The windstorm that buffeted Minnesota’s Arrowhead region last Monday, is gone. And gone with it are miles of clear hiking trails.

Best to plan carefully if you intend to hit the Superior Hiking Trail or the BW anytime between now and spring, as reportedly the damage is significant in some areas. How significant?

The SHT has deemed it “very severe” from Finland to the north end of the trail, with many hundreds of trees down. Apparently one hiker spent 2-1/2 hours covering just one mile, in an area north of Grand Marais.

Ourselves, we were tripping along the Sawbill Trail in the days after the storm. Some down there, on the portages, but certainly not to this extent.

Andrew Slade’s blog has more details, as well as several photos of large downed trees.