Wednesday, June 1, 2011
A Major Malfunction and Misadventure Morning!!!
I woke up in my van at the Pincushion Mountain Trailhead/Grand Marais Overlook. I rolled down into Grand Marais to the Holiday Station for an Egg McMuffin-like sandwich and a hot chocolate. I had gotten gas, too. As I walked back to my van by the gas pump I knocked the hot chocolate out of my hand. It smashed to the ground and splashed all over the place. I picked up the cup and threw it away. Then I made a quick attempt to clean it up with the paper towels at the gas pumps. That didn’t work very well. It was around 6:00 am in the morning, and I blamed it on getting up too early.
I had a bottle of water in the van that I could wash down the egg sandwich with, so I just headed out. What’s the sense of going in to get another hot chocolate, only to spill it again. I headed up Highway 61 to Hovland, then went up the Arrowhead Trail to Jackson Lake Road then turned around and parked on the side of the road near the SHT crossing. There is no SHT parking lot here, but there is a spot where you can see that other people have parked. I got out and started looking through my gear for my Spot Messenger, so I could mark my spot, but I didn’t find it anywhere. The last place I remembered using it was on the beach at the west end of the Lakewalk last night. I wondered if I left it there. So I hopped in my van and drove 5 miles down to Highway 61, then went about 7 miles west to the west end of the Lakewalk. I turned into the parking lot and parking then went out on the beach and found the Spot Messenger right where I left it. Boy, I was lucky that Eric and Peter had declined me taking them to Duluth. Because if I got down to Duluth, it’s hard telling where I would have went after that. And the Spot Messenger would have still been sitting here on the beach.
I made it back up to the Arrowhead Trail crossing of the SHT, and was getting my gear ready again. Only this time I managed to lock myself out of my van. Oh, my god, this has been one Hellacious morning. I went in back to the L vent window that I sawed open last year, and broke it open. I got up on the bumper and managed to wiggle into the van. The first thing I did when I got my keys was to open the driver’s side window, so I wouldn’t get locked out again.
Finally, at around 7:30 am, I had all my stuff together correctly. I closed the window, locked the car and I was off. Yes, at last I was OFF!! Halleluiah, I was OFF!! I was onto the trail, hopefully all that bad stuff that happened would be left behind me. And I needed to leave all that stuff behind.
To Follow along with photos of this hike Click Here
So much for a super early start, but at least it wasn’t a super late start. 7:30 am is a respectable time. The trail started off as I left it yesterday. It was a creek walk along Carlson Creek. The trail goes along Carlson Creek for quite some time, through some tall pines then some scrubby areas. Pretty soon the trail went into a scrubby area away from the creek.
The fact that I was hiking next to Carlson Creek reminded me of my Scouting Friend John Carlson. Back from 1995 to 2002 I served on the Key Committee for a Boy Scout Camporee called Baraboo Circus Heritage in Baraboo, Wisconsin. John and I worked together on the staff for all those years. John continued on as the Chairperson for the event, until this year, when he is allegedly stepping down. But John has Baraboo Circus Heritage in is blood. Some might say he is Baraboo Circus Heritage, at least it’s heart and soul. I’m sure he will be around in some capacity. Meanwhile, I stepped down from that event and was working on the All Scouter Pow Wow staff for several years until I stepped down after serving as Co-Chairperson.
The trail continued through the scrubby woods crossing some boardwalks. Then I found the spot where the trail was flooded, just like Eric and Peter had mentioned. I too hopped across the area on tree roots. I did get a little wet, but I didn’t mind. Then to add insult, right after the flooded area there was a boardwalk. Where was the boardwalk when I needed it?
The trail didn’t seem to be that well maintained here. There were more frequent downed trees than I had experience so far on the trail. I hoped that would not continue to be the case, because it would slow me down. But Eric and Peter said this section was pretty easy walking, so I had faith. I saw a little beaver lake ahead to the left of the trail. I wondered if the trail would go over that way, but it didn’t. I didn’t want to see that lake anyway, there could have been a moose lurking over there.
I continued to a spot where a bunch of birch trees had been cut down on the right side of the trail. I’m not sure how that happened, but I blamed beavers who had made an ill-fated attempt at making a Beaver Pond. They should have stayed over by the lake where the moose was lurking.
The area around the trail was increasingly becoming scrubby. There were some mature trees but the scrubby trees were taking over. And you know who likes scrubby areas, it’s moose, and I did see some moose dropping on the trail. The trail never did make it over to the little lake, even though I saw it several times out in the distance.
Soon I made it to a more mature woods, with a variety of trees including birch and pines. I was hiking on a small hill and soon I came up to a big swampy area down the hill on the right side of the trail. It was a huge area. I must have walked about 200 yards along the trail, up the hill from this big marshy area, then I came to the sign that said Carlson Pond with a trail going down to a pier made of logs. Going up the hill from the trail was a sign for the South Carlson Pond Campsite. The campsite trail went up a small hill. I went up there, and this is a really cool campsite. There are wetlands to the left of this hill and wetlands to the right.. It seemed as though this campsite was an Island, but it wasn’t. I inspected the campsite, which had lots of room for tents. The campsite had something like a 270 degree view of wetlands, but it was up from the wetlands, not right next to them. This is a cool campsite.
I went down the trail near the log pier and took some photos of the massive Carlson Pond. It was a pond, but there were marshy areas back a quite a ways. Then I headed back on the SHT. The SHT skirts the wetlands down from the campsite. You see the big beaver dam that created Carlson Pond and all the wetlands, then you’re hiking along the creek that has some wetlands with it. You get to the spot where there is the creek crossing. But the little bridge is in disrepair. Somehow I manage to make it across it. Then the trail takes a right and you’re hiking past the beaver dam again and seeing the pond with the big marshy area. It truly is a beautiful spot.
The SHT gently ascends a hill, giving you view of the big marshy area from time to time. Then, finally you are away from the pond and hiking through some mature woods. And again, this is some really easy walking with not many downed trees in the way. Thank you Trail Volunteers!!
The trail keeps going in an uphill pattern, but it is really gradual and not painful at all. It continues the same for I’d say about 3/4 of a mile. There’s really no distinguishing landmark along this stretch until you get to a really tall pine tree. Then you head downhill on a series of steps and hit Tom Lake Road which is flooded. But don’t worry, they have a detour. The detour goes around a marshy area at the base of the hill you just came down. Eventually it hits a much drier Tom Lake Road. Then you go up the hill on Tom Lake Road. After that, it’s pretty easy walking. I set sail down the road.
The road is an old two track logging road which is now a dog sledding road. So it doesn’t matter if the road is flooding for dog sledding, it will just be ice anyway. It probably is good training for the dog team. I really don’t think a vehicle can get down this road anyway, because it is not cleared wide enough for a jeep or truck.
The road went through pines mostly, some of which are starting to encroach upon the road. I kept going at a good pace because there really wasn’t any good view or attractions to look at on this road. It’s a nice enough area, but had no lakes or vistas. After huffing it, I soon made it down to where the SHT departs Tom Lake Road. There’s a normal SHT sign there, giving you distances to upcoming destinations. The Hazel Campsite would be in 0.4 miles and Camp 20 Road would be in 2.6 miles. The Magney Parking Lot, my final destination for today, was still 9.3 miles away. Now I would be entering the Hovland Woods Scientific Area. I wondered if I would meet up with some scientists. The Hazel Campsite is allegedly a waterless campsite. The SHT Guidebook warns you to bring some water with you to the site. But I kept crossing several little creeks on the way to the campsite. But those creeks would probably be dried up later on in the summer.
I made it to the cross trails of the Hazel Campsite. To the left was the trail to the campsite, to the right was the trail to the latrine. I stopped at the campsite and took a break, which would be my first break of the day. I was making really good time, and it was easy hiking like Peter and Eric said. The campsite had the normal wooden planks for benches around the campfire area, plus there were some nice grassy areas to pitch a tent because the woods around the campsite were a little scrubby, letting the sun shine in. This site might be a little hot in the summer.
After my break, I continued down the SHT and found another little creek not far down the trail. So much ado about being a waterless campsite. But that creek too looked like it could dry up. The area around the trail was now decidedly scrubby with very few mature trees. And the only trees that were mature, were too mature, and dead. After a while I crossed another boardwalk with a little creek under it. Then I came to a fairly tall pine tree which didn’t fit in with the scrubby area. This was the begining of a different type of forest. It wasn’t exactly a pine plantation, but it sure seemed like it. It had pine trees in a variety of sizes, except for the super tall pines.
As I was going through the pines, I came to a spot where you could see a river system off to the left. Either it was a river, or the backwaters of a river, or both. I figured this was the Flute Reed River because the SHT Guidebook said we would be crossing bridges over tributaries of the Flute Reed River. I kept going through the pine meadows and soon I encounters some boardwalks, but no bridges for tributaries. Then I saw a backwater area or pond not far from the trail to the left, Soon I came to a sign that said, Private Land, Stay on the Trail, no campfires or camping and then I crossed my first bridge going over a tributary. It wasn’t all that big of a bridge, but still I had made it to a landmark listed in the guidebook. It looked like they would be working on the bridge, because there was a pile of new wood nearby. I walked through some piney meadow areas some more, then there is a SHT sign with an arrow pointing to the right, so the trail takes a turn. Plus there was another private land sign, too. The pine meadows keep going and going. At one point there is a nice view of some hills in the distance, but for the most part you’re walking through a grassy piney area, trying to decide what tree you’d like to cut down for Christmas.
Then you go into a scrubby area and cross a bridge over the second tributary of the Flute Reed River, Now were making some progress. Then, the trail goes into a mixture of scrubby woods and mature woods for a while, then you come out at the Camp 20 Road Trailhead. I thought I was making real good time. I was definitely going to make it down to Magney before dark. I took photos of the fairly large trailhead, and started down the road. The reason the trailhead is large is that there is no parking on the road due to construction trucks using the road. Evidently there is a gravel pit nearby. I set sail down the road.
To follow along with the photos of this hike Click here
This definitely was a nicer gravel road like the Arrowhead Trail or Jackson Lake Road. It must have to be for the construction vehicles. This would be an almost two mile roadwalk, and I welcomed it. There were some very straight sections of the road, but it had a few curves. I just concentrated on walking, taking the occasional photo. I was in a groove. It was a 1.8 mile roadwalk, and I didn’t time it, but I bet ya I did it in less than 40 minutes. I can easily do a mile within 15 minutes on a treadmill, and this was just like the pace I use on a treadmill. Maybe a wee bit slower, but not much. I made it down around a curve and saw the SHT sign ahead, next to the road. The sign said Devil’s Kettle 3.9 miles, Magney Parking lot, 4.9 miles.
Immediately when you leave the road the trail descends on a series of steps and in less than 100 yards from the road you see the Flute Reed River Bridge. It’s a fairly good sized bridge, and you have to step up 3 steps to get on top of it. The river is a smaller river. not navigatible by a kayak or canoe. But it is a fairly fast moving river. The trail takes a left turn after the bridge and follows the river for a ways. The trail goes flat for a ways, and I encounter something that I haven’t seen before. It’s a boardwalk where smaller logs cut in two foot sections are placed side by side. I think this is called a cordoroy boardwalk. After I finished it I did encounter a regular boardwalk. The trail eventually starts an uphill run. It wasn’t the worst uphill run I have ever encountered, there were no stairs, but the 9 miles of relatively easy hiking I had already done that day were starting to catch up with me.
As went higher I started seeing some rocky and grassy sections of the trail. I got to a spot where there was a grassy two track road. Perhaps the Park Rangers use it to work on the upper part of the park. I continued to see grassy rocky areas along the trail until the trail goes into a big grassy field on top of the hill. It had a great view. I was on Rocky Knob.
Again, I supposed to have some views of Lake Superior. But there were some white clouds over there, blocking the view. At least they weren’t dark clouds like when I went over Hellacious. After crossing the big grassy rocky field on top of Rocky Knob, the trail descends at a pretty good rate through some rocky areas. Once I passed those areas, I was walking in a regular forest. That’s when I came upon a tree with some orange and black shelf fungi hanging on it. I just had to take a photo of me by the tree just to prove what a fungi I am.
There seemed to be a few more downed trees along this section ever since Highway 70. It was nothing too drastic, but maybe they need a trail maintainer here. A ways after Rocky Knob, I start walking next to a deep gorge, where I can hear the river down below. It’s the Brule River. And According to the map, The Brule River and the Flute Reed River are only about a half a mile apart but they never meet because they have Rocky Knob separating them. I keep walking along this gorge for a long time. sometimes seeing the rocky hill on the other side of the gorge, but never seeing the river down below. There are too many trees in the way.
According to the SHT Guidebook, the Trail meets the river two miles from the Magney Parking Lot. That was my next landmark. But I was hiking along this gorge for a long ways. The trail would start going down a ways, then perhaps cross a little creek, then it would go up again. Every time it started going down I thought this was the descent to the river, only to be disappointed when the trail went up again. This happened over a half a dozen times. I was getting tired of it. I started thinking of Brian Ferry’s song “Take me to the River.” I’m sure it’s been recorded by other people, too, and wasn’t his original song, but that’s the version I remember.
The trail goes right next to the gorge in places, with steep views down. But the river is too far down, you can’t see it. Maybe in November, when all the leaves are off the trees you cans see it. And at some places, you’re getting some views of the hills beyond, but never of the river below. This trail keep going and going along the top of this gorge. But then at last you get to a spot where the trail gets serious about going down. It takes a hard right hand turn and starts going down using some tree roots as steps. Then there are some real steps and the trail curves around and keeps going down to some more steps. Pretty soon you see two benches at the bottom and river is beyond them.
I’m not saying that they put the benches at the wrong spot, because it is a nice spot to set down your gear and go explore the river like I did. But, I’m sure the people going the other way would appreciate a bench at the top of that long climb. But I WAS AT THE RIVER. It was only two miles left until the Magney Parking lot. But what a two miles that would be.
The river that I saw was just a channel of the river. I walked down a ways, and the channels came together and it was a wider more spectacular river. And the water is moving really fast. Oh what it must be like to Kayak this river, if it’s even allowed. After the hike when I was home in Madison ,I checked the internet and it says the following about kayaking the river. The REI Whitewater Paddling website says: “The Brule roars through one big, distinctive rapid after another as it races toward the big lake. Big drops don’t give you much notice. The take-out to portage Devil's Kettle is really tricky, and the penalty for screwing up is severe - maybe fatal.”
Now the trail continues along the shore of this cascading river. And it keeps cascading and cascading. Sometimes it seems to split apart and go into different channels through a thickety area. Then the channels merge again. There is a place where it looks like a couple cascading creeks join the river. This cascading river walk goes for about a mile. Then you get to a spot where the other side of the river is a cliff, and this side of the river is starting to look the same way up ahead. I got to the spot where the trail veers up a rocky hill to the left and you can see the river vanish over the falls to the right. I walked up the hill, seeing glimpses of the falls from time to time and hear it constantly. Pretty soon I came to a sort of deck affair that I walked out on to see the magnificent Devil’s Kettle Falls. That was quite the sight.
I took several photos there, and I continued on the trail, which is a nice wide trail now because of all the tourists that come down just to see the falls. Then I came upon a long section of stairs, gently heading downward. This section of the trail had handrails. When I got done with that I found a stairway to the right that led down to the river. The trail continued straight, but I took the stairway to the right down to the wonderful Lower Falls. Water was just gushing over these falls. After spending about 15 minutes taking photos, including some self shots, I headed back up the staircase. Then I turned right and continued down the path. But it wasn’t a dirt path now, it was a series of bridges with handrails on both sides. Just then, I saw a couple coming toward me along this bridge system. This is where I met Larry and Jill. I asked them if they’d like me to go down to the falls with them and take their photo by the falls. And they said yes.
So, I went down and took several photos of them standing with their camera in front of the falls. Then I gave them a “I saw Tman” card and told them that I take photos of the people that I meet for my backpacking website, and they agreed to get their photo taken. It was nice meeting them. I forget where they said they were from, but they were definitely not locals.
I head up the staircase again and down the series of bridges. Then I saw one of the worst sights for hikers ever. There’s a massive staircase ahead. And I mean massive. I headed up the staircase and it kept going and going. Luckily there are some built in nooks with benches every so often on the staircase. I had to stop twice and rest. Finally, I got to the top, and there are two benches on the top. Just then a fairly tall white haired man came walking down the path towards me. I told the man that I didn’t know if he wanted to go down there because the it’s a long ways down. He said that his wife already gave up on hiking it, but he was going to give it a shot. So he went down the staircase. I continued on. The path is going along the gorge, here, and time to time there is a metal fence because the bank of the gorge is eroding away. Eventually they’re going to have to move the path. But along that path there are some places where you can get some good shots of the river below.
The path continued on a gradual downhill trend for the next 1/8 mile or so. At the top of the stairway, I’d say you were hiking at least 100 yards above the river. But because of the downward trend, eventually you are only about 15 yards above the river. Then you get to a picnic area. And that happened just at the right time, because my camera battery died right then. So I set my backpack down on a picnic table and found my diddy bag with the batteries in it. I thought this would also be a good time for a break, so I ate a snack and drank some water. Then I started taking photos. There’s a long metal and concrete walking bridge spanning the river here. There are picnic tables, an outhouse and some signs at this location. Plus there is a two track forest road headed down the east bank of the river. That must be for the Park Rangers to do maintainence, and also for the sewage truck to come pump out the outhouse. It also may be a good way to connect with Naniboujou Lodge, which is located on the east side of the river down by Highway 61. When I walked on the pedestrian bridge, I could see the highway 61 bridge down about a 1/8 of a mile.
Then I saw the man with the white hair coming back my way. I asked him if he gave up on going down those stairs, and he said no, he went all the way down and saw the falls. He said he was a pretty good hiker. Then I told the man that I could use some assistance. I had hiked 14 miles today, and I’m willing to pay someone to take me 8 miles back to my car. I showed him the map and explained why the hiking trail was longer. We got across the river on the bridge, and he said he’d have to talk with his wife about it. I said that I talked with the Park Ranger yesterday, and maybe she wrangled me up a ride, so I would be heading down towards the Ranger station to the left, where he would be heading towards the parking lot to the right. So, if he decided to give me a ride, I would be at the ranger station.
It was around 4:45 pm, so I had made incredibly good time, even though I Magney was a hiking buzzsaw on me. I made it to the ranger station and saw a woman who I thought was the nice Ranger I saw yesterday. She was standing out by her car, getting ready to leave. I thought I got here just in the nick of time. She was still a little ways a way from me, so I spoke loudly saying that I had made it all the way to Magney. As I got closer, I asked her if there was anyone around could give me a ride, and that I’d be willing to pay. Then I realized this wasn’t the same Ranger I had talked to yesterday. This Ranger Lady started giving me a lecture. She said that Rangers aren’t allowed to give people rides. Maybe she didn’t realize that I didn’t necessarily want a ride from a Ranger, perhaps there was a Campground Host or other volunteer around. She said I should go over by the Entrance Building and call Harriet Quarles who shuttles people. She’d give me her number. and it was a local call, so the call would be free on the phone. Well, at least that was a useful bit of information. I didn’t tell the ranger that I already have Harriet Quarles Phone Number. But I thought it would probably be a rather expensive proposition having her come up all the way from Grand Marais. I thought that there would be someone in Hovland that the Ranger knew that will shuttle people.
The Ranger was in full lecture mode, when a newer extended cab metallic brown pickup came rolling up. A woman opened up her passenger side door and said “We’ll give you a ride.” I was saved by the bell. This is where I met John and Ann from South Dakota. They are retired and spend the summer volunteering at the Voyagers National Park Visitor’s Center. So they must be used to helping out wayward hikers and canoeists. They drove me up to Hovland, and turned on Arrowhead Trail. John and Ann were out touring the North Shore, and they had some sort of Article that told them where to visit. I bet it was the Midwestweekends.com North Shore guide, but I didn’t confirm it. I felt bad that Ann could not make it down to the waterfalls at Magney, so I told them they need to visit Cascade State Park, where the waterfalls are an easy hike from the Parking Lot. Ann checked the article, and it was listed. Then I told them that there is a spectacular overlook near Grand Marais. Just drive up the Gunflint Trail out of town, and when you pass the Grand Marais Water Tower the road to overlook is about a half mile on the right. And the road goes right to the overlook. You don’t have to get out of the truck if you don’t want to. Ann said the overlook was not listed in the article.
I gave them an “I saw Tman” card, and asked if I could take their photo for my backpacking website. But they declined, oh well. I offered them some money for driving me, but they declined that, too. They got me to my van, and made sure it started, then they were on their way. They are great people, Thank you for helping me out. Have a good time at Voyagers National Park this summer. They were my saviors this day.
I headed back to Judge CR Magney State Park to explore it. By this time, the Ranger Lady had gone. I drove into the campground. There was a big sign saying “Registered Campers Only.” I ignored the sign and kept going. There were no campers, except for the campground host. I went to the far end of the loop and stopped at the rather new restroom and shower house. I went in and looked, and it was a nice set up. I tested the shower, and it didn’t seem like there was any hot water. So, I used the toilet, then headed out. I figured I would be headed down to Grand Marais anyway, so why not take a shower at the Grand Marais Campground where they have warmer water. It was still early, and I had thought about hiking another section. But, it’s Burger Night at the Grand Marais American Legion, so Naaaw, I’m not going out hiking some more today. Plus the library is open late on Wednesday Night. So I headed south on Highway 61 to Grand Marais.
The first thing I did was stop at the Library. And when I was headed in, John, the guy who gave me a ride back to my van was walking out. I thanked him again and asked him if they went up to the Grand Marais Overlook that I told them about. I he said no, but they would do so in the morning. He said he had been in the library checking his email, and I said that’s what I was about to do. So, he headed off and I went into the Library.
I managed to get a computer right away. I checked my email and sent a couple. Then I posted the following on the SHT Hiker Yahoo Group. There was a posting about the “Secret Trail between Partridge Falls to SHT Northern Terminus.” Somebody was wondering about it. What wonderful timing I thought. And I had the latest Information about it, here it is
Re: Secret trail from Partridge Falls to SHT northern terminus
I hiked this section from both ends on Sunday and
it should not be attempted. There is no trail
and it is very thickety. Bottom Line, the tribe
really doesn't want people straying off the Grand
Portage Trail. They have taken steps like obscuring
the trail to the Cascades, and they will be taking
out the failing Snow Creek Bridge that people can
take to Partridge Falls.
I hiked from Grand Portage to Partridge Falls on
Saturday. I hiked back to Grand Portage on Sunday
after checking out the non trail. Then I checked out
the Rengo Road end, and it eventually becomes a thicket.
On Monday, I hiked from Otter Lake Road to Jackson Lake
Road (8.9 miles). On Tuesday I hiked from Jackson Lake Road to
the Arrowhead Trail Crossing (6.5 miles), and I also did the
Lakewalk (1.5 Miles). And today I hiked from the Arrowhead Trail
Crossing to Judge Magney (almost 14 miles). On the Lakewalk I rode
my bike back to the van, but on the other occasions I've been
lucky getting rides and being spotted. Since the Grand Portage
fiasco, I've been day hiking instead of Backpacking.
Tommorrow I plan to do a bike and hike between Magney and
the Lakewalk and then the Lakewalk to Kadence. That might
be it as far as the camera cards.
As far as problems, there is a 50 yard section that is
full of water, about 3/4 mile west of the Arrowhead Trail
Crossing. And the bridge below the beaver dam at
North Carlson is in disrepair. The other water spot
was between Otter Lake Road and Andy Lake Road.
It's Burger Night at the American Legion in Grand Marais, so I
gotta get going.
Regards from me, Todd
I was wrong in that posting, the place that had the bridge in disrepair was near the South Carlson pond. I finished up on the computer and headed down to the Municipal Campground and took a shower down at the shower house by the ball diamond. The Campground Office was closed, but I would have to go down to the Campground Office sometime when it was open and pay for the showers, now that I know that there is a $3 charge for non campers. They only had the $3 sign on the shower houses near the beach, so I never knew about it until I went over to talk to Peter on Monday Night.
I finished up and went over to the American Legion for Burger Night. It was around 8 pm, and there were only a few customers in the American Legion. That surprised me. Elizabeth, the same bartender as last year, was tending the bar. She said it was really busy earlier. I had just come a little late. But Burger Night is still going on until 8:30 pm. I was the only non-local person in the bar. And the locals were talking about how bad things were getting in town. One guy who owns a local business said that his sales were a third of what they were 3 years ago. People used to come up to Grand Marais 3 or 4 times a year, but are only coming up once a year now. Another guy had just moved back to Grand Marais, which is the town he grew up in. He was rooming with a friend, but trying to find his own place. The conversation at the bar continued to be about the local economy, and they were wondering how certain businesses were going to make it. One guy predicted that a certain bar would not make it to October.
I ate my burger, which as usual was really good, I finished off my beer and headed out. It was getting dark out. I went down to the Municipal Campground and pulled up to a picnic table that had a street light near it. I set most of my gear out on the table and started sorting it out. As you read in my SHT Hiker Post, I was planning to do a bike and hike the next day, so I was sorting out into three piles: biking gear, hiking gear and stuff I didn’t need. I wanted to make sure all my gear was in order, especially after the Spot Messenger Fiasco that I had in the morning. After getting my gear in order, I drove up to the Grand Marais Overlook and went to sleep.