Notice: I've taken a part-time job, and it's definitely affecting my blogging time. I'll continue to add content here as often as possible. Pertinent guest posts are always welcome.
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Terry Bernhardt with the new Kek Guidebook (photo from NCTA) |
based on a post on the North Country Trail Association blog
In April of this year, a new and updated guide to the Kekeabic Trail section of the NCT was quietly introduced. The original guidebook was issued in 1996 and needed serious overhauling. Both the big blowdown of 1999 and several fires have impacted the trail since that time.
A Field Grant from the NCTA was used to fund the book. The project was led by Terry Bernhardt (former KTC President), Mark Stange (current KTC President), the author, and NCTA’s Matt Rowbotham who produced the trail maps.
The Kekekabic Trail is the western section of the top portion of the Minnesota Arrowhead. This part of the trail is within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
This segment is in the new Kekekabic Trail Guide
See
Kekekabic Trail Club
if you like this article, click the Blip chiclet!
from the Superior Hiking Trail Association
The Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail details over 277 miles of footpath on the North Shore of Lake Superior from Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth, MN. to the Canadian border.
The new (sixth) version has the newest sections from Fox Farm Rd to Cty 301.
This is about 28 miles. Also the guide has been altered to have the Jay Cooke and Duluth Sections first, as they should be. The trail begins at Jay Cooke at the visitor center and follows park trails for 6 miles until the Grand Portage trailhead. The gap between Martin Rd in Duluth and Fox Farm East trailhead is about 25 trail miles.
The Guide is layed out section-by-section with each section providing trailhead parking directions, campsite and water source info, and a mile-by-mile description of the trail and scenic features. Anyone who has used the SHTA guides recognizes that theirs is an excellent and easy-to-use format.
See
Superior Hiking Trail Association
Pere Marquette loop
follow link below for full size
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from Alan Fark
If you're paddling Michigan rivers, you know it's a hassle to shuttle your own kayak or canoe back-and-forth from the start and end point, and you need a buddy to help you do it.
Here are some circuits which can be done without shuttling, and which combine hiking and paddling. They can be done solo. Most are on the North Country Trail. These are day trips, not overnights.
Either drop your canoe or kayak off at the upstream portion (lock it with a bicycle lock or hide it in weeds, and don't forget to leave paddles and life vest away from the boat), drive to your endpoint, hike upstream and paddle back to your car. You can also obviously just start paddling from the upstream point and walk back upstream to your car after leaving your boat at the "bottom." This latter strategy runs the risk of missing the bend in the river where you're supposed to stop, if you're unfamiliar with the landing spot.
Alan has provided maps and some info for five different loops. There is a 6th possibility for a short trip, on the map above. You can begin at Upper Branch Bridge, hike the NCT and Sulak Access Road and then paddle down to Upper Branch. This makes a short day trip... nice for families.
See Hike-Paddle Loops
See Boating
