Date: 2013-08-27
To: Superior Hiking Trail prehike
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: few clouds

On August 21st, Zima and I headed up to northern MN to hike a section of the Superior Hiking Trail for 5 days. I have been on a couple week long backpacking trips, but never one where I am the only human and the most camping Zima had done was a 1 night trip, so this was our "practice" hike.A friend of mine dropped us off at the trailhead in Crosby-Manitou State Park around 4:30pm on Wednesday and the idea was to just get onto the trail that day. We hiked 5.6 miles to Sonju Lake. Wow, amazing lake with an island that had perfect sunset views and a great place to filter water.Day 2 we hiked 11.8 miles to Section 13. Ended that day with a very tiring 400 feet uphill hike, and I definitely had doubts about how I will ever make a 2000 feet uphill climb on the AT. Section 13 campsite was up on a ridge that had a great view, but no water source nearby. So that meant leaving my pack at the campsite, walking back down the trail to the nearest creek and then back up.Day 3 We hiked from Section 13 to Palisade Creek with the idea that this would be the longest day of our hike = 13.9 miles. I didn't want to push myself too much as I hadn't backpacked for about 3 years. The hike was up & down and very rocky. I was glad (at the time) that I chose to have Zima wear her boots to protect her paws. She did great carrying her backpack up until this night. Friday night, I was petting Zima and looking her over for ticks when I found that her backpack strap had rubbed her chest raw Poor pup. I learned my lesson - I shouldn't have expected that she would be able to jump right back into backpacking with a loaded pack after not wearing a pack all summer.Day 4 Zima did not wear her backpack at all, but I kept her booties on, because the terrain was still very rocky. I was feeling good about my own hiking - no blisters, no hot spots, my muscles were tired, but in a good way. Anyway, I decided that if I hike the 13.8 miles this day, then that would be less on the last day and I would be able to get back to camp a little earlier. Also this day is when I noticed that her booties had rubbed the outside of her dew claws, so no more booties for the duration of the hike. I was willing to take the risk that she would cut one of her pads knowing that we had a car/friend nearby to come get us if we had to pull out early. We stayed the night at Fault Line Ridge campsite and for the first time on the trip had to share the campsite. There was a group of college freshman there for an wilderness orientation trip and 2 other small groups of hikers. All of them showed an interest in Zima and our plans to hike the AT. I was disappointed in Zima's reaction to strangers out on the trail - she growled at everybody and didn't want anybody to come near her, me, or our stuff. Day 5 I headed out with intentions to stay the night at Split Rock River State Park, but we got there early in the afternoon. For each of the other days whenever I got to the campsite before 4pm, I got everything I needed to do (set up tent, bear hang, cook dinner, filter water, etc.) all done really early and just laid in my tent for a couple hours before I fell asleep, so 2pm was just too early to set up for the night. We continued on to the next campsite about 4 miles down the trail. Zima was panting a lot the last day and when she refused to drink water for the first time, we took about a 30 minute break until she would drink. Arriving at this one around 4pm and knowing there was only about 3 miles left of the trail, I called my friend who was car camping along the shore and told her I was going to arrive at Gooseberry Falls in about 2 hours. Zima and I continued our hike. We hiked a total of 16.4 miles that day and I felt good about it, despite the hot, humid weather.Overall, I am ready. Zima, not so much. But the purpose of this hike was met in that now I know a little bit more of what I have gotten myself into saying that we are thru-hiking next year and I know what Zima needs to work on between now and then.Total miles = 61.8 milesHere is a link to a video I made of our hike - It is entered in a contest hosted by PetHub about summertime adventures. http://youtu.be/dsHKgg-dQgU