The Aftermath

As Darrel suggested I wrote up my notes and sent the via email to Tom Schackman of the Forest Service and Matt Davis of the North Country Trail Association. Here is what I wrote.

“Hi Tom

Recently, I completed a series of 4 day hikes that covered over 50 miles

on the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest. Afterwards

I talked with Darrel Rodekuhr about some of the things that I encountered

and Darrel wanted me to send you an email about them.

First of all, I found the trail in very good condition. The Trail Volunteers

have done a really good job of maintaining and mowing the trail.

I found the trail very easy to follow, but a few places

could be blazed a little bit better.

I believe that there will be a renewed interest in Backpacking

the NCT in the Chippewa National Forest. The Superior Hiking

Trail has become very popular, and has renewed interest in

backpacking in the Midwest. And as you know, a rising tide lifts

all boats. There is already anecdotal evidence that some people

are worried that the SHT is becoming overcrowded, especially

on holiday weekends. People are looking for alternatives to the

SHT, and the NCT in North Central Minnesota is a great alternative.

One of the things that may help attract more Backpackers is having more

designated backcountry campsites. The SHT has campsites every 2 to 3

miles, and I think that’s a number that the CNF should be shooting for.

Backpackers like designated backcountry campsites for several reasons.

There is a fire ring to contain the fire. There are cleared tent pads and there

is a latrine. And all backcountry campsites should be close to a water source.

Having a designated campsite is much better that having people camp in a

dispersed fashion. If during a summer ten different camping parties camped

on the north shore of Moccasin Lake in a dispersed fashion, ten different

sites would be impacted. If there is a designated campsite on the north

shore of Moccasin Lake, then only one site would be impacted.

So here are my notes about my hike. I started at the Highway 6

Trailhead Northeastof Remer.

The first campsite I encounters was about 7 miles into the hike at

Milton Lakes. This campsite is a very small campsite with 2 tent pads and a

fire ring in the middle. My concern with this campsite is that it is

so small that when you pitch your tent, it is too close to the fire ring. Also, it

appears there is no latrine at this location. Since this campsite is close to the

Milton Lakes Parking lot, perhaps building an outhouse near the parking lot would

be good. The outhouse would serve the campsite and the fisherman who are

boating on Milton Lakes. People using the campsite will have to go down to the

parking lot anyway to get water.

Next, I encountered the Trailhead on Highway 4. A beautiful new sign

with a NCT map has been installed there. But what they also need is a

smaller map on how to connect to the NCT from the trailhead. For

westbound, you need to go down the forest road and turn right

on the trail. For eastbound, you need to go down the forest road and

turn left on another forest road, then turn right onto the trail.

As I continue after Highway 4, I eventually crossed the SOO Line Trail

then I found the campsite which is about a mile from the

Speakers Truck Trail. This is a very nice campsite. It has a

built in wood rack and picnic table. I didn’t check for a latrine

at this location. This campsite is about 7 miles from the

previous Milton Lakes Campsite.

As we continue west on the NCT, the next backcountry campsite is

at Crown Lake, west of Maceman Road. This campsite is over

ten miles from the Speakers Truck Trail campsite. But the

problem with the Crown Lake Campsite is that I could not find

it. There was no marker for it, and I did not see a fire ring or

anything else that looked like a designated campsite.

About 8 miles west of Crown Lake, I did find the campsite

on Hazel Lake.. This is more of a fisherman’s campsite

because fishermen can drive up to the spot and camp there.

It is a nice campsite, with a latrine.

As I continue west, I found the crossing of the Woodtick

Trail which is nearest Highway 5. According to the NCT map

there is a water pump there. I did not find one.

I continued west and found a campsite marker near North

Stocking Lake. This would be about 7 miles from Hazel Lake.

I found the campsite marker and I walked down the

spur trail, but I did not find a fire ring, so I’m not sure where

the campsite is suppose to be.

As I continued west, I did find the campsite on Long Lake

also called Gut Lake. In fact, I found two campsites there.

There was the main campsite, then I found another campsite

about 50 yards to the east of it. Evidently, the main campsite

is so popular that a second campsite has emerged.

I did not find the campsite on Hovde Lake. I did hike

down to the lake using a spur trail. I looked around

for the campsite, which now I’m told was to the right of

the spur trail. I believe the spur trail is a trail for canoeists

to haul in their canoes.

As I continued on, crossing the Woodtick Trail again, I did find the

Woodtick Impoundment Campsite. I believe the campsite has

been moved from the top of a hill to a flat spot on the bottom.

There is a new latrine there, but the sign for it is on top of the

hill where people camped on the bottom may not see it.

I finished my hike at the next crossing of the Woodtick trail.

Currently, I am posting and captioning the almost 2000 photo

that I took on the hike. To see the photos go to my website at

http://sites.google.com/site/isawtman/

Again, I found the trail to be in very good condition.

Regards from me, Todd McMahon”

Just one little note about this email: I recently heard that since the Milton Lakes Campsite is so close to the parking lot, it has been vandalized a few times. So maybe it would not be such a good spot for an outhouse.

At this time I would like to remind what Tom Salwasser wrote in one of the Pre-Trip emails

“I underestimated how beautiful it was, thinking it could never compare to the SHT. And it really can't, there are no overlooks of Lake Superior and the trail is sadly underused. But it's a beautiful walk in the woods and any time you're outdoors be prepared for mother nature to surprise you. The trees, rivers, lakes and ponds are well worth your time.”

Tom was right, it was well worth my time. But sometimes when I compare the Superior Hiking Trail to the Chip, people get a little irritated with me. The Superior Hiking Trail has many beautiful waterfalls and overlooks. The NCT in the Chippewa National Forest doesn’t come remotely close to that.

And other people have suggested that I will like the trail much better when I get over the Paul Bunyon State Forest and Itasca State Park segments. There has been a lot of trail building activity and excitement recently over in those areas. I’m sure these people are very proud of their trail segment. Because of their efforts we now have over 130 miles of continuous trail in North Central Minnesota. I'm sure I'll find those segments to be really great when I hike them, which I'm planning to do. But the Chip is really special, too.

Sometimes I think the NCT in the Chippewa National Forest is considered to be the Ugly Stepsister of hiking here. And that’s a shame. Let’s promote this NCT segment for what it really is. Let’s make Lemonade with our Lemons.

People say the Chip doesn’t have the beautiful overlooks, and they’re right. Do you know what a pain in the ass it is to hike up to one of those overlooks? Just try going up the 96 steps (of hell) at Cascade State Park on the SHT with your backpack on. So maybe the Chip should be promoted as an easier trail that beginning Backpackers can be successful on. The elevation change here is minimal.

People say that the Chip also doesn’t have the beautiful waterfalls that the Superior Hiking Trail has. That’s absolutely right. But what does the Chip have? It has dozens of lovely little fishing lakes, some of which have very little fishing pressure on them. So maybe the NCT in the Chip should be promoted as a backpacking trip where you should bring your pocket fisherman. After all, the NCT segment near the Woodtick Trail is probably one of the best fishing backpacking trips anywhere.

People say that the Chip will never be as popular as the Superior Hiking Trail. That actually sounds pretty good to me. And many other people might want to go someplace to avoid the crowds on a holiday weekend.

But people don' get me wrong. Don't think that I somehow hate the Superior Hiking Trail, because I don't. I think it's the greatest example of ecotourism that's been developed in the midwest in the last 20 years. It truly is a great trail and i'd like to be hiking it. But there are so many other trails that are special and could use a little love.

Recently I went up to the Outdoor Adventure Show in Minneapolis where I talked with NCT Regional Coordinator Matt Davis. He said that some of the stuff I have mentioned has opened the Forest Service’s eyes to the great potential this trail segment has. I’m really happy to hear that, because I really don’t think it will take much to make this ugly stepsister into a princess. The deep down beauty is already there