First solo overnight trip
20 miles total
Day 1- 10 miles
Brett dropped me off at the County 4 Trailhead south of Lake George around 10:30am. I had prepared my route with the brand-new edition of the North Country Trail in MN guidebook.
This was my first solo trip with an overnight. I think my pack weighed 15 pounds without food and water and then about 22 pounds with food and water.
I hiked 10.3 miles down the NCT to Nelson Lake. I was already familiar with the lake and campsites there, which made it a little less daunting. I took a 1 hour lunch break at a little lake and with an average pace of about 30 minutes per mile I got to camp in the late afternoon and set up camp.
It was a beautiful evening and I enjoyed setting up, swimming, cooking, making a fire and all in total solitude and silence. I was pretty pretty worn out. After 8 miles my legs were pretty much done for the day and yet I had two more miles to do, so now after supper, they said: "Time for bed!" I heard quite a few sounds but was able to keep my mind in check and relax and get good sleep. The mat, my z-lite Therma-rest is not the most comfortable. I might have to upgrade that if I do several nights with big hiking days.
Day 2 - 10 miles
It is always surprising to me how cooled off I get in the mornings although the temperature is usually around the 60 degree mark. It was a beautiful calm morning with mist hanging over the lake surface.
I had breakfast and headed out for the day. Day 2 was hiking on to Waboose Lake. Another lake and campsite I was familiar with about 10 miles away. I was planning on meeting Brett and the kids there since Waboose is some of his old stomping grounds and good fishing and they could just boat into the campsite Dana and I had discovered.
I found many wild raspberries and also some strawberries each day. They were delicious and my only raw, fresh food on the trip. The crop is plentiful this year. The hiking was quite different this day. On Day 1 I came by quite a few lakes. This day was on higher ground and when I still didn't come by a Lake after 7 miles, I decided I had to come up with a different solution to take a lunch break. I finally decided to just set up my tent in the middle of the trail and lay down and enjoy my lunch.
My feet had gotten drenched in the dew-covered morning grass and this was my first time airing them out. I discovered a small blister underneath my right pinky toe. I hung my socks out to dry and set my shoes in the sun. I had yet to see a single person on the whole trail so I was not concerned blocking the trail. I was pretty proud of my great solution! It was nice to lay down and not worry about bugs and flies. There were enough mosquitoes every day where just sitting down as not an option, unless your idea of lunch is feeding your blood to the mosquitoes while eating your crackers and guacamole! I was almost out of water in my 1.5 liter bladder. Since I had assumed that I would get to a lake by lunch at least, I had not even topped it all the way off last night. Live and learn. I ran out by mile 8 and hiked the last 2 miles without water.
Nothing feels as good as a lake swim after a sweat-drenching 10 mile hike in long pants, long shirt, socks and shoes with a 20 pound pack! When I got to camp, I dropped my stuff, ripped my clothes off and ran into the lake. Amazing!
After that I filtered water and drank and then set up camp. I laid down in my tent to read since I had made good time this day, and fell asleep until I heard a boat motor coming closer and it was Brett and the kids.
We enjoyed more fishing, swimming and grilling and after those monster 20 miles in summer heat and alone, I decided the option to go home with them and sleep in my own soft bed was just too tempting to pass up. I had planned on overnighting and then hiking out 5+ miles to Highway 64 the next day, but that seemed unimportant now. And I think it was a smart decision since that night my right calf seized up and got painful. I used magnesium oil, supplements and rested well and it was much better the next day, but I doubt that hiking 5 more miles on it would have been good.
I was really happy with my first big Solo Backpacking Trip!
