Today, heading out from Split Rock River, was an awesome sauce day!
Ed dropped me off at the spur trail leading back to the SHT and Split Rock River right where I had gotten off last night. He then parked the car and planned to meet me up the trail a bit. It only took him an hour or two, which was pretty amazing.
But more amazing was the route today. This is finally the Superior Hiking Trail I envisioned. We climbed a lot to great rocky outcrops with expansive views of the lake. It was just incredible and indescribable. The lake was everywhere you looked. I know it’s enormous, but this was just crazy cool.
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Good-bye, Split Rock River
We have another two nights in the AmericInn, so we were hiking with day packs, which was a nice change of pace. We ran into one other couple about our age who were hiking for three days. There was some mud, but nothing like some of the earlier days.
My big toe hurt a fair amount, which wasn’t fun. But the scenery made up for it.
Brian met us twice and took some virtual reality shots plus used the drone. We passed more beautiful waterfalls.
Watch Out for Grouse!
Oh – one interesting encounter was with a mama grouse. She rushed out of the bushes and was squawking and flapping her wings and rushing at us. We then saw one chick duck into the undergrowth. Ah! She was protecting her babies. But she was right on the trail, and every time we tried to advance she’d rush at us. We didn’t want to get bitten.
Eventually Ed took the lead and we slowly advanced. Mama rushed once or twice more, then changed tactics and folded in her wings and scurried down the path in front of us, leading us away from her nest. Fine with us!
We’re back in the motel, clean and fed and in need of a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is supposed to be a long, difficult day.
Snowshoe
MN NCT miles today: =16 (25.8 km)
MN NCT miles to date: 154.5 (248.6 km)
SHT miles to date: 154.5 (248.6 km)
Total NCT miles to date: 441.1 (709.9 km)
Total NCT miles to go: 4,158.9 (6693.1 km)
Book your stay at the AmericInn by Wyndham Silver Bay here!
