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2009 Spring Trips
Now Forming

SIGN UP NOW

Most of our trip leaders immediately filled their trips with individuals from prior trips and personal contacts, leaving us with two open trips.

May 22–25 (Drive up May 21) NW section of the Pow Wow Trail, base camp on Horseshoe. Contact Mark Stange 612-508-6695.

May 29–June 2 (Drive up May 28) Mid-western section of the Kek, starting some distance east of Disappointment, TBD based on another group's finish. Contact Jason Johnson 651-645-7505.

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Northern Exposure - Hiking the North Country Trail - NYTimes.com

Read the article

(http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/24/travel/escapes/24northern.html)

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North Country Trail Association Annual Conference
July 30 - August 2, 2009
Valley City, ND

Outdoor enthusiasts are invited to explore the North Country Trail in North Dakota during the 2009 Annual North Country Trail Conference, July 30 - August 2, 2009, in Valley City, ND.

A full slate of outdoor activities includes hiking, canoeing the Sheyenne River, workshops, tours, and nightly entertainment. The conference will provide learning opportunities, networking, and fun-filled events for the whole family.

For more information visit www.northcountrytrail.org/srv or email srv@northcountrytrail.org.

The Kekekabic Trail is part of the North Country Trail.

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The Kekekabic Trail has been in the news a lot lately – front page of the Metro section of the StarTribune and even on talk radio after that article. Snow may be on the ground, but May will be here before we know it and we need to start planning our annual trail-clearing trips. We need more trip leaders and co-leaders to keep these trails passable.

Please email me at mark.stange@uhc.com if you can lead or help lead a trip this May. Let me know your preferences – both dates and trail segments you would prefer.

The Forest Service really appreciates our help and is eager to support us. Well-maintained trails help preserve the wilderness by focusing footfalls and camping – to say nothing of preventing lost hikers and the impact of search parties.

“The trails need you!”

Mark Stange. President
Kekekabic Trail

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Trail Updates/Cautions
(September 2008)

Restrictions Lifted in Blowdown Area of BWCAW

As of noon, Wednesday, September 3, 2008, the decision is to lift current restrictions and to allow the use of campfires, charcoal, and wood-burning camp stoves in the blowdown area in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). At the same time the Border Route Trail system and the Kekekabic Trail will re-open for public use. A combination of recent precipitation, cooler temperatures, and shorter days has reduced the potential for human-caused fires. The outlook is for a continuing trend with chances of rain every few days now for the next 7-10 days. Visitors are urged to use extra care with campfires, and as always, they are encouraged to use gas or propane cook stoves to reduce impacts to the Wilderness.

Pow Wow Trail at Diane update

Bridge replacement where the Pow Wow Trail crosses the creek near Diane in the SE section of the trail is now planned for next year. With the dry summer months wading might be an option to the existing one-log bridge. (See photo and note below)

The main concern for hikers is likely to be where the old bridge was near Lake Diane (SE section of the trail). That bridge is now totally gone (only a few metal spikes remain) and the log crossing is now just a single log. One can cross using a long pole for balance, but many might consider it impassable with a full backpack. We are working with the Forest Service to see about constructing some sort of bridge ASAP. (See photo)

The northwest section, from the campsite at Path around to the Wilder Lakes has been cleared every year, but not this year, as the lakes were still ice-covered when our trail-clearing crew came up, so they focused on the trailhead to the Wilders.

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