New Trip Report posted by SeanThomas

Trip Name: Sioux-Hustler Trail, Backpacking.

Entry Point: 9

Click Here to View Trip Report

I enjoyed your report. The Sioux-Hustler Trail has been on my list for quite a while. One of these days . . .

Great report and details! I thru-hiked the BRT in May. This trail is on my wish list too. Gorgeous photo.

Glad you liked it. It will be worth the wait when it's your time!

Sounds like you enjoyed the trail - in record time none the less. Most will take 3-4 days to do it. It took me 3 some 20 years ago, but I am not a distance runner :)
I did make the same mistake at the Cascades and camped at Pageant. The spur trails that you mention are all short, with exception to Agawato, if one wanted to use a latrine, opposed to 'over a log'.

It was a whirlwind trip! Anybody done this loop in the summer? Wondering how the bugs would affect the experience? It was a real luxury not seeing a single fly or mosquito in late October.

Excellent trip report with some very helpful information for trip planning. Thanks for sharing.

Very nice report. I hope to do this trail next year. Hopefully the FS keeps up clearing the other trails in the BWCA

Thanks.
Sounds like the blowdown affected a huge swath of the park. Before speaking with the ranger, I was not aware that the FS was only allowed to use chainsaws to clear trails during emergency evacuation situations like the one in July. The cleanup task is monumental so it may be awhile before Snowbank is cleared.

It also sounds like the majority of the hiking specific trails are maintained more by volunteer groups like the Kek Club. Trail clearing efforts with hand tools take days and days for each mile so anyone able to volunteer is encouraged to join the clean up effort.

quote SeanThomas: "Thanks.
Sounds like the blowdown affected a huge swath of the park. Before speaking with the ranger, I was not aware that the FS was only allowed to use chainsaws to clear trails during emergency evacuation situations like the one in July. The cleanup task is monumental so it may be awhile before Snowbank is cleared.


It also sounds like the majority of the hiking specific trails are maintained more by volunteer groups like the Kek Club. Trail clearing efforts with hand tools take days and days for each mile so anyone able to volunteer is encouraged to join the clean up effort. "

True. I was doing trail clearing before I started portage clearing and what I experienced was that one person could clear a half mile of trail per day, assuming that the trail condition was a 5 out of 10. Another thing that helps keep trails open is usage. I always encourage people to just use the trails, please.
Also, it doesn't hurt to report back to the FS about which sections of the trail need the most work. The volunteer groups will be more effective when they know which area to paddle into for the sake of clearing the worse stretches of trail.