summit of Carlton Peak

When you come into Schroeder there's a holiday gas station on your left, and Bluefin Bay resort on the right. After you go down and back up the hill, there's county road that heads inland off Hwy 61. Follow that road about a mile and you find the trail-head marked with the SHT sign. The hike is a little over a mile to the summit, but well worth it.

superior water colors and self portrait

Corban's new past-time

Unfortunately for him, he won't be doing it that often, at least for the next 13 years.

first climb of the year

We set off down a minimum maintenance trail up the hill off the lake. When we hiked the summit the day prior we noticed there were some picnic tables and road down below, thus telling us there was another way to this gem hidden behind the trees on Hwy 61.


It wasn't long before gratefulness was welling up in my heart that I owned a Jeep, the road would have been impassable in something less than a 4x4. We suddenly realized what the road was, it was a trail used to haul rocks down the mountain. We passed numerous quartz mines until we finally reached the top, where we began our hike to the south face of Carlton Peak.


When we arrived, it wasn't a question of whether we would climb, but where. There we numerous routes which looked awesome. We chose one that looked like it had the most versatility for rope placement:routes. Terry and I scurried up a crack to set the top rope. After locating and placing some solid protection, we lowered the rope and repelled down the face, and so we climbed.


The day was already late, so we didn't have much time. We each got about three climbs in before we decided to head back. It will be a goal of ours to make it back here sometime this summer.

shed hunting

Just got back from moose shed hunting with Garry on the Border Trail. This was the second time I have been shed hunting with Garry in the north wilderness. Garry was telling me that moose typically shed their antlers in January, but due to the amount of snow it makes them both hard to find, and hard to travel the land during this time.


We are currently in shed hunting season. It's still pretty early, but all the snow is gone.

We went up the Arrowhead Trail and set in on the South Fowl Lake Drive. Typically these trails are nothing short of an abandoned logging road, nigh impassible via vehicle most of the year.


It wasn't long before we hiked across the Pigeon River and on into Canada. We were traversing the landscape in hopes of finding a treasure of the fasting growing bone in all creation, the moose antler.

We knew full well before starting our expedition that the weather could be a nuisance, but that didn't stop us. The temperature was moderate enough that even a little rain couldn't stop our longing hearts to explore God's creation, even if we found nothing.


It has been my experience with shed hunting that heading in is the easy part, it's finding your way out that can be difficult. When you make your way in you're dry, feeling good, and full of expectation. When you're heading out you're soaked, soar, and wanting nothing but warmth and food.

If you've ever been in the wilderness of the extreme north of Minnesota you know what we just ventured into. It is beautiful, but it's not exactly a Sunday stroll through the park. I consider myself coordinated and I fell twice. In some places it's so thick that the only way to get through is to stick your hands out in front of your face, duck you head, and plunge your way forward. This is not for the faint of heart.


It's amazing how "far off" a not so far off looking ridge can be. We never made it to our destination. Due to the unpredictability of the winding Pigeon River, and the thickness of the Red Alder Bush, the ridge remains untrespassed. Next time...

opportunity

If you have the kind of job that allows you to commute to work in a mode other than a vehicle, take advantage of your rich opportunity (ie - you live close enough to your place of employment and have the physical ability to walk, run, bike, ski, skateboard, inline-skate, etc to work).

I'm doing office work from a coffee shop today, and I biked here, and it was wonderful! I would do it everyday if I could.

PS - Nick S. email me your phone number or email address so we can go climbing!!! You can find my email address here: www.philcarlsoncwc.com

fun with photo booth

he is his father's son :-)

Every other Saturday Corban and I go to the Home Depot for the Kids Workshop. This past week we built a butterfly house.

After the Depot we go to get hot chocolate.

I look forward to Saturdays with Corban more than most things.