Hiawatha National Forest - An Early Spring Backpacking Journey

I decided to spend a couple of days backpacking earlier this week. The Hiawatha National Forest was calling. It was still very spring-like with lows in the high twenties and highs in the forties. Perfect for hiking in my mind! My route was rather unconventional combining a couple of trail systems and old road bed. The highlights were tons of lakes, hills, and the harbingers of spring: birds chirping, loons calling, and the first pokes of trout lily dotting the forest landscape. As I neared a highway crossing I heard laughter and there appeared three women that I knew from the women's mountain biking group that I belong to. What a riot!