Blazing Trail: 40 Years on the Superior Hiking Trail

In this teaser for Episode Six of the Blazing Trail podcast we meet Chaz Gallet, the medical advisor for the SHT who also collects and manages hiker logbooks along the trail route. Donna Siska is an SHT volunteer who assists hikers with unexpected situations, thru-hiker resupply and other tasks that make the hikers' trail experience as good as it can be. We also hear from Peter Smerud, former director of the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center, a non-profit outdoor school that utilizes a section of the trail that intersects the Wolf Ridge campus to teach children and adults about forest ecology and Lake Superior. 

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.