Tag Archives: camping

Cedar Lake, Ouachita National Forest ~ Day 1

11/14/2014 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

We just got back from a birthday trip to the Ouachita National Forest!

We stayed at the Cedar Lake Recreation Area in the Ouachita National Forest for six nights!

Three nights in a really nice wooded campsite with no electricity and three in an electric spot since it was going to get cold and we had a space heater.

Oatmeal.

Nick’s little stove is so nice for cooking on!

We started off our first morning there with an easy hike around Cedar Lake.

It was 3.9miles all the way around after taking a spur.

We saw some blood from a wounded animal on the trail.

The boys of course were set on tracking it.

This is a beautiful lake.

This was a great easy hike to start off our time there.

I had decided we should do two hikes that day.

Of course my second choice was not as easy…

The Horsethief Springs Trail is around 11miles and definitely fit it’s “more difficult” rank.

The terrain varied.

Sometimes it was not too bad and sometimes I think it was trying to kill me.

It was also overgrown in parts and not always the easiest to follow.

Mostly we ran into fading light more than anything.

It gets dark so early that this should have been our first hike of the day.

American Beauty Berry were everywhere!

We made it back before dark (barely)!

The next day I decided to take it easy and drive the Talimena Scenic Drive.

I will share more picture from our next (and much easier on my feet) day Monday!

Camping, Hiking

MN Trip ~Day 6 The SHT

10/13/2014 Danielle Huddleston 1 Comment

After a wet cold night, I was ready to get moving!

We were heading all the way back to Silver Bay so this would be our longest hike of our trip.

My homemade instant oatmeal worked out really well!

Something hot to start out a cold morning really helps.

Everything we need for a hot meal.

We went ahead and went to the waterfall overlook before getting on the Superior Hiking Trail.

There was apparently a really nice view down below and on the other side but we did not want to add more miles and a ton of steps to our hike.

Maybe next time.

Silver Bay this way!

You start out your hike with “the drainpipe”, interesting name.

It is almost like rock climbing.

I was having a lot of trouble getting going so Nick carried the camera for most of this third day.

Mount Trudee without rain!

I had missed the photo opportunity the day before due to the rain so I was glad it was dry on the way back.

Well, it did not rain at least.

The path was a muddy mess.

The walking poles helped with the slipping around everywhere.

I still wiped out once though.

This was one of our steepest climbs for the day so I was glad we got it done.

I am glad we packed our light tripod for the trip.

I like it when both of us can be in a shot.

See his grin?

That is the grin of a man that is on the edge.

Literally.

I did not realize it until I had set the timer and went to him.

He tried to pull me close to him and I about freaked!

In this picture I am actually trying to pull away, closer to the nice safe rocks…

As opposed to open air and a steep fall.

Still enjoying the beautiful colors!

We did it!

We ended up with just over 11 miles that day.

We also just missed the rain.

It started just minutes after we started driving.

Despite the rain, I had to stop and take some pics of Lake Superior!

What a great trip!

Have you ever been to Lake Superior?

What is your favorite spot?

Camping, History

MN Trip ~Day 5 The SHT

10/10/2014 Danielle Huddleston Leave a comment

There are very few pictures from our second day on the Superior Hiking Trail because it rained!

It was supposed to rain for most of the time so one day of rain was not too bad.

Of course when it started sprinkling I did not want to put my rain jacket on.

I was hot so I thought I would wait.

Later I had to try to dry out my wet things and I realized I was not planning far enough ahead.

The trail was pretty muddy in spots so the fact they had bridges and boardwalks in places was really nice!

This is a really well travelled trail and they seem to take good care of it.

Since we were headed to Tetteguche State Park campground that day we headed up Mount Trudee which would had some really awesome views.

Since it was raining I thought I would take pictures the next day when we headed back that way instead of trying to get my camera out of my pack, where I put it to keep it dry.

I found out really quickly that one of my shirt choices was really bad.

The grey one you see hanging in our tent is a really cheap Danskin from Walmart and it is amazing.

It dries quickly and is a great base layer.

I wore a black t-shirt from target on top and it soaked up the water like a sponge.

That guy is not coming hiking with me again…

Even though the park let us call them to check into our campsite we still decided to make the 2.5mile trek to the visitor center to check it out after we set up camp.

Even though it poured on the way there, I am so glad we did it!

They had a fireplace!

We stayed there for a couple hours to dry out and then headed back into the rain…

It was a cold wet night but that is what happens sometimes when you camp.

I should have brought a base layer for my legs instead of just the pants I wore.

Live and learn.

What is your favorite thing to bring with you camping?

I was dreaming of long johns all night…