In my previous post I mentioned a video, but if you are reading this via email you will not be able to see it, unless you visit the Trip Report Page or view it on YouTube.
Below is the original text regarding the video:
Descending with Danger Video
If you ever wondered what it might be like to hike along with me, this 93 second video will give you a taste. This is the first time I have tried anything like this and I’m not sure it is worth the effort, so I’d like to hear your feedback. I was moving fast so the video is a bit frantic. The entire descent took a little over an hour and a half. There is hiking over rocks, dirt and boardwalks, as well as biking, and all footage is shown at actual speed.
On Wednesday August 17th, 2016, I stood atop Eagle Mountain, the state highpoint of Minnesota. It was a fun climb, and the drive up from Duluth was enjoyable.
The Eagle Mountain summit was shrouded by forest, but quiet and peaceful.
Highpoint Statistics: Summit Date: Wednesday August 17th, 2016
State: Minnesota
Elevation: 2,301′
US Rank by Height: 37th
Round Trip Hiking Time: 4 Hours
To view a sortable table of all of the highpoints with completion dates, trip reports, photo galleries, blog entries an GPS tracks, visit the US State Highpoint Progress Page.
Descending with Danger Video
If you ever wondered what it might be like to hike along with me, this 93 second video will give you a taste. This is the first time I have tried anything like this and I’m not sure it is worth the effort, so I’d like to hear your feedback. I was moving fast so the video is a bit frantic. The entire descent took a little over an hour and a half. There is hiking over rocks, dirt and boardwalks, as well as biking, and all footage is shown at actual speed.
The Story I had intended on doing this one a day earlier on the 16th, but heavy rains on the 15th, and thunderstorms on the 16th shifted my plans, and I did Wisconsin on the 16th instead. This meant that we needed to stay another day in Duluth, which was problematic because a couple hundred thousand people were coming to Duluth to see some old ships, and a giant rubber duck which I have mentioned in a previous post, so I won’t belabor that story here.
The giant rubber duck that caused all the trouble.
We did manage to find another spot, and so we relocated the coach the morning of the 17th and I took the jeep and headed north to Eagle Mountain. The drive up the shores of Lake Superior was pleasant and offered many scenic views.
One of the many scenic views along the shores of Lake Superior.
I also found a number of very beautiful settings deep in the woods along the rural road to the trailhead. I was on a schedule, so I didn’t stop for everyone, but I did stop and snap a few photos along the way.
A serene pond I happened upon, just a few miles from the trailhead.
Bad Decisions Make Great Stories
I had one of our DownTube full suspension folding bikes in the back of the Jeep and I’ve ridden it on rough trails before and while it requires a lot of management, it handles pretty well. I’ve been riding for a long time, and have done crazy stuff on my full size Cannondale Jekyll and am not without some skill. I knew the trail was rocky and thought it might be a fun challenge to see how far up the trail I could ride the folder bike. I spoke to different hikers coming down, inquiring about trail conditions, and they unanimously told me it was not possible, which encouraged me. After all, doing the impossible, is my favorite thing!
In the beginning I made great time, and it was loads of fun to fly through the trails leaping and dodging rocks.
Made great time, until I hit the rocky areas.
But then a big drop off at a knarly rock caught the derailer and rendered it inoperable, so I could no longer shift gears. I reluctantly accepted defeat and left the brave little soldier waiting beside the trail to be carried out on my return.
This is as far as the brave little folding bike made it.
I continued on foot, which was always the plan. I knew I would not get all the way to the summit, but I had hoped to get further.
Were I on my full size Cannondale, I could have taken it all the way to the summit, although I would have had to carry it up a few steep and rocky spots. The ride down would have been spirited, but manageable.
The trail was rocky most of the way, with some fairly smooth sections and a few boardwalks crossing over streams, bogs and especially muddy sections.
There are a few boardwalks passing over boggy areas, but the trail was otherwise solid.
From there I made my way to Whale Lake where I found an inspiring view. After that I began to gain elevation in earnest.
A view from the edge of the becalmed Whale Lake, reflecting the forested hills and skies above like God’s own perfect mirror.
The hike from Whale Lake to the summit, was pleasant although rocky. The trail wound through heavily wooded terrain, with 2 points overlooking the valleys and lakes below. The highpoint itself, was deep in the woods in a small clearing, and was quiet and peaceful, but offered no views.
Danger reading the summit plaque.
The summit marker, that officially denotes the highpoint.
I stayed at the highpoint long enough to take it in and snap the requisite photos, but I had in mind to spend some time at the higher of the two scenic overlooks I had passed on the way up. There I took my only break of the day and enjoyed the peanut butter and honey sandwich Susan had prepared for me.
A Classic Mountain Scene
The skies were blue, with just enough clouds to provide some drama. The valley was a carpet of green, punctuated by glimmering lakes. The wind was lazy and the sun was warm on my skin. I spent half an hour soaking in this classic mountain scene. Glorious places like this make it all worthwhile.
A scenic overlook just below the summit afforded magnificent views of the lakes and sprawling forest below.
Wounded Warrior
On the way back down, I began hoping someone had stolen the folding bike so I would not have to carry it out like a wounded soldier. But alas it was still there, waiting beside the trail in silent mockery of my folly.
I managed to repair the bike with a pocket knife, duct tape and a stick. I then rode it out helmeted head held high reclaiming my dignity and restoring my id to its typical state of composed overconfidence.
The folding bike doing what it does best; folded and stowed back in the Jeep.
This concludes highpoint #48 of 50, next stop Michigan!
We are 2,900 miles into the trip, and are currently headed home with 500 to go. After leaving Chicago a few days back, we spent a couple of very unproductive days in St Peters Missouri at a beautiful lakeside spot where we whiled away the hours hiking, biking and playing XBOX video games. Hey, you are never too old to be a geek.
Day 14 sees BigByrd 500 miles from home
Chicago Adventures
Chicago was fun as always, and remains one of our favorite cities. We boondocked (this means running fully self contained) a few miles from downtown in a truck marshaling lot that gave us easy access to the heart of the city. As we were pulling in, we saw the cast and filming crew of the Amazon series “Patriot” filming for the show.
Managed to repair the bike with a pocket knife, duck tape and a stick. Rode it out with my head held high! Back at the trailhead and mission accomplished!
Taking break on a cliff just below the summit with sweeping views of the forested valley below, punctuated by glimmering lakes. Its a classic mountain scene
On Eagle Mountain summit, it’s heavily wooded, & peaceful. Clear skies above w gentle winds. Perfect day to stand on a mountaintop, beat my chest & yodel.
Bike was officially a bad idea. Big drop off a boulder tore off the shift derailer. Bike is down, but I soldier on. Yes, I know I’m stubborn, what of it…
Pretty drive up the Lake Superior coast & no sinkholes today. At trailhead & I’m going to ride the bike. I’ve been told it’s not possible, which is appealing
The schedule change yesterday meant that we needed to stay in Duluth another day for me to do Eagle Mountain the Minnesota highpoint.
The problem is that a couple hundred thousand people are now flooding into Duluth and every RV park within a hundred miles is booked. We heard from a local that the convention center allowed RV parking, and managed to get the only spot large enough to accommodate our 41′ coach. So the coach is parked, and I’m headed north now for Eagle Mountain. This will be a long day as I expect 6+ hours of driving and around 5 hours of climbing.
Today finds us in Duluth, camped by Lake Superior at the Lakehead Boat Basin, and we are taking a lazy day here. Tomorrow I plan to take the jeep and make the 3 hour drive up to Eagle Mountain the highpoint of Minnesota, and expect that climb to take about 5 hours. Susan will stay in Duluth, and as always, I’ll be blogging along the way.
The Hawkeye Trip report is posted below in its entirety. For a richer experience with larger photos see the Hawkeye Point Trip Report Page.
Hawkeye Trip Report Yesterday morning, Sunday August 14th, 2016 Susan and I stood on Hawkeye Point, the Iowa state highpoint enjoying fresh gourmet coffee with warm blueberry muffins as we watched the sunrise over gently rolling farmland. Iowa makes 46 states, and the first of our Great Lakes 4 state trip.
When’s the last time you had blueberry muffins on a highpoint? Well that’s too long…
We are 1’173 miles, 145 gallons of water, 2 Walmarts, and one audiobook into the trip. Tonight finds us in Iowa, camped in a completely empty RV park, next to Hawkeye Point.
Day 3, in the Great Lakes Trip.
Today had us driving through idealistic rolling farmland, with stolid granaries, presiding over neatly fields of cultivated fields stretching into the horizon. Finding ourselves in such remarkable scenery, is one of the great rewards of this highpointing journey. Being in places, so utterly American that you just want to lift your hands to God in praise for the purple spacious skies.
A very American sunset, across a field of ripe corn, taken from the highest point in Iowa.
Today was a very good day, I drove the 8 hours from Topeka where we stayed in our second Walmart of the trip to the Iowa highpoint. The Topeka Walmart was built on the site of a the Chief Drive Inn Theater, and as a nod to that bit of history, they left the Chief Drive In Theater neon sign intact. You can read more about that tidbit of history here.
Times are hard for the Byrd family, last night we slept in a Walmart parking lot in Ennis Texas. OK, so its not as dire as it sounds, Walmart is a pretty swell place to stop with your RV on long trips. This morning I even brought Susan coffee in bed, which makes her feel loved, and more inclined to drive 😉
As you read this, Susan and I are in BigByrd making our way across America in pursuit of 4 more state highpoints located in the Great Lakes area. My coffee ploy having worked, Susan is at the wheel, and I’m at the desk.
The plan is to catch Hawkeye Point Iowa on our way north, and then continue to the Great Lakes to complete Eagle Mountain Minnesota, Mount Arvon Michigan and Timm’s Hill Wisconsin. As always, you will be able to follow along real time here on The Danger Map
