Volunteers tackle storm damage on the Superior Hiking Trail

Chuck Olsen | May 29, 2025

Volunteers for the Superior Hiking Trail Association cleared away downed trees and debris on the west end of Cook County on Saturday, May 17.

The morning began with safety training and instruction at Schroeder Town Hall, led by Barbara Budd, volunteer and education manager for the Superior Hiking Trail Association.

“We had a lot of wind storms over the winter,” said Budd. “So we have many trees down on the north end of the trail. And so we have volunteers out here, certified chainsaw operators, and then swampers–those are the folks who follow behind the sawyers and they clean up all of the cut logs off the trail.”

Volunteers come from all around Minnesota to volunteer for Superior Hiking Trail Association. Sharon Kimble drove up from Minneapolis to help clear trails at Temperance River State Park “because it’s fun. The hiking trail is something our family donates money to. We think it’s important.”

Kimble brought her own Superior Hiking Trail helmet with her name emblazoned on the back, which she earned by logging enough volunteer hours.

“When a volunteer puts in 40 hours, they get a hard hat with their name on it,” said Budd. “When they put in 75 hours, they get a volunteer t-shirt with the logo on it. At 150 hours, they get an SHT-branded buff. At 300 hours, we’ve got a Frost River lunch bag for them.”

Sawyers receive certification to operate a chainsaw from the U.S. Forest Service. Jerome Lemke of Two Harbors is in his fourth year as a sawyer volunteering for the SHTA.

“I just like being out on trail and giving back and cutting trees,” said Lemke. “Part of it is teaching people. Doing projects like rock wall building and stair building, to see the finished product and their confidence level, and the light bulb comes on. At first they thought that they couldn’t do it. And then after you see the finished product and it’s there, they can always come back on a hike and say, you know, I put in those stairs and they’re still there.”

There are multiple upcoming opportunities for folks interested in helping clear and repair sections of the Superior Hiking Trail. Details and registration for volunteer opportunities can be found on the Superior Hiking Trail Association volunteer event calendar.

Audio and photos from the event by WTIP’s Chuck Olsen below.