2024 Trip Plan
Tina and I officially/legally got hitched at the end of 2023, but I count the anniversary date as the "cake day." Our cake day is going to be this summer. We've planned it in a location that is centrally located and easy to get to for our geographically dispersed families and friends. We're doing it in Minneapolis at a zoo. Afterwards we're going to do a family and friends backpacking trip to Isle Royale National Park, which is one of the least visited national parks in the lower 48. It's true wilderness, only accessible by plane or boat. Our plan is to drive north out of Minneapolis to Grand Portage, Minnesota, then catch a ferry the next day for a 2-hour boat ride to the park, which is an island in the north of Lake Superior. For the next 4 days we will backpack from one end of the island to the other, then catch an all-day ferry/tour boat around the south side of the island and back to Grand Portage.
The "Advanced Backpacking Trip" with the BSA
There is a TBD trip on the calendar this year. I am organizing an advanced backpacking trip with Venture Crew 324 of San Antonio. This trip is only open to those who have done backpacking before - i.e. no true beginners. I've set the prerequisite criteria to be that they must have been on at least one trip of 4-night duration before. So, anyone who has done Philmont or a 50-miler should qualify. The intent of this trip is to go someplace inspirational, some place cool, someplace memorable. Exactly when and where will be determined by the youth. Next week I'll kick off a series of meetings where one of the first orders of business is to discuss and decide upon when and where to go. I've prepped the discussion with a list of potential locations, but it will be up to the youth to decide. I'm doing this as part of a scout adult leadership training program known as "Woodbadge." This trip will be one of my Woodbadge "ticket" items. My intent, besides going someplace cool, is to use this as a teaching exercise to train these youth on the process of going someplace. I'll post updates as this effort progresses.
Colorado Trail - one of the possible locations for the Advanced Backpacking Trip
Ouachita Trail.
I have been meaning to do this trail for a couple years. This is a trail that is best hiked in the winter and early spring months. It is possible that Tina and I might take a bite out of this over the Thanksgiving or Xmas break periods in 2024. Or I might do it solo. Not sure yet. Stay tuned!
Keep hiking my friends!
