Adventurelaus

I spent eight days hiking the northern most 120 miles of the Superior Hiking Trail.  My car was parked at the Lake County Road trailhead as I was initially planning to hike a longer distance (see  Hey wasn't that supposed to be a thru-hike? ).  I took Harriet's shuttle up to the Otter Lake Road trailhead.  She gave the scenic route and took me to top of Palisade Head and a tour through Grand Marais on the way there. Palisade Head Of course I had to climb the 270 degree overlook before heading south on the SHT.  The views from the overlook are amazing and it's a worthy terminus.  Of course at that time it's my first overlook from which I did see the vast expanses of the trees.  It might have been more boring if you'd hiked already from Duluth up to here. End of the Superior Trail Canada-US Border Highest Elevation The first day already shared with me the highest point of the SHT hiking trail as well as blisters on the heels of ...

Hey, wasn't that supposed to be a thru-hike? Yes, this was always supposed to be my first thru-hike.  Having hiked some of the Appalachian Trail and followed some YouTube channel of someone's thru-hike I was dreaming of the same.  Of course I knew I wouldn't be able to thru-hike the AT.  For that I'm to much bound to my current life.  No way I could leave my family for the better part of the year.  And who knows in what condition I'll be once the kids have graduated and don't require my support. When I came across the Superior Hiking Trail I realized that there are shorter thru-hike options.  And this one being somewhat close and short would be the excellent opportunity.  I warmed up my wife to the idea of being away for three weeks to do the hike over about a year, having September 2016 in mind from the start. So why stopping so early? The hike was though from the beginning.  On the first day I got blisters on both of my heels...

Somehow I kind of got stuck watching Red Beard's through hike of the Appalachian Trail on YouTube in 2014. An AT through hike would be an awesome thing. I have hiked the AT approach trail to the top of Springer Mountain , the most of the Standing Indian Loop hike was on the AT, and a section hike from Winding Stair Gap to NOC in North Carolina.  These hikes were awesome but you wonder if you ever could complete a through hike. Of course with kids in school, a job, a wife, and otherwise a life that doesn't support a year long break a through hike isn't feasible.  At least not at this stage in my life.  What a bummer! Until last year that is,  when I learned about the Superior Hiking Trail.  It's much shorter than the AT but seems to be a nice hike and with 255 to 300 miles it's offers the challenge of a through hike. Something that I could take vacation from and reluctant approval from my spouse.  So I've been dreaming of that thru-hike ever since and ma...

Another short adventure with a co-worker in conjunction with a work trip. This time we picked a roughly 20 mile hike to Springer Mountain to spend a night up there. We were lucky to get flight that arrived 9:30am at the Atlanta airport which gave us plenty of time to do the hike on the same day. Steps by the Amcalola Falls The hike starts from the Amicalola Falls State Park where we paid $5 to enter and park overnight. For the overnight parking and hike we had to register at the visitor center. At first the lady there thought we would be going to the Hike Inn and suggested for us to park at the upper parking lot. Once she figured out that we were "section hikers" she corrected herself and told us to park right across the visitor center. With that we got to hike up the 600+ steps by the beautiful falls which turned out to be the most strenuous section of the whole hike. I guess this is a privilege that the Hike Inn guests don't get to enjoy. Hike Inn & Appal...

Happy to share this trip. Leaving the kids with the grandparents we get to hike several days in  the Nantahala National Forrest.  Our route is a 30 mile loop with a significant amount on the Appalachian trail.  We arrived late afternoon at the Standing Indian Campground (backcountry trail head to be exact).  My wife got to experience the drill of picking up the rental car from the airport and swinging by REI to get the camping fuel for the hike.  For some strange reason though we ended up spending more time and money there end ended up with a few gear enhancement including trekking poles for me. Interactive route map. Packed and ready for the hike. Initially our plan was to hike to the newly constructed Long Branch shelter but it was getting late and we found a pretty meadow on the Long Branch creek that was perfect for camping.  After we got the tent setup a strong rain passed over us.  So we were lucky to duck into the tent and stay...