May 28-31, 2008
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 Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is one of the best-kept secrets of the upper Midwest. Despite its secluded lakes, virgin timber forests, miles of wild rivers, gorgeous Lake Superior vistas, and 90 miles of foot trails, the park remains remarkably un-crowded, even on a beautiful May weekend.
Located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the 60,000-acre park is nestled on the shore of Lake Superior with sand and rock beaches. The park rises from the shoreline to a series of jagged hills, from which the Porcupine Mountains get their name.
Each day, you’ll choose between adventures led by long time Wild Institute guides: shorter hikes (about 3-5 miles) with plenty of time to learn about the unique natural history of the area, and longer, more vigorous hikes (about 8-10 miles), often hiking through ancient forest to secluded Lake Superior shoreline. Hike, relax, hunt for rocks on Lake Superior’s shoreline, welcome the spring wildflowers at their peak, and birds recently back from their winter homes.
 Several hikes pass through old growth forests, including
the largest virgin
hemlock/hardwood forest in the United
States. Some of the trees are 200 years old. In past
years, we’ve come upon white pines and hemlocks that
were so large it took three of us to reach around the
base of the tree.
Your days are spent hiking, exploring, and relaxing, returning to delicious meals at our cozy campsite and sharing the day’s stories. Conversations around the campfire often range from raucous laughter to deep conversations. Wake to the sound of native flute when the coffee is ready, and decide on your day’s adventures over breakfast. Our schedule is flexible, all hikes and activities are optional. The point is to get outside, have fun, and welcome spring with wonderful women like yourself..
The details…
Guides: Your
guides are founding director of The Wild Institute,
Chris Heeter, and long-time guide Marsha Berry. Their
combined guiding experience of over 50 years creates
trips that are fun, respectful, and extremely safe.
Their humor and love of the earth are contagious!
Meals: Food
matters! We bring hearty and delicious primarily
vegetarian fare. Many women are surprised by the amount
of fresh vegetables and mouth-watering menus prepared
outdoors.
What to bring:
When you register,
you’ll receive a detailed packing list, so you’ll be
sure to have what you need. You bring only your
personal gear, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. You are
welcome to bring your own tent either as a solo or to
share. Otherwise, tents are provided at double or
triple occupancy.
How much experience, how in shape do I need to be:
You do not
need any prior hiking or camping experience for this
trip. Though many women use their trip as motivation to
get in better shape before they go, no particular level
of fitness is necessary for this trip.
Can I sign up on my own:
All women are welcome,
and many sign up on their own. Others register with
friends, partners, sisters, mothers, adult daughters.
Weather: Plan on anything from gorgeous spring weather in the
70’s to chilly days in the 50’s. It gets cold at night
(usually in the low 40’s), but typically warms up
significantly during the day. The suggested clothing in
the packing list that you receive when you register will
help you be comfortable in all kinds of weather.
Group size:
Minimum 5, maximum 12
Trip fee:
Your trip fee of $450 includes guides, campsites, meals,
and all equipment. You’ll need a park sticker for your
vehicle ($29 annual, $8/day for non-residents, $24
annual, $6/day for residents).
Schedule:
We’ll meet at 2:00 on Wednesday, May 28th, and set up our
little tent village. Then we’ll be on Northwoods time,
hiking, exploring, eating great food, relaxing, and
enjoying the company of other fine women. On Saturday,
May 31, we’ll eat breakfast, take a short morning hike,
and leave the park around 11:00AM, in time to have lunch
together in town before heading home.
Transportation/travel time:
If you are driving,
Porcupine Mountain State Park is about a 5 and a half
hour drive from the Twin Cities in Minnesota, about 7
hours from Chicago. If you are flying, there are
several county and municipal airports nearby; the
nearest major airport is Duluth, Minnesota (about 2 and
a half hours from the park). When you register, we’ll
send along a list of the other participants if you would
like to carpool.
Payment information:
Your deposit is not refundable. If you must cancel,
please do so in writing. If you cancel 90 days prior to
the trip or more, the balance of your trip fee is
refundable; 60 to 89 days, the balance of your trip fee
is transferable to any other Wild Institute trip through
the end of the following year; 0-59 days, the trip fee
is not refundable or transferable.
We strongly recommend
that you purchase travel insurance so that you can
recover your losses should you need to cancel for any
reason.
Some companies that Wild Institute participants have
used are: CSA Travel Protection (800-348-9505)
www.csatravelprotection.com/comfort and Travel Insured,
800-243-3174. The Wild Institute reserves the right to alter trip
plans due to severe weather, water/snow conditions, or
other unforeseen circumstances.
How do I sign up:
A deposit of $150 holds your spot, and payment in full is due by April 3, 2008. With your deposit, please send name, address, phone, and e-mail address.
The WILD Institute
P.O. Box 353
Loretto, MN 55357
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and print registration form
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