Cook County News Herald

Seven Summits Challenge:

Linking people with nature


You’ve heard of the seven summits, the highest point on each of the seven continents of the world. Well, forget about those summits and hike the seven summits of the Superior Hiking Trail during 2011.

The Superior Hiking Trail has chosen seven summits spread out along the entire length of the trail from Duluth to Grand Marais for the challenge. To take the challenge, print out the log sheet from the Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) website, pick it up from the SHTA store in Two Harbors or at an SHTA event. Fill in the log sheet by the summit name with the date and details of your hike. Then turn in your sheet at the SHTA store. If you do five of the seven summits you’ll receive your choice of one of three posters from the SHTA store.

You can find directions to each of the summits in the 6th Edition Guide to the Superior Hiking Trail. All summits are marked on the pocket maps.

The summits are:

. Ely’s Peak: Located in the west part of Duluth in the 123rd Ave. West to Magney- Snively Park section. The 1,219-foot summit of Ely’s Peak provides magnificent views of the forested St. Louis River Valley.

. Mount Trudee: Located in Tettegouche State Park, in the Silver Bay to Tettegouche State Park and Hwy. 1 section of the SHT. One of the SHT’s best examples of a large, weather resistant anorthosite dome. The summit is picturesque, studded with pines, with great views.

. Carlton Peak: Located in Temperance River State Park on the Temperance River State Park to Britton Peak section. A climb to the top of Carlton Peak reveals some tremendous views, which is why this was the site of a fire tower up until the 1950s.

. Oberg Mountain: Near Tofte located in the Oberg Mountain to Lutsen Recreation Area section of the trail. Oberg Mountain is covered by a rich maple forest. Work your way counterclockwise around the summit for about eight different overlooks in all directions.

. Moose Mountain: Located in the same trail section as Oberg, at Lutsen Recreation Area. Moose Mountain rises 1,688 feet above sea level and 1,086 feet above Lake Superior.

. Lookout Mountain: In Cascade River State Park, south of Grand Marais in the Caribou Trail to Cascade River State Park. Great views from the overlook above the Cascade River.

. Pincushion Mountain: In the Grand Marais to Cook County Road 58 section of the trail. Sweeping vistas of Grand Marais, Sawtooth Mountains, Lake Superior, and Devil Track River Valley.

For more information on the Superior Hiking Trail visit:

www.shta.org



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