Day Hike to the Ted Tofte Overlook: 40th Birthday Celebration of the SHT
July 29, 2026
By guest Roberta “Eagle Eye” Laidlaw
Roberta Laidlaw’s solo hike to the Ted Tofte Overlook during the SHT’s Ultimate Birthday Party, June 6, 2026. Photo by Roberta Laidlaw.
The assignment: Pick a location on the Superior Hiking Trail and hike it on June 6, 2026, to commemorate the SHT’s 40th birthday. With 300 miles of trail, dozens of picturesque spots came to mind, but for me the location needed to have a personal connection.
From 2008 to 2009, I section-hiked the SHT and fell in love with the trail, like many of us have. During that 2008 hike, I took an extended break at the Ted Tofte Overlook with its incredible view of Lake Superior and the surrounding northern forest. It was a day of perfection that I will never forget.
After completing the SHT, I decided to give something back by volunteering. My first official job as an SHT volunteer was to help prepare meals for the trail crews. Every Spring, several of us cooked in the kitchens of the Schroeder Fire Hall and the Finland Rec Center. We prepared a hearty breakfast for the trail workers as well as a tasty supper at the end of the day. When you work together volunteering, year after year, you become like family and look forward to seeing those “family members” every spring.
Volunteer hike to the Ted Tofte Overlook after a long day of trail work, May 2018. Photo by Jo “Someday” Swanson.
One volunteer work weekend in May of 2018, after supper was done and the dishes were washed, a bunch of us decided to climb up to the Ted Tofte Overlook. From the exposed dome of the overlook, we quietly watched the sunset. Yet another special experience on the SHT.
On the SHT’s 40th birthday, I solo hiked to the Ted Tofte Overlook. As a bank of clouds rolled in from Lake Superior, I thought about the people who had stood there with me over the years. The Trail is about more than scenic vistas, more than a simple walk in nature. The Trail connects people and binds us together. My life has been enriched by the people I’ve met through volunteering with the Superior Hiking Trail Association.
Happy 40th Birthday Superior Hiking Trail. Here’s to many more!
–Roberta “Eagle Eye” Laidlaw