Quick Photo Tours of 4 MN NCT Trails

[isawtman]

Hi Everyone

I've created Quick Tours of 4 hikes that
I have done. Now instead of wading through
thousands of photos in my regular photo
galleries, you can take a quick tour of the
trails, hitting just the highlights.

Here are the trails covered by the Quick Tours
Kekekabic Trail (60 photos)
Border Route Trail (90 photos)
Superior Hiking Trail, Grand Marais to Lutsen (58 photos)
Chippewa National Forest NCT (77 Photos)

Check out these Quick Tours at my website at
http://sites.google.com/site/isawtman/

I have captioned all the photos on these Quick Tours.
And if you get interested in hiking one of these
trails after looking at the Quick Tour, then you
can look at the regular Photo Galleries and Trip
Reports.

I hope you enjoy these Quick Tours

Regards from me, Todd McMahon

[swash]

Nice work. I'm planning a SHT thru hike for this summer. It looks like a nicer and nicer trail every time I look at pictures of it.

[ashleigh22]

Good job! :O)

[isawtman]

Nice work. I'm planning a SHT thru hike for this summer. It looks like a nicer and nicer trail every time I look at pictures of it.

Swash

The SHT is an amazing trail. It's one of the best
examples of eco-tourism that has been developed
in the midwest in the last 20 years.

I'd advise you to get a Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook.
You might also want to join the Hiker Group on
Yahoo Groups, it is the SHT group. it's located here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hiker/
There will start being a lot more chatter on it
in a month or two. Also, they have a good selection
of information under the files tab.

I can advise you on the northern sections of the Trail.
So if you have any question, just post them

regards from me, Todd aka Tman

[swash]

Swash

The SHT is an amazing trail. It's one of the best
examples of eco-tourism that has been developed
in the midwest in the last 20 years.

I'd advise you to get a Superior Hiking Trail Guidebook.
You might also want to join the Hiker Group on
Yahoo Groups, it is the SHT group. it's located here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hiker/
There will start being a lot more chatter on it
in a month or two. Also, they have a good selection
of information under the files tab.

I can advise you on the northern sections of the Trail.
So if you have any question, just post them

regards from me, Todd aka Tman

Thanks for the yahoo groups suggestion. I've been reading everything I can find about the trail online and am going to order the guide and maps when I get around to it. I'll probably start doing the serious planning after spring break, so I can focus on that, and will probably have some questions at that time.

The only question I have right now is about resupply. From what I've read people resupply three times along the trail and it's relatively easy to do so in the southern portion of the trail but harder in the north. What did you do for resupply in the northern portion of the trail?

And of course I have to ask: NOBO or SOBO?

[isawtman]

Swash

I would do the Superior Hiking Trail from the top down, so that
would be SOBO. The reason is that when you're driving up Highway
61 you can drop off your resupply packages

I believe the first place to resupply from the Northern Terminus
is Naniboujou Lodge, across Highway 61 from Judge Magney State
Park near Hovland. I believe it is about 30 miles from the top of the
Trail. I dropped off a resupply package there when
I did my hike in May. Naniboujou Lodge also has a really good
restaurant, which is a great break from trail food. I had a salmon
dinner that was about 20 bucks. Rooms for the night are are about
$75 to $105 a night, and there is no TV, Telephone or Air Conditioning
in the rooms. But it is a beautiful and historic place. Check out their
website at http://naniboujou.com

After Naniboujou, it is a 27 mile hike to Grand Marais. I have heard on the
Hiker message board that there is some type of spur trail that will take you
into Grand Marais. I assume the spur trail starts someplace around the
Pincushion Mountain Trailhead, but I am not sure. But, Grand Marais has all
the amenities that a hiker needs. It has groceries stores, restaurants,
hotels and also some places for Gear. The Superior Trading post
(http://www.lakesuperiortradingpost.com/) is more for backpackers
and canoeists, while the Ben Franklin/Jones Department store is more for
regular camping. Grand Marais does have a Post Office.

Continuing South on the SHT, at Cascade State park, there is Cascade Lodge
and Restaurant which is not too far off the trail. I've haven't eaten there or
stayed overnight. But rooms are around $70. I have heard they will hold your
resupply package.

Down by Lutsen Mountains, the Guidebook shows how to get to the Lutsen
Mountain Tram. There is actually a restaurant at each end of the Tram.
But the place on the Moose Mountain end of the Tram is only open
while the Tram is running. Papa Charlie's Grill and Saloon is the restaurant on
the Eagle Mountain end of the Tram. There is also Lodging at Lutsen
Mountains, and summer rates can be pretty reasonable.

That's pretty much all I know

Regards from me, Todd