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You’re invited to North Country Hiking Fest @ Itasca St. Park, MN

Plan to come to Minnesota’s Itasca State Park on Saturday, August 28th for the 4th Annual North Country Hiking Fest.  This family-friendly event is sponsored by the Minnesota DNR – Itasca State Park, NCTA’s Itasca Moraine, and NCTA’s Laurentian Lakes Chapters and will feature:

• Morning social time with information and presentations on hiking, wildlife, and the North Country Trail
• Hike to Itasca! A 4.5-mile (or 8 if you want to extend it) guided hike on the North Country Trail from Spider Lake Trail to the South Entrance trailhead and onto Douglas Lodge for those who want to go further.  This will be the last hike of the Itasca Moraine Chapter’s thru-hike program.  A special prize will be awarded to one lucky hike participant!
• A variety of kids & family activities, including geo-caching 101
• A delicious dinner catered by Douglas Lodge ($7) followed by the awarding of door prizes and North Country Jeopardy
• A wonderful concert by the Holker Family at Forest Inn

Here is the event schedule…

9:30 – 10:15am    Social time at Forest Inn — This will be your time to browse North Country Trail info, to talk with trail-builders about volunteer opportunities, or to ask questions about the Trail.

10:15– 11:00am    Animals of the North Country presentation by Connie Cox, Itasca Park Lead Naturalist at Forest Inn — This will include time for you to tell your “trail tales” or to ask questions about North Country wildlife.

11:00 – 11:30am    Organize for hikes & car shuttles — You should bring the following: a day pack, raingear, good boots, bug spray, water, and  your own trail lunch.  You may also buy a bag lunch at Douglas Lodge (advance reservation required) or buy one outside the park (Buck Stop – south on US-71 from the south entrance, Lobo’s – east on MN-200 from the north entrance, Junction Café – just north on US-71 from the east entrance; or Bad to the Bone BBQ – east on US-71 from east entrance).

11:30am        Depart for South Entrance with car shuttle to Spider Lake trailhead

Noon to 4:30    Afternoon North Country Trail hike — Hike to Itasca! From the Spider Lake Trail to S. Entrance Trailhead on the NCT – about 5 miles.  Optional extension: Continue on the NCT to the Ozawindib Trail and on up to Douglas Lodge – adds about 2.8 miles (~8 mi. total).

Noon to 4:30pm    Just take a hike! (on your own)

• Hike the Wildlife Safari geo-cache hike (on your own, bring your own GPS unit, pick up an info sheet at the check-in)
• Hike west on the North Country Trail from the South Entrance trailhead (out and back hike as far as you want to go)
• Hike the Dr. Roberts trail (departs from behind from Douglas Lodge, 2 mi. loop)

1:00 to 3:00pm    Shorter Afternoon family activities

• Health challenge to Aiton Heights fire tower *Earn an exclusive Royal Order of the Squirrel card.  Meet at Douglas Lodge.
• North Country scavenger hike on the self-guided nature trail (on your own)
• Geo-caching 101 exercise around the Douglas Lodge area w/ DNR Staff (Starts promptly at 1pm, limited GPS units on hand, bring your own if you have one, meet at Forest Inn)

3:30 to 4:30    Afternoon hikes

• Nature of the North Country hike (meet at Forest Inn)
• Animal tracks activity & hike (Jr. naturalists, up to 12 years old, meet at Forest Inn)

4:30 to 5:00    Social time with trail mix and drinks available at Forest Inn — Come and relax following your afternoon hike.  Snacks and drinks will be available along with information on the North Country Trail, hiking on it, and volunteer opportunities.

5:00 to 6:30pm    Cookout dinner at Forest Inn (your choice of buffalo burger, turkey dog, or veggie burger with chips, fruit, veggies) catered by Douglas Lodge and available for purchase for $7.  Bring your lawn chairs or blanket to sit outside.

6:00 to 6:30pm    Awarding of door prizes & North Country Jeopardy — A special prize will be awarded to a participant from the Itasca Moraine Chapter’s “Thru-hike” program, which will rap up at Hiking Fest.  For more information, visit the Itasca Moraine Chapter’s website.

6:30 to 8:00pm    The Holker Family concert at Forest Inn — From Remer, the 11-member Holker Family sings a variety of music including classic country, gospel, bluegrass, and folk. For more info, visit the Holker Family website.

For the latest info on the 2010 Hiking Fest, feel free to contact Matthew Davis @ (701) 388-1883 / davis@northcountrytrail.org or contact Itasca State Park at (218) 699-7259.