04.16.010

Is my goal for my first backpacking trip of the spring. Last year we had a late winter, the snow took forever to melt and then just when it was looking promising...the ice storm hit. It wasn't until the second weekend in May last year that the SHT was hikeable, so I'm setting my sights on April 16th this year. The rest of the TEAM is welcome to attend as well!

An extra month of backpacking in '010? That's what I'm hoping for!

It's a Start...

but a long way to go...

Feeling a bit invigoriated about TEAM42 after our GREAT expeidtion in the BWCAW last weekend I've been working some on our website. You'll see a totally new home page, which I'm sure you'll love as well as a brand new feel to the blog (which you'll find integrates the blog and the website together nicely).

Also added are the "galleries", which I hope to make a key aspect of the website. We're all pretty good at taking pictures, but not so great at keeping trip journals (note the two trip reports). To get a photo album uploaded, simply upload your photos to Picasa Web Albums and send me the link to the album. If you use Picasa on your desktop, you only have to press one button to upload an entire album.

In addition to photos, I need bios for several TEAM members. If I don't get a bio soon (I only have them from Jim and Zach) I'm going to just make something up and I can't promise that it will be flattering!

Now that the winter trip is over, time for the snow to melt so we can start backpacking! See you on the trail!

Great trip TEAM42! Time to start looking forward to some sprring expeditions!

At the brew pub in ely, on the trail in an hour or two!

Weather update

It looks like the chance of precipitation is no more! The highs for the day are now in the mid 40s, and the lows are in the high teens. Not great weather for winter camping, but not as bad as it was forecasted to be earlier. See you all tomorrow morning!

Expedition Route

Route Planned! I think it's a pretty well balanced route with a lot of small lakes and a couple larger ones. We'll be going in on Moose and hiking North, then East before coming back going South and then West. Here's how the trip plays out:

Day 1 - Depart TEAM42 Headquarters at 5:00am. Arrive Moose lake trailhead, hike 3+ miles to campsite on Newfound lake.

Day 2 - Hike north to Birch Lake. Hike east across Birch, possibly crossing into Ontario, and ending at a campsite on Frog Lake to the South. 7+ miles.

Day 3 - Hike south across Esign Lake and then follow some other small lakes south and then west. End at campsite on Abinoji Lake. 7+ miles.

Day 4 - Hike Southwest over Boot Lake and then a bitch of a day hiking across Snowbank. End at campsite on the east end of the lake. 7+ miles.

Day 5 - Hike west, Portage to Flash Lake (140 rods), cross Flash and then portage (250 rods) to Moose Lake. 2 miles.

The best part of the route is that we'll be able to easily adjust it without turning back. There are a couple of spots where we could either lengthen the trip or shorten it up based on how we are traveling. See you on the trail!

Weather

I have been monitoring the weather in Ely for the past week or so. Up until this week it has been in the 20s during the day, and around -10 at night. This week and weekend the forecast calls for highs in the low 40s; and lows in the 20s. There's a 40% chance of "snow" on Saturday (but it would most likely be rain). I'm packing my gear as if this was a summer trip because things are going to be wet.

Chad's Meal Plan

These plans sound mighty tastey! I'm bringing oatmeal and cereal bars for breakfast. Granola bars, dried fruit, beef sticks, candy, etc. for lunch. Hamburger Helper for dinner (the flavors will have to be a secret until the trip). I also have some tasty hot beverages for morning and night!

I hope it doesn't get too warm that our snow melts away. NO SNOW MEANS NO FUN.

Happy trails!