by Melanie McManus | Jul 16, 2020 | Hiking, Michigan, North Country Trail 2017 – Still Hiking, Trail Journals
Today was the start of three days of camping, beginning at Little Garlic Falls. But we had an hour’s drive to drop our cars, so we left the Holiday Inn at 7:30 a.m. We got to the car drop spot near Silver Lake Basin around 8:30, then took off hiking at 9 a.m. The...
by Melanie McManus | Jul 17, 2020 | Hiking, Michigan, North Country Trail 2017 – Still Hiking, Trail Journals
Today’s itinerary called for a 17-miler (27.4 km) from the western gate of McCormick Wilderness to our cars at Silver Lake Basin. We first had the .8-mile (1.3 km) hike down from our lovely campsite to the car. Easy! Next we had a 90-minute shuttle to McCormick...
by Melanie McManus | Jul 18, 2020 | Hiking, Michigan, North Country Trail 2017 – Still Hiking, Trail Journals
Today’s itinerary called for hiking from Craig Lake to the McCormick Wilderness’ western edge, where we’d camp for the night. But oh, the day went so tragically wrong! The bad vibe started with last night’s late entry into camp, which was disheartening, to say the...
by Melanie McManus | Jul 19, 2020 | Hiking, Michigan, North Country Trail 2017 – Still Hiking, Trail Journals
If my hike was on schedule, today Amy and I would be hiking eastbound from Big Lake State Forest to the middle of a connecting road route. And Ed and Bruce would be driving home. Bruce did drive home, but Amy decided to strike out on her own for the day while Ed and I...
by Melanie McManus | Jul 24, 2020 | Hiking, Michigan, North Country Trail 2017 – Still Hiking, Trail Journals
Today’s goal was an easy one: Hike from M-64 to FR 326. According to my original Western U.P. itinerary, I would have hiked from M-64 east to FR 400 today, after Amy dropped me off and went back home. After that, I’d be hiking westbound solo. But as you...
by Melanie McManus | Jul 25, 2020 | Hiking, Michigan, North Country Trail 2017 – Still Hiking, Trail Journals
Today’s destination was the Little Carp River #6 campsite in the Porkies. It’s roughly 18.6 miles (29.9 km) from M-64, with 13 of those miles (20.9 km) in a wilderness area. I figured they’d be rough and I’d need more time. Plus, the weather forecast called for...
