NCT: Day 5

We awoke at our stealth campsite to find our tents dry. This was a pleasant surprise. We charged some more at the abandoned store. I decided to search the campground for a hot shower, to no avail. I had taken my clothes to wash in the shower and ended up losing several pairs of socks. I backtracked and found a few pair and decided the others were not worth the trouble. I was not looking where I was going and I ran right into a downed tree branch. It was pretty terrible, but I was mostly unharmed.
We washed our clothes and selves in the the lake and headed out.

We hiked about ten miles planning to be near a local restaurant. Google Maps lied and the restaurant was actually 7 more miles out of the way. The bugs were bad so we decided to hike into the town of Trout Lake. After hiking a few miles we got tired and got a hitch after trying for around five minutes.
We were given a tour of the town by our impromptu trail angel Mark. We had some awesome food and Bell's Two Hearted Ale at the local saloon. The prices were great, especially when compared to my recent experiences in SoCal.


Krusty and I hiked a mile to the local town campground. We had hot showers and charged our electronics. I had enough service to download my map/gps app with NCT waypoints. It was a good night.

NCT: Day 4

We rarely started hiking before eight. Actually, I think we never started hiking before eight. Today was no exception. The bugs were bad again today. We made it to Brevort Lake, and decided to do a roadwalk to a nearby restaurant. The restaurant provided pasties, not pastries, and pie. We then took a very poorly maintained side trail back to the Brevort Lake campground where we initially departed the trail. We found an abandoned campground store with an open outlet and charged our devices. We ended up stealth(illegal) camping next to Brevort Lake, not far from the abandoned store.

Prior to Brevort Lake we took the opportunity, during a non-buggy stretch, to bathe for the first time and pick copious amounts of wild blueberries.

Wild Blueberries abound!! I can taste them now. Many were small due to lack of rain. However, the small guys were super tasty. Seriously, give me more now! Often times it was worth stopping, even while being eaten alive by mosquitoes, just to gorge on these things. 

We hiked to Wildwood Pasties and ate some pasties and pie. There are so many food options on this section of the trail one need only carry a day or two of food. 

NCT: Day 3

Upon awaking we again packed up wet, this time it was strictly condensation. This is mostly a new experience. Instead of taking mid-day siestas to beat the heat on the PCT, we are taking mid-day siestas to dry out all of our gear. We adapt quickly, though.

Krusty, and I, hiked the 8 miles into Mackinac City. We had lunch, espresso, and fudge. Again, we charged our respective electronic devices. We reached the bridge and phoned the bridge authority. For a mere $3.50 each, we were over the bridge in no time. We hiked to St. Ignance, charged some more, and ate ice cream for dinner.

After leaving St. Ignace, the trail got buggy. We got eaten up by mosquitoes. We setup camp early to escape the bugs.

NCT: Day 2

We departed at a leisurely 8am. This was a newer experience, having come off the southern section of the PCT, in packing up wet. Passing through Mackinac State Forest, and Wilderness State Park. We stopped for a few hours at a campground to charge our phones. We had the opportunity for a free hot shower, but it did not seem worth the time so early in the trip. The trail was very well maintained and graded, and there were few bugs. We setup camp about 8 miles from Mackinac City after hiking around 20 miles.

NCT: Day 1

After being dropped off at Leavering road around 7:30pm, Krusty and I, departed. We hiked a mile before an imminent thunderstorm forced us to setup camp. We were in our tents just before the shit hit the fan. This would prove to be a regular, and fortunate, occurrence.

Not done hiking?

I'm hiking the NCT in the UP of Michigan. I will be hiking with Krusty, whom I met on the PCT. The initial plan is to hike for two weeks. Then it may be time to hike the PNT for the fall. We'll see.

Intermission

When I created this blog I did not have a trail name. My proper trail name is Sasquatch. I hike in VFF's. I'm not certain if I will go back to the PCT this year, or next. However, I ultimately will be back. Maybe not a thru hike, but who knows. Knowing you can do something is pretty cool, actually doing it is a whole different beast.


I learned a whole bunch of cool stuff while hiking, and met a whole bunch of cool people. Having never hiked before, I was at times overwhelmed. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the trail, or the day after day grind of hiking. Luckily the trail is easier in the beginning, and gradually gets harder. This allows someone like me to build slowly. When I started I could not hike more than 12 miles in a day. After a few weeks I could do 20's day after day. Though I still took way too many zeros in town. I did one 30 mile day. At the end I could do 20 miles a day in the Sierras. The first few weeks I had terrible blisters, but towards the end my feet only hurt on the days I did not hike. I had very few aches and pains. Though, I only really averaged 11 miles per day from start to finish. Things were definitely more sore when I was pushing 20's on a regular basis. Sore, but luckily not injured. I am always amazed at what a good night of sleep can do.


If I go back this year it will be southbound from Portland, Ore. Or, perhaps I will try again next year having much more experience and knowledge to make hiking that much easier/more enjoyable. Regardless, I have had a blast.