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Beginner’s Guide To Winter Hiking (by an outdoor guide!)
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Best Winter Hiking Pants for Women (by an outdoor guide!)
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Best Women’s Baselayers for Winter Hiking
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2024 Midwest Adventure Holiday Gift Guide
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Best Kayaks for Beginners (by a kayak guide!)
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PNW Adventure Packing List (By an Outdoor Guide!)
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How to Backpack and Camp on your Period (Detailed Guide!)
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Ultimate Guide to Solo Car Camping (Packing & Route Planning)
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Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Review (By an Outdoor Guide!!)
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Ultimate Kayaking Packing List (by a Kayak Guide!)
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hello stranger // about me

Hi there, and welcome to Hello Stranger. My name is Maddy, and I'm the voice behind the blog. I'm a writer, paddler, photographer, traveller, and freelance editor. I'm committed to exploring the beautiful American Midwest to prove that you can find real adventure anywhere! Toss your email below to keep up with the adventure!

note: this website uses affiliate links! this means if you choose to make a purchase based on recommendation I make a small kickback at no additional cost to you.

maddymarq

me + Lake Superior = the ultimate love story 💗✨🌊

Lake Superior holds 10% of the worlds surface freshwater, is the largest lake in the world by surface area, and does in fact control my entire life, I’m deeply obsessed on a visceral level, and I’m totally okay with it 🫶

📍Anishinaabe Nation Traditional Homelands

weekend walks in the woods🥾✨🌲 theres a few

weekend walks in the woods🥾✨🌲 theres a few things that make me happy pretty much no matter what is happening in my life—

a cup of coffee in the woods, a good book and a cup of tea in the evening, and a chance to knit something pretty 🫶

spent most of the weekend working on my last little shop update on @knittingbymaddy before Thanksgiving, live tomorrow at 5pm CT💗 from then on, it’s all Christmas gift knits and finishing up a few small customs until the new year 🌲

📍traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe Nation

✨this✨ season is so close I can taste it💗 w

✨this✨ season is so close I can taste it💗 winter kayaking on Lake Superior is definitely not a beginner activity, and here are some quick things to keep in mind for all winter paddlers✨⬇️

❄️It’s drysuit season! In general, a wetsuit isn’t going to be warm enough for true winter paddling with ice on the water like this. If you’re going to go anyway, a wetsuit is better than nothing.

✨wool baselayers!! for your next-to-skin layer, some mid weight wool baselayers are a great bet.

✨ PFD!! While a life jacket is a must in all seasons, in the winter it’s especially important to keep your PFD on; you’re likely to experience cold shock in the event of capsize, and inhale water immediately.

Everyone pictured here is an experienced Great Lakes paddler with several years experience guiding and instructing :)

Winter kayaking on Lake Superior is a super fun activity I love to do in the winter, but it’s definitely not a “bucket listy” tourist activity, and not something I would recommend without the right gear, coastal paddling experience, and extensive local knowledge ❄️

📍Anishinaabe Nation Land

a girl 🤝 her emotional support puffy ✨💗🤣

I’ve had my @stio pinion down pullover for four years now & it comes everywhere with me— winter hiking, backpacking, sea kayaking, I think I even brought it to Florida once 🌴

Code MADDY-W2440 for 40% off with @stio now through the 15th :)

#stioaffiliate #lettheoutsidein

winter in northern minnesota❄️✨🥾 mini gui

winter in northern minnesota❄️✨🥾 mini guide⬇️

saunas to check out🔥
@saunacamps (Minneapolis!!)
@sisuandloylysauna (Grand Marais)
@cedarandstonesauna (Duluth)

winter hikes🥾✨
Jay Cooke State Park
Day Hill in Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Cascade River State Park

Cabin Stays❄️
@northern_light_cottages
@elycabincollective
@toftetrails

XC skiing🎿
Pincushion Mountain
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Lester-Amity Trail (Lester Park)

Lighthouses🌊
Two Harbors Light
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park
Grand Marais Light

📍traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe Nation

#winter #minnesota #northshore

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