New Trip Report posted by Freeleo1

Trip Name: Ensign to Thomas and back.

Entry Point: 25

Click Here to View Trip Report

Nice report. It's always a tough decision to drive or fly. My son and I are driving up to MN later this week. We're just north of Dallas and it's about 14 1/2 hours to Minneapolis. 4 - 8 lanes all the way.

We have driven up there through Houston and Dallas on the interstate so many times since my husband has relatives in Dallas. We decided to try the east Texas route. Also, I'd never been to Arkansas. The mapping programs made it seem about the same time wise. It would be better if Interstate 69 wasn't so broken up. We had to keep exiting just to stay on the same road. You're right, the interstate is more relaxing, just really boring.

Duplicate post.

I really enjoyed your trip report.
Thanks for sharing.

Northwoodsman: "Nice report. It's always a tough decision to drive or fly. My son and I are driving up to MN later this week. We're just north of Dallas and it's about 14 1/2 hours to Minneapolis. 4 - 8 lanes all the way."

My buddy and I are driving in early Sep. Up from Austin. I have driven it three times and flown seven. While it is a very boring drive, it saves a lot of $$ and relieves a lot of stress.

Nice trip report. I love your description of realizing that you were not where you thought. Easy to have happen. I have thought about a trekking pole as my balance gets iffier each year. So far I have been okay with using a paddle for big step downs or slippery spots but next year my husband wants to bungie the paddles into the canoe on portages. What trekking pole do you use? Foldable?

We just returned from a trip out of Moose Lake and the number of Scout groups was staggering, though we had some good experiences with a couple of the groups (an intense bull moose encounter and helping a group get through a shallow, muddy stream) and every Scout group we met was incredibly polite. Once we got past Knife and SAK area it was much improved. We passed through Thomas and it looked like a lake we want to return to so it was fun to read your report.

It's a Leki pole with a rubber tip. One of a pair I use regularly on day hikes. It telescopes down to about 24 inches and fit in the side of the guide pack until we got to the 1st real portages. I didn't turtle once this time.

Thomas was better than I thought it would be. It might be a problem if there was more wind since it has a lot of open area. I had planned to go to the smaller lakes nearby if it was a problem, but it wasn't necessary.