Trip Report Display

Linking people with nature by footpath along Lake Superior's North Shore.

Title: From Canada (almost) to Finland
Date: May 18, 2007
Author: Rita and Jon
Party Size: 2
Type: Backpacking
Report:
After hiking the southernmost 40 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail the previous year, our plan was to backpack the rest of it, going north to south, ending at Split Rock State Park. Since Rita is turning 50 this summer, she wanted to have a memorable goal to mark her 'over the hill' year. Jon didn't want Rita to do the trail by herself, so he figured it would be a good thing to do together. A drought had plagued the northern Minnesota region for several months, and our hikes between Silver Creek and Split Rock River the previous fall brought us face to face with dry creek beds, trees prematurely colored from thirst and lots of dead or dying forest floor foliage. Several days before our departure on May 18 firefighters were battling an extensive fire along the Gunflint Trail 40 miles to the west of our starting point. Campfire's were banned from the whole region. We decided to bring larger water containers just in case only the larger rivers and creeks had water. People all over the area were praying for rain.On the day we hit the trail their prayers were answered. Day 1 began with rain, as did many of the other 15 days of mostly sleet, snow, rain, fog and cold we spent on the trail. Through it all, along with a couple of very pleasant days, we hiked 137 miles and made it as far as the Finland Rec Center trailhead before opting to dry out and refine our itinerary for the remaining 40 miles. We finished it off September 7-11. The weather those days was much better, though beginning with a little deja vu of long sought-after rain following several weeks of drought.
Crosby-Manitou State Park to Oberg Mt   September 16-20, 2008
Hwy 1 to Mount Trudy   July 9, 2008
Judge Magney to Highway 1   June 10-20, 2008
Cove Point Loop   November 24, 2007
Castle Danger thru Split Rock River Loop   September 25-27, 2007
Split Rock River to Hwy 1   September 21-23, 2007
Gooseberry Falls to Beaver River   August 2-5, 2007
Through-Hike 2007   Summer 2007
From Canada (almost) to Finland   May 18, 2007
Wolf Rock to Mike's Rock   December 6, 2006
Fall Colors and Cool Temps at Judge Magney   September 23-24, 2006
Oberg Mountain to Caribou Trail   July 28-29, 2006
Wednesday Guided Hike   July 12, 2006
Caribou Trail to Lutsen   June 17,2006
County Road 6 to Silver Bay   May 3-6, 2006
Jackson Lake Road to Otter Lake Road   July 3, 2005
Backpack Trip Near End of Trail   May 12-14
Hiking the First Section on the SHT   May 4, 2005
End to En d Thru Hiking   May 01, 2005
Silver Bay to Mount Trudee   Nover 26-27, 2004
Magney to Border Route Trail   June 15-17, 2004
Caribou Trail to Cascade River State Park   May 31, 2004
Cook Co 1 to Temperance River Wayside   May 29, 2004
Gooseberry to Castle Danger   May 24, 2004
Cascade Loop   October 13, 2003
Lutsen to Oberg Mtn   October 12, 2003
Beaver Bay to Castle Danger   August 29-31, 2003
August Day Hikes   Aug. 21 and 22, 2003
Cook County 58 to Magney State Park   July 8-9, 2003
CASTLE DANGER TO GOOSEBERRY FALLS   June 27-29, 2003
Two Harbors to Gooseberry   June 19 - 21, 2003
Caribou River to County Road 6   June 13-15, 2003
Arrowhead Rd.-Caribou Pond campsite   June 14-15th 2003
SHTA August Backpack Trip   August 8-10, 2002
Part I - Planning a thru hike   Late Aug / Early Sep 2002
Crosby Manitou to Horseshoe Ridge and back   June 23-26, 2002
Caribou to Temperance and on to Carlton   June 3-7, 2002
Cascade to Oberg   June 1-4, 2002
Tettegouche to Split Rock Wayside   May 31 - June 3, 2002
Silver Bay to Crosby-Manitou   April 23-26, 2002
February Hike   Feb.7, 2002
Winter Hike - Beaver Bay to Split Rock   January 7th 2002
Late Fall Backpack at Crosby Manitou   November 23 - 25, 2001
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