Let me introduce myself

Hi, Im a new member of the forum, and I thought I'd let you know a little about myself.

I live in Minnesota, and have BP'd for about 20 years (Im 37 now).

My favorite trail right now is the Superior Hiking Trail on the North Shore of Lake Superior, of which I have probably seen about half. This summer, I have made it a goal to see the rest, and explore the lesser known Border Route Trail.

I have hiked Isle Royale, sections of the AT in Tenn and Maine, Base Camp in Nepal, various trails in China, Philmont (BSA camp in New Mexico), and a few other places.

I have done a lot of trial and error camping to learn what things work and what things don't for me. You could probably ask if I really needed to try doing a 3 day trip in N Minnesota w/o a sleeping bag, and i will say that there was definitely a lesson learned there (picture a bivy sack opening up, and a very sleepy guy emerging with a sweater on over his pants, wool socks for gloves and nose warmer, and a mini mag lite with dying batteries because he thought that he was getting a little warmer at 3am with it on and shoved down his shirt). Learning can be fun.

My experimenting has led to the "weight2funratio" concept: The less you carry, the less you need to carry, and the more fun you have. That knowledge finally hit home when last year i had a 4 day pack weight of under 20#, and learned that the weight skimping on everything, even food, was really effective. I went further, was less fatigued, needed less food, and fully enjoyed every part of the trail.

I especially love trying to make a better, lighter, homemade meal. I use modified recipes from "The Hungry Hikers Book of Good Cooking," a few from "Backcountry Gourmet," and now some great ones from this forum. The dehydrator is a very good thing.

Not into Winter BPing, but like cabin camping when it hits the deep freeze up here. Seriously, Winter in MN is beautiful, but very cold in the woods (subzero is the rule), so i like the indoor option after Xc skiing.

There ya have it.

Nice to meet y'all, and I look forward to having something useful to report or comment on in the future.

Howdy. I have seen pictures of the North shore of Lake Superior. Very nice. When I was young I read a book called Paddle-To-The-Sea. I think it started up that way. One of my favourite books. It was also a National Film Board film. We read the book in grade 1 or 2 when we were learning about the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Cheers.

http://www.nfb.ca/collection/films/fiche/?v=h&lg=en&id=10584

DANG! Let us ask YOU some questions! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Seems like you belonged here from the beginning W2FR.

I can relate to your MN adventures because most of my family is around the Twins <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Especially about your 'little' winter fiasco; most of us have been there and then returned to reality and the necessary gear. I camped like that up in Ely ONCE <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />, then down in Little Sauk where we had snow machines <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> on the farm there.

It's much easier to reply to your posts knowing your experience level. It also helps when you in turn post answers to our questions what experience you have.

Welcome aboard!

Welcome aboard! Sounds like you'll fit right in!

You can come to CA for your winter camping. It only gets below zero in Jan. Usually. My mom is from central MN, last time I was back there was the summer Jellystone burned. Oh yes, welcome.:)

It's nice to meet you.

I'm new to this forum myself, though I have literally been lurking for years. If you enjoy the Appalachians, WV has some really nice areas to hike and camp.

I was in Minnesota this past summer, but it was all city time for a soccer tourney with my daughter.

Nice to meet ya JAK.

Superior still gives me goose bumps when I come over the ridge into Duluth from MPLS. The entire shoreline is fantastic. Along the trail in MN, you pass thru probably 8 or 9 state parks, all with rushing rivers and dramatic waterfalls. The forest ranges from pine to maple with patches of birch and tamarack, sometimes even in the same 10 mile stretch. Its awesome... except for the mosquitos.

I followed that link you provided: what a great story. The native presence along the N Shore is weak now b/c the shoreline property is so valuable. Grand Portage (last stop before Can), however, is still native land. Its depressed, but indigenous. The overall feeling of the north shore is still very raw and rough, though. And the shoreline as you enter Can is amazing. Anybody whos in G Portage on a sunny day needs to find Mount Josephine and climb it. You can actually see Isle Royale (25 miles out into the lake), and Thunder Bay, Ont is amazing!

weight2funratio said "Not into Winter BPing"

So you only backpack 3 weeks out of the year? Sorry, I couldn't resist that one <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I am technically a native of MN myself (from Northfield area), but I have been living down South (SC, NC, TN and VA) for over half my life. No disrespect, but I would much rather live down here. The midwest is a great place to hang out in during the summer, but the other 9 months out of the year are too dang cold. I did a stint with my job a few years back that had me living up in MI for 6 months and WI for 2 1/2 years, and I couldn't wait to get back down here.

At any rate, welcome.

Happy to be here, Earth!

I can tell ya more funny experiments on the trail that involve crappy backpacks and discount boots and so forth. Funny now; painful then.

My trail experiences in SE Asia were mixed in terms of style of backpacking. Nepal was mostly lodge 2 lodge, so no food or tent; same with a few parts in China. My wife and I had a great time on the border of Kazakhstan sleeping in yurts for about a week in the mountains, and last year we ran into a guy who was solo trekking from Dharamsala, India to Tibet(?). He hydrates his food overnight and eats it cold in the am to save stove and fuel weight... It was snowing when we met him as we were coming down the mountain on a day hike to an alpine meadow. Cold, hydrated carrots on the morning of day 2 in 3 ft of snow would be enuf to send me back where I just came from. But I applaud his idea. But no coffee??! Sheesh.

I hope one day to live in ELY. Its a really cool place, but a little out of the way, if ya know what Im sayin...

Yeah. Its 15 degrees today and everybodys calling it a heat wave..

I feel ya.

That would be a tough weekend getaway, I think, but I have seen some kind of teleporting machines they have now on the news... or was that star trek?

I just started lurking this week, but it make me feel icky, so i joined. Then I ticked Earthling off by being all "hows about ya tell me what I want to know and leave it at that," and I felt even more icky. But now its all OK, and I dont think Earth will spit on my Platy valve when I see him on the trail anymore, which makes me feel fuzzy and warm again.

Was the tourney at U of MN? I live right by there, and there are some cool trails all along the river running south to Minnehaha Falls. Sometimes i go rogue backpacking down there to test my gear. Its kinda "hobo", but its fun.

Maybe the tourney was in Blaine. Yuck. Outer ring suburb with huge houses and no local businesses in the strip malls. Hope it wasn't there.

That's exactly where the tourney was! USA Cup. We got knocked out in the quarterfinals. But it was a great experience for the kids and we got to see some good soccer on several different levels, as well as teams from all over the world.

Saw enough awesome country to know that there would be plenty to do up there outdoor-wise. We may be headed that way again this summer.

The manual version is called a thumb.:)

Right, theres a big sports center on the outskirts of Blaine. Thats about 1/2 hour out of the city to the the north, so you're on your way up to the good backpacking country in the north woods.

Im probably too hard on Blaine, but its a little too far from the city for my taste, but not far enough away to take advantage of the nice country you can see if you go a little further. Personally, I just like being in the city.

If you come again in the summer, you should check out a place on the border of Wisconsin (only about 45 minutes due west) called Taylor's Falls You could easily work a night of camping there into your trip. You really shouldn't miss it.

Weight...

Did you get your teleporter from Hammacher-Schelmmer? I could use one of those... was it reasonably priced? Have you had your signal jumbled yet? I hear that that can be tricky to sort out when it happens.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

MNS

Nothing to feel icky about. Welcome. My older daughter's husband is from Hillman, MN. We had the wedding on their farm. Nice place, nice people.

Cliff

Geeze <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> W2FR! I have friends all around the Twins, WBL, over near the 'carnival' on 169 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />, Bloomington,etc.

Ah, taylor falls, been there camped that <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> I like the river East of the twins for exploring before it gets unruly further South.

Northfield MN, where the WHOLE town smells like Cherrios! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I flew in and out of a small strip there in a private plane with a friend a few times. Main Street, one traffic light and yer' outta' there! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

***over near the 'carnival' on 169 ***

The area around the Rennaisance Festival (Shakopee and Chaska) is really great, because it is a really old community. There are houses there from the mid 1800's. Im in the building trades, so I really like the old houses and the history that goes with em.

I like that stretch of the Mississippi too. Further up the St Croix, which joins Ol Miss at the Twin Cities is also real nice.

As for WBL, "go Bears!"

See I'z knew youse was one of us <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Oh and don't forget to bring a hotdish to the party <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Say hi to my sister in Shakopee will ya <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

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