Trip route

“Hey, guys.... I just wanted to dro pa quick note and let you know that I'm open to suggestions if you'd like to do a different part of the trail. Or if you'd like to reverse the trip and go from Lake Cty Rd 6 to Silver Bay and try to spend one night on Bear Lake (beautiful site).

Any, just wanted to throw that out there. I don't have my heart set on anything except getting out on the trail and having a good time. And I'm glad you'll be there to share it with!”

“The distance between Penn Blvd trailhead in Silver Bay to Lake County Road 6 is 17.9 miles. Bear Lake campsite is 3.4 miles north of Penn Blvd., the Palisade Creek campsites are 5 1/2 miles from Penn Blvd., and the Tettegouche State Park campgrounds is about 10 miles from Penn Blvd. Which campsites you select depends on 1) what time you leave the trailhead, 2) how many days you allocate for the trip, and 3) how far you want to go each day. Since I am under no time constraints or lengthy travel to get to the trailhead, which campsites and direction of travel is of little consequence to me.

I will have a good time, no butts about it, and I can't wait to see if Zwabaire1974, our spanking new backpacker, is really a troll.”

“Troll.... what the hell is a TROLL anyway!? In the Upper Penninsula a "TROLL" is someone who lives in the Lower, below the bridge!”

“One option would be: Start @ Lake County Rd. 6 Saturday morning and hike into Tettegouche. Head out Sunday morning and spend night two @ Bear Lake. Then Monday morning rise and shine and head into the trailhead.

I'm in the mood to take a slow pace this time around.... I'm normally a mile-burner but I need a nice easy trip. Knee has been bothering me something terrible!

If we would decide to hang in Tettegouche I can check on reserving sites. What do you guys think?”

“Z, works for me.”

“but i'd definitely like to join y'all if i can and y'all are ok with it. i'll be starting fall classes in st. paul sept. 2, so i don't know if i'll be able to make it or not, i'll keep you up to date though.”

“You're more than welcome to join if you would like!! Let us know.”

“OK, I know nothing of trail logistics, other than where the trail is. Never been north of the Twin Cities in my life... but interested in this.

Right now I'm trying to get a handle on some things at work. We just got another paper and I'm needing to see how that works... and if the beeeeeyatch person who is currently reporting there up and quits. lol (Ohhhhhh, I am the evil news editor, ya know?? lol)

**IF** I go, I could pick up simalicious, perhaps. I would be coming from SE MN.

I should know for sure in a week or two.”

“Lizs, sounds great!! Where are you in SE Minnesota? I was living in Coon Rapids up until last year :)

And what paper are you editing for?”

“Please note that I changed the direction of the trip. Instead of traveling North we willl start @ Lake County Rd 6 and head South to Silver Bay. Same trail sections - different direction :)”

“Yo, I've tried securing a site for us @ Tettegouche for nearly a week but have come to decide we are SOL. No openings etc. So, if you have any input or thoughts do share.”

“I'll check my maps, we'll work something out.”

“well, i kinda remember this part of the trail, lol. I'm sitting here staring at my maps, The kennedy creek campsites aren't bad - room for several tents, the palisade creek campsite is like a mile from the water if i remember correctly - these would be the campsites on either side of the state park, but the distance between the two was a full day of hiking. So we could crash a site somewhere along the way, or kennedy creek to bear lake would be a full day of hiking, or half a day for some of you ultra-lighters. Whatever we think - it's gonna be a great trip, nice trail, nice time of year, it'll be fun :)”

“We'll meet and wing it... rock on, baby”

“apparently our outing club is going up to taylor falls this weekend, and there're a ton of new members....so i've got to bail on this trip - i definitely have to check out the boundary waters before it gets much colder though...

hope y'all's trip goes great”

“I spent last Saturday and Sunday hiking twenty-two miles on a northern section of the Superior Hiking Trail between Kadunce River wayside to Bally Creek Road. The fall colors are just beginning, but the mid-summers drought should bring an early peak in the colors from the usual October 1st. Only saw one mosquito. The trails were dry and in good shape.

On the way back, I stopped in the Tettegouche State Park and discussed potential camping for Saturday night. The ranger said they leave 30% of the campsites open for first come, first serve, but that the usual September week end is usually, but not always, full up, by Saturday. She suggested checking in when they open at 9:00 a.m. to see if they have campsites available for $15.00. She also pointed out the Eckbeck Campground at $10.00 per campsite just two miles north of the Superior Hiking Trail up County Road 1 which she said did not fill up last week end. If we went to Eckbeck, Saturday's hike would be 8.8 miles, and Sunday's hike to Bear Lake would be 9.7 miles.

The Duluth television weather for the north shore of Lake Superior calls for temperatures of highs in the low 60's, lows in the low 40's, and sunny and dry for Saturday and Sunday.

Where and what time do you want to meet on Saturday? How about the Tettegouche State Park Office at 9:00 a.m. so we can see if we can get a campsite there?

Hope Liz can make the trip.”

“I hope Liz can make it as well”