I did a section of the SHT last fall and fell in love with it. Enjoy the trip! If you can, there is a beautiful lakeside campsite on the south end of the 1mile riverfront walk (north of Grand Marais). You’re pretty much right on the beach. Would highly recommend it because you can sleep to the sounds of the waves. Looking forward to some great trip videos.
I comment in case my experience helps anyone else plan a SHT hike. In '10, I left my car at the SHT trailhead outside Grand Marais. It was a well-used TH. I was a little nervous, but not nervous enough to pay to park at the RV park in Grand Marais, my backup plan. I had no trouble hitching to the southern terminus, not yet in Duluth then, although it took many short rides. It took me no time hitching a ride back to Grand Marias from the northern terminus. I don't remember the details other than riding in a big truck and feeling lucky the ride fell into place so perfectly. It's a great trail very worthy of the logistical challenges. @packtoter, if your logistics might help someone plan their SHT, putting it in the title will make it more findable. Thanks for your vids.
@travisidealpositions4363 Thanks. I will do more trail planning info after the trip and I have a better feel for how I would tackle it a second time. Farout app would make this so much easier to plan. Keep Smilin'
I’ve been very surprised at the high cost of private pay-for shuttles along the NCT. AT prices are around $10-20 for a pickup + $2/mile, which I think is fair. NCT shuttles are more like, “how much can we squeeze out of hikers.” This is probably due to a lack of competition. I would have reached out to the Superior Trail Association, asking about Trail Angel assistance on FB, looking on FB for another hiker to shuttle with, even using your viewers and posting a “looking for a ride” video. It sounds like you tried at least some of these tips.
@andymytys I'm going up to hike, so an extra few miles on the trail, and then backtracking seems like the way to go. I will then have 180 bucks to feed my face everytime I find a breakfast option. I do agree with the competition comment. Suppy & demand. Keep Smilin'
I guess the expensive shuttle from the north end makes sense, from the perspective that the shuttle drive might live in Grand Marais. They’ve got an hour drive one way to the northern terminus. So even though your shuttle needs are short, they’re still on the road for two hours. The math on the mileage / cost probably does align close to AT shuttle costs, from the perspective of how far the car has to drive round trip, rather than how far the hiker has to be shuttled.
I did a section of the SHT last fall and fell in love with it. Enjoy the trip! If you can, there is a beautiful lakeside campsite on the south end of the 1mile riverfront walk (north of Grand Marais). You’re pretty much right on the beach. Would highly recommend it because you can sleep to the sounds of the waves.
Looking forward to some great trip videos.
@backcountrybrendan thanks. I will check that site out. The trail is not on the water too much, so should enjoy it where I can. Keep Smilin'
I comment in case my experience helps anyone else plan a SHT hike. In '10, I left my car at the SHT trailhead outside Grand Marais. It was a well-used TH. I was a little nervous, but not nervous enough to pay to park at the RV park in Grand Marais, my backup plan. I had no trouble hitching to the southern terminus, not yet in Duluth then, although it took many short rides. It took me no time hitching a ride back to Grand Marias from the northern terminus. I don't remember the details other than riding in a big truck and feeling lucky the ride fell into place so perfectly. It's a great trail very worthy of the logistical challenges. @packtoter, if your logistics might help someone plan their SHT, putting it in the title will make it more findable. Thanks for your vids.
@travisidealpositions4363 Thanks. I will do more trail planning info after the trip and I have a better feel for how I would tackle it a second time. Farout app would make this so much easier to plan. Keep Smilin'
You may not be there for the food, but I would recommend checking out the Angry Trout restaurant in Grand Marais!
@@user-ul5yu5hk9k I'll check it out. Keep Smilin'
I’ve been very surprised at the high cost of private pay-for shuttles along the NCT. AT prices are around $10-20 for a pickup + $2/mile, which I think is fair. NCT shuttles are more like, “how much can we squeeze out of hikers.” This is probably due to a lack of competition.
I would have reached out to the Superior Trail Association, asking about Trail Angel assistance on FB, looking on FB for another hiker to shuttle with, even using your viewers and posting a “looking for a ride” video. It sounds like you tried at least some of these tips.
@andymytys I'm going up to hike, so an extra few miles on the trail, and then backtracking seems like the way to go. I will then have 180 bucks to feed my face everytime I find a breakfast option. I do agree with the competition comment. Suppy & demand. Keep Smilin'
I guess the expensive shuttle from the north end makes sense, from the perspective that the shuttle drive might live in Grand Marais. They’ve got an hour drive one way to the northern terminus. So even though your shuttle needs are short, they’re still on the road for two hours. The math on the mileage / cost probably does align close to AT shuttle costs, from the perspective of how far the car has to drive round trip, rather than how far the hiker has to be shuttled.