Wandering Where We’ll Be

Monday, July 7 – Day 8

Broke camp and got going at about normal time. Stopped at Alfred’s Pond for water and lunch – very peaceful and idyllic setting. Stopped on bluff among birch trees after Crystal Creek to rest and eat a snack – also peaceful with a cool breeze off Lake Superior. Just before Caribou River, I found a patch of ripe, wild strawberries, picked a bunch and put them in a plastic bag. Walked down to see Caribou Falls – not sure if I’d ever seen these before – very cool. Finished hike to Horseshoe Ridge, where I’m staying tonight. I’ve done this section before (on Memorial Day weekend of this year).

The weather is cooling off now. Just rinsed my shirt and socks in the small stream near the campsite.

Cleaned the berries to yield about a cup. I split up an oatmeal packet I had made up for a breakfast. I split the ghee (clarified butter) and brown sugar in half (roughly), took the raisins out and ate them, and chopped the walnuts a bit more. I mixed the oats, ghee, brown sugar and nuts in a plastic bag for the topping. I melted the remaining ghee and added the sugar, then, the berries. After stirring the berries into the sweetener mixture, I dumped them into my cup and topped them with the oat mixture. And, voila, I had Wild Strawberry Crumble – it was excellent! Had it for dessert with my rice dish. Sewed pants – again!

Tuesday, July 8 – Day 9

Got going at normal time. Stopped in Crosby Manitou State Park for water from a pump. Talked briefly with student worker. Stopped at Blesner Creek for break/snack. Later, stopped at Lilly’s Island for break/snack. Treated water from Egge Creek. Decided to walk into Finland (about a mile and a half each way). I went to “Our Place,” a bar and grill, and had a great burger, fries and a beer! Got back on the trail and went 2.2 miles to Leskinen Creek campsite. Saw two deer on the way. Got set up, rinsed out clothes and treated water. Had rice dish for supper. Read.

Wednesday, July 9 – Day 10

Had oatmeal and tea for breakfast. Stopped at Section 13 Cliffs, of course, for break/snack. Treated water at Sawmill Creek. Took spur to Picnic Rock. Stopped for break and food after Kennedy Creek; creek was dry. Stopped for water, food and break at High Falls on Baptism River. My right ankle hurts; not sure what I did? Took some Ibuprofen to get me to Palisade Creek campsite (East).

Looked like rain, so set up fast. Rain passed north of me. Rinsed out clothes and soaked foot/ankle in creek. East Palisade Creek is flowing well. More thunder – this time it passes over, and I do get rain. It rains hard for awhile, but doesn’t last long. I make “Thanksgiving Dinner” for supper: instant mashed potatoes with parsley, chives and TVP (textured vegetable protein); gravy from packet and dried cranberries – best supper, so far.

Thursday, July 10 – Day 11

Cliff bar and hot chocolate for breakfast. Go past Bear and Bean Lakes on my way into town – very cool mountain lakes! Reach town (Silver Bay) by about 9:30 am. Picked up package of food that I sent to myself at post office. Had a big breakfast of pancakes, bacon and hash browns at the Northwoods Café, located in the same mall as the post office. After breakfast, I organized my food and also met a guy who is biking from California to Connecticut via the north shore of Lake Superior.

It began to rain as I left Silver Bay. I called Dan and, then, Mom and Dad while I had a mobile signal in Silver Bay; was good to talk to them and plan my pickup for the end of the trail in Two Harbors. Hiked out of town, back onto the trail and to the Beaver River. It stopped raining toward end of day’s hike. Set up camp at South Beaver River campsite and hung things out to dry. Read by river while warming up. Then, the sun came out! I walked a bit upstream and found a good place to treat water and rinse out clothes and myself. Had a noodle dish for supper. While reading by river, an organized group of boys (six, with two leaders) came to the site. Read in tent.

Friday, July 11 – Day 12

Had oatmeal and tea for breakfast. The group was still in tents when I left. Stopped at Chapin’s Ridge and, then, at the shelter overlooking the Split Rock River valley for break/snack. Got to Blueberry Hill site in late afternoon. A group of six (4 boys, 2 leaders) with Wilderness Therapy was there, plus two high school-age guys from Chicago; they’re just starting a thru-hike, south to north. The group had been just re-supplied and gave me an extra orange they had – yum!!

Had rice dish for dinner. A thunderstorm with a good downpour came through shortly after I went to bed. Stayed mostly dry.

Saturday, July 12, — Day 13

Got up, ate and left before others got up. Hiked to Gooseberry State Park and down along river to the lakefront (Lake Superior). Continued on to Crow Creek Valley. Picked berries along the way. Not sure what they are, but leader of the Wilderness Therapy group said they’re edible. They’re like a very delicate, raspberry-like berry that grows on very low plants (5-6 inches from ground). Got to site in early afternoon. Two women were already there. Set up and had more “lunch.” Hung the food and took a nap. A couple came to the site and set up their tent while I was sleeping. While I was reading outside, another couple from Oakdale (nice couple: Kim and Jamal) showed up to check out the site. There’s no water here, and they needed some, so wouldn’t be able to stay here. They talked to me for a bit before heading to a Gooseberry River site.

Had curry rice and veggies for supper – one of my better suppers. Started cleaning berries earlier, but they were too delicate to get the stem off and, usually, still have an intact berry. So, I just ate them right off the stem. It rained as I began to eat; moved to tent. Finished my book and got ready to sleep.

Sunday, July 13 – Day 14

Up and packed before others. One of the two women came over to talk as I was getting ready to leave; she congratulated me on my thru-hike. I would reach the end of the trail today, and it was a short day (8.8 miles). Stopped at Encampment River for water. Two young men passed as I was treating water. They were at the trailhead on Lake County Road 301 when I got there. They were from Minneapolis and thru-hiked the trail in 10 days. They had chocolate chip cookies in their car and gave me one – yum!!

I hiked to the Silver Creek campsite. Set up and then took a day hike on the section of trail that I worked on last summer. It’s not officially open yet. Looks pretty good, with only a few larger windfalls that need clearing. Read by creek. Had noodles for supper.

Monday, July 14 – Pick-up Day

I walked into Two Harbors (about 7 miles); picked up the newspaper, a couple donuts and orange juice at the Holiday store. Walked to a small park with picnic tables and a bandshell; read the paper and had “breakfast.” Since I got into town at about 9 am, I still had some time before my parents would arrive, so I walked down toward the shoreline and the lighthouse. Mom called me as they were passing through Duluth, so I headed back toward Highway 61 and met them (Mom, Dad and nephew, Derek) at Judy’s Café. We had lunch there, visited the Superior Hiking Trail Association office just up the street and headed back to the Twin Cities.

Tags: Backpacking, Superior Hiking Trail, Superior Hiking Trail Thru-Hike, Thru-hike

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