Honeybunches couldn't handle 12 in Silve r Bay

“Okay, here's the link to the photos:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/557717238XRKWyy

What twelve am I referring to? Ahhh, I wish it was that. Honeybunches couldn't handle 12 below 0 --- so we turned our overnight into a dayhike. But what a dayhike it was!!

Our orginal plan had been to head up to Duluth on Thursday night, but as usual, I worked late and we had to set the plan back a little. We decided to head up to Duluth Friday morning early (7 am) and just hang around town. We'd hit the trail Saturday and hike back out Sunday morning.

So we spent the day Friday in Duluth and as usual - had a fabulous time. How can a city that offers sooo much still maintain that small town northwoods feel? I'm not sure - but Duluth has it mastered. I'm really thinking I will live there someday. I fell in love with Duluth back in 02' while I was living in the cities and traveling north to backpack..... and each time I go back I grow a little fonder of this beautiful northern town.

Saturday we had breakfast and headed north for Silver Bay. It was COLD. Sunny but COLD. I think we left the trail head around 1:00pm under beautiful conditions - if you didn't consider the gale force winds that would pop out of nowhere. I'm not going to elaborate on the hike - if you want to know what it is like you need to drive to Silver Bay, Minnesota and hike from Penn Blvd. in Silver Bay to Bear Lake (only 3.5 miles). It is (in my opinion) one of the top 5 day hikes you can do in all of Michigan, Minnesota or Wisconsin. This hike has it all. Hardwoods, overlooks, panoramics, lakes..... it's amazing. It also had 40 mph winds Saturday - which made it very interesting when we came across the exposed cliffs above Bean and Bear Lakes. As we hiked in - I made the mental commitment that I would not make honeybunches sleep outside in this weather. I knew if I left it up to her - she would stay out.... if for no other reason but to not be the one to ask to go back. I've always tried to make it a point when leading folks into the backcountry to leave my personal agenda at the trailhead and think about what is in everyone's best interest. Honeybunches wasn't prepared to spend a night out in a evening that I knew would easily dip under zero. So we made it a fantasatic dayhike - and shot back to the car.

Funny side note. As we hiked out, honeybunches we getting somewhat fatigued. I could see it her gate when she hit the hills - the strides were shortening up and she wasn't as explosive..... until I reminded her that she had a pint of ColdStone Ice Cream in the trunk.... Then you should have saw her move :)

I won't give the rest of the details..... who cares, right?? We had a great day and that's all that matters! Check out the pictures if it interests you. I'll be heading back very soon to hike back past Silver Bay through to Mount Trudee - if you'd like to come along, lemme know.

Peace ----- OUT!”

“She can't handle 12”

“Thanks. I enjoyed your trip report and the pictures.

It was a real pleasure looking at the pictures and reading your report from here in Central Florida. Our sixth winter blast of this season is almost finished and Tuesday the days will return to the 70's again.”

“Glad You had a good time and nice pics. I spent the day hiking with my stepbrother north of Spaulding, an excellent day. Tomorrow getting out with Sunshine for a hike somewhere”

“Goooood times! Love the smiles. There's nothing like being out there, even when it's bitter cold.

But, you finished that cold hike with ICECREAM! Hot chocolate, hot tea, hot totti, hot something BUT icecream?! Crazy yoopers.

;o)”

“Crazy Yoopers???? You don't know that HALF of it, baby!”

“I think I did just peachy on this hike... may have been a tad breezy at times, but it was gorgeous and worth every moment! And I would have stayed out all night if mountainrunner hadn't been afraid of hiking out in the dark... he was afraid of the boogyman. Sunshine, ice cream was the best way to end any hike. Mountainrunner slammed his pint down then started attacking the remains of mine with his spoon. Gotta teach that boy some manners! Never touch a woman's ice cream!!!”

“Nice pics... although I guess your camera froze at times to go from color to B/W??? LOL!

(I take it you had TWO cameras...)

I mentioned to dryfoot you were doing this hike cuz he's done it. His immediate reaction was to say it was going to be windy as hell on that ridge... and cold.

Bingo! ;-P

Kudos for you to hiking in that weather! Beautiful photos. Hey, we saw that little alien thingee last fall. Heading back for home, we drove up around the backside of Tettegouche (sp?) returning from our own hike and came down into Silver Bay right by him. It's skeery, huh?!!”

“Lizs, only had one camera -- I am abl to switch back and forth from B&W Color..... Yeah, I swing both ways ;) One could also use a single camera and just rework the photos with Aperture once you return from the trip....

Yeah., the little man in Silver Bay is interesting.... Honeybunches fell in love with him..... a little odd - but you gotta know honeybunches!!”

“Hehehe - honeybunches didn't log out AGAIN... serves her right ;)”

“Thanks again mountainrunner for posting under my name... maybe you just wish you were a woman?”

“oh lets not go there! Hey over 30 in our neck of the woods today”

“I better dig out shorts and a tank top!”

“yup good day for a hike”

“Enjoy spalpeen... I'm headed to Gladstone for my dad's bday today. But mountain runner and I are headed back up to Duluth the weekend of March 16th, any chance you can make it?”

“I do love that loop...I found a really, nice ax slamed into one of the sign posts near Bear a few years ago...handed it off to a couple of guys heading down to the lake to camp...I had wind in summer on those ridges but there's nothing like a brisk, 40mph wind in the dead of winter to wake you up...

It's quite a challenge setting up a tent in high winds on frozen ground with no snow...too bad you missed it....LOL...

Looks like you had a great day and fun...that's all that counts in the end...

March 16th, huh? I'll keep it in mind...”