Upper Midwest Blue Blazes Academy: a combined Crew Leadership & Trail Skills training for volunteers in MN & WI being hosted by the Brule-St. Croix Chapter, Border Route Trail Association, and Superior Hiking Trail Association.
Dates: Thursday, September 17th – Sunday, September 20th, 2026 with full days of training being held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Location: we’ll be meeting at the Solon Springs Community Center in Solon Springs, WI.
Free camping will be available in the nearby area.
Topics to be covered & instructors (subject to change):
* Rockwork with Willie Bittner of Great Lakes Trailbuilders
* Crew leadership with Kim Frederick of Chinook Associates, LLC
* Trail Analysis with Tim Malzhan of Trail Eyes, LLC
* Rigging with Tamer Ibrahim and Barbara Budd of the Superior Hiking Trail Association
* Introduction to Chainsaw use (a hands-on practice session)
* Crosscut saw use with Dan Dueweke of the J45 Chapter NCTA
* Brushing with Matthew Davis, NCTA
* Drainage with Mel Baughman, CHE Chapter NCTA & Jerome Lemke, Superior Hiking Trail Association
* Using mechanized / motorized maintenance equipment with Gary Carlson, Border Route Trail Association
* Wilderness Trail Maintenance
* Introduction to Trail Construction and Trail Maintenance
* Trailwork for Women – Barbara Budd & Stephanie Hoff, Superior Hiking Trail Association
* Wetland Structures – Boardwalk & Puncheon – Brad Stewart, WI Rovers NCTA
Stay tuned for more details and look for registration information in early July!
You are invited to extend your training experience and use what you learned by joining the Wisconsin Roving Trail Crew (aka “the Rovers”) the week of September 21-25 as they work on building a new North Country Trail segment with the Brule-St. Croix Chapter. The worksite is only 10 miles south of Superior and the crew will camp at the Manitou Valley Campground (map) and will be building new trail from County Road W heading east (map). Meals, tools, and free group camping are provided. For more info, contact Rovers crew leader Brad Stewart at rovers@northcountrytrail.
