|
RE: Advice on the BRT & Kek
|
Joe Knutson
|
Apr 05, 2009 15:07 PDT
|
Joan
I wish that I could be of some help here, but I have hiked very little of these three trails. I do have experience with other trails that are very simular, ie: less maintained, hard to follow, rugged, many elevations etc. My experience is, if you get early starts, take more short breaks rather than fewer longer breaks, put your more experienced persons on either end of the group, maintain a good pace etc. you will be fine.
My main reason for commenting had to do with the GMFS trying to talk you out of doing this trip! If this really happened, then I believe it's time for them to put someone else in charge! Something is very wrong there! I have been running trail and portage clearing trips for about eight years now and know full well that talking people out of doing these trips is the exact opposite of what is needed to keep the trails open. If they talk too many people out of hiking them, then kiss the trails goodbye! I know that the FS is short funded for trail work, but I believe that they are doing less than they could to pull volunteers in to do this work. They seem to rely too much on the volunteer groups to do all of the work, from begining to end. The trips that I do, at best, costs the FS about two hours of work for one of their people. In return, they get back about 150 man hours of volunteers help on trails or portages. This is with the La Croix and Kawishiwi districts. Granted, the BRT and the east end of the Kek are harder to get to, and this causes more travel time and less trail clearing time, but there is still something wrong with this picture, IMO.
Sorry for using your call for help for venting, but I hope that others on this list might agree and say as much to the east districts.
Joel Knutson
Cook, Mn.
| | To: kek--@topica.com
From: jh-@t-one.net
Subject: KEK-LIST: Advice on the BRT & Kek
Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 13:03:58 -0400
In May, four of us plan to hike the N end of the SHT, the BRT and the Kek.
Just spoke with the Grand Marais Forest Service Office, and they have to do
their duty as to trying to totally discourage people from hiking the BRT.
I assured her that we know what we are doing. Nevertheless, I would be
glad for
any advice from those who have been on it in the spring. I have planned
mileages of
Swamp River (N end SHT) to Pigeon River 7.8 miles
Pigeon River to Pine Lake 12.5 miles
Pine Lake to Clearwater 8.2 miles
Clearwater to Rose Cliffs 9.8 miles
Rose Cliffs to Topper Lake 10.6 miles
Topper Lake to Gunflint Lodge 9.9 miles
Are these too long? We are all fairly tough and in good shape, but we
are not
20 years old any more either.
Also, does anyone know of a place where near the Arrowhead Trail Parking
between
Little John and McFarland Lake where we might leave a supply box?
Joan
--
Joan H. Young
861 W. US 10
Scottville, MI 49454
231-757-2205
visit www.booksleavingfootprints.com to buy North Country Cache: Adventures on a National Scenic Trail
visit www.getoffthecouch.info to learn about quiet, muscle-powered recreation opportunities in West Michigan
visit www.sharkenterprises.biz for web site design
---
This message was posted to the Kekekabic Trail Club mailing list.
Read this list online at http://www.topica.com/lists/kek-list
To post to this list, send mail to: kek--@topica.com.
|
_________________________________________________________________
Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8.
http://ie8.msn.com/microsoft/internet-explorer-8/en-us/ie8.aspx?ocid=B037MSN55C0701A
|
|
 |
|
