Cedar-kearsarge.jpg

I am a carpenter and designer, living in a small island community on the largest freshwater lake in the world. I am deeply invested in disrupting the cycle of intergenerational trauma in my own lineage and my communities. I am more interested in the exploration of questions than the proving of answers.

Tofte and Temperance

Cedar Schimke
Superior Hiking Trail

August 26, 2018
North Cross River to Mystery Mountain
Superior Hiking Trail Thru-Hike: Day 12

86.25 miles left. I will probably not stop in Grand Marais since I have enough food to get to the end.

I know I've been saying I don't want to hike anymore, but....I really don't want to fucking hike anymore.

Just talked to Alex for a while, we both aren't really eating, which is weird. With calculating my miles I definitely do not need to resupply in Grand Marais, which means I have two miles fewer but no less elevation change.

Hiking today started with fog and quickly turned into gorgeous sunshine. The Temperance River was bathed in it, and walking alongside the gorgeous river with fall colors along the banks was beautiful. I had pure sun on the asphalt road walk into Tofte, and my spirits were high. Then, minutes before getting back on trail, I looked up after hearing a crackle. I didn’t see anything, and then turned around to a massive black thunderhead coming straight for me. I checked the radar one more time.

Thunderstorm warning. Tornado watch. Fuck.

The next hour and a half of my life was sprinting across fields and huddling in forests hoping to avoid getting hit by lightning. The trail climbed up and I sat, waiting, hoping it would end soon, getting colder by the minute.

Finally, there was about an hour break in the storm, so I sprinted up the hill and back down to the Mystery Mountain campsite. Set up tent early, and hunkered down for whatever the night threw at me. I had looked up rooms at Lutsen, and they were too expensive. And I was out here to hike and camp, not hole up in a hotel. I’m not a baby.

I am so paranoid about critters and with the raindrops it sounds like they're everywhere. I'll lose my mind before the trail is over I swear.

How about some positive things for the first time on this entire trail!

  • Met a guy who leads zen boundary waters trips

  • Beautiful, beautiful Temperance river

  • Making a shit ton of miles

  • The folks at Sawtooth Outfitters who were so kind to me, making me feel welcome, hanging out with me in the backyard, healing some of my loneliness.

  • The people I have off-trail that I love so much

  • Absolutely crushing it out here. I'm proud of me for doing such a good job.

Ok, now, sleep time if my feet don't hurt too bad to sleep. I love you. Let's start with gratitude tomorrow how bout. Like gratitude that I'm even out here at all, how wonderful having coffee is in the morning and all those lovely things. I love you. Lots.

Stop Making this So Difficult

Overwhelmed