How do you describe the beauty of a place where heaven and earth join seamlessly? Or the mind trap of telling yourself over and over again that this massive body is not the ocean or an endless sea? Or the magnetic-siren-pull of her waters that make you want to jump in and crash like … Continue reading Backpacking and Day Hiking on the North Shore – Part 2: Split Rock, Palisade Head and George Crosby Manitou State Park.
Backpacking on the North Shore – Part 1: Testing My New Pack and SHT Packing List!
I'm still mentally and spiritually unpacking my trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior. It was so beautiful, I'm at a bit of a loss for words, but they will eventually come. So, lucky for you, this will be a two part post! One of the first things I did when I decided … Continue reading Backpacking on the North Shore – Part 1: Testing My New Pack and SHT Packing List!
Making Your Own Ultralight Backpack!
Have you ever thought about making your own backpacking gear? This week's post is about my experience sewing an ultralight backpack. There are lots of reasons to do it yourself, including: financial, weight savings, customization and just learning something new! If you have been reading in the last 6 months, you already know that … Continue reading Making Your Own Ultralight Backpack!
2017 Year in Review
On January 1st 2017, I started this blog, as a place to write about my outdoor adventures, learning experiences, failures and encourage others to get outside at any skill level. In 2017, I also challenged myself to ask, before starting or continuing various activities, "Does this make me feel strong? Or will this build strength?” … Continue reading 2017 Year in Review
Hike 52: Eagle Mountain-BWCA!
TRIP DETAILS LENGTH 7 miles roundtrip DIFFICULTY Moderate DATE December 9, 2017 MAIN FEATURES Highest Point in MN, Amazing views of the BWCA Wilderness, No wind, no rain Or winters cold can stop me, 'Cause you are my goal. There ain't no mountain high enough Ain't no valley low enough Ain't no river wide enough To keep me from getting to … Continue reading Hike 52: Eagle Mountain-BWCA!
Hike 52 Adventure Part 1 – Lake Superior
"Those who have never seen Superior get an inadequate idea by hearing it spoken of as a lake Superior is a sea It breeds storms and rain and fog like a sea. It is cold, masterful, and dreaded." -Rev. George Grant, 1872 If you have been following along on the 2017 Wandering Pine journey, you … Continue reading Hike 52 Adventure Part 1 – Lake Superior
Ursack Major Bear Bag Review
Spent some time this morning researching and testing out the Ursack Major AllWhite Bear Bag. What else are you going to do on a Saturday morning when the house is still clean from the holiday and you #opt(ed)outside all day on Black Friday? Note: The Ursack is now made in black but works the same. … Continue reading Ursack Major Bear Bag Review
Moarrr Gearrr… and my new favorite backpacking book!
"Fear is heavy..." -Hiking Dude In my quest for updating to lightweight gear without breaking the bank for next year's SHT Thru hike, I've been selling or giving away the older stuff and picking up new gear at gear swaps or sales. Last Saturday I went to a gear swap hosted by the Thrive Women's … Continue reading Moarrr Gearrr… and my new favorite backpacking book!
Superfog & Snow Predictions
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields (and windshields), that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass … Continue reading Superfog & Snow Predictions
First solo at Afton State Park’s best-kept secret!
TRIP DETAILS LENGTH N/A DIFFICULTY Easy with some elevation DATE October 20, 2017 MAIN FEATURES St Croix River, Fall Foliage, Remote camping On Friday, after a week of the “me too” movement, reading discouraging public responses to the Boy Scout announcement allowing girls in the program, this Outside Magazine article about women alone in the woods, and years of ‘helpful' … Continue reading First solo at Afton State Park’s best-kept secret!
Fall Hiking at Interstate Park
TRIP DETAILS LENGTH 10 miles DIFFICULTY Easy with some elevation DATE October 8, 2017 MAIN FEATURES Glacial Potholes, River Bluffs, St Croix River, Fall Foliage, Climbing Interstate Park is on the Western terminus of the 1,200 mile long Ice Age Trail. It gets it name from being located on both the shores of WI and MN, joined by the St … Continue reading Fall Hiking at Interstate Park
DIY Fancy Feast Stove
Here's a quick post of a little project I did tonight. I've been thinking about how to lighten my pack and this is one way to take a bit of weight out. I have a Snow Peak Giga Power and MSR Reactor Stove that I dearly love, but wanted to explore how to simplify my … Continue reading DIY Fancy Feast Stove
Mile 1 | Superior Hiking Trail
The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. -Lao Tzu Or in my case, the journey of 310 miles... Last week feels like I walked my first mile on the trail. Making the decision to go, working on a plan to get there, nerding out on gear excel grids - trying … Continue reading Mile 1 | Superior Hiking Trail
Superior Hiking Trail | Thru Hike 2018
"It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before, to test your limits, to break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." Decision made, starting to plan my thru hike … Continue reading Superior Hiking Trail | Thru Hike 2018
CureSearch Ultimate Hike – Superior Hiking Trail
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do. … Continue reading CureSearch Ultimate Hike – Superior Hiking Trail
A Post About Packing
I've done a packing Demo for my Scouts for the last 3 years and every year, it gets easier. Next week I get to do a Backpacking Demo for a room full of regional Scout leaders! (They pack the heaviest). Here's a 38 second packing video I made as I was getting my gear ready for … Continue reading A Post About Packing
Isle Royale Part 3: Prepping and Packing!
Here's the 3rd installment of our backpacking trip to Isle Royale National Park! This post will focus a little more on planning and packing for our backpacking adventure! Know your facts about where you can and can't stay: Group camping: Like most NPS Backpacking sites, there are regulations on how many people can stay in a … Continue reading Isle Royale Part 3: Prepping and Packing!
Isle Royale Part 2: Training Hikes
As promised, here is the follow up post to Part 1 with a few helpful tips on how we prepared physically for our trip! Our training locations were based the following: Sturdy trail, able to withstand a large group hiking on it Nearby for easy access Accessible to all levels since we would be focusing on distance and … Continue reading Isle Royale Part 2: Training Hikes
Backpacking in Isle Royale National Park: Part 1
I’m pretty stoked to finally get to share about our backpacking trip last year to Isle Royale National Park! There a ton of resources out there to help you plan your trip, but my perspective is of a thrifty Scout Leader that went with a large group of youth backpacking for a week. The trip went … Continue reading Backpacking in Isle Royale National Park: Part 1
Hiking Cascade River State Park
TRIP DETAILS LENGTH 3.5 miles DIFFICULTY Moderate-steep incline up to Lookout Mountain DATE February 17, 2017 MAIN FEATURES Lookout Mountain, SHT, Cascade Falls After our morning trek to Judge CR Magney State Park, we headed south to Cascade River State Park. This park is just south of Grand Marais and has a great view of Lake Superior the whole way. This … Continue reading Hiking Cascade River State Park