- Estimated Cost: $25
- Deposit: $25
- Max Trip Size: 6 people
Want to try backpacking for the first time? Maybe you’ve done it once but someone else did the planning? Do you want to learn how to plan and complete your own backpacking trip? If so, this trip is for you!
This 4-day, 3-night trip will be open to 5 Rovers who have been on 0 or 1 backpacking trips as an adult and want to learn how to plan, prepare and train for a backpacking trip. The Superior Hiking Trail is rugged and more difficult than most state park trails in Minnesota so you’ll need to be in good shape.
We’ll plan this trip together from selecting the route and campsites to figuring out meals and logistics. You’ll learn how to plan a trip, choose the right gear, clothing and food, pack a backpack, navigate and camp in the backcountry, filter water, hang a bear bag, cook with a backpacking stove and train to get in shape for the challenge. Guidelines on how to train and select gear will be provided. If you need gear we can probably get it from the gear cage – for free!
Day one we will drive up to the north shore and hike in the afternoon on; then it’s two full days of hiking; and the last day we will hike out in the morning and drive home in the afternoon. I estimate we will cover about 24 miles on the trail. Camping will be at back-country campsites.
In April, we will have a 3-hour get together over dinner to plan our route, logistics and gear plus I’ll bring a full pack for show and tell. In May, we will have an 8-mile training hike with a full backpack at Afton State Park. In June, we’ll do it again plus practice setting up camp, hanging a bear bag, filtering water and preparing lunch using backpack stoves. The planning meeting and both training hikes are conditions of going on this trip as it’s important to know our own and one another’s capabilities and work together. Be sure to read the Minnesota Rovers policies on communication and participation so you know what’s expected of you on a Rovers trip.
Once accepted, a deposit of $25 payable to the coordinator will hold your space and help pay for the SHT shuttle and/or state park campsite (if needed) and to help the coordinator offset the cost of group gear. In addition, you will be responsible for your own food and transportation expense. You must be a member to sign up and your membership must be current at the time of the trip.