Superior Hiking Trail: Crosby-Manitou to Caribou River Wayside

Warning - this is another post full of pictures! Enjoy a tour along the SHT (and boy do I have respect for the runners who did this during the night!):

Bridge over Manitou River

View upriver

Manitou River

Horseshoe Ridge

Porter, SHT blue blaze and fall colors

Coral fungi - sp(ecies) unknown

Amanita sp.

View into fault line valley - Horseshoe Ridge area

Climbing out of fault line valley

Unidentified mushrooms

Looking back towards Finland (MN)

The Miller (my best guess at species)



more 'shrooms - near Horseshoe Ridge campsite

Cup fungus sp.

Even more mushrooms!

Caribou River falls

Caribou River falls - upriver view

Lake Superior from viewing platform above the Caribou River

Porter enjoying the Caribou River


Still with me? ;->

It was a beautiful day. Temps in the upper 50's. Sunny, a little breeze to cool you off after a steep climb. Lots of perfect lunch spots - sunny outcrops of rock with good views.

As you may have noticed - this hike was all about mushrooms. I brought a field guide to mushrooms with, but it stayed in my pack all day (why do I bother?). What I really needed was my "Geology on Display: Geology and Scenery of Minnesota's North Shore Parks" by John Green. Lots of questions about the geology of the area, and even though I am "retired" from naturalist work, a lot of the hikers recognized me from previous hikes and wanted to ask questions.

So, to quote Professor Green:

"The upper valley, and most of the park's area, is underlain by rocks of the Beaver Bay Complex. These rocks were intruded as several separate bodies of magma into the slightly older volcanic rocks. All of the bedrock was formed during the development of the Midcontinent Rift system about 1.1 billion years ago. The volcanic rocks in the lower section of the park are dominated by two rock types: basalt flows, most of which have ophitic texture; and rhyolite..." "...the large ridges just uphill from Highway 61 are made of ophitic and amygdaloidal basalt." "Also in this section is a layer of distinctive, reddish breccia which contains pieces of various types of basalt (mostly) and other rocks, in a finer-grained matrix. This same deposit can be seen at the Caribou River Wayside... where it forms outcrops in the river bed near the trail, and bluffs just below the dramatic Caribou Falls. This particular breccia was probably deposited as a large mudflow. Caribou Falls itself is localized by a large, northeast-trending fault, the same one that crosses the Manitou River near the highway but is less accessible. Several basalt flows can be seen in the rock face down which the river tumbles at Caribou Falls" (pg 41)

Tomorrow is another NMTC run - Hawk Ridge. One plus mile uphill at the start(steep at times), then rolling and one plus mile of gently trending downhill for the finish. This weekend is the Wild Duluth Fat Ass 100k/50k. Will I see any of my readers there?

Update on Porter

Today did not go as well.

Porter and I walked this morning for 45 minutes, managing to catch the sunrise over Lake Superior. He was quite excited about the walk this morning, but a little more apprehensive about entering through the back door went we got home. He knew what was up. Despite all that, I managed to get him back outside for breakfast with minimal fuss. So far, so good.

Then I made my mistake. I left through the back door! Porter, who was happily distracted with breakfast, saw me and by the time I was down by the car I could hear him fussing.

No calls from the neighbor all day, so he must not have been too out of control when I left....

Got home to this scene:

Porter peeking around the corner of the house to see me walk up the front steps (indicating he was not too wrapped up around the pole at that point). I went in the house through the front door (no excessive greetings on my part) and looked out the kitchen window to see this: dog house askew, blankets pulled out onto the lawn, and the dog wrapped around the clothes line pole.

Went out to him and found that he had taken apart about half of an old chopping block log (2 feet in diameter and rotted) and dumped over both his food and water. He wasn't over the top in greeting me, but was hanging onto his kong pretty tight and whining - different than yesterday.

I let him off the line and set about cleaning up some of the mess. Compared to pre-medication it wasn't too bad, but clearly he needs an increased dose of the clomipramine - at least for now. I had just gotten off the phone with the vet where we had decided that if he was okay today we didn't need to titrate up the dose. Sigh! She feels this is a pretty safe medication and, considering his size, 50 mg BID is going to be okay.

On a postive note his kong was empty today, indicating that he had been chewing on it during the day. I had stuffed it with his favorites - dog treats, carrots, and pepperoni sticks. Yesterday he had not touched his kong or the bone while I was gone.

Signs of separation anxiety - distress vocalization (howling, barking, whining); inappropriate elimination; destructive behavior (chewing, digging); anorexia/"depression" or inactivity; psychomatic/medical consequences (excessive licking of haircoat, pacing, circling); hyperattachement (excessive greeting behaviour, constant pestering of owner); hypersalivation.

Porter consistently displays 5 out of the 7 behaviours to one degree or another. Thank god not the inappropriate elimination of hypersalivation!

Once I was present he finished off the spilled food and polished off most of a large bowl of water. Good thing it has been cool outside, I am much less worried about his tipping over the water in cool weather. And before anyone worries - he has free access to water when in the house and we feed him "dog food soup" (dry kibble in a few cups of warm water) at every meal - a trick I learned when working in sled dog kennels to ensure adequate hydration.

Tonight the dose went up. One more day to go. The good news: I can bring him with me to my second job so his time alone will be almost half of what it has been the last two days. Though to be honest, most of the distress probably happens within half an hour of my departure.

Saturday we are off to hike the SHT from Crosby-Manitou State Park to Caribou River Wayside. Eight miles of some very hilly trail.

There has been a trend in a few running blogs to list running goals for 2009 so thought I would put myself out there and add my plans (assuming all goes well and injuries heal):

- Superior 25K in May (I was talked down from the 50K by my husband who thinks maybe I should ease my way into the longer distance)

- Half Voyageur Trail Marathon (it is a non - Jarrow's Beach year; can I defend my top ten place ? )

- One of the fall Superior Trail races (definitely not the 100!) and/or

- Wild Duluth 50K

Ambitious? Maybe. But then I am the woman who decided I would knit lace curtain panels out of linen for my front door and completed most of one before being distracted by nursing school, while still homeschooling one child and serving on a couple of nonprofit boards ;->

Better Living Through Chemicals

Looks like a mellow guy doesn't he? Yeah, except when he needs to be left home alone! Porter has had issues with separation anxiety for a long time. It ebbs and flows and we had gone through at least one major deconditioning episode a few years back after a particularly bad summer (road construction/blasting a block away and very hot weather). He had been doing okay, though we tried to minimize how often and long he would be left alone, until this summer. It got bad again! We had to move his dog house as, in his efforts to free himself, he got into the neighbors basement window and slipped his collar (thereby not strangling). After the move, we left him one day and came back to no sauna door.

Seperation anxiety is akin to a panic attack. The destruction is out of the animals control, usually happens shortly after being left, and punishing him will only make the anxiety worse. Since I knew there were times we would need to leave him home alone and I was limited in the amount of time I had to work on the deconditioning it was time to call the vet for medications.

Our first attempt was valium. Dogs can take a huge dose! One that would be near lethal to a human. We tried it one day when he would be home alone a very short time. We ended up with essentially a drunk dog with the munchies - he ate everything in sight, food or non-food. Not good.

Our second attempt was clomipramine. Now, that takes time to build up in the system (as do most tricyclic antidepressants) and we did not have a lot of time as Porter would need to be home alone for three days while I was at work. This despite efforts to find a dogsitter to stay with him - it is really hard to find someone who is available during the day!

We started the meds last week and today he was home alone for 8 hours. We had been working on some deconditioning stuff all along (all good things happen out in the backyard/near his doghouse - food for example; enter/exit through the back door; leaving him out on his line - on the front porch - most of the day while we were home; reinforcing obedience training skills) and he seemed to be doing well with it, but I was still not sure what I would come home to.

I came home to a dog laying in his doghouse, who greeted me appropriately (not excessively) and no destruction out back. Report from the neighbor was that he did his usual whining for a bit, chewed on a log, then hung out. He did wait until I was back to pick up his treat-stuffed kong and seemed to have skipped eating most of his morning meal - though was happy to finish that up once I was there. Yeah!!! Now to get through the next two days.

I am continuing to work on the deconditioning, but it is easier with the help of a pharmaceutical.

Tonight he came with to the Wednesday night run. I had thought I had someone lined up to watch him while I ran, but that fell through at the last minute so I asked around at the race and eventually met up with a friends 14 yr old nephew who was willing to hang out with Porter. Thanks Ian! [Why not run with Porter you ask? Well, I did that on Sunday and despite all the fun he had during that run (tail up and wagging, stayed ahead of me) the next day it became apparent his running days are over - he could hardly walk his back end was so stiff and sore. He still is having trouble shaking without falling over. It is a sad day in the wildknits household].

I got to run and it didn't hurt! This is only the second run I have done since Bown's Point and only my second race in the Fall Series. My IT band has been a problem. Sunday I ran three miles, slow but hilly, and was hurting by the end. Then I went on to play not one, but two, 90 minute soccer games. I was really hurting by the end of the second game and needed assistance descending the hill from the soccer field. Today felt pretty good despite the hilly course. I had taken 600 mg of ibuprofen before the run ;-> but only felt a little soreness and tightness below my knee on the lateral side of my lower leg, not where I usually feel the pain.

I am feeling a lot more hopeful about being able to run more regularly. BTW - soccer had not been bugging my leg in the previous two games and I only think it was bad last Sunday because: 1) I ran earlier that day and 2) I played for three hours. I wonder if faster running (soccer is a lot of sprinting, direction changes, and running backwards) might not be as hard on my ITB. Hmmm. Interesting theory at least.

The foam roller came in the mail yesterday. Six inches is really wide!! I think I could have gotten away with four, and am really glad I only ordered an 18" vs 3' roller. Tried it out last night briefly. Hard to balance on it and especially hard to keep using it in areas that hurt (which is the whole point after all). But I will persist as there are races to be run this fall and races to plan and train for in the coming year.

Knitting???? Started another ribbed hat, this time in a yarn called - of all things - Tuna (yes Chris I still have some of it). Not sure of its country of origin - can't read the label, do know it is 100% wool and moth-proof though.

Am holding the bird mittens' thumbs hostage until I get a foot tracing from my daughter. It is hard to finish a project if you have nothing in the line-up. I have yarn for a pair of socks I would like to knit as a gift, but need the tracing from someone with a sz 13- 14 foot (male). She happens to know someone like that and it won't spoil the surprise like asking the actual recipient would ;->

Temps are cool up north and the colors are really starting to pop out. Looking forward to the weekend and time on the Superior Hiking Trail even farther north. Will take Porter ( of course) and a camera, so may have some pictures to post by early next week.

If anyone is interested check out: http://wildduluthraces.wordpress.com

I will be helping out with the roving aid station. The course photos brought back a lot of fond memories of training runs this summer.

What happened to the knit in wildknits?

I realized that very few of my posts of late have had anything to do with knitting so thought I would rectify that.

Updates on the latest finished/almost finished projects:

Isle Royale Hat:




Jamieson's Sportweight(100% Shetland Wool). Skein was leftover from a sweater project a few years ago. Sz 2 16" circular needles. Pattern: Ribbed Hat from "The Complete Book of Progressive Knitting" by Ida Riley Duncan (via a KnitU post).

Cast on in the hotel room the night before we boarded the ferry (my version uses 160 sts after all). Knit while on the ferry and hanging out in campsites on Isle Royale. I even managed to finish it off (except for darning in the ends) while on the island - all with a 16" circular!!

Turn a Square (pattern by Jared Flood - www.brooklyntweed.net):




He suggests using one skein of a self-striping yarn. I don't have any in worsted weight so went with solid colors. May try it again with self-striping and modify the pattern numbers to work with a lighter weight yarn. It was strange to work on such large needles after months with 0's, 1's and 2's.

Bird Mittens (almost finished):




Just the thumbs left to do. Yes, I did mean for that to be plural. The thumb is too short for Miss Sarah (though fits me fine), so I will be ripping one out and reknitting it, returning to the original pattern that called for two birds knit into the back of the thumb. Knit in Jamieson's Spindrift on sz 0 needles. (Sarah - don't ever think I don't love you! ;->)

On the running front:

0 miles for me this month - well, since the Brown's Point Run and not counting soccer. I had big plans to get out this week but have not made it yet. Knee is still kind of aching at times. Foam roller on order. Hope to get out yet today. The plan was to run this morning but we got around 2 inches of rain last night and the ground is saturated. Would have been a muddy, messy run!

Wish I had my camera with this morning as Porter and I walked in Lincoln Park. Miller Creek is the highest I have seen it since spring runoff. It is roaring! I am sure Coffee Creek (neighborhood stream) is up too, may make for a tough crossing on the SHT!

Colors are starting to get good in the area. Get out an enjoy!

Some photos from Isle Royale

Pictoral essay:


Leaving Hat Point Marina, Grand Portage, MN on the Voyageur II


Moskey Basin Junction - day after getting soaked (camping haircut in evidence - no hat hair for me!)


First sign of wolves! (click to embiggen)


Moskey Basin shelter.


Mt. Siskiwit, looking south over Isle Royale and out to Lake Superior; right before we put the camera away, donned our packs, and saw the first two wolves ;->


Pumping water at sunset from Lake Desor.


Moonset, ~6:00 am Lake Desor


"Happy hikers" - who can't remember how long we have been on the island


Overlook on Red Oak Ridge, Island Mine trail


Rock of Ages Lighthouse (click to embiggen), outside Washington Harbor, Isle Royale. On the way home.

Isle Royale 2008

I am back and surviving re-entry. Mind is clear, body is stronger, no serious aches and pains lingering.

This year my hiking partner and I planned a trip from Rock Harbor to Windigo. Now, the guidebooks say you can do this in 4-5 days, but why? We had planned out a much more leisurely route. Regular life is so fast paced, why bring it on vacation with you?

After finishing up packing at home - and wondering how everything was going to really fit into my pack once the food was added - running a couple of errands, getting my hair cut (no worries about hat hair for me), and voting in the primary we headed to Grand Marais to pick up the rest of the food for our trip. We had ordered 4 meals from Packlite Foods and were stopping by their storefront to get them. In the process we added on a 5th meal. Ran a few errands in Grand Marais and then headed further up the shore to the Outpost Motel.

The ferry to Isle Royale leaves Grand Portage at 8:00 am. You need to be there 45 minutes before hand to check in and load your gear. Grand Portage is about 40+ miles north of Grand Marais.... The hotel is a convenient stopping point and allows us to spread out and finalize our packing with the comforts of modern conveniences like lights. Also allowed me to find out the primary results ;->

We did fit all of the gear into - or on - our packs and could still lift them ;-> Ultralight http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif we are not, but compared to some packs we saw out there we did quite well for 9 days. I do have to say that this is as long of a trip as I could do with the set-up I currently have (Granite Gear Nimbus Latitude Ki, 3900 cu in - internal lid removed for this trip ). I maxed out the pack and did attach a day pack and a stuff sack with my raingear/outerwear to the outside. Not the best set-up but I couldn't leave anything else behind. Pack weight at the end of the trip = 35 lbs. That said, I had less of the food and more of the "group gear" (4-person tent body, large bottles of stove fuel, stove, water filter, etc). Obviously need a smaller tent one of these days, but there are advantages to the Eureka Alpine Meadows tent that I have that make it worth it's weight:
- room for you and your gear when the weather turns cruddy or the foxes are being bad
- can drop the body and leave the fly standing for weather protection while packing up


Day 1: Grand Portage to Rock Harbor.
We boarded the Voyageur II ferry Wednesday 9/10 and headed out to the island. Two hours later, after a brief stop at Windigo to register our itinerary we hopped back on the ferry for the 5 hour trip to Rock Harbor on the other end of the island. I had managed to fit a knitting project into my pack and the ferry ride was a perfect opportunity to work on it (Ribbed hat in Jamieson's Shetland sportweight yarn, sz 2 needles)

Arrived in Rock Harbor and were greeted by a ranger who spotted a handknit hat tucked inside my fanny pack. This lead to a discussion of knitting and an invitation to come up to her house and see the sweater she was working on. She had designed the pattern which included moose, wolves, pine trees, twinflower and bunchberry motifs. Knit in scandinavian style. It was amazing! I kept trying to figure out how to get the charts from her ;->

Opted to hike to Three Mile Campground that afternoon. Despite copious hints from the ranger we took the Rock Harbor trail vs the Tobin Harbor trail. Yup, it was really rocky, rooty and hilly! Found a shelter to our liking and settled in. There was a beautiful moon that night peeking through the clouds.

Day 2: Three Mile to Daisy Farm.
Woke up to overcast and a prediction of storms. Could hear the wind and waves and see that the Lake looked rough. Chose to hike in rain gear as the skies looked pretty threatening. Today was another short day, only 4.4 miles, but in that time we got saturated! When it started raining it just came down hard and steady. By the time we made it to Daisy Farm our priorities in a shelter were that it, and at least part of the picnic table, were dry. We set up camp, hung the clothes lines, spread out the wet gear and settled down to wait out the rain. By evening it had stopped and on our last trip to pump water we stood on the dock in the fog watching a family of mergansers swimming around.

Day 3: Daisy Farm to Moskey Basin.
Woke to sunshine and rapidly warming temperatures. Our original plan was to hike to Lake Richey but we had heard that Moskey Basin was beautiful so that was the destination for today. Only 3.9 miles, but it was the perfect choice. Saw 4 or 5 garter snakes on the way. The shelters are located on the water and we chose one whose "front yard" was a sloping rock. Perfect place to spread out all of our wet gear and get really dried out. The temperature had to be in the low 70's at least and we just hung out in camp, exploring and soaking up the sunshine. Experienced an amazing moonrise and sunrise at that camp.

Day 4: Moskey Basin to W. Chickenbone.
It had gotten cold the night before, but I stayed nice and warm in my new sleeping bag. This was a longer hike - 6.3 miles - and took us across the width of the island which means lots of ups and downs. Still we got into camp early and got set up. This campground showed signs of lots of use. It sits at a middle point and is used by hikers and canoeist/kayakers. We had heard that there was a 'bad fox' here so pretty much everything went into the tent as soon as it was set up. On the hike saw tracks of moose and wolves and lots of wolf scat. In camp saw a lot of toads and picked up a couple of tiny leeches while pumping water. As the day progressed the skies clouded up and by the time we ate dinner it was drizzling. Rained hard through the night, ending early in the morning. Had a little water leak into the tent (note to self: remember to seam seal those corners when I get home). Hiking partner heard a male moose go by in the night.

Day 5: W. Chickenbone to Hatchet Lake.
Lots of climbing today. Up from the campground and then up to the Greenstone Ridge. It was overcast and windy! A gale had been predicted for today and it felt like it. We alternated between hiking along and stopping to take in the views which were incredible despite the weather. And we saw wolves!!!!!

I think there are about 24 wolves on Isle Royale right now, split amongst 4 packs. Last year we saw no signs of them. This year was different! We were just picking our packs up from a rest break when my partner saw a wolf. I just caught a glimpse of movement through the brush as it went by. About 5 minutes later as we were hiking down the trail I looked up to see a wolf coming towards me on the trail. It reacted exactly as the rangers want it to: saw me, turned around and took off. But not before we both got a nice look at it. Isle Royale wolves are not as large as their mainland counterparts - adaptation to island life. Sounds like the biggest one out there is about 85 lbs. That would match with what I observed. Having Porter around is useful for gauging size :->

So, having seen wolves in the wild do I think Porter looks like a wolf? Yes and no. He certainly has the markings, coloration and long legs. His head and body are 'blockier' though. The wolves we saw had a more pointed muzzle and lankier body.

This was the day we discovered how bad the blister on my partner's right heel was. Spent the time before dinner peeling off the blister pads that we had used the previous day, taking a lot of skin with them and then discussing how we were going to 'patch' her up for the next days long hike. We ended up just using gauze and tape overnight then applying a large bandage the next day and covering that with tape. The plan was to leave it in place for the rest of the trip unless there were problems. Over the past 6 months of 25k and marathon training I learned a lot about taping my feet for blister prevention/control. It came in handy on this trip. We are still working out why her foot blistered this year when she had no trouble last year. The combination of factors that are most likely: wet feet from the rain, changing foot size, and polypro liners.

Surprise of the trip: just ripening blueberries! We had been seeing some blueberries all along the way, mostly a bit past their prime but today we found a huge patch of them. It was only a few minutes after we left our lunch spot and I was still cold from that stop so we didn't settle in to pick a lot. I did manage to stoop down with my pack on and get a handful for each of us. We also transitioned from boreal forest to a more deciduous type forest during this hike.

Day 6: Hatchet Lake to S. Lake Desor.
There is a brutal climb out of the campsite at Hatchet Lake. Almost half a mile straight up a hill. It was also our longest day: 8.1 miles. But with a nice reward at the end - Lake Desor and a sand beach! This was the day that my right IT band started to act up on the down hills. Not good, but manageable with ibuprofen. Saw moose tracks on the beach, but unlike last year no moose. After dinner we took our hot chocolate down to the beach and watched the sunset. Incredible! Full moon(?). Heard a moose go by, grunting and thrashing, in the middle of the night. Sounded close, but not too close. Woke to an amazing moonset over the lake. Had two pileated woodpeckers playing around camp in the morning - pounding on trees and calling - and could hear a third off in the distance. Very entertaining. We theorized the two were this years offspring and mom was off in the woods a bit.

Day 7: S. Lake Desor to Island Mine.
This was a short day, only 5.5 miles with a more gradual climb out of Lake Desor. Got into camp early enough that I headed out for a 'day hike' to find the mine this campsite is named for. The Island Mine trail traverses the Red Oak Ridge - very steep ascent and descent. But the mine was a fun place to hang out for this rock hound. Found a broken tip from an iron tool (pry bar? drill?) and a few tiny pieces of native copper. Rock looked almost like a conglomerate - could see shapes within the rock. Other pieces had lots of vesicles filled with minerals. Views along this section of trail are nice. Most of the Greenstone trail at this point goes through stands of birch and maple with no views and little sunshine making its way through the canopy so it was nice to find a patch of sun to sit in.

One thing about this site - it is not located on a lake and you get your water from a tiny little stream. Made us wish we had a collapsible bucket for hauling water.

Spent a lot of today's hike looking at flowers plants - really their berries. Saw: rose twisted stalk; solomon's seal; false solomon's seal; red baneberry; white baneberry (both have berry color variations which is a whole 'nuther discussion) and rattlesnake plantain (an orchid sp) to name a few. Lots of mushrooms too.

When I got up in the middle of the night the sky was lit up by the moon and our campsite was mottled with patches of the deepest black and brightest white. No need for a flashlight to see, but impossible to tell what was in those black patches either. Tiptoed my way out, hoping not to trip over a moose on my way to the bathroom ;->


Day 8: Island Mine to Windigo.
As you come in to any of the campgrounds on Isle Royale one of the first things you see is a post with the campground map mounted on it. At Island Mine this post was very visible from our campsite (the whole site is under mature maples with little ground cover) and we could watch hikers stop, look at the map, look around and decide which campsite they wanted to head to first.

While we were eating breakfast I turned around towards the trail where the campground map was located. And there was a wolf just passing through! It stopped about where all the hikers do and looked around. My partner and I watched it, wondering if we dared make a move to get the camera as the wolf continued to amble down the trail. We spotted a radio collar on it's neck. As we considered if she could get the camera before it got too far away the wolf came abreast of a path that led into our campsite, stopped, and decided to head down that trail. Curious about our tent, it's open door and food? We didn't - and couldn't - wait to find out. One thing the rangers talk to all visitor's about is appropriate behavior of the wolves. They do not want them becoming comfortable around humans, so you are told to chase them off if they do not run off on their own. We had been watching this one, letting it be because it was continuing down the trail. With the turn towards camp came the need to scare it off. I got up and did so. And it ran off right away.

No pictures, but a wonderful chance to observe the wolf. When we got into Windigo that afternoon we had an opportunity to talk to Val, one of the rangers, and learn more about this particular wolf. A younger male, large for Isle Royale (about 85 lbs), they thought he may have been the alpha of a pack, but now think he is vying for that position. Is acting curious around humans despite the radio collar (which you would think would make him wary of humans after that experience).

The trail out of Island Mine involves a bit of uphill for the first half mile or so and then you begin the gradual and then steeper descent into Washington Creek and Windigo. While most of the hike went along quickly and easily, the descent involved a bit of maneuvering to protect my right knee. I ended up figuring out a way to avoid bending my knee on the steeper slopes and was able to end the hike in relative comfort, though dreaming of an ice pack or a dip in Lake Superior for that leg ;->

Unlike last year, the campground was almost empty and we had our pick of shelters. Found one to our liking, set-up camp and lounged. We lucked out and had a blueberry bush right in camp, so augmented our oatmeal the next morning. No mega fauna at this campground, though we heard rumors that the moose were hanging out. Did see the camp fox while out walking and stood around admiring it for awhile. Finished the ribbed hat that night. Managed to do all the decreasing and even finish the top all with only a 16 inch circular needle ;->

Day 9: Windigo to Grand Portage and on to Duluth.
It is hard to leave the island and return to the mainland. By the midpoint of the trip I could no longer remember what day we had arrived and did not know the date/day unless I checked my watch. When we met folks along the trail it was an effort to be able to tell them how long we had been out there, when we had arrived, etc. Most of my days were spent with an empty mind. Maybe noting what plants/wildlife/birds I was seeing, but often just clear of everything. Walking meditation. The great thing about my hiking partner is that she likes silence also. We often do not talk most of the day, an occasional conversation related to breaks, lunch, meals - but more often than not - silence. A perfect antidote to modern life.

Greeted at the mainland by a note on my car from a friend that was on the island earlier - made me laugh. Getting back into a car and driving is a bit weird after 9 days of moving at 1.5 miles/hour. Nice thing is there is very little traffic on the north shore. Eases the transition. No cell phone reception until you get close to Grand Marais, and pretty spotty after that, so another easing back into the modern world.

Wisely had the rest of the week off and spent yesterday puttering around, cleaning out my email, cleaning gear and doing laundry. Paid a visit to the chiropractor who worked on my IT band and I can now walk downhill pain free (good thing where I live, what with the 36 steps to the house). He thinks I can be back running very soon, which is better than I was thinking. I had resigned my self to no running for a while to let this heal. Did choose not to go out to Bangin' in the Brush today as it is a very hilly course. Have soccer tomorrow, will take this Wednesday off from the trail series and then see from there.

Pictures from the trip? I did not bring my camera, so am waiting to get some from my partner. Hope to have them soon and will post the best ones. Enjoy your weekend!

Isle Royale here we come!!!

Quick post as I really should be finishing up the packing!

Left to do:

- pack coffee and hot chocolate (vital, life sustaining fluids)
- pack clothes, repack clothes when I realize there is no room for food and other necessities in my pack
- put tent in car
- put boots in car
- put trekking poles in car
- put bag of food in car
- put stove, fuel bottles and water filter in car
- remember food for tomorrow morning's breakfast (plain yogurt, grapenuts)
- shop for last minute items (AAA batteries for headlamp; turkey jerky...)
- haircut (yeah, it is short already, but I am thinking a buzz would be nice for the trip - easier to wash if it ever warms up enough. Had very, very short hair for 6 months once - I loved it!)

Weather forecast is pretty good - may be warm out there this year. Looks like winds from the south/southwest tomorrow, gusting to 25 mph which could mean an interesting ferry ride! We leave Grand Portage at 8:00 am, heading for Washington Harbor and Windigo on the far western end of the island. Stop there for a talk from the ranger and registration then head out for Rock Harbor (far eastern end of the island). Due to arrive at Rock Harbor around 3:30 pm. There will be at least one stop on the way at McCargoe Cove to drop off campers.

Haven't decided yet if we will hike the first day or not, may depend on a couple of factors: what time we really get in to Rock Harbor; and how crowded that campsite is. At some point in the next 24 hours we need to decide a bit more about which of the 2.5 hiking options we are going to do. It only varies at the beginning of our trip (first three to four days). One option has us doing some very short days; Jon suggested I bring my running shoes along and go for a run if that is the case. Tempting, but for their weight! Though not a minimalist backpacker, 9 days is putting us at the max weight limit as is (what with that 4 person tent we bring). Too bad I can't run in something like Vibram's Five fingers ;->

Remember to vote in your local primary today, this is your chance to help determine who you get to vote for in November. Have a good couple of weeks!

NMTC Brown's Point Run

Race Report

Despite the IT band issues I lined up for the first race of the NMTC Fall Series. A lot of people turned out for this race - 80 to 90 I believe. I had brought along a high school runner I know to join in the fun. I reminded him of the race length - 5 miles - and that it was a very hilly course, but knowing he is much faster than I am told him to line up closer tot he front of the pack than I do.

As we waited to get started we chatted about the year the hornets were really bad on the course. I opted to bail out and run a "short course" that year, especially as we had seen people come flying back towards us batting at the insects. No thanks!

Headed out at what felt like an okay pace, but which rather too soon led to a bit of wheezing (something in the air? humidity?). Hung in there, counting the 'dips' along the way (each dip is bracketed by hills) in the hope that I would remember how many there were and could gauge my return trip by counting them down.

This course is run on one of the cross country ski trails in the Superior Municipal Forest. The trail was in great shape, mowed, and not too wet despite recent rains. It was a cool day (mid 60's) but humid and I figured hornets wouldn't be an issue. Hah!

By the time we were 4-5 dips in, and many of the lead runners had gone by, I was wondering where my young friend was. There had only been one side trail and I was pretty sure that he would remember to follow the pink ribbons, besides there were so many people out there that missing the proper trail would have been tough. We finally spied him walking back toward us. He had gone out way to fast, thinking it was a 5 K, charged all of the hills, and was wiped out. I shouted encouragement as I went by and then kept on going.

Made it to the turn around (at the top of a hill) and headed back, saying "hi" to folks along the way. Saw a friend who commented on her way by that "the bees are waiting for you". I thought she was making a joke. A few moments later I heard buzzing near my right ear and then... the sting! On the back of my right arm. Slapped the hornet away and tried to find a little extra speed to get away. Escaped with only one sting and no ill effects. Every time I get stung I wonder in the back of my mind if this time I will have an allergic reaction (okay - a little paranoid on my part, but I have more allergies now than when I was younger). Joked with Rick, the guy I was running with that if I started wheezing again to take off for the finish, find one of the 5 doctors that were at the race, and tell them to come back ready to insert a trach ;->

The rest of the race was pretty uneventful after that. Caught up with my friend (still walking), provided some encouragement and passed on by. I knew he would be okay in the long run, though he told me later that he "lost his lunch" out on the course. Led to a lively discussion on whether or not running at that effort is a good idea (he is planning on doing more of these). As with many of the NMTC races, this one finished uphill. By then I had slowed a bit (no negative splits for me) and was happy to finish with some spring in my step.

Got some water and headed back to cheer my friend in. He finished running, which was a great thing after a rocky middle of the race. I think he learned a lot about pacing that day. Oh yeah, counting the dips on the way back? I lost track (as usual). Too much conversation and other distractions ;-> I believe that there are 7 "dips" and 15 major hills on this course (maybe 18 counting the ones at the beginning/end and just before entering the ski trail). Good start to a cross-country season!

Next up:

Adult soccer league. Games start this Sunday.

Isle Royale for 9 days (leave Tuesday)

Bangin' in the Brush (race is two days after I get off Isle Royale - not sure about signing up for this due to the IT band issue, but maybe 9 days of backpacking will be the rest I need)

I will miss one soccer game and two NMTC runs while I am on vacation, but the trade-off is worth it.

Need to finish up trip preparations and make sure the bills are paid before I head out of town.

Found my book for the trip ( I have a very hard time sleeping without reading first - weight trade-off). Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. Love her stuff! This one is over 500 pages so it should last me the whole trip.

What to do about trip knitting? I am leaving towards a project on circular needles again - less chance for disaster. Good way to while away the time on the ferry if nothing else.

OTN: a new hat (I haven't forgotten the mittens). "Turn a Square" by Jared Flood . haven't knit something in worsted weight in a long time. Depending on how the top shaping turns out I may want to adapt this to sport weight yarns (just a little math involved). Will try to post a picture before I head off on vacation.

Enjoy your weekend!

Knitting Update

Finished the Trekking socks



Not much yarn left over. Not sure if this skein would have been enough for a larger persons' foot. Jon wears a size 9 (I think). Materials: Trekking XXL color 108, lot 6728. 75% wool, 25% nylon. 100 grams = 420 m (459 yards).

Guess I can't avoid the bird mittens now ;-> What I need to figure out is how to combine the multiple charts into one so it is easier to just knit. Tape, larger magnetic board.... just not very portable. Suppose I could finish listening to that book I was in the middle of during my drive across Minnesota earlier this week.

On the other hand, it is nice out and there are so few days like this left. Much more appealing to be outdoors doing something. The wind is really picking up right now (S 17 G to 26 mph) so that affects choices of what to do. Sailed yesterday (anticipating these winds - these winds would make for a wild ride). Thought about running errands by bike, but biking into a headwind like this is not my favorite. Hiked earlier today (with Jon and Porter). Taking a day off from running as my right knee and thigh are feeling tight (dang ITB) plus it is in the low 80's here.

Off to Ashland tomorrow to watch Northland College Women's soccer.

Have a nice rest of the weekend!

Brief interlude at work and then...

it is off to Isle Royale for 9 days of 'bliss'.

Can you tell I am really looking forward to this trip?!? Last year was my first trip to the island. I spent 7 days out there, hiked around 30 odd miles, and fell in love. No phones, few humans, lots of moose all combined to outweigh the less than delightful weather we had on that trip (though I still hold that backpacking in 40 - 50 degree rainy weather is the best weight loss method I have come across ;->).

This year we are planning a bit more ambitious hike. From Rock Harbor to Windigo. Means spending most of one day on the Voyageur II ferry from Grand Portage, but will let us hike essentially the whole island. We will be in an area that sees more wolf activity. Last year I thought I heard wolves howling early one morning, hoping we hear them for sure this year.

We have planned a couple of options for our itinerary, one includes a "rest day" to coincide with a campsite near a sandy beach. that may change if the weather is cold and wet. Moving is better than sitting on a day like that. Very few campsites allow fires. Huddling around the camp stove is not the same, nor do I want to carry the extra fuel that would require.

Final preparations are in order. WE are not ultralight campers by any means, but do try to cut weight where possible. I will be packing the 4-person Eureka Alpine Meadows. Way too much if the weather is nice, but when a gale is howling off of the big lake it is nice to have the space. an added bonus is the ability to drop the tent body and leave the fly up - nice shelter on a rainy morning for packing up.


On the knitting front: didn't finish the bird mittens while out west, but did get this much (and a little more) done:


Driving through mountain passes and along interstates is - and isn't - good for knitting from a chart. Besides, there were interesting conversations to be had in those two days of driving.

Almost done with the trekking socks though. Noticed along the way that the Yarn Harlot was working on the same socks (actually socks using the same color). Just need to finish the toe decreases, kitchener those stitches together, weave in an end or two, and Jon has a new pair of socks. Then it is on to a pair for a gift. All very hush, hush right now. They may be the Isle Royale project, that is if I decide I want to mess with double points while hiking. If not, I am sure someone needs a new hat ;-> There are a few races that I could donate a hat to and some new patterns I wouldn't mind trying out.

Speaking of races....

Ran my first 5K yesterday of the fall season. Duluth-Superior Pride 5K Run, Walk and Roll. It was timed event, but only competitive if you wanted it to be. I have run in this race all 4 of it's years. The race organizers do a great job with this small event. Wonderful "goody bag", coffee, treats, lots of water. Gotta love the variety of folks that turn out. This year was a fast group! Competitive men's race, and pretty competitive women's. I ended up second woman overall, but struggled almost the whole time to maintain a under 9 minute mile pace. Lack of training shows. By the end I was wheezing so bad I think I drowned out the train passing by. Something about the Western Waterfront Trail always does me in. Toxic fumes off the bay???

Off to do a short hike along the SHT before the heat and humidity get too bad (and while the sourdough rests).

Road Trip Photos

I am back!

What fits in a Fit:


Hard to see the bike and rocket box on top. A goodly portion of our load on the way out was a 100-lb bass amp. Yes, we did make it through the mountain passes, but not very quickly. I did learn the value of shifting into D3 on the way back though.

Maud S Canyon - my first run:


This picture was taken the day after, when I went back to hike the trail I had run. We arrived in Butte on Thursday (Duluth to Billings, MT on day one, Billings to Butte on day two). Butte is at around 5400' elevation, quite a change for this flatlander from Minnesota. I decided to head out and run a trail in town as an antidote to two days of sitting in a car. The "kids" dropped me off at the trail head with the promise to come back in about an hour to pick me up (1 hour to run 5 miles seemed reasonable). It was kind of overcast, but no prediction of rain.....

I made it to the top of Maude S Canyon in about 35 minutes, with the skies getting darker and winds stronger the whole while. Made me think of what the folks at Leadville had gone through. Took a quick look around, then headed back down the trail the way I had come up. It is so much easier running down then up; though the switchbacks were tough in spots, no trees to grab on to and swing around on the way down. It started to rain as I was approaching the railroad track that bisects the hill, then it started to hail! Now I really felt close to the Leadville folks (minus 95 miles). Got to the bottom of the hill and no car, no kids. Took shelter from the wind and rain here:


Crouched behind this rock waiting for the kids to get back. There were two other cars in the lot - no one offered me shelter. Suppose I could have knocked and asked - and probably would have - if I 'd had to wait much longer.

My destination:



Off to the left are more hills and the (a) Continental Divide. Apparently, at some point in the future, this trail will connect with the Continental Divide trail (if it doesn't already).

View back down the canyon:



Despite growing up in Minnesota with it's dense greenery, I found this area beautiful. A bit barren, but I was fascinated by the plant life and the geology (Boulder Batholith, granite and who knows what else). Did get reassurance before heading out that there would be no rattlesnakes on this trail. Did see a snake though! Looked garter snake like, from what I saw of it.

I think going for a run the first day really helped me adjust to the altitude. Though I just about passed out in the first 5 minutes of the run. The trail did not look that steep, so off I went. I was walking pretty soon as the world started to look a little dark ;-> I ended up doing a mix of walking and running up the 1000 foot climb. But like I said, the run down was great! Took only 25 minutes, even with needing to slow way down to navigate the corners of the switchbacks.

On Saturday we headed to Toll Mountain (in the Highland Range) and a national forest campground. I sat in the back while Sarah drove up the very windy mountain road. Some of the highlights of that trip:


I loved the color of this lichen, so intense.

The view from atop a rock outcropping:


Got in another run on Sunday, despite the heat (mid - upper 90's). Waited until late in the evening and headed up to the "M" above the school to do a trail run. Erik and Sarah were on their mountain bikes. It was quite a few blocks of uphill running to reach the trail, then up the side of the hill to get to a trail that ran around the mountain. This was one of the first single-track rides for Sarah and it was a doozy. Tough stuff. She did well. I ended up running for about half an hour, mostly on trail with some roads as I headed back to campus. Got in at least 8 miles or so of trail running, plus another 5 or more miles of hiking all told. Think the 5 days of altitude training will show???

On the trip home I was by myself in an almost empty car. I planned on spending the night in Dickinson, ND, which is about the halfway point. It is about 30+ miles east of Medora, ND which is where the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is located. Took some time to drive a loop road in the park as I really wanted to see the badlands. What I got a really close look at was bison:



On the way back out I came upon this scene:


All the park literature essentially says: "Do not piss off the bison. Do not startle the bison"

Wish I had a photo of the bison next to my car, but I can tell you, they are bigger than my car. I parked myself on the road and waited. I did not think it a wise idea to drive into the middle of a herd of bison.

These folks (with a little encouragement from a ranger) didn't seem to have any qualms:


After they drove through the bison gathered in the middle of the road. I don't know if you can see it, but there are two motorcyclists on the other side of that herd. They are responsible for finally clearing a path. Way braver than me!

Made it home this afternoon. I am off to bed soon, then a day off tomorrow to get caught up on a weeks' worth of stuff. Back to work Thursday, Friday and next week and then off to Isle Royale!

Oh yeah, there is a knitting store in Butte. Run by a great lady in her early 80's with ties to this area. Got some yarn for a secret project....

Road Trip!!!

Leaving for Butte, Montana in the morning.

Why Butte? Montana Tech. Daughter number two is heading off to college! Why yes, that means the wildknits household will be an empty nest!

"What will you do with all my time?" is one of the most frequently asked questions (followed by "will you cry"). Hmmmmm, after 20+ years of being a parent I think I can find a few things to do ;-> And, in general, I am not a cryer....

Not saying I won't miss the girls, I will. But I think I have enough interests to fill the gaps ;->

We are driving to Butte - two days there, three days in town, then two days back. I have packed only two knitting projectsfor the trip: the bird mittens (they are intended for this child so I NEED to finish them on the trip) and the trekking socks. There will be no time for knitting on the way back as I will be the only driver.

I am hoping to hook up with the Butte running club for their Saturday morning run. No luck contacting them by email through their website though. Love the name: Piss and Moan Running Club :->

The next four to five weeks are full of vacations. I will be back from Butte one and half weeks and then I head out for nine days on Isle Royale. Ah, quiet! The highest technology at our disposal will be our stove (MSR Whisperlite), sleeping bags (Montbell Stretch Burrow), backpacks (Granite Gear), and rain gear (Red Ledge). Cell phones do not work on the island (other than the one the rangers have at their headquarters).

So, goals for the next week: Stay healthy, safe travel, get the kid moved in and semi-settled at college, enjoy my first trip to Montana and it's mountains, and explore some new running trails during my travels.

IT band is doing much better - put the orthotics back in my motion control shoes. Porter is kindof doing better, but tomorrow will be a stressful day for him as we prepare to leave. I did speak with our Vet and have a 'script on hand in case he gets too anxious. Serious conditioning will have to wait until I am back.

The fall racing season is just around the corner and I need to get back into shape! First race will be the Duluth-Superior Pride Run 5K on August 30th. Then the NMTC Fall Series starts up on September 3rd with the Brown's Point Run in Superior.

Oh yeah, and I signed up for Fall Soccer, so Sunday's will be spent on the soccer field.

Will try to remember the camera and post some pics from the trip. See you in a week or so!