So I tend to backpack in wilderness areas when I'm on longer trips, but am thinking of doing a big chunk of the SHT (and I don't mean Sioux-Hustler Trail) at the end of June. My basic plan is to be out for eight to ten days, starting at the 270 degree overlook and going as far south as I can get before I run out of time. I don't intend to really have a plan for how far I go; my wife will pick me up wherever I end up.

I've actually never done this type of long-distance non-wilderness trail before, so I'm not used to things like worrying about where I can camp and whether there's space. Any thoughts for an experienced wilderness backpacker on a non-wilderness trail?

Campsites on the SHT are shared, not like the BWCA, so if you arrive and there are already other people there you just say hello and set up next to them. Occasionally you may have a hard time physically fitting in, but you can make something work even if it's not particularly comfortable for a night, and that's really only an issue at some of the more popular sections on weekends.

If you are on Facebook there is a SHT group forum, they will give you more detailed info than on this forum

Cool, I'm likely to be on the trail over the July 4th holiday so I'll be prepared to sleep however I can at that point. My tent is tiny so I'm guessing I can squeeze in about anywhere; but it does require guylines.

Hey Tom,
Checking in! Are you still going out this next weekend (or perhaps you're already on the trail).

I'm hiking 60 or so miles of the trail later this summer, and am very interested to hear how your trip went!

Hi Lindsey, I just got back - was out eight days, seven nights, June 27 to July 4. Conditions were very good - relatively dry path, with plenty of water raging in the rivers and creeks. I suspect that if I hadn't just run Grandma's Marathon a few days before starting I could have covered more ground each day, but I managed to do 106 trail miles, from the Otter Lake Road trailhead to the Cross River State Wayside in Schroeder. It was really a fun time. I had no significant issues or setbacks. If you're interested in any specifics I'd love to share :)

yes, please email me at urwild@gmail.com.