Tuesday

COMPLETED: North Country Trail, Manistee River Section - MI -- Sept 2009



This is 119.2 miles of blissful trail. I hiked the trail solo except for a 16.8 from Nichols Lake North Trailhead to the M-20 Trailhead. Two friends joined me while I hiked this section of trail.  For the first two days of my hike my Dad shadowed me in his car and he took his tent and stayed out in the woods with me.

The trip took seven days. The most miles hiked in one day was 21 miles. The least amount of miles hiked in a day was 6 miles. I enjoyed the beauty of the Michigan woods, swamps and marshes. I didn't see any bear but I did see plenty of deer, turkeys, partridge, a couple of porcupine and a weasel. I didn't see many people on the trail during the week, but the weekend brought out a few other hikers and bikers.

I enjoyed the hike by myself, but I prefer to hike with friends. The worst part of a solitary hike is the dark nights in the woods with only snorting deer to keep you company.

Start: Marilla Trailhead
End: Croton Dam

If you'd like to do this hike, you can find the maps here: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf/pages/Recreation/trails_nonmoto_hiking.htm#mh
Pictures: Highbank Lake campsite, Bowman Lake, boardwalk on the Freesoil to Udell section of trail, hike break, Big Sable River

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Happily may I walk.
May it be beautiful before me.
May it be beautiful behind me.
May it be beautiful below me.
May it be beautiful above me.
May it be beautiful all around me.
In beauty is it finished.

~Anonymous, Navajo Night Chant

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