SHT: Day 19
Superior Hiking Trail: Day 19
9/3/2023
West Poplar River Camp - Camp Creek Camp
Miles hiked: 11.1 mi
No spur/bonus miles
Elevation gained: 1,401 ft
Animals seen: moose tracks, a ridiculous amount of Labor Day-ers
Elevation chart created on AllTrails.com
I was up around 6:30am again despite no alarm. Jake had been up later with Tim the previous night so he was still dead to the world. I crawled out of the tent to collect the bear hangs and start coffee. Everyone was rolling slowly this morning so we didn’t place footprints on trail until 9am again.
The trail started a bit rugged and the humidity was rather heavy. That combination made for the perfect sweatfest as we headed towards Lake Agnes. Despite the sweating, Leinie and I were leading with a good pace and we made it to the Lake Agnes trailhead in good time. We took a break to filter water and snack.
That is one large animal
Lake Agnes
There were so many Labor Day-ers crowding the trail. At one point two high school aged girls came down from the trailhead and stopped to read the sign we were parked next to. I asked if they were looking for the campsites and they said they were looking for the lake. Tim’s response, “Well, this is a lake.” was absolutely priceless. They seemed confused and eventually wandered back to the trailhead.
The day was getting warmer so we continued on with the plan to break for lunch at the next campsite. Leinie and I took lead and we got to the site with ample time to scout the area. Unfortunately the beaver pond was very, very low and didn’t have an easy or obvious access to the water. Once everyone arrived the consensus was made to make a quick lunch to conserve water. Gabe changed her socks and had new hot spots forming.
Lunch time = Nap time
The trail bounced up and down and while it was relatively mild PUD’s compared to yesterday’s, the humidity was pretty stifling. Gabe’s feet were starting to really bother her and our pace slowed. We stopped for another water filter break at Spruce Creek. We discussed stopping for the day there but Gabe felt she could power through the next couple miles to the next camp.
The rollercoaster of up’s and down’s continued. After a particularly sloggish up, we were rewarded with a great overlook of Lake Superior and in the distance we could see Grand Marais. Then it was another long, steep descent to camp. Just before camp was a bridge over the creek with a sign stating it was out of order. Hmm.
We were told it was still working…
A fellow hiker soaking in the creek assured us it was actually in order and worked fine for him and his wife. After crossing the sketchy bridge we meandered into camp. It was crowded, very crowded. I stayed with the packs while Jake scoped out potential tent pads. Then Tim arrived and had to look for trees for their hammocks. Well, we got a tent pad site very close to a hammock camper who offered to share trees with Tim and Gabe.
While setting up camp, a family close to the common area started on dinner. They somehow hauled a full kitchen setup to the backcountry. They made salad, bagels, and spaghetti with meat sauce over a fire. While the four of us ate our rehydrated meals, the matriarch of the family was asking her family if anyone wanted more bagels. All four of us simultaneously muttered under our breaths, “I want a bagel.” I had no idea how they planned to bear proof the amount of food and smellies they brought, but hopefully it would be adequate enough to not entice bears to camp.
Gabe’s feet were in bad shape. The fact she was able to hike the miles she did in the condition they were was seriously impressive. However, her feet were done. Prolonged hiking would only cause serious damage. She needed to get off trail in the quickest, easiest way tomorrow. The closest trailhead was three miles further down trail at the Cascade River trailhead. Jake and I brainstormed our situation. Ideally, we would continue hiking towards Grand Marais but our bear keg was hidden near Gabe’s car. With Jake’s mom offering to pick the four of us up, we needed to exit trail with Tim and Gabe if we hoped to collect the bear keg. Lots of decisions, not our forte.
See all Superior Hiking Trail posts
Our band of heroes is drying out from the sogginess that was the SHT. They ponder their experience on trail, the people the met, what their hiking future looks like…