North Shore Training Hike

Kelly, Kay, Betsy at Raven Rock Overlook in Tettegouche State Park

One month prior to departure, we spent a weekend on the North Shore of Lake Superior and did back-to-back hikes through varied terrain. Day 1, we hiked about 15 miles in Tettegouche State Park following the Superior Hiking Trail from the trailhead to Blue Jay overlook, stopping for lunch at the Raven Rock Overlook, then following the ATV trail back toward the trailhead. Unfortunately, the link between the ATV trail and the trailhead was filled with waist-high grass. A tad averse to Lyme disease, we decided to hike back down the ATV trail to Highway 61 and walk the shoulder of the highway back to the trailhead. It was a great hike through the rocks and pines on the Superior Hiking Trail; the wide open ATV trail was easy walking, but with 95º heat with high humidity, we missed the tree cover and were grateful for periodic breezes off the lake. To end the hike, we climbed down to the mouth of the Baptism River and soaked our feet in the cool water. 

Kelly, Betsy, Kay at Betty's Cabins

 We stayed near Silver Bay in a classic North Shore resort; we chose cabin 2 as it featured indoor plumbing (cabin 4 has an outhouse)! Owner Betty Hofschulte is a wonderful host with an encyclopedic knowledge of the area. On day 2, we packed up and headed north to Temperance River State Park just north of Schroeder. The Temperance River is a geological wonder and we enjoyed following it as we climbed toward Carlton Peak, a 3.2 mile climb with a 900' rise in elevation. Not sure if it was the heat or the humidity, but it took us much longer than we anticipated. Atop Carlton Peak, we ate lunch and enjoyed the view, visited with some folks from Grand Marais, then tackled the descent. With about 300 yards to go, a torrential downpour swept through - complete with hail. The air was much cooler after that. 

Watch for the trademark turquoise scarves throughout our travels. Here we are at Betty's Cabins practicing the art of draping an infinity scarf.  Trekking lessons learned so far:

• Yes, trekking poles are a worthwhile investment for balance, stability and to transfer some of the workload from legs to arms. Bonus: you can swat your walking companions when they get smart. And, if you're really tricky, you can balance on them and swing both legs out in front for a giant step.
• No matter how well your hiking shoes are broken in, and what kind of miracle fabric socks you wear, when it's 95º and 85% humidity, you'll get blisters. Tape 'em and keep walking.
• A day pack with a lightweight alloy frame and mesh back panel for ventilation is also worth the investment. When adjusted to fit correctly, the pack adds no noticeable burden to the hike - even with a full 3 liter water bladder.
• There is no such thing as sweatproof sunscreen.