S5 E5: Aidan Lee - Owner of Trek & Trail - Bayfield, Wisconsin

When it comes to kayaking this Sweetwater Sea, a paddler has 2,726 miles of spectacular shoreline to explore as well as three National Parks: Isle Royale, Apostle Islands and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores. But it’s also a destination where paddlers need to prepare. In this episode of the Lake Superior Podcast, Aidan Lee, owner of Trek & Trail in Bayfield, Wisconsin, talks with Walt Lindala and Frida Waara not only about the best places to visit on a day trip, but also shares how to extend your stay and camp among the Apostles Islands. He also emphasizes the ever-changing moods of Lake Superior and the importance of keeping safe on the water. Whether you are a beginner or experienced paddler, you’ll learn tips and highlights about paddling adventures on this greatest of the Great Lakes.

Key Takeaways:

•  Lake Superior offers a unique and magical experience for kayakers, with its clean and clear waters and diverse ecosystems.
•  Sea kayaking on Lake Superior requires proper gear, including a sea kayak with bulkheads, appropriate clothing for cold water, and safety equipment such as bilge pumps and paddle floats.
•  The Apostle Islands are a paradise for paddlers, with 21 islands each offering their own character and natural beauty.
•  Safety and risk assessment are crucial when kayaking on Lake Superior, as the weather and conditions can change rapidly.
•  Training and experience are important for kayakers, and it is recommended to paddle with a buddy and have knowledge of weather patterns and navigation.

Notable Quotes:

•  "Kayaking, for me, has always been the best way to connect with Lake Superior and just water in general. It's a graceful way to navigate the ever-changing environment." - Aidan Lee
•  "Lake Superior is not to be taken for granted. It can show its colors quickly, and it's important to have humility and knowledge of weather patterns." - Aidan Lee

Resource:

• Trek and Trail Sea Kayaking (https://www.trek-trail.com/) - Aidan Lee's sea kayaking company in Bayfield, Wisconsin.

 Listen to the full episode and learn more about kayaking on Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands. Stay tuned for more engaging and informative episodes from the Lake Superior podcast.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Kayaking and Lake Superior
• 10:31 Preparation and Gear for Kayaking
• 15:09 Readiness and Safety for Kayaking Adventure
• 22:22 Guided Kayaking Tours and Skill Development
• 29:21 Immersive Experience and Appreciation for Lake Superior

Transcript

Walt Lindala

00:00

This episode brought to you by Cafe Imports, Minneapolis based importers of fine specialty green coffees. Independently owned and operated since 1993, Cafe Imports has been dedicated to decreasing its impact on the earth through renewable energy, carbon neutrality, and by supporting conservational efforts in places where quality coffee is grown and also where quality coffee is consumed. Where does your coffee come from?

Frida Waara

00:24

And by the national parks of Lake Superior foundation. As a nonprofit, we rely on support from listeners like you. If you like what you hear, please consider a donation. To learn more and make a gift. Visit us@www.gosuperior.org.

Walt Lindala

00:54

Welcome to the Lake Superior podcast. I'm Walt Lindala.

Frida Waara

00:57

And I'm Frida Wara. We are made stronger by story, and there's no better source than the continent's largest body of fresh water, Lake Superior.

Walt Lindala

01:07

So join us as we highlight the five national parks that ring this greatest of the Great Lakes. Meet the people, tour the places, and learn about the projects that make these parks and body of water so remarkable.

Frida Waara

01:20

This podcast made possible with the support of the national parks of Lake Superior foundation and media brew communications.

Walt Lindala

01:27

I'm Walt Nidola.

Frida Waara

01:29

And I'm Frida Warra.

Walt Lindala

01:30

Welcome once again to the Lake Superior podcast today, Frida, I got. I'm going to defer to you a lot on this because this is something that you have experience with that I really don't, which is kayaking, especially on the Apostle Islands and on Lake Superior. But we're going to talk with someone that knows it pretty well, Aidan Lee, and tell me a little bit about that.

Frida Waara

01:50

Well, you know, I've been watching that lake, and it's. When it's glassy, oh my gosh, I can get sassy, I guess. You know, get out there and start go for a good paddle, and somebody's gonna have fun with me saying that. But we really have 2800 miles of shoreline on Lake Superior to explore. It is some of the most magical water you could ever find. It's clean, it's clear. But I also like to say lake Superior's the boss, and you don't want to go out there without somebody along with you. And a good person to have along is Aidan Lee.

Walt Lindala

02:30

Aidan Lee joins us here on the podcast. He is owner of Trek and trail sea kayaking out of Bayfield, Wisconsin. Welcome to the podcast, Aidan.

Aidan Lee

02:37

Yeah, thanks, Walt and Frida. That's flattering.

Walt Lindala

02:40

Introduction well, we wanted to talk to you about kayaking, not just kayaking on the big lake, but perhaps a little bit more specifically of the Apostle Islands area. But just as a little bit of a background to get you introduced to our listeners. Tell us about Aidan Lee. What led you to become a kayaker?

Aidan Lee

02:57

Yeah, for me, it's kind of a full circle story that starts and ends well, I should say. Continues with Trek n Trail. I got my start as a guide with Trek and trail in 2016. I was a student at the University of Minnesota and got a summer job as a kayak guide up here. I really had very limited paddling experience, was kind of new to the outdoor industry, and Trek and trail was willing to bring me on board. And, you know, after spending some time through their training, pretty rigorous training program, you come out the other side as, you know, ready to start guiding. And so it's. I'm definitely grateful to track and trail the previous owners and for all of the knowledge they shared that got me started here.

Walt Lindala

03:50

So it sounds like you have a real sort of affinity for kayaking. Can you kind of describe that for someone that maybe has never done it? Or at least what is the appeal for getting out on the water for you?

Aidan Lee

04:01

Well, you kind of mention it. I mean, anyone listening to this podcast probably has a sense that the lake is a really meaningful body of water. For, for many of us, it really kind of gets into you. And so dekayaking, for me, has always been the best way to connect with lake Superior and just water in general. But, yeah, you're sitting inches above the surface of the water, flat water, dynamic waters, that sort of thing. It's an ever changing environment, and kayak's just a really graceful way to navigate it.

Walt Lindala

04:37

Let me ask you one quick question here. You're referring to sea kayaking. We've used that term here now a little bit, but we hear lake Superior, but you're talking sea kayaking. Now, for those of us that are familiar with the lake, we know we have basically an inland sea there. But explain what that is, because this isn't just sort of getting in the kayak on a small inland lake. This has got some extra preparation and stuff, too, doesn't it?

Aidan Lee

04:58

Yes, definitely. You know, in the midwest here, you know, Minnesota would be in the land of 10,000 lakes. In Wisconsin, you know, most people who come kayaking with us have done some sort of recreational kayaking on their local, you know, inland lakes. And lake Superior is the largest lake in the world by surface area. And the waves we see, you know, regularly can reach heights of, you know, 3ft easily. And for reference, you know, those are when you're sitting in your kayak waves that are at or above your head so your buddy is next to you would be disappearing behind the waves you're paddling in, you know? And so, you know, most people who have done recreational kayaking is probably an experience they've not had on their, on their local lake.

Frida Waara

05:44

It is really something when you get that opportunity to be out there on that big water. And you bet you're always looking over your shoulder to make sure that, you know, Lake Superior's the boss, make sure that we are prepared for whatever the weather's bringing our way. But, Aidan, I mean, you don't have to tell me twice, that's for sure, because it is so remarkable to visit there. But let's just let the world know a little bit about why the apostles are such a paradise for paddlers.

Aidan Lee

06:14

It's a big box to open, but I'll take a stab at it. The apostle Islands are just. I mean, they're remarkable. They're remote. There's 21 islands, and they all kind of have their own character. A lot of historical importance with the apostle Islands, from the Anishinaabe people who use the islands, who traveled amongst them for their purposes, to more contemporary history. The islands have been home to many people, you know, over many hundreds of years. And so to be sort of part of that now is a humbling experience. Sort of find yourself in that tapestry of that sort of history and culture is humbling for me. You know, there's beaches, cliffs, you know, diverse forests, you know, ecosystems that you can't really find anywhere else. It just kind of all comes together here in the islands.

Aidan Lee

07:17

And I don't know, I've always kind of described it as, I've paddled in Alaska and some really remarkable places and have found myself thinking about the apostle islands and lakes, pier when I'm sitting in front of tidewater, glaciers. And it's kind of this sort of a subtle beauty is the way I've described it before, so it kind of sneaks up on you. It doesn't, you know, it's not this obvious splendor of, like, mountains and glaciers. It's a softer. It's a softer beauty. You know, the sunsets and the way it all sort of weaves together to me just kind of, it just kind of gets into your soul.

Frida Waara

07:54

Would you say that the apostles are a place for a beginning paddler to explore?

Aidan Lee

07:59

You know, that's. That's kind of a hard one because, you know, we, you know, we want to make hiking accessible for as many people as possible. And the. I think your experience is sort of secondary to your perception and assessment of risk and your own self assessment of your abilities, because lake Superior has many moods, and there are days when you don't want to, you know, you don't want to put your boat in the water. And there are other days where it's like glass and can be really deceptive that way.

Aidan Lee

08:36

And so there are days when the right person with the right amount of humility and the right amount of knowledge about what the weather forecast is supposed to do can go out there and have a really nice time with maybe not the super in depth paddling, sea kayaking proficiency, but, you know, what I. What I want to sort of emphasize is that you have to have some knowledge of the weather patterns and be able to understand, you know, that just because the water's calm here doesn't mean that when you get around that point, it's going to be that way. There is a baseline of knowledge that you'd want to have under your belt, and then from there, you can decide, well, what are my sea kayaking skills like? You know, am I comfortable paddling and what's forecasted for today?

Aidan Lee

09:27

Or do I, you know, want to sit this one out and maybe, you know, drink tea on the beach for the day?

Frida Waara

09:35

You know, when you mentioned that, Aidan, I have paddled lake Superior for, I think, now 35. 35 years at least, I guess. But I do want to say that paddling at the apostles does present weather that I'm not necessarily used to on lake Superior. Why is that? Why is there this really unique weather pattern?

Aidan Lee

09:58

Yeah, I mean, the lake is a big enough body of water that it does sort of create its own local weather. And so we'll see, you know, we'll see fog rolling in. We'll see localized squalls that will really just pop up out of nowhere, you know? And these are like, really small, intense storms that, like, they will show up as a blip on the radar. It's kind of amazing. They'll come up out of nowhere, and it's sometimes just like, sometimes they pop up right over you. And hopefully they don't. But there's a level of. It's like when scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast, there's a level of uncertainty with that. You just kind of have to stay on your toes and keep in mind, like, where's my nearest landing spot from here if things really do go sideways?

Walt Lindala

10:46

We're talking with Aidan Lee on the podcast today, owner of Trek and trail in Bayfield. Wisconsin, talking about kayaking the apostle on Lake Superior, and let's talk about it a little bit. Aidan, in terms of the gear that you need to be out on superior, what are some of the things that need to be not missed?

Aidan Lee

11:03

Sure. Well, I'd like to just say some folks might not know the difference between sort of a sea kayak and a recreational kayak. Sea kayaks are generally 16ft or longer, and they have bulkheads, which are walls that compartmentalize your kayak. And so the benefit there is, if your cockpit or a hatch started to fill up with water, your entire kayak is not going to fill with water. There will be some air trapped in there, so it's not going to sink to the bottom. And so that's a pretty key safety feature. And why recreational kayaks are pretty discouraged on lake Superior are those bulkheads. So that's a big one, is kayak choice. What people most associate with lake Superior is its cold waters. And so dressing appropriately, even when we have hot summer days. Right.

Aidan Lee

11:54

You might still want to be wearing a full wetsuit. And in the shoulder seasons, the people who are brave enough to go paddle in April, May and October, November, you're going to see them in dry suits, but in the summer having a wetsuit, so that if you do end up in the water, you're going to extend the time that you can spend getting back into it because hypothermia otherwise sets in pretty quickly. Obviously, properly fitting life jacket PFD is necessary. Some other safety equipment that folks are probably less familiar with. We have bilge pumps, obviously, to shoot water out of your kayak if it were to fill up after getting back in. And then paddle float, too, is a tool you use to help get yourself back in if you don't have a partner to help stabilize your kayak to get back in.

Aidan Lee

12:50

So paddle float. Great tool paddling with a buddy. A buddy should be on your checklist of things to bring kayaking. Paddling by yourself is kind of inadvisable around here.

Frida Waara

13:04

Absolutely. And the other thing about a spray skirt, many times people in their recreational kayaks, they don't even, they want to tan their thighs. Well, that's not going to happen. You can really see a kayaker very closely when you're walking on the beach. Cause they're the one that, you know, they still have whale white legs because they've, you know, been in the spray skirt there. If were going to extend not just a day paddle, but were going to go for an overnight, which to me, that's what the apostles is just, you know, the lore to say, let's go and make a loop around three or four or, you know, even. I think you could spend a month and still not see everything. How do you change your gear when you're making those kinds of trips?

Aidan Lee

13:51

Well, obviously, you're bringing camping gear, so you've got your stuff to sort of spend the night. And so, yeah, you're going to have just the kind of things that you're going to need to sort of live out in the elements for an extended period of time. You know, having a nice tent that, you know, the common theme is going to be bugs, right? So having a tent with mesh inner is going to be helpful. You know, a head net is a really nice thing to throw in your kit. Long clothing, you know, keep the sun off and bugs off. I have footwear, you know, it's like I've got my paddling neoprene booties, and then I also have shoes that I can change and do for camp. And then also the islands have hiking trails on them.

Aidan Lee

14:42

And so having, like, a pair of tennis shoes or hiking boots that you can, you know, use to explore the islands on foot and get into the interior, too, you know, there's not, there's a lot you don't want to miss.

Walt Lindala

14:52

Aidan, what I'm hearing here is obviously there's a lot of the gear that you have to plan for an overnight stay, like if you were going on a camping trip or a backpacking trip. But obviously now you add the factor of a kayak and all of the stuff that comes with that. How is the kayak camping trip different from a backpacking trip? And, and then another question that ties into that is, like, how do you know you're ready? Because it sounds like there's a lot of response, a lot of gear, and it could take a lot of your time. What, what are some of the differences there? And how do you know if you're ready?

Aidan Lee

15:22

Well, I guess I would say that I started out, you know, backpacking. That was like my first outdoor sort of pursuit. And then, you know, once I realized, you know, you could put all the stuff in a boat and float it around instead of carrying it on your shoulders, it's kind of hard to go back to backpacking kayaks. You know, you're not carrying that weight around. Your boat just kind of swallows it. And you can fit a lot of stuff in a sea kayak, probably. You know, I would say, depending on the kayak, you know, one and a half to two backpacks worth of stuff if you pack creatively. And so kayak campers are, you know, from.

Aidan Lee

16:02

From, like, you know, we're not the ultralight backpackers, you know, through hiking, you know, the appalachian trail, we're usually living a little, you know, a little larger than that. You can bring, you know, some fresh foods and, you know, maybe a nice stove, two burner stove, even, you know, I definitely tend to pack a little heavier when I'm seek kayaking because you can. You also, right, as you mentioned, you've. You've got to pack some. Some additional safety equipment as it pertains to water travel. And so, you know, I've got, like, my repair kit for my kayak. If things are going to break, you're bringing flares, you've got a radio, you've got extra stuff that, you know, from a nautical environment. You just gotta think about that. So, yeah, there is a lot to bring. There's a lot to keep in mind.

Aidan Lee

16:48

There's a lot of knowledge you need to have, right? Just not the general, just camping knowledge, but how to navigate and the risk assessment, making weather calls, weather decisions in the field in real time, all that stuff. And knowing when you're ready. I think if you have the opportunity to, you know, to paddle with other people who have spent time here, that's definitely going to be helpful. You're going to learn a lot, and people up here are really happy to share that kind of information. The other thing that's just kind of more technical is, like, you should ask yourself, like, if. If I were going to flip over in my kayak, you know, what is my ability to get back into this thing?

Walt Lindala

17:27

Right, right.

Aidan Lee

17:28

And, you know, in what range of conditions am I comfortable doing that? You know, and if. If you're in conditions and you ask yourself, like, could I get myself back into my kayak or could I get my buddy back into their kayak if they fell out? And the answer is no, that's, you might want to take a hard look in the mirror and reassess.

Walt Lindala

17:47

Yeah, that makes good sense. Now, again, we're talking with Aidan Lee here on the podcast today, owner of Trek and Trail in Bayfield, Wisconsin, talking about the Apostle Islands, doing some kayaking there. You've alluded to this. We kind of touched on it a little bit earlier, and veteran paddlers do know this at Lake Superior is truly the boss when it comes to this. You can try to plan as best as you can, but growing up on the lakes here myself, even I know that one moment it's one thing, the other moment it's next. How do you get the point across to newcomers that might be very eager, but maybe they're not terribly experienced to understand that?

Aidan Lee

18:23

You know, I think we've seen sort of over time, I think people are, you know, they're hearing stories. You know, there's been some real tragedies. There always have been. But, like, the coverage, you know, is kind of spread far and wide. And I think, you know, that sentiment is kind of spreading. It's like lake Superior is not to be taken for granted. And so I think, you know, we're finding that more people are coming with some humility than they have in the past. But, you know, like, hearing some of the stories that have come out, you know, in recent years, I think, like, some of them are really pretty heavy and those sorts of personal, the details of those incidents and what went wrong and how we're sort of addressing and setting people up to not make similar mistakes.

Aidan Lee

19:14

I think people usually kind of get the point that way and also doesn't take a lot of time around Lake Superior to see it get the way it can get. And so, you know, even if you're in town for a few days, chances are you're going to see it pick up at some point, and it doesn't take much for it to show its colors.

Frida Waara

19:37

You know, I think what you're sharing is so important. Aidan. I had an old gent tell me when I started first kayaking, and he was. I don't know. I mean, he was older than dirt, for sure. He was probably the same age as I am now. But anyway, he was sharing with me. He said, you know, if you can get in and out of a bathtub, you can kayak. And I love that about it. And so making it accessible and getting folks out there, because once you bring them out on the water and they get to feel that, you know, your, like you said, your butt's just four inches under the water line. You are really feeling what the lake is doing. But then when you pair, you've got that. You've got that, you know, will to say, let's go and do an overnight.

Frida Waara

20:19

And with trek and trail, you guys offer multiple day trips. The best is to go with someone, a veteran, your guides, and they know what to look out for. How many times I remember as a young kayaker taking off from the beach and having my guide look over at me and saying, frida, you put your toggle on your spray skirt. You tucked it in. You can't, you know, you don't have your grab loop. That was like the most simple thing. Thing. But. Whoa. Thank you. And just having eyes, you know, on all areas, you know, not only the weather, but just each other. And noting when somebody. Have you eaten today? Did you drink any water? How'd you sleep last night? Because every mile I know, we kind of look at, you know, it's a thousand paddle strokes for every mile.

Frida Waara

21:10

And the backpacker might be able to say, oh, I can hike 4 miles. But paddling for miles between islands at the apostles, it's a whole other ball game. I mean, it's so much easier because, you know, I am never gonna backpack. I can say that right now. No, don't make me do that. I am always gonna float my load because I take way too many lemons. And I really. I have not taken ice, I gotta tell you. I haven't taken ice. Sometimes we found it.

Walt Lindala

21:42

So, like, here's the thing. Like, when Frida's talking about this kind of thing, I'm. I'm. I'm a novice. I mean, I've been out on kayaks on the small inland lakes. I know what it's like. And I grew up with boats and all of that. But when you get out there, what I'm hearing, and Frida's mentioned this with other podcasts we've done, I'm hearing it in your voice that there is a certain. Just a something of being out there. It's quieter, it's more. Yeah, you're there with somebody, maybe a group, but you're in a sort of a different mental space being out there. Do you have a favorite island in the apostles or camping spot that you like to go to really have that experience?

Aidan Lee

22:21

Definitely. You know, we spend a lot of time in the inner islands, you know, on our guided tours because, you know, it's most accessible routes and there's, you know, it's just really easier to get to. And the further out you get, you know, the more sort of at hand that feeling gets to be of being out there. Obviously, it's pretty direct relationship. Further from the mainland, the more. The more remote you feel. And so I found that sort of raw feeling out on outer island. That sandspit out there has always inspired me. It's like about a mile long sand spit that comes off the south tip. And so you can walk to the very tip of it. And you're watching waves crash from two separate directions on that sandspit. Feel like you're on another planet.

Aidan Lee

23:07

And so that's a personal favorite of mine also. Just the feeling of like, you know, it's pretty hard to get further out there than outer. And so that's one. And then campsite wise, I think, you know, I think I'm not going to get in trouble for saying this because I think the secret's kind of out about this particular spot. I've seen people booking this island more often, but Ironwood. Ironwood one has just the most amazing remote feeling to it. It's kind of an unassuming island and it's pretty far out there. It's definitely not easy to get to, but there's no dock, so the only access is via kayak. There's no trail on the island, so it's really just this really amazing sand spit beach. The site's right on the beach there.

Aidan Lee

23:54

And so you just kind of, you know, when you're there, you've got the whole island to yourself because there's nowhere else to land. So that's, to me, like peak wildness is on Ironwood there.

Frida Waara

24:06

I have to add to. Oh, Walt, I gotta take you there.

Walt Lindala

24:09

Oh, geez. Here we go.

Frida Waara

24:10

The west side of Devil's island and the sea caves there. Now, before you go, though, you have got to put a pinch of tobacco for Mister Pichu in the lake before you go, just to make sure that tail stays lowered. Because don't ever, ever think about exploring those sea caves if there's any kind of chop out there.

Walt Lindala

24:32

No. And that really drives that home too. I'm hearing a lot of experience, Aidan, in terms of what you guys do at Trek and trail. I mean, if people want to maybe find out a little bit more about the shop, maybe they want to talk to you directly after they hear you, they got some questions. What's a good way to find out more about what you guys do?

Aidan Lee

24:48

Yeah, absolutely. Well, they can give us a call. They can also find us online at Trek dash trail.com. Yeah, you're going to get me these days in the off season, it's, you know, I'm the one answering the emails and answering the phones, so that's. That's going to be the best way to get in touch.

Walt Lindala

25:09

Yeah.

Frida Waara

25:09

And Aidan, if someone comes and they don't have any gear but they're really ready to, you know, dive into the sport, you've got it all if they wanted to do a trip. Right?

Aidan Lee

25:20

Right. Yeah. In addition to being an outfitter, we are also a paddling retail shop. And so we have a lot in stock. And if we don't have it, we can also get it for you, too. So, yeah, just give us a call, stop in. We'll see what we can do.

Frida Waara

25:36

And Aidan, what about training before you take anyone on a long trip, do they get training through you?

Aidan Lee

25:42

Yeah. So we do provide some instruction at the beginning of all of our tours, day tours. It's about a 30 minutes paddling like tutorial where we talk through paddling strokes and that kind of stuff. We do have on our overnight trips, people demonstrate a successful wet exit. So you're going to have to go out there with your guide and tip that boat over and show that you can release your spray skirt and exit the kayak underwater. Kind of, you know, the most anxiety inducing part of people's trips generally. That's why we do it right at the beginning and get it out of the way. And, you know, it's just a, it's a good thing for our guides to see.

Aidan Lee

26:24

We want to make sure that you sort of have the upper body strength to do that because obviously that's not a place you want to hang out under your kayak underwater.

Frida Waara

26:32

Hallelujah. Hallelujah for doing that, Aidan, because you're right. I mean, I've seen my own girlfriends just panic with the thought that they're going to have to go underwater. But we dive in all the time, so, you know, it really is once you, and once you do it and you come back up and everybody's got that smile on their face and you're like, yeah, you're good to go. So it makes.

Walt Lindala

26:52

You're going to get wet. You're going kayaking, you're going to get wet. So, you know, as we wrap up with you here, Aidan and I got a question. Oh. Frieda's got a question. Okay, here we go.

Frida Waara

27:02

You know, because I'm like itching right here. Walt, I got a plan.

Walt Lindala

27:06

You should see your face.

Frida Waara

27:07

Yeah, yeah, I'm ready to go. Yeah, I'm going to go home and say to Ron, let's. Yeah, where's the tent? Let's air it out. But when you're traveling and you're heading out on a trip, is there something that is not on a gear list, but it's on Aidn's list to make sure it's going to be a good kayak trip?

Aidan Lee

27:27

That's a good question. I think for me, the sort of luxury item that my fiance and I don't leave home without is our travel cribbage. Board. We're always finding time, you know, in the tent or on the beach when we get where we're going to squeeze in a game of cribbage and keep the rivalry alive.

Frida Waara

27:53

Love it. 50, 215, four.

Aidan Lee

27:57

Yeah, exactly.

Walt Lindala

27:58

Aidan, that. That makes sense, because one thing for people to keep in mind, if they are going to do this and they are going to explore this and you're going to go somewhere out to, like the Apostle Islands or some of these other places along Lake Superior, you're not going to have your Internet and you're not going to have chargers and you're not going to. I mean, this is really getting out there and bringing something as. As classic as just a cribbage board or something, a couple of decks of waterproof cards is not a bad idea at all.

Frida Waara

28:26

You know what you need to bring? A harmonica.

Walt Lindala

28:28

A harmonica.

Aidan Lee

28:31

Nice.

Walt Lindala

28:32

So, yeah, you want to do that. So just again, your website for the. The shop there for people to check out is.

Aidan Lee

28:40

Yeah. Trek dash trail.com phone number is 715-779-3595.

Walt Lindala

28:48

Okay, well, you're in Bayfield, Wisconsin, right along the way there along Lake Superior shoreline. And we certainly appreciate your update today, Aidan, with this, because, you know, there's a lot of folks to check out the podcast. They're curious about Lake Superior. They never had any of these experiences, and I think you took them on the journey very well today. Aidan, thank you for your time today.

Aidan Lee

29:07

Yeah, thank you, guys.

Walt Lindala

29:09

That's Aidan Lee, who is owner of Trek and Trail in Bayfield, Wisconsin, sharing some of his expertise on outdoor kayaking, sea kayaking, I should say, and just making sure that people understand what it's about. The message when we talk to so many people, Frida, in this podcast is, of course, respect the big lake, but enjoy the big lake.

Frida Waara

29:28

Oh, there's so much the beauty. We've talked so much with folks that understand why we get to the water, why we need water in our life. And there's no better way to really immerse yourself in that. And the beauty of the apostles is that when you look at those 21 islands and look at the campsites, and certainly the National Park Service is who you're going to be booking your camping with. And Aidan and the folks at Trek and trail can also help you with that. Just gauging. So how many days do you have that you can be out there? What's your skill level?

Walt Lindala

30:02

You know, and always a great way to get into this is by going through any of the national parks of Lake Superior, found Lake Superior, and the foundation is here to help get the word out about it. And if you're poking around the website after you found the podcast here or something like that, and you've got some ideas, you've got some suggestions, you can get them to Frida and I will be happy to talk to you about some of these ideas, maybe tell you a little bit more about some of the guests that we've talked to. But we certainly would like to hear from you through the national parks of Lake Superior foundation website. So it's going to do it for another episode of this our podcast here, the Lakes Superior podcast. I'm Walt Lindala.

Frida Waara

30:37

I'm Frida Wara. Thanks for listening. The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation NPLSF is the only official nonprofit, 501 c three fundraising partner of the National Park Service for all five us national park sites on Lake Superior.

Walt Lindala

30:56

To learn more about NPLSF projects and programs, you can visit the website@nplsf.org or friend them on facebook.

Frida Waara

31:04

I'm Frida Wara.

Walt Lindala

31:05

And I'm Walt Lindala. Thanks for listening to the Lake Superior podcast.

Frida Waara

31:09

This podcast made possible with the support of the national parks of Lake Superior foundation and media brew Communications.

Walt Lindala

31:17

This episode brought to you by Cafe Imports, Minneapolis based importers of fine specialty green coffees. Independently owned and operated since 1993, Cafe Imports has been dedicated to decreasing its impact on the earth through renewable energy, carbon neutrality, and by supporting conservational efforts in places where quality coffee is grown and also where quality coffee is consumed. Where does your coffee come from?

Frida Waara

31:41

And by the National Parks of Lake Superior foundation. As a nonprofit, we rely on support from listeners like you. If you like what you hear, please consider a donation. To learn more and make a gift. Visit us@www.gosuperior.org.