Looking to plan a fall hike of the Sioux-Hustler Trail again this fall -- Did part of it last year with a buddy of mine. We didn't get far, but we learned a lot as it was our first time on this trail.

Was wondering if anyone has been up there this summer. Interested in trail conditions.

Haven't set dates for sure yet, I am aiming for early Oct.

We are scheduled to start on Sept 18. I will let you know after I get back.

Did you watch Shugs video, he was on it last Oct

brotherbob1958, awesome -- looking forward to hearing how your trip was and how the trail is. I did indeed see Shug's video. In fact, my buddy and I were just heading out off the trail the day he started on the trail. Didn't know who he was at the time! It was a great video! It made me more determined to make the whole loop this fall!

Thanks!

I took t he 3 McKenzie maps over to Kinko's and had them make it into 1 map. Works great

My son & I did the Angleworm a week before he did this past June, watched those videos also

Thanks! I will check it out. Yeah, we were trying to find a good map too -- and avoid having to carry three. The National Geographic actually has a map you can get that includes the trail. It's a bit large, but in the end it was nice having one map that had it all. I got a GPS as a gift this last winter and I believe I found the trail files for the Sioux-Hustler -- so my hope is to use that. Granted I will still carry a paper map as I am still only now getting use to GPS and well, a paper map is just nice to have as a reference.

Thanks again!

I have nothing against a GPS, but, you have to bring batteries, it is always possible that you cant get a signal due to the terrain. me, I am a old fashion map & compass guy, I have taught my son how to read a map & compass. Cause a compass never runs out of juice

the map that Kinko's made me is 11 x 17. Between the 3 maps from REI ($24), the cost of kinko's making the single map with a cd ($12), I have around $36 invested on the map. But wouldn't go out in the woods without a good map

McKenzie maps show the trail and all the USF camp sites

I have been on the Sioux-Hustler trail quite a bit. I've only ever used the Fisher map. I know that some of the new maps probably do a better job of explaining points along the trail but I always thought the Fisher was sufficient. All of the trail is on the F-16, camp sites included. There will be plenty of places where the gps doesn't get a signal along that trail. For me it would just be extra weight.

"We didn't get far, but we learned a lot as it was our first time on this trail"

I can relate to that. Not all trails look the same. For the most part the Sioux-Hustler is a wilderness footpath. It takes a few miles to be confident you are following THE trail. That's what I love about it.

PortageKeeper,
Thanks for your input. I will look at the Fisher map as I believe before I was looking at the McKenzie.

BrotherBob,
Thanks for your input too! Yeah, I tend to be more of a map person too... I got a GPS for xmas and had found a map file for it of the S-H trail and thought it would be interesting to see how much I got from the GPS. And I hear you on the compass! I know when we were there last fall it was overcast and you could very easily lose your sense of direction quickly! The compass (we had one) was handy to get bearings and keep us on the right path.

So, has anyone heard how the trail is lately? I know last fall it was in pretty decent condition. Wanted to know if I could expect similar -- or if I should expect more down trees, etc.

Thanks again!

The Voyageur Map #1 also has the entire trail plotted, as well as designated campsites; I have used that map on a couple different hikes of the Sioux-Hustler Trail.

I like McKenzie maps. But to do the Sioux Hustler trail I had to buy 3 different maps. Then I took them to Kinko's to make a single map. So I have around $35 in maps just for this one trip. lol

quote brotherbob1958: "I have nothing against a GPS, but, you have to bring batteries, it is always possible that you cant get a signal due to the terrain. me, I am a old fashion map & compass guy, I have taught my son how to read a map & compass. Cause a compass never runs out of juice


the map that Kinko's made me is 11 x 17. Between the 3 maps from REI ($24), the cost of kinko's making the single map with a cd ($12), I have around $36 invested on the map. But wouldn't go out in the woods without a good map


McKenzie maps show the trail and all the USF camp sites"

Um...how did you get Kinkos to violate the copy write on those maps???

I went to the counter, told the lady what I wanted she said ok, a week later it was done, paid her, her money and left. They even gave me a cd of the map

If you're going by any BWCA outfitters there's a McKenzie map 114 that has the entire trail. I canoed in the area recently. The outfitter I worked with said it's only sold through outfitters. (I haven't checked Mckenzie site.)

Copying the three maps you own into one map wouldn't be a copyright violation. It's like copying a story from a book you own to take along because you don't want to carry the entire book.

quote sueb2b: " If you're going by any BWCA outfitters there's a McKenzie map 114 that has the entire trail. I canoed in the area recently. The outfitter I worked with said it's only sold through outfitters. (I haven't checked Mckenzie site.)


Copying the three maps you own into one map wouldn't be a copyright violation. It's like copying a story from a book you own to take along because you don't want to carry the entire book. "

I'm not a copyright lawyer...but strictly speaking...they both are.
I'm not a McKinzie map expert either but I don't think map 114 is in print anymore. So grab one if you find it.

Back, I am sorry to say we didn't do the Souix Hustler like we planned. We started on the trail, got about 3-4 miles in, walked into the swamp area on the main trail and all of a sudden the trail was gone. 3 hours later still couldn't find the trail. Come to find out that day before they got 3" of rain, no wonder I couldn't find the trail, lol

I hope the trail dries out enough so you can find it.

I haven't given up hope on this trail, I will be back to do

brotherbob,

Looks like it will have some opportunity to dry out some before we get there a week from today. You say you got the swamp area on the main trail. Is that where the first beaver dam is? I know last year we bushwhacked around it going in -- but on the way out we just walked across it.

Also, for the 3-4 jaunt you did -- how was that trail condition? How about colors, where leaves starting to turn yet?

Thanks! Looking forward to getting up there and going!

I made it past 2 beaver dams

The trail was in fairly good condition until I hit the swamp

We saw beautiful colors on the roads going up there, but once we were in the woods, mostly green. But hopefully by the time you getup there, the colors will be peaking.

I will be back, this is not going to stop me from trying again

Good luck
And have a awesome time