WTIP Outdoor News Podcast

A 2022 project to replace the Stairway Portage wooden staircase in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has won national recognition.

Superior National Forest officials announced on Tuesday, Jan. 24, that the Stairway Portage Replacement project in the BWCA was awarded the 2023 National Wilderness Award for best use of ‘traditional skills and minimal tool leadership.’
The Stairway Portage Replacement project involved replacing the two sets of wooden staircases between Duncan Lake and Rose Lake in the BWCA with stone steps, or ‘rock check dams.’ The project also involved replacing a smaller stairway portage between Flyer and Gotter Lake west of Round Lake in the BWCA.

In this week's episode, Outdoor News Podcast host Kalli Hawkins speaks with project manager Cathy Quinn to learn more about the significance of the national award.

Show Notes

A 2022 project to replace the Stairway Portage wooden staircase in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness has won national recognition. Superior National Forest officials announced on Tuesday, Jan. 24, that the Stairway Portage Replacement project in the BWCA was awarded the 2023 National Wilderness Award for best use of ‘traditional skills and minimal tool leadership.’ The Stairway Portage Replacement project involved replacing the two sets of wooden staircases between Duncan Lake and Rose Lake in the BWCA with stone steps, or ‘rock check dams.’ The project also involved replacing a smaller stairway portage between Flyer and Gotter Lake west of Round Lake in the BWCA. In this week's episode, Outdoor News Podcast host Kalli Hawkins speaks with project manager Cathy Quinn to learn more about the significance of the national award.

What is WTIP Outdoor News Podcast?

WTIP is the community radio station serving Minnesota's North Shore. We share a variety of outdoor news content from the region, including Lake Superior, Isle Royale and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. From fishing and hunting to environmental issues, this locally-produced podcast covers important outdoor news relevant to our broad community of listeners.