lukeludwig

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Border Route Trail and SHT, May 2006

I hiked from Grand Marais, MN on the Superior Hiking Trail north to the end of the trail where it converges with the Border Route Trail and took this northwest into the BWCA for a total of 110 miles in 6 and a half a days. Becca accompanied me the first two days up until Judge C.R. Magney State Park. This was my first trip in which I used lightweight breathable shoes, trekking poles, and a simple tarp for shelter. At the start of the trip my pack weighed 18 pounds, half of which was food and fuel, and by the end my pack was down to 12 pounds.
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Day 2: The Superior Hiking Trail has numerous views of the lake.
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Day 2: The Superior Hiking Trail has numerous views of the lake.

  • Day 1: Weather was overcast with a bit of rain and the trail was very wet from previous showers. We took a quick break above Devils River.
  • Day 1: Kimball Creek, one of over a dozen creeks we crossed in two days as they flow down to Lake Superior.
  • Day 1: On a bridge over a creek. The first half of May is an ideal time to head outdoors in northeastern Minnesota due to lack of bugs.
  • Day 1: Becca looking out over the Devil's River canyon.
  • Day 1: Spring green trail heading through a stand of birch, Becca's favorite tree.
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  • Day 2: The Superior Hiking Trail has numerous views of the lake.
  • Day 2: Just as we approached this creek a whitewater kayaker put in.
  • Day 2: Cruising through some Aspen.
  • Day 2: This is the only section of the 200+ mile Superior Hiking Trail directly on the lake.
  • Day 3: I take off on my own at Judge CR Magney State Park. 28 more miles on the SHT followed by 57 on the Border Route trail to go.
  • Day 3: Devil's Kettle in Judge CR Magney State Park where half the water of the Brule River disappears underground.
  • Day 3: The first day on my own starting at 11 am, I did 14 miles on the SHT, stopping at 7 pm next to a beaver-infested pond as my water source. I setup my 6x8 Oware Cat Tarp on the driest flattest ground I could find, right next to a big pile of moose poop.
  • Day 4: The official end of the Superior Hiking Trail. It was a stormy day in which I did my first ever 20 mile day.
  • Day 4: Now on the Border Route Trail, I have only a few more miles yet to go. I took a brief break to dry out my feet and patch up a blister on my heel with moleskin. Shortly afterwards I saw two moose cross the trail.
  • Day 5: The early morning glow. The previous night I had to move the picnic table at this campsite to find dry ground to sleep on. The grassy area had two inches of water.
  • Day 5 was gorgeous, with only a few thunderstorms, one of which brought pea-sized hail for about fifteen minutes. I talked with an interesting solo backpacker on the trail for a half hour about lightweight backpacking.
  • Day 5: After the sunset on Pine Lake. This day was a relaxing 15 miler ending at this excellent site, now officially in the BWCA. I had the only fire of the trip this night.
  • Day 6: Cliffs overlooking West Pike Lake.
  • Day 6: The Border Route trail is minimally maintained (if at all?). I frequently had to decide whether to go over, under, or around downed trees.
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