Tuesday, August 26, 2014

NCT, Superior Hiking Trail Celebration held in Duluth

On Friday after Sandy got off we headed west to Duluth, MN to attend The Minnesota Hiking Celebration there. This was an event held by the 4 Minnesota chapters of the North Country Trail.  Here we learned that the Superior Hiking Trail along the ridge above the Big Lake's north shore is really part of the NCT but it takes an act of congress to officially say that!  
We got in after dark, in the fog. This is breakfast at Spirit Mt.
campground where we stayed.
They didn't give me any bacon or pancakes!

The pack got to meet trail maintenance guru, Bill Menke.
Bill was the NPS trail coordinator and now works directly
for the NCT

It was a foggy wet weekend here for us.

The spiders thought  it was wet too!

Who's that?!
This was at the Spirit Mt chalet, where the conference was held.

I'm not sure who this fellow is, but he is wily!
So I came in from the back side with my tail high.

After the conference, we took a quick hike on the
 Superior Hiking Trail right near
Spirit Mountain's Grand Avenue Chalet.

Thankfully, there were cooling stops.

It was a pretty hike right up the hill and well marked.

Up and up we go.

The trail flowed along the ski hill so we stopped at a
snow gun to view St Louis Bay harbor.

Thimble berries!

I'll have to recommend this trail for all its great features.

The trail was very well marked,
although trail mutts can't read and we know the way
without signs or blazes.

The pack went out to eat with some friendly NCT folks.  Most of them are on the national board.

Sunday morning we hiked through the road construction
to see Chester park.

Ya, no one ever scratches me you know.
Sandy's folks came down from Ely MN just to see me!
Gramma you can touch me.

I DO like ice cream.
We sure hope we can see you again soon.

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