No club update this week. See the calendar for upcoming speakers and events.
Guest Speaker:
Lisa Luokkala Executive Director of the Superior Hiking Trail Association
Lisa joined the Superior Hiking Trail Association as the Executive Director in 2020. She has an extensive background educationally and as a leader of organizations providing outdoor experiences for the public. She has a Masters degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth in Advocacy and Political Leadership and a Bachelor’s degree in Travel and Tourism from Eastern Michigan University. Lisa hikes on the SHT every week with her dog.
Speaker Highlights:
Covid brought forth valuing and spending time in the outdoors as a safe place protecting spiritual and mental health
The trail build started as a feasibility study with the U S Forest Service
The SHTA started in 1986 and was finished in 2017
It follows the ridgeline above Lake Superior from the Wisconsin-Minnesota border to the Canadian border
Part of the North Country Trail, a 4,800-mile national and scenic trail that extends from North Dakota to Vermont
The trail crosses eight state parks, the Superior National Park and many communities and 200 landowner’s properties
It is 300 miles long, has 94 free campsites, 60 trailheads
400,000 users each season May - November (most use time)
Trails are open year round
Shuttle service available to sections of the trail
Management of the Trail and Association Efforts
Superior Hiking Trail Association is a non-profit organization sustained by memberships, donors, state and federal grants
They are not a designated state trail
The SHTA is planning for the future and their legacy
Dedicated member supported volunteers who contribute over 8000 volunteer hours in maintenance each year
One boardwalk is seven miles long
Crossing private land requires maintaining permissions through respectful use promoted by SHTA education to users
Strategic approach is Trail Protection, Sustainability, Education and Engagement and Financial Sustainability and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion to establish the next generation of stewards