{"id":6947,"date":"2020-07-26T22:08:31","date_gmt":"2020-07-26T22:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/?p=6947"},"modified":"2020-08-05T22:41:25","modified_gmt":"2020-08-05T22:41:25","slug":"michigan-nct-day-22-little-carp-river-to-black-river-harbor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thethousandmiler.com\/michigan-nct-day-22-little-carp-river-to-black-river-harbor\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan NCT Day 22: Little Carp River to Black River Harbor"},"content":{"rendered":"
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” disabled_on=”off|off|off” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”3.25″ width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”500px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Content” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ link_option_url=” ” hover_enabled=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_vertical_tablet=”0px” box_shadow_blur_tablet=”40px” box_shadow_spread_tablet=”0px”]<\/p>\n
I hit the trail by 7:20 a.m. to give myself plenty of time. I\u2019m glad I had no idea what was in store: another disastrous day<\/a> on the trail.<\/span><\/p>\n I started off and immediately went the wrong way. Here in the Porkies, coming in from the east, the trail passed the first few campsites directly. Thus, I assumed I\u2019d continue past our campsite. Nope. The trail was back at the entrance to the camping area.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n After that snafu, which only set me back about 5 minutes, I was off. The trail was lovely, as I\u2019d assumed. It was another steamy day, so I paced myself. Wild thimbleberries were taking over the trail in a few spots. While they\u2019re not quite in season, I was able to nibble on more than a few. Thimbleberries, by the way, are native to just a small portion of the U.P.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There was a river crossing early on, but I was able to scramble across on rocks. I impressed myself! A second crossing<\/a> not too long after that was too deep and too wide to risk hopping on rocks, so I took the time to take off my shoes and switch to my water shoes<\/a>. I didn\u2019t want wet feet so early in the day. I made sure at every water stop to refill my bottles and filter water. With all of this heat and humidity, I\u2019d need a lot of water today.<\/span><\/p>\n The NCT here heads west to Lake Superior, then plunges south. Once at Lake Superior, the trail markings were confusing and I ended up on the Lake Superior Trail and needed to backtrack. Rats. You don\u2019t want to do a lot of backtracking on a long day..<\/span><\/p>\n Once across a creek feeding into Lake Superior, the trail heads southwest. Another snafu. A couple was coming out of a trail, so I went in, assuming it was the NCT. It led to a campsite and I got confused, then ended up scrambling up a steep embankment to the real trail on top. More precious time and energy wasted.<\/span><\/p>\n At this point, the trail devolved into a wet, muddy mess. I slogged through several miles of this, and even stopped to wring out my shirt and shorts for the second time, as they were both soaking with sweat.<\/span><\/p>\n I ran into one couple who were out trail running, but after passing me and seeing how bad the mud was, they turned around.<\/span><\/p>\n The best part of the day was coming upon Presque Isle, a super-cool series of waterfalls on ancient rocky outcrops. A couple took pix of me and offered to drive me somewhere. I\u2019d have loved to have accepted, but of course I had to soldier on.<\/span><\/p>\n Another error: After crossing the water and starting up an enormous staircase, I double-checked the path. Yep, up the stairs. Once up top and heading down the trail, the markers disappeared. The correct path was to turn left partway up the staircase, but this turn wasn\u2019t marked. Rats.<\/span><\/p>\n Once on the right path, I found the trail through the park lovely, and I enjoyed the breeze from the water. But once through the park, I still had 11 miles (17.7 km) to Black River Harbor. And I had developed a lot of chafing spots due to hiking in soaking duds, even though at one point I\u2019d changed into yesterday\u2019s damp pants and shirt, which were much drier than my soaked shirt and shorts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The trail heading out of the park led me along dangerously eroded cliffs. I moved inland for safety, and there were more blazes here. What the heck? A re-route, no doubt, but a poorly marked one. The markings continued to be confusing, a jumble of old and new, and kept pushing me to the eroded cliffs. Forget this! I knew this path paralleled a road, so I bushwhacked my way onto it. I’d hike along the road to the final stretch of trail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A few miles later, tired and hot, I stopped to filter water and discovered my water filter bag, which held my water filter<\/a>, first aid kit and a few other important things, had detached from my backpack. It had to have been in that crazy section by the cliffs.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Today\u2019s goal was a lofty one: some 23 miles (37 km) from my Little Carp River campsite<\/a> to Black River Harbor. But I felt pretty good about it. The trail through the Porkies should continue to be great, and there was some kind of road walk (snowmobile trail?) for a few miles near the end.<\/span><\/p>\nFinally Heading to Black River Harbor<\/h2>\n
The Trail Devolves<\/h2>\n
Presque Isle: A Highlight<\/h2>\n
The Start of the Disasters<\/h2>\n