Paws2Trail

Two outdoor enthusiast dog lovers and their adventures with their two huskies.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Main dog trail was heavily trodden, to the point of having icy chunks zing under your skis if you followed the main worn path, but the outer prairie loop was better skiing.

Saw one other person skijoring, but not until we got back to the car.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Skijoring success! Blazing our own tracks on a well trodden trail, but at least no hunting and no downed trees to contend with at Murphy Hanrehan park.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Zeena decided that the empty shotgun seat needed to be filled for the trip home.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Twas a good day for pouncing mouses throughout Afton State Park, as there isn't enough snow for skiing yet.

And power was out at the house as we get solar installed!

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

A good hiker-packed base, but what will remain after tomorrow's rain?

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Sticking around here long enough to start another season of skijoring! Pike Island at Fort Snelling SP got enough snow Thursday for decent skiing, even if the walking trail wasn't groomed.

Plenty of deer to keep the huskies entertained.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Low water on the St. Croix R at Afton SP means the beach is a pleasant walk all the way to the north park border.

We're looking for alternate places to post as this site tumbles downhill. Will post more when we have a new destination to share!

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

New rest area* in Beaver Bay, MN has a couple of curly-tailed sled dog** sculptures.

* Closed for the season.

** Suspect the sculptor is more familiar with carving bears.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

And here's how that bridge looked last May!
https://t.co/hI2CF7STXy

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Yesterday's plan to hit a new (to us) segment of the Boundary Route Trail was thwarted by high waters. First, the trailhead just across the mouth of the Cross River was inaccessible by Gunflint Lake rising over the bridge. Too much to drive through! (Or even wade.)

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Today's hike was a trek to the Magnetic Rock from the back side (east). 2.5 miles, rather than the 1.5 miles from the west. Our first time on this bit of trail.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

And finally back to the Cross River and Gunflint Lake, where the county has rebuilt the road and bridge across (which was flooded in the spring melt last May).

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

And so the sun sets on another vacation on the Gunflint Trail. We load up the car and head home tomorrow. Hopefully we'll be back this February with plenty of snow for skijoring!

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Lots of scrambling on rocks!

Also a rather passive aggressive warning: we'd ban swimming if we could, but we know you won't listen, so we'll just say that we warned you!

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Back to civilization for the day and took a quick hike at Temperance River SP to keep the pups happy. The river cuts deep and narrow chasms in the rock before flowing into Superior.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Good and tired huskies.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

At the Cross River, much less flooding than back in May. Gypsy loves watching the riffles in the water. Perhaps she hopes to catch a trout.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

The huskies didn't seem terribly enthused about getting dragged down yet another trail today, but they perked up soon enough once out of the car!

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

It wasn't all dry hiking! The wet crossing just off the Gunflint hwy was still there, though not quite as deep as when we waded it in May's snowmelt. And a beaver dam past where we'd gone before was just barely traversable.

But we were rewarded with a splash in the Cross R.

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

A particularly bold red squirrel along the trail!

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Yesterday we hit the South Lake Trail again. Much cooler than last time (when 80F was more than we were prepared for) but it's still a technical, tiring trail.

At times, a hang glider would have been nice!

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Retweet for the morning crowd.

Coffee is made. Now to decide where to go today!

[Paws2Trail @paws2trail]

Today's hike was a trek to the Magnetic Rock from the back side (east). 2.5 miles, rather than the 1.5 miles from the west. Our first time on this bit of trail.