Well I've decided to reactivate and repurpose this blog. I was using it as a photo album of the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National forest. I think I'm going to change directions and use it as a blog was meant to be used. I will spew all sorts of interesting things and most of the world will ignore it. But maybe a few of you will be interested and we'll have a nice chat about things from time to time. Hope to see you around!

Best,

Tom

Shedding Layers

It's amazing how much heat you generate even when it's cold outside. We both had to shed a couple layers of clothing. Even the hats had to go eventually. But keep those layers handy, you'll need them when you take a break.

Old Pine Lake in Winter

It was 20 below last night but it warmed up to about 10 degrees by noon. We donned our snowshoes and headed out on the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest near Remer, MN to Old Pine Lake, a.k.a. No Name Lake. The low winter sun casts long shadows on the frozen waters of the lake. The snowshoeing was perfect, an unbroken trail of 12 inch powder.

More beavers

The beaver always amazes me with his relentless work ethic and ability to impact his surroundings.

Transitions...

Hiking last Sunday on the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest west of Longville, MN, the transition from trail to wetland shown here reminds me that the seasons are also undergoing a transition; from fall to winter and from hiking season to hunting season. It's time for hikers to get out of the woods for a few weeks and let the deer hunters in. Good luck and be safe!

Map of the NCT in the Chippewa National Forest

This excellent map of the North Country Trail in the Chippewa National Forest was published by the Forest Service but is now out of print. I am on a mission to get people out on this trail. If you'd like an 11 x 17, 2 sided color paper copy send me your postal address and I will mail it out to you.

Update from Tom Moberg

Tom Moberg has some interesting information to share...quoting Tom below:

"Along with our friend Katie, my wife and I have started maintaining the 3 mile section between FR 2117 and the Soo Line Trail. northwest of Remer where you took several of these photos. Your "Water everywhere" photo shows what we are calling "Old Pine Lake", formerly and sadly called "NoName Lake" in a couple of trail guides. Although the lake isn't much, it has beautiful old red and white pines around it.. Mary and I camped at the campsite in your "Stay for the night" photo a couple of years ago when we hiked from the eastern dead-end of the trail to Highway 200 by Boy River. When there was an opportunity to adopt a trail section, the part including the campsite was the one we wanted. Last summer, Mary, Katie and I fixed up the campsite by putting in the fire ring, installing the wood box, fixing up the privy, clearing more tent pads, mowing, cutting brush, etc. It was an adventure getting everything to the camp site from the FR 2117 trail head. Katie built the wood box at home and hauled it in to the site on a big wagon. I used a wheelbarrow to haul the fire ring, a five gallon gas can, and a bunch of tools in to the site, while Mary drove a string mower.. Anyway, we're proud of that campsite, so I hope you have a chance to use it some day."

Thanks Tom!