Blazing Trail: 40 Years on the Superior Hiking Trail

In Episode Six of Blazing Trail, we meet Chaz Gallet, medical advisor for the Superior Hiking Trail who also helps manage the hiker logbook program. We also talk to Donna Siska, a trail helper who assists hikers with unexpected situations on the trail, such as broken water filters, supply drops and even aggressive grouse on the trail. The final portion of the episode is a discussion with Peter Smerud, retired director of the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, which has a land-sharing agreement with the Superior Hiking Trail. He tells us about how the trail is used to teach children and adults about North Shore and Lake Superior ecology and how the two organizations' missions overlap.

What is Blazing Trail: 40 Years on the Superior Hiking Trail?

Blazing Trail is a special-edition podcast created by WTIP and the Superior Hiking Trail Association. The first full episode will launch on January 8, 2026. For four decades, the Superior Hiking Trail has been more than a 300-mile footpath — it’s been a living link between people, place, and purpose.

The eight-episode series will explore the trail through stories about the early days, the work of trail builders and volunteers, and the voices of hikers and adventurers whose lives have been transformed by the trail.

To honor 40 years on the trail, the Superior Hiking Trail Association celebrates the spirit of exploration, stewardship, and belonging that has guided generations along the SHT. Together, we’re blazing new paths toward a more connected future.