greatly appreciate
your feedback, especially for those sections in the BWCAW.
FYI: Two DNR trucks carrying a privy and other materials drove past our
Otter Lake campsite at 7:10 AM on Memorial Day so they are presumably
now working on replacing the washed out culvert on the Otter Lake Rd.
Thanks much,
Ed Solstad
Mechanized Trail Maintenance Coordinator
Border Route Trail Association
(612) 822-0569
esol-@pressenter.com
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