DAY 5 PINCUSHION MT & GRAND MARAIS

After having had the kind of sleep a person always hopes for, a quiet riverside breakfast, water filtering and packing up camp, we left East Devil Track Campsite for Pincushion Mountain. We crossed the extremely substantial bridge across the river and signed the register. We figured we’d have a big day in front of us and had a schedule to meet. We were meeting Harmony in the Pincushion parking lot between 12-1, didn’t want to be late so we hoofed it.

We only had 3 miles to go but these weren’t just any miles. The first would be some challenging climbs, the biggest so far (what?!?haven’t I said that a few times too many before?!?😂)The SHT trail crews have terraced some of these climbs with steps…never ending steps. 

Wonder of wonders…we navigated these climbs like champs. Was it because we were becoming more fit? More used to them? More relaxed with them? Was it because we knew these would be the last of them for this 50 mile section?  No idea. But we went up like strong mountain goats…slow mountain goats, but strong ones. We came to the “bench at the top of the hill” and sat down on it for a quick minute then were off. When we crossed the “ski trail crossing” we met the Metzal family and talked about the best way to get to Pincushion even though Buck had given us some good directions.

As it turned out they took the low trail and we took the high trail and we all met together at Pincushion. We spent some time on the summit, the view is beautiful. On the way down we met the best Mexican Street Rescue Dog named Maria Louisa (Mary Lou) and I took time to swoon. 

The trails in this section felt like well manicured knot-garden pathways. Not without tricky spots, but made for feet of all sizes, shapes and kinds. Many families with smaller children were seen and heard here.  It was easy hiking here on out to the parking lot. 

We met dad and daughter through hikers Jeff and Samatha here and promised we’d roast marshmallows together that night but we never saw them again even though we tried so hard to find them.

We sat in the shade by the Pincushion Mountain sign and ate lunch…actually Marci ate lunch and I tried to eat 

Harmony was right on time and had ice cold cokes for us and a huge smile.

We loaded every last thing into her small car and with Stella sitting on Marci’s lap, we were off to Judge Magney 

 That night we had a camp site reserved, hot showers, huge plates of scrumptious food and fun drinks awaiting us in Grand Marais.

Section F of the Superior Hiking Trail was  Done.