andymcd

This is the second post about people I met on the trail. After a day on a section of trail that combined flat muddy sections with some rugged hilly terrain, I camped at Horseshoe Ridge. There was a tent set up there when I arrived. After I set up, Jon from Shakopee arrived from his day hike. He had hiked in the day before and was taking the opportunity to cover some miles without a heavy pack. We had dinner around the fire pit and I had gathered some wood for an evening fire. We sat around the cowboy tv and shared our outdoor travel stories. Jon had led a number of trips during his recent college years and had gained some valuable experience. He was currently working at a hospital and applying to med schools. ... read more

10/10/15 Day 22 Hiking Day 16 The sound of a train horn woke me up early but I went back to sleep until 7:15am. It felt good to sleep in and I didn’t have to be on the trail early because I only had about five miles to get to Hwy 2 and the Reeves Road parking lot. It was an easy walk even though I had to traverse a wet snowmobile trail, which got my boots damp again. I met Maureen just before noon – it was good to see her again. She brought plenty of supplies and a cold beer, which didn’t last long. She also brought lunch and that along with the snack and beer I had already consumed made for a tired sleepy hike in the afternoon. With only 52 miles to ... read more

9/29/15 Day 11 Hiking Day 7 I was up before sun rise at Lake Agnes on a chilly, clear, calm morning. Watched the sun rise and the full moon was still in the western sky. A great start to the day. Packed up and said good bye to camp mates and hit the trail around 8:30am. Signed the trail log at Lake Agnes overlook and read others entries. Enjoyed the great views of the almost peak fall colors. Had a snack at West Poplar River camp and just after I got back on the trail I saw a male grouse trying to impress a couple of female grouse. Passed by Lutsen ski area access road and Poplar River bridge. Climbed huge hill – Moose Mountain – and had lunch on a flat rock on top in ... read more

9/22/15 Day 4 Hiking Day 4 Woke up at Kimball Creek camp to another beautiful day. It was warm overnight and I slept until 7am. I’m starting to get in to a packing routine, which consists of packing clothes and sleeping stuff first thing when I get up. I then pack up the tent and load everything in the pack except food and cookware which go in last. After a breakfast of oatmeal and tea, the food is packed and its time to hit the trail. All this usually takes about 60 – 90 minutes. This stretch of SHT is really nice without the mud from yesterday. Great vistas of Lake Superior throughout a string of grassy meadows. Called Maureen from one of the meadows – it is good to hear her voice. I wish she ... read more

Its finally over! I made it home today at 2:30pm after hiking the last 16 miles. It was really nice to be able to walk home and not have to rely on a ride or drive myself. It was strange to walk with my pack on the familiar trails near my house. Usually I am hiking without a pack, biking or trail running on those trails. My thoughts as I was finishing the final miles was that the full hike was much harder than I thought it would be. When planning this trip, I thought I would be able to cover more miles in a day or not feel as sore or tired as I did at the end of each day. But I think that is the reality of many outdoor trips we plan. Overall, ... read more