Saturday, while the Wild Duluth races are being run, I'm going to do the Seven Summits Challenge set by the Superior Hiking Trail Association. They give one a year to complete it (and in fact, you only have to do 5 of the 7), but I'm going to do it Saturday, hopefully finishing before sunset.
[Here's the checklist site.]
Trust me: click on the links below.
I'll be driving all night to get to Pincushion at daybreak. I've never climbed it, but my map shows the peak to be a lower elevation than the parking lot - this will either be the easiest climb or I'm in for a surprise. Then I work back along the shore. Lookout Mountain (which always prompts "Lookout! Mountain! It's coming right at us!") is next; I've never climbed it, either. Then Oberg, on the way to Moose, the top of which I always have trouble locating - it might be on the spur to the gondola. Then Carlton, which is not an easy climb. Mt. Trudee is next, which is another difficult climb; I'll be doing it from the opposite direction from what I've done before and hope it's easier from that side. Last comes Ely's Peak, which I haven't climbed and which sounds like it might be tough if I get there after dark. As Ely's is on the Wild Duluth course, I may have some company on this one.
Then a stop at the Spirit Mountain aid station, where I'll drop off some homemade fudge, if the race is still going on, I haven't fallen off a cliff and I haven't devoured all of it during the day.
Power shift here we go
2 days ago
10 comments:
Looks pretty cool, thanks for sharing.
I'd like to see the route you come up with -- is it a "classic" sort of loop, or open to interpretation since not enough people have done it (all, in one day)?
A good one to file away for an inevitable visit to the area some day.
Be sure to claim your time, rightfully, as the FKT!
You'd probably have company on all the summits (and all your adventures?) if you didn't schedule them over the races.
Maybe I'll see you out there... and fudge, mmmmmmmm.
Why don't you bring that Jenny girl with you?
Seems like a lot of work for a free poster!
Have fun out there ...
That sounds like a perfect damn day. Enjoy every step!
Hmmmm... I feel like you got this idea from someone in Duluth. I agree with Wayne, or why not just run Wild Duluth? Since I grew up on the north shore I know a few shortcuts to couple of the "summits" so I'm not sure if that would be cheating or not. I will have to give you props if you can do it the way your planning.
Good luck, and have fun, Steve!
I've walked around Oberg several times. In the spring and summer, that is one of the best places in the state to see the black-throated blue warbler!
@Marcus: I have a couple of maps that show direct lines to the tops of some of the peaks from unexpected places, but I don't trust them, so I'm sticking to tried and true routes. Going straight up Moose from the ski area is tempting, but I don't want to trespass.
@Anonymous: Jenny doesn't run. Ever. I did invite someone else, but haven't heard back.
@Wayne: There was a group that was going to do all 7 in a day in August. Then September. Then October. Then they all signed up for Wild Duluth. I was going to be stuck doing it alone, so I chose the day I might actually see people I know.
Trying to get a group of runners to agree on a date was like herding cats....
You will be the first of us to succeed at this mission (and possibly the only one!)
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