Beaver dam floods the Kek near Howard Lake
August 4, 2010—The Forest Service notified us that a beaver dam has flooded the Kekekabic Trail near the Howard Lake campsite. They are actively looking for a possible reroute in the area, as it would be futile to try to fight the beavers - they would rebuild faster than anyone could dismantle their dam!
Sulfide Mining Documentary
The Friends of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness have posted a 25-minute documentary regarding sulfide mining, online at www.preciouswaters.org. The website also lists connections for taking action.
Kekekabic Trail in the news again
Read this nice story in the StarTribune
See Spring 2009 Clearing Trip Photos
Click here to see photos.
The 9-pound Hike
Check out the story on Ron Johnson, owner of our host Midwest Mountaineering store, about his ultra-light hiking on the Pacific Coast Trail. Read the Star Tribune article.
The University of Minnesota is doing a study on the Moose population and has a site for reporting moose sightings. Read more>>
Trail Updates/Cautions
Summer 2009
Pow Wow Trail crossing at Diana upgraded
The old bridge was long gone, and the single log crossing left a lot to be desired, so a crew led by Derrick Passe, with advance assistance by Tom Kaffine of the Forest Service, created a new, 4-log bridge to cross the stream near Lake Diana along the southern portion of the Pow Wow Trail. The new crossing was raised up and further away from the nearby beaver dam in hope that it should survive high waters. Check it out!
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.
Kek hike report - July 22 to July 25
Bob Kohlmeier of Duluth sends us this report:
Our Kek trail hike took 4 days to complete traveling from the Gunflint trailhead to Snowbank lake.
The conditions of the trail on the east end through to Agamok falls were mostly burned out and generally waist high brush was growing in. This portion of the trail was well marked with blue surveyors tape or cairns and was easy to follow. Wood ticks were abundant and countless here.
After crossing Agamok bridge, the burned area was now behind us. The trail was difficult to locate immediately as we left the Agamok bridge, but once we did we had little trouble following it. However, the trail was heavily grown in with Alder and ferns obscuring the foot path. This went on and on until reaching the spur trail that leads to the Kekakabic lake ranger cabin. All of a sudden, from this point on until Parent lake much of the trail had been recently cleared and very easy to follow. Wood ticks here were few but all types of flying insects were thick and continuously pesky.
From Parent lake to Snowbank lake the trail was easy to follow but spur trails and/or loop trails could have been better marked to avoid confusion, which we experienced when we took a wrong turn at the Benzie lake loop trail where we were temporarily lost. We hadn't noticed the old broken down wooden post at the eastern loop head.
Finally, after crossing the BWCAW border near Snowbank lake, we entered a logged out clear cut area where the trail was difficult to follow. A feeble but thankful attempt was made by someone with pink tape to show the zigzag trail through this appalling mess and we had to backtrack several times to stay on course. Why these loggers couldn't have finished the job with a single bull dozed path through the mess is beyond us. A few fence posts, too, would have greatly helped.
We know this trail has little usage but in all of it's difficulties and challenges, we feel it is a gem. We also feel that the $76 fee was worth the satisfying experience we all shared. But we would like to see a little more effort into putting up just a few steel signs especially at spur trail heads. Simply put, this trail deserves more of the kind of attention that was obviously put into the recent clearing done near the Kek lake ranger cabin. We feel the Kek trail is the most rewarding trail we have ever hiked. We think it should be maintained and promoted.
Thank you,
Bob Kohlmeier
Duluth
