This is the thirty-fifth edition of The Duluth Runner Interview Series, where I get in touch with (mainly) local runners and athletes to share a bit of their story while inspiring others to pursue an active lifestyle.

Intro

I met today’s guest while out on a trail run last week. After asking what kind of hike she was doing, I instantly became jealous when she responded with “a thru-hike.” And she certainly has a lot of experience putting on miles backpacking!

She has her own artwork website over at www.sketchingsummits.com, currently works at Blue Blaze Brewing Co., and lives in Charlotte, NC….today’s guest is Heidi Nisbett!

Interview

What inspired you to do a Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) thru-hike? Were you into hiking prior to attempting your hike?

I hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018 (northbound). I was into hiking but not backpacking before that. Once I got it in my head that the AT was something I wanted to do, I started to research gear and hike more. After that experience, I was inspired to continue hiking long distance trails. It’s such a unique way to explore a new place and meet new people.

I had never been to MN before but hear great things about the north shore in Autumn. I came to the SHT to chase down those fall colors and visit a new place!

You chose to go North-to-South, who dropped you off near the Canadian border? What was going through your head as you took your first steps on the trail?

We parked our car in Jay Cooke State Park and shuttled to the northern terminus. That ride can be pricey but I didn’t have many connections in MN and it’s a pretty big favor to ask someone to do that drive. Starting out I was so excited.

This was my second long distance trail but the first for my boyfriend and dog, who were with me. I was nervous about being responsible for my dog’s happiness and well-being but otherwise glad to introduce them to the experience of thru hiking.

Did you ever consider calling it quits at any point?

Starting out we had full intentions of doing a full through hike to the Wisconsin border, rather than the traditional thru hike which would mean stopping north of Duluth.

About halfway through my partner presented the pros of skipping the Duluth section – the logistics of hiking through city limits are challenging, the weather was getting cooler, and the pavement walking probably wouldn’t be great for the dogs paws. We had pretty much decided to end our hike north of the city, Uber to the car, then maybe hike the highlights of Duluth.

Our last day before getting to Duluth, though, I realized how much that wasn’t what I wanted. I said I would do the whole thing, so stopping short felt wrong. Plus – I was having fun! My partner and the pup got the car and “slackpacked” me for the rest of my journey. I am glad I made the decision to hike every mile.

How was your experience meeting people along the trail?

We met so many great people! Hiking has become quite popular since Covid and I keep hearing that the SHT is more crowded this year than ever. Even with the extra traffic though, everyone was super considerate. Social distancing was still respected as well as Leave No Trace practices – I was really impressed with how clean the trail was!

We met some other thru hikers early on and hiked with them for about a week. We had a great time together and all met up for a last drink after everyone finished. I also had so many wonderful “trail angels” – locals were so gracious with helping us find a place to stay (or offering their own house for us to stay at!), offering rides, and encouraging us on our journey.

Any cool wildlife sightings?

More than I expected! With the dog in tow, I thought we would hardly see anything. I saw one bear, 2 bald eagles, countless grouse, a few Gardner snakes, a coyote, and a few pairs of swans. No moose though!

Tell us a bit about your approach, pack/shelter setup, etc.

I carry a Gossamer Gear pack that is 50 liters – this pack has a few thousand miles on it at this point and it’s holding up great! I sleep in a Tarptent Stratospire Li tent – the tent is made of Dyneema Composite Fiber (one of the lightest weight, toughest, waterproof materials on the market). It’s a double wall tent which helps a lot with condensation. It’s a spacious 2 person tent. Normally it’s just me and Junie (the pup) in the tent, as my partner carries his own.

This is my first hike with a partner and I thought it would be best to each have our own tent as it would be a bit more comfortable and easier to sleep after a long day. But him, I, and the dog can all squeeze into my tent and we did several times – especially on the colder nights.

I have a quilt from Enlightened Equipment, a small company out of Minnesota. Most of their gear is custom made – I have a puffy coat from them as well. They kept me nice and warm on this trip!

Did you stay on the trail each night or splurge a bit on some luxury arrangements along the way?

We splurged! With the dog I wanted to make sure we had plenty of resting opportunities. We took a “zero day” in Grand Marais, enjoying a hotel and some great food. We also zeroed in Silver Bay but got to stay with a trail angel which was much easier on our wallets (and fun to meet new people!). We stayed in hotels for the Duluth portion of the hike, as well.

What are the biggest lessons the SHT taught you?

Hiking with a partner and a dog is very different than hiking solo. We are very much a team and everyone’s needs need to be taken into consideration. Our dynamic was very balanced, which I am thankful for.

For example, I would be over-concerned about Junie’s well-being and he would assume she was fine unless she expressed otherwise. He kept me from stressing too much or imagining injuries and I kept him from pushing her too hard.

What was your highlight from the trip? Hardest challenge?

The highlight was probably the people we met along the way. Another would be the hikers we spent several days, they were so much fun to be around and I was laughing myself to tears each night around the campfire with them.

And the trail angels who hosted us for two nights in Silver Bay were so helpful and generous and great company as well!

The hardest challenge was probably hiking most of Duluth without my partner and pup.

How many miles per day did you travel?

I haven’t done the math yet but the average was probably 14 or 15 miles a day. My biggest day was 22 (in Duluth). I had planned higher mileage but we decided to keep it low for the dog.

Has your life changed since you finished the SHT? If yes, how?

Ask me in a few months! I am sure it will though. I am already planning my next long distance hike. It’s an addicting lifestyle.

Would you do it again?

I probably won’t hike the SHT again – there are so many other trails in new places to explore! But I am glad I made it up here and I would certainly recommend it to others!

What advice would you give someone who wants to attempt an SHT thru-hike?

Comfort is key! Research your gear before you buy it and do a test run with your set up a few times before going out to do the entire thing. Don’t rush the experience and be sure to talk to the people you meet along the way. And September really is the perfect time of year to hike it!

Closing

Many thanks to Heidi for agreeing to stop by The Duluth Runner and share some of her knowledge/experiences with everyone. I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Interview Series – stick around for more to come!