Shug (right) and M Baxley at the 2025 Winter Camping Symposium. Photo by Joe Friedrichs
Shug the Hammock Camper Diagnosed with Rare Form of Cancer
By Joe Friedrichs
Our friend Shug found out this week he has a rare blood disease called chronic myeloid leukemia.
Shug introduced the joys of hammock camping to people all over the world. His videos from the Boundary Waters are some of our favorites, but they’re all great. And the reason they’re great is because he’s in them.
Shug went paddling on the Ely side of the BWCA last summer. Before that, he did a week-long paddle trip up the Gunflint Trail. He was a keynote speaker at the most recent Winter Camping Symposium.
Shug hasn’t been out much this winter, and we told him on Super Bowl Sunday that our plan is to pull him in a sled to Duncan Lake this winter. We’d like to catch some lake trout and share stories with our friend. With chemo starting soon, it’s not likely we’ll get out there before March 31, though we’ll be dedicating many a trip to his recovery.
Shug’s daughter started a GoFundMe page to help with the forthcoming medical bills and continued daily obligations of life for her Mom and Dad.
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