Northern Hangout - June 11-14 - Chequamegon NF

**pizza** · 02-19-2009, 19:38

I'd likely be interested in this. I'd likely be able to make most any date fly...got a boat load of vacation time stored up at work.

**fin** · 02-19-2009, 22:17

Originally Posted by Shug

I am into that!!!! Wherever but I would like some walking.....

60 miles of walking on this one section - take your pick to the sections. Would you do 20-30 miles in the timeframe we are talking about? Could do less easily. I don't know the eastern part of this section as well as the western, but have done parts of this entire trail over the years. It is all very beautiful, all very quiet and remote (no traffic anywhere nearby,) and you can camp anywhere as long as you are 50' off the trail. The Rainbow Lake Wilderness is really beautiful, but a lot of trees/swamps/rock outcroppings/creeks. This part of the trail is very remote, with lots of Fishers, Badgers, Deer, some Bear, Eagles, Owls, Timber Wolves, Bobcats, Porcupines and even the odd Wolverine. Lots of water sources. The Porcupine wilderness area is mostly hardwood, rolling hills with large rock outcroppings, the Rainbow wilderness is more mixed pine and hardwood the farther north you go, and is a little more level walking. The Lake Owen piece between the two sections has a major state campground that I camped at every summer with my family. Bluegills and Bass, or Northern Pike can be had from the shores of almost any lake that you pass (fresh fish!) The trail is not as developed as the SHT. And it is scenic in a different way from the waterfalls and clear, fast rocky streams, views of Lake Superior, mixed woods and massive rock outcroppings of the SHT. And it is at least 1-1/2 to 3 hours less driving, depending on which spot on the SHT we picked. Tough choice for me. I grew up in one, and really love the other as well. I couldn't lose no matter which one we pick.

**stormcrow** · 02-19-2009, 22:23

Originally Posted by FishinFinn

60 miles of walking on this one section - take your pick to the sections. Would you do 20-30 miles in the timeframe we are talking about? Could do less easily. I don't know the eastern part of this section as well as the western, but have done parts of this entire trail over the years. It is all very beautiful, all very quiet and remote (no traffic anywhere nearby,) and you can camp anywhere as long as you are 50' off the trail. The Rainbow Lake Wilderness is really beautiful, but a lot of trees/swamps/rock outcroppings/creeks. This part of the trail is very remote, with lots of Fishers, Badgers, Deer, some Bear, Eagles, Owls, Timber Wolves, Bobcats, Porcupines and even the odd Wolverine. Lots of water sources. The Porcupine wilderness area is mostly hardwood, rolling hills with large rock outcroppings, the Rainbow wilderness is more mixed pine and hardwood the farther north you go, and is a little more level walking. The Lake Owen piece between the two sections has a major state campground that I camped at every summer with my family. Bluegills and Bass, or Northern Pike can be had from the shores of almost any lake that you pass (fresh fish!) The trail is not as developed as the SHT. And it is scenic in a different way from the waterfalls and clear, fast rocky streams, views of Lake Superior, mixed woods and massive rock outcroppings of the SHT. And it is at least 1-1/2 to 3 hours less driving, depending on which spot on the SHT we picked. Tough choice for me. I grew up in one, and really love the other as well. I couldn't lose no matter which one we pick.

You make it sound so terrible! I suppose you could DRAG me up there for some hiking/hanging...

Adam

**fin** · 02-19-2009, 22:25

Originally Posted by stormcrow

You make it sound so terrible! I suppose you could DRAG me up there for some hiking/hanging...

Adam

The only thing terrible about either is the drive to get to them! They are both beautiful.

I have family within a half hour-45 minutes of both options, as well. So if we needed supply near either option, it would be no problem.

**animalcontrol** · 02-20-2009, 07:56

go, go , go this is the sprirt!

June is good for me. Thur-Sun sounds good. Travel on Wed and make Sun a short, short hiking day so we can travel home.
Only concern is the black flies...they getting bad by this point?

A hang up nort with you all might be my best trip this year!

**fin** · 02-20-2009, 08:33

Near Lake Superior, the Black Flies usually don't come out until July.

Sometimes, they don't even have summer, and the bugs hibernate all year.

The biggest thing to watch for in Northern Wisconsin and in the North Shore of Lake Superior/Northern Minnesota is wood ticks and mosquitos. Flies aren't usually bad until it warms up into the 70's consistently, which doesn't usually occur until mid/late June, and goes through July and August. Mosquitos and wood ticks - they are out as soon as it stops freezing consistently - which sometimes doesn't happen until mid-May up there.

That is one of the things the SHT has going for it as well - because it is closer to Lake Superior, the temperature moderates a little, and you don't get as crazy of temperature swings as you do further inland on the NCT. You can still have 50* swings in temp in early June inland, but the lake kind of keeps things a little cooler and not as crazy. It can also be a little more damp on the SHT, for the same reasons. Fog coming off Lake Superior rolls to the tops of the hills that the SHT runs along. But the SHT is SOOOOO beautiful, with the lighthouses, and rushing streams, and views of Lake Superior. I just love the whole area.

**thorwren** · 02-20-2009, 08:38

Well, I guess I better hurry up and pick MY dates for my AT hike with my girlfriends....Stormcrow is stealing all the time slots for summer!!

**Shug** · 02-20-2009, 11:35

Originally Posted by FishinFinn

60 miles of walking on this one section - take your pick to the sections. Would you do 20-30 miles in the timeframe we are talking about? Could do less easily. I don't know the eastern part of this section as well as the western, but have done parts of this entire trail over the years. It is all very beautiful, all very quiet and remote (no traffic anywhere nearby,) and you can camp anywhere as long as you are 50' off the trail. The Rainbow Lake Wilderness is really beautiful, but a lot of trees/swamps/rock outcroppings/creeks. This part of the trail is very remote, with lots of Fishers, Badgers, Deer, some Bear, Eagles, Owls, Timber Wolves, Bobcats, Porcupines and even the odd Wolverine. Lots of water sources. The Porcupine wilderness area is mostly hardwood, rolling hills with large rock outcroppings, the Rainbow wilderness is more mixed pine and hardwood the farther north you go, and is a little more level walking. The Lake Owen piece between the two sections has a major state campground that I camped at every summer with my family. Bluegills and Bass, or Northern Pike can be had from the shores of almost any lake that you pass (fresh fish!) The trail is not as developed as the SHT. And it is scenic in a different way from the waterfalls and clear, fast rocky streams, views of Lake Superior, mixed woods and massive rock outcroppings of the SHT. And it is at least 1-1/2 to 3 hours less driving, depending on which spot on the SHT we picked. Tough choice for me. I grew up in one, and really love the other as well. I couldn't lose no matter which one we pick.

I love the sound of this trail and it would be between everybody drive-wise more or less. I am into walking but we can adjust that as we see who we will have on this trip.
If you are comfortable with the familiar parts I am all good with that!
Sounds like we have interested parties wanting to get together so now lets nail down date and location. Do we poll or just set it?
I am in a wee hurry as I need to block out those dates with my agent and set these dates around family schedule......
An Excited Shug ..
It would be awesome to meet and hang with HF Gang!

**animalcontrol** · 02-20-2009, 12:00

Originally Posted by Shug

I love the sound of this trail and it would be between everybody drive-wise more or less. I am into walking but we can adjust that as we see who we will have on this trip.
If you are comfortable with the familiar parts I am all good with that!
Sounds like we have interested parties wanting to get together so now lets nail down date and location. Do we poll or just set it?
I am in a wee hurry as I need to block out those dates with my agent and set these dates around family schedule......
An Excited Shug ..
It would be awesome to meet and hang with HF Gang!

The dates in June 11-14 sound fine. Either location is fine also...I will add that, you knowlegable guys decide...if I'm taking vacation time and driving 12+ hours, personally, I won't mind another 2 hours if it is worth it. But, having never been there, your expertise is needed!
Finally, again, for that time and travel comittment, my vote would be to see things unique to this geographical area. striking things, things that are different from home (midwest). Example- The BWCA is different for the exposed granite rocks, chains of lakes, birch trees, loons, etc. Make any sense? My vote would also be to move around a bit...and see more things!
This will be a great trip...lovin it...lovin it!

**Shug** · 02-20-2009, 12:54

READ MY NEXT POST!!!!!! Forget this one..

I am all for the trail FishinFinn suggested : Chequamegon National Forest.
It sounds terrific and I have wanted to backpack in WI. Also, I like the idea of camping anywhere 50' off of the trail. The SHT allows you to do that but really wants you to camp in designated areas.
Anywhere is good fine by me!
Animal control ... it is a win/win for you on either trail ... fairly similar in landscape I suppose.