(July 15, 2024, Two Harbors, Minn.) Recent heavy rains and flooding along the North Shore impacted the Superior Hiking Trail, causing erosion and damaging bridges, like the East Baptism River Bridge. To repair the damage from this storm and future storms, the trail needs a flood of support from our community.
The Superior Hiking Trail Association is excited to announce a generous group of donors who will match up to $14,000 – the equivalent of 310 memberships – when people join the Superior Hiking Trail Association during our 2024 Membership Drive, which began July 15.
The Superior Hiking Trail is member-support and volunteer-powered. Currently, about 2,900 members and 450 volunteers give generously of their time, labor, and financial support to maintain the trail. Last year, the Superior Hiking Trail experienced 400,000 user visits between May and November of 2023. With an increasing number of people using and impacting the trail, and increasing damaging weather events impacting the trail, we need more sustaining supporters to join our Association.
The SHTA is committed to keeping the trail free for all to use, but the trail is expensive to manage and maintain. That is where annual memberships can help out. Membership has been in a pattern of decline since 2020, yet permits, land-use fees, volunteer program management, and maintenance and renewal project supply costs are increasing.
We would like to thank the generous group of supporters who have contributed to this matching fund: individual donors Jacqueline and Christopher Crowhurst, Dave and Barb Yarusso, Cindy French, and Business Members Myrmel Maps, Sawtooth Outfitters, Duluth Coffee Co., and Adventures in Good Company.
“My son and I have enjoyed many challenging and beautiful experiences on the SHT from the time when he was in Scouts and I was Scoutmaster to our current role as campsite adopters of the Andy Creek campsite,” said matching fund contributor Dave Yarusso.
“The trail is a magnificent resource in our state and it takes not just volunteer time but also money to maintain the trail for the enjoyment of all hikers. There are plenty of areas needing bridge repair, boardwalk building, and other trail improvements that require materials purchases as well as staff support. Please donate and become a partner in maintaining this amazing trail.”
Becoming an annual member is the best way to ensure the SHTA has the resources it needs to maintain and protect one of the best long-distance hiking trails in America right here in Minnesota. And joining during our 2024 Membership Drive will double the impact of your membership, unlocking a flood of support for the Superior Hiking Trail. To join, visit superiorhiking. org/join or mail a check to:
Superior Hiking Trail Association
c/o 2024 Membership Drive
PO Box 315
Two Harbors, MN 55616
