July 9, 2024 Blueberry Hill Campsite to Silver Creek Campsite 19.6 miles by SHT Actual miles hiked: ~17.5 I jolt awake with my alarm completely disoriented. I did that thing again last night where I had to pee really bad but just didn’t want to get up so instead I lay there uncomfortable, awake, for …
July 8, 2024 Beaver Bay to Blueberry Hill Campsite 14.7 miles I am determined to have chill morning coffee time in the gorgeous lobby of the lodge, and that’s exactly what I do. It’s quiet as I write and sip my alive juice. I wouldn’t consider myself a morning person, really, because I don’t enjoy …
July 7, 2024 Silver Bay to Beaver Bay 5.7 miles It’s starting to rain as I write and drink coffee in the lobby this morning. The weather app tells me that it will stop by the afternoon, but I’m dubious. It looks dark, threatening, and settled-in. Ah, well. I guess we will be getting wet. …
July 6, 2024 Stealth campsite to Silver Bay 7.8 miles My alarm goes off at 5, I become conscious, and the first thing I see is slugs. All over my tent. The more I look, the more I see. Alright, that’s it. This trail is shifting something indelible in my brain. I will not exit …
July 5, 2024 Leskinen Creek Campsite to stealth site 15.0 miles Happily, it did not in fact rain last night like the original forecast said it would, and the morning is lovely and sunny. I take my sweet time waking up and drinking coffee and writing and before I know it, it’s after 8. Oops. …
July 4, 2024 Campsite in Manitou State Park to Leskinen Creek Campsite 14.5 miles On the AT in 2019 I noticed a pattern: almost always, a terrible day was followed by an amazing one. A hot day of steep climbing was followed by trail magic. Cold rain preceded dry warmth. Blueberries after a thunderstorm. There …
July 3, 2024 Fredenburg Creek to campsite in Manitou State Park 15.8 miles There are slugs all over my tent. The more I look, the more I see. Come on, guys. One is cute but this many is just nasty. Did you know slugs are mollusks? I feel like I used to know this, but …
July 2, 2024 Springdale Creek to Fredenburg Creek via Tofte 12.2 miles We knew the forecast for today, but that doesn’t stop me from being annoyed when I wake up in the early morning and it’s pouring rain. I potter around for a while, make coffee and have breakfast, and finally wrangle enough motivation to …
July 1, 2024 Johnvick Creek to Springdale Creek 18 miles As has become usual, we are slower getting ready than we planned to. I don’t know how I expected anything less, knowing how I am as a person. But when we do get moving, the trail is really lovely for a while. There’s slop, of …
June 30, 2024 South Bally Creek Pond to Johnvick Creek 16 miles The morning is slow as we pack up and chat with Slapshot and Feather Blue. They’ve decided to go hike Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Minnesota, before heading south, since they have to get back to the Twin Cities tonight. We walk …
Sarahmarie Specht-Bird 