Backpacking posts, page 7 of 9.

Rainy Supe Loop: Fremont Saddle to Marsh Valley

Cloudy grey skies over Peralta Trailhead

With the cooler temperatures of the Arizona winter something unexpected happened - backpacking in the Superstition Wilderness suddenly sounded appealing. And I'm not talking about the eastern end, the green hills around Reavis Ranch and Campaign. The western and central Superstitions, the desert…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted December 30, 2015
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Mound Mountain - Highpoint of the Superstitions

Orion's Belt under a bright moon

Frost sparkled evilly on the tent's rainfly under the dim light of my headlamp. Against my will my teeth began to chatter ferociously and I shuffled in place in a vain attempt to warm up. It was terribly cold this morning in the eastern Superstitions, much colder than either Chris or I expected, and…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted November 22, 2015
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Some Isle Royale Hiking Routes

Along the Tobin Harbor Trail

There are a lot of hiking options on Isle Royale that are more reasonable than my ambitious perimeter loop. Most people would rather have short days and time to relax at camp, with the additional bonus that this could lead to repeat visits in the future. This was apparent by the discussions I had…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted October 20, 2015
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Lessons Learned from Isle Royale

Planning for the Isle Royale solo adventure stretched out months before I stepped onto the Queen at Copper Harbor. There were itineraries to sync up, pieces of gear to purchase, calories to count, and more than a few tests of physical readiness. Even after all this preparation the island would teach…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted October 13, 2015
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Isle Royale, Day 9: Thunderstorms over Rock Harbor

Dim light over the trail

Several thunderstorms had passed over Moskey Basin during the night. These were the real thing: bright flashes of lightning ruining the darkness, bursts of thunder rolling over forested hills and water, and heavy rain dumping down on the shelters roof above me. Yet now everything was quiet. For the…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted October 6, 2015
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Isle Royale, Day 8: 24 Miles to Moskey Basin

Cool morning light over Lake Siskiwit

Soft pinks and purples swirled above the chilled fog on Lake Siskiwit. Shivering through my sweaty shirt I continued to pump water from the swampy inlet on the western shoreline. It was early, still thirty minutes before the sunrise, and I had made darn good time this morning. Close to four miles…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted September 30, 2015
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Isle Royale, Day 7: A Long Way to Malone Bay

Brave fox at Siskiwit Bay

The fox stared at me with alert eyes. It was a beautiful creature, sleek red fur and a fluffy tail too large for its body, and seemed complacent about my presence. I tried to take a few photos and grimaced as I noticed the rising sun washing out most of the details. If I tried to get closer it would…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted September 28, 2015
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Isle Royale, Day 6: Sunrise from Feldtmann Ridge

A bright moon hanging high above the night forest

Bright moonlight shone down over Feldtmann Lake and reflected off its glassy surface. I stood here for only a minute, packed and ready to move, before quietly making my way down the path. To return to the main trail I had to walk past every other campsite and I didn't want to wake anyone else up.…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted September 23, 2015
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Isle Royale, Day 5: Hard Start on Feldtmann

Dim morning light over the cove

Leaving Huginnin Cove was tough. It really is a beautiful location and my little camp on the east side was perfect. Also, the cove felt like the end of the Minong (even though it's technically a dedicated loop) and is pleasantly isolated. The thought of taking an entire day off to rest from…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted September 21, 2015
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Isle Royale, Day 4: Magnificence of the Minong

The first climb up the ridge

Dull grey skies over the trail junction reflected my stormy mood this morning. The trail from Little Todd Harbor had been a dark, slippery mess and both my boots and pants were already thoroughly soaked from heavy dew. Also, just as I crested the last rise to the junction, I realized that I had left…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted September 18, 2015
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