I'm off up to Snowbank Lake in northern Minnesota for a three day hike with a bunch of guys I hardly know. I'm not entirely sure I'm going to enjoy that part of it - I thought it would be maximum three people, but now it's five.
But it's a good chance to get out, and I need that. It's also a good chance to try out the new UL system I have under unpredictable weather. The forecast is for 1C at night, and 18C during the day, with high winds and possibly some storms. For this reason, and because I might want some privacy to get away from the crowds, I decided to take the DuoMid.
My base weight is quite good at 5.916 kg, considering I have to take a few warmer clothes than I was planning. The full pack weight with food and consumables is 8.208 kg, which is okay. We're doing high milage, so there are some extra calories in there in case I bonk out. And whisky, of course!
Here's the base weight packing list, if anyone is interested.
http://public.iwork.com/document/?a=p272059757&d=Snowbank_Lake_Base_Weight.numbers
I might occasionally try this online tracking program. If I remember, and if there is reception, the thing below should auto update. These things rarely work, but I thought I'd give it a try.
GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com
I am jealous. When I was a Ranger I always loved being assigned patrols on and around Snowbank. I look forward to hearing how your trip went!
ReplyDeleteIt was great, but the trail conditions, especially on Disappointment Mountain, made it hard work. My back is killing me! I'll write up a report and some reviews over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI was part of a trail crew my first summer in the Boundary Waters. One trail crew for the whole Kawishiswi Ranger District! And we were the first trail crew in a few years. I wish the budget was high enough that they could get some crews out on the trails and not just the portages.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the trails could use some work, but then you hit the wilderness dilemma. The better the trail, the more people, the less wild it becomes. To be honest, I think most people wouldn't think of hiking there, which is fine by me. The less the better. It's funny to see fire grates so unused they are full of weeds.
ReplyDeleteIt would take a lot of people to keep those trails clear, and a lot of money. The law prohibiting power tools also makes it difficult. It's much easier to keep a lake clear!