Bear Lake on our last morning
This is what it is all about
The dirty and much fitter version of Jessy
View from one of our camp sites. Here's my little tent.
Jessy in Minnesota
The group consisting 12 teenage campers and three staff
Wolf prints, we saw hundreds during the first portion of the trail.
Most of my view for 9 days was a bunch of backpacks, but I was lucky to see the birch trees!This summer I worked at the camp I have been going to since I was 10 years old. I was teaching environmental education there as I have done in South Carolina. I was asked to lead 12 teenagers on a 9 day backpacking trip. Apparently everyone thought I have backpacked before, which was certainly not the case.
The only item I could use for the hike that I had brought along with me to the camp was my amazing water proof backpack! Everything else I had at home, so needless to say there was a lot of borrowing going on. I managed to get everything I needed, including biodegradable soap for when we did happen to find a body of water.
Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT is one of the 10 best hikes in the world. It's rated the 5th best in the US. It goes from Duluth Minnesota to Canada along Lake Superior. It also goes through the Sawtooth Mountains. It's up and down, over massive rocks, through swamps, through mud, through birches and over bridges. It is all breathtakingly beautiful!
The first day we walked maybe a mile, and I thought I was going to die! It was hot and I was tired of walking. We also managed to break a water pump that night, but luckily David (the trips director) ran out to buy a new one since we were still close enough to the road. We did hear wolves howling that night and in the morning, which was a highlight of the trip for me.
The trail ended up being amazing, the sights were breath taking. Sure it was challenging, but this made it even more worth the while. The teenagers I got to know were such great individuals! Especially the one who boiled my water for my coffee every morning.
For anyone wanting to try this hike, I would give yourself plenty of time to do it. I could have kept going after the 9 days, but figured it had to end at some point. Make sure to bring a good bag, a water pump, camera, and a sense of adventure! Helps to have good company too.
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