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  • 5 Best Women’s Hiking Pants (that AREN’T leggings!!)

    April 1, 2025

    the best women’s hiking pants that aren’t leggings

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  • Best Hiking backpacks for women header image

    Best Hiking Backpacks (for women, by an outdoor guide!!)

    March 3, 2025

    From day packs to backpacking bags to hip packs and packs that do it all, here are the best backpacks for hiking that you can find:

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  • Oboz bridger mids, the best womens hiking boots i have used, on the superior hiking trail

    Best Women’s Hiking Boots (by an outdoor guide!)

    February 1, 2025

    Looking for the best women’s hiking boots? From ankle support to traction, read this article to help find the best hiking shoes for your needs (and budget!).

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  • Sun peaks into snow-covered woods

    Beginner’s Guide To Winter Hiking (by an outdoor guide!)

    November 18, 2024

    Winter hiking can be intimidating! For everything from how to layer, what gear you need to finding winter hiking near you, here is a full guide to winter hiking!

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  • Best Kayaks for Beginners (by a kayak guide!)

    June 16, 2024

    Looking for the best kayaks for a beginner kayaker? Here’s the ultimate guide to buying your first kayak:

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  • Winter Kayaking: Best Gear & How to Layer

    November 1, 2023

    For the best gear and how to layer for winter kayaking, read this article!

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  • A windsurfer on Lake Superior by Artists Point Grand Marais MN

    8 Tips for Fall Kayaking: What to Wear & How to Layer

    September 5, 2021

    Looking for the best clothes for fall kayaking? Wondering what to wear kayaking in the shoulder season? Check out what to wear fall kayaking

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  • moose photo shot on a canon Rebel

    3 Best Affordable Cameras for Adventure Photography

    May 3, 2021

    Looking for the best affordable camera for adventure photography? Read this article for the best adventure photography cameras

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maddymarq

guide & writer exploring the midwest🏕
📍Wisconsin Northwoods
inquiries: hello@madelinemarquardt.com
↓ FREE exploring the Midwest eBooks ↓

it’s me I’m girls :/ it’s me I’m girls :/
hahahah jk I’m not laughing :( 🦟 hahahah jk I’m not laughing :( 🦟
Backpacking the Porkies🥾🏕️🏔️ Porcupi Backpacking the Porkies🥾🏕️🏔️

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park is a great spot for beginner friendly wilderness backpacking (think no cell service, but options for easier routes). Currently an area just outside the Porkies is the site of a proposed mine that could put the environment and Lake Superior’s waters at risk. Learn more and stay up to date on developments @protect_the_porkies 

📍Traditional homelands of the Anishinaabe Nation
logged off lately☀️🌊>📱💤 1-7: I’ve logged off lately☀️🌊>📱💤

1-7: I’ve worked this stretch of shoreline as a sea kayaking guide on and off since 2018. This summer will be my first in a while easing off guiding and into full time writing which is so wonderful!! I’m really looking forward to experiencing the islands and paddling as a paddler and someone who loves the outdoors, and not just as a guide working. There’s something really wonderful about doing things just for the joy of it, and I want that back. 

[new @aquabound tetra on my deck was gifted! As pretty as she looks on my deck, it’s a great paddle so more likely to end up in my hands!]

8- I’ve been getting back into running and it’s been hard. Rewarded myself with some shorts that don’t cut into my skin and some non-stained sports bras. (See previous post for a wholeeeee story on the running thing)

9-10: a walk in the woods

11- plant propagations 

12- taking @paddlingmagazine out for a paddle :)
Lake Superior summer loading✨🌅🏕️ where a Lake Superior summer loading✨🌅🏕️ where are you headed this summer?

1- A lake up the Gunflint Trail
2- Stockton Island
3- the Porkies
4- Lovers Leap Arch
5- the North Shore
6- prep day
7- Palisade Head
8- my favorite island
9- the trail 
10- Devils Island (actually isn’t my favorite!!)
11- Michigan moment 
12- camped out
13- a small sea cave

📍traditional and cultural homelands of the Anishinaabe Nation
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© 2025 Madeline Marquardt