I LOVE THORNS!!!! zaleski trip report

“Joy and I had the privelege to hike with more TTers this wknd. We'd hiked with some,others were new to us. But all were good people!

Joy,Me,Tarabull,her Beau,and Bro hit the trail for a 2 mile night hike in. The recent purchase of a petzel tikka was worth each of the 560 nickels it cost me. At camp Buddur (and his dog Tom),Wolfsister,Gonzo and his wife (mona lisa?) were kicked back by the fire. We stayed up late gettin to know each other. By 1am we slept.

Dawn came too early! But we eased into the day with a leisurely breakfast. Wolfsister headed out a bit before the group to enjoy some quiet. We plugged along to camp D with stops to snack,rest and look for flint (found some too). We were all tired upon arrival but decided to head down to Moonville tunnel to drop a geocache. Joy napped,Tarabull's Beau studied (law in colonial America. His brain is BIG!). The rest of us bushwacked .5-.75 miles to the old rail grade. The thorns were UNBELEIVABLE! All of us were torn,snagged,poked,stuck and caught for nearly each of the 45 minutes it took us to find the rail bed. After 2 log crossings and 3 crossings at the downed bridges we found the tunnel. The cache was left,pictures taken and the return. 610pm found us back at camp,hungry tired and sore. More talk around the fire and an earlier night.

At 2am an owl settled in VERY near our camp for a small concert. Followed by some dogs in the distance. Got up and hit the trail (after more photos) about 930am. We(Gonzo and I) hiked an access road back to the trailhead. The others took a spur trail to a cemetary. We said our goodbyes and some of us met for lunch down the road. Note to anyone going to Zaleski...the campground around the corner has SHOWERS!!!! On the drive home I found a thorn still stuck in my nose...d@mn! Thanks for the trip y'all!”

“brandy and i had a great time and look forward to future tt outings....

my sister came by and brought me a birthday care package containing:

ginsing wellness tea
extra strength icy hot pain relieving cream
preparation h
ensure oat raisin bar
phillips milk of magnesia
and last but not least....
cotton bud travel toilet tissue....

i figure i'm all set for the next time out!!”

“No luck at Lake Hope with the little fishes BUT, I caught two smallmouth in a nice little stream off Rt. 50. All showered and have my legs under medical observation , I explained to my daughter that I ran into that wildcat again! Great fun and I hope to do it again sometime. Ho Hum back to work tomorrrow.”

“O.K., first post. Hmm, this isn't so hard. Right Birch, big brain, that's why I dragged ass up every single hill. I'll file that one away for use later on. Great to see everybody again/for the first time. Will e-mail pics soon.”

“it seems this trip has brought two new people to the world of tt. (max - "my beau" and brandy) after this weekend, they couldn't keep themselves away! that has a lot to say about the people on the trip.

i had a fantastic time. my cuts and scrapes look much better than they did yesterday.

can't wait to get the photos back. let me know if anyone wants copies and if so, if you want them emailed or sent via snail mail.

gotta hit the sack now. nighty night rabbits...”

“Nice report there, glad y'all had some fun.”

“p.s. buddur - i'd love to get a copy of the group photos you took in front of the caves. both during the day hike and on the hike out.

oh, and i just LOVE your dog. give him some hugs and kisses for me tonight!”

“Got to the trailhead early and ok?lucky to keep the van on the windy roads. Hiked ~45min, passed the old mid-1800s cemetery, to the first established campsite. Got water from the provided pumps, only to find Sea Monkey-like feathers floating in the water. Strained the water through a bandana, and you couldn?t tell the water had occupants. Spent the next hour, before Gonzo and Brandy, collecting rare firewood. Met Nick the Park Ranger who just appeared out of nowhere by the fire. Wolfsister showed up after dark?and Birch and Joy, Tarabull, her hubby and brother arrived waaaaaay after dark. Of course, we all sat around the fire and exchanged banter till the cows came home.

Got up early Sat morning. I braved making pancakes, scrambled eggs and (pre-cooked) sausage links with my Budweiser can burner?worked like a charm, as always. Wolfsister was first up and also out of camp. I never saw a walking stick before, and ended up seeing 2 of ?em that morning thanks to Gonzo and Brandy, and Joy and Birch. The rest of us hiked prolly ~3 hours to the next campsite, stopping to admire the trees blocking the spectacular views from the sandstone cliffs.

After setting up camp2, everyone ?cept Joy and Tarabull?s hubby set out for the Moonville tunnel. We decided to bushwack downslope from the campsite and to the RR grade rather than hike the windy trail back to where they meet. On the way we stopped to take pics at an old mine, which only looked like a sandstone outcrop with an opening underneith. At the bottom of the hill was the floodplain from hell thick with Mick Jagger bushes with thorns the size of, well, big enough to get lost in Birch?s nose. Darned if we didn?t take the long way through the floodplain, crossing a log and marsh until we finally got to the RR grade.

Rested at the RR grade and watched Buddur the dog take a swim in the adjacent pond. Took a long time to walk the RR to the tunnel?crossed the stream at least 3 times where the RR bridges were at one time. Got to check out and kind of show Gonzo how to work his Garmin Etrek GPS. I?d like to thank Tarabull?s brother for keeping me tuned. We stashed the Moonville Tunnel geocache on the E side of the tunnel, took pics to prove we were there. The moon was out that afternoon...who'd've thunk? After hiking back, we took the trail back to camp2 cause we all were already slashed and bloody enough from the trip there.

That night, moans could be heard by everyone when they either sat down, stood up, walked, or did any type of movement. I made a couple batches of Ranch flavor popcorn and Joy and Birch made cherry cobbler?Mmmmmmmm!

A couple distant barking dogs woke me (and others) up about 2:15am and kept me up till the stopped making noise, which seemed to take forever. Then a hoot owl had to make his presence known. So I got out of my shelter and threw rocks at him till I nailed him good. (NOT?just keeping y?all interested) Buddur the dog kept Joy and Birch warm periodically through the night, and made Brandy scream when she looked out her tent window and Buddur was there looking in at her.

Took group pics before we left camp then set out to hike back to the trailhead. Me, Tarabull?s hubby and brother (since we were there to hike the Zaleski Trail) took the trail til we met up with the girls (including Birch and Gonzo) who had walked the road?till the last ½ mile.

I really dug this trip as everyone I met was very kind and friendly. I sincerely hope to hike with y?all again someday?somewhere down the line.”

“Sounds like more good times at Zaleski. I know about bushwacking through thorns. Been there, done that! Ain't fun but it does make for good braggin rights later.
Glad the new people on TT had fun. It's a krazy bunch but very friendly bunch.
Wish I'd have been able to make it.”

“Sounds like a great weekend and it was great weather. Welcome to all the new TTers!”

“I feel pretty bad everyone. I truely wish I was there, and have a sense of guilt for planning the thing and bailing on you guys at the last minute.

My business partner had a surprise B-Day party thrown for him on Saturday at 4:00. The party was planned 2 weeks ago, and I absolutely had to attend, it would have looked real bad, regardless if I had a good excuse or not. I planned on coming down friday night, camping and then leaving in the morning, but unexpected events at work on Friday kept me in Cleveland. We landed a webdesign job for a Ohio Secretary of State candidate, and I needed to begin designing the site this weekend to get something toghter for his announcement on October 1.

I know the excuses don't cut it, but know I am truly sorry for not being there, and hanging out with you guys. I'm glad ya had a good time, thorns and all, and I'll be looking for that cache the next time I go down there.

BB”

“BB - no guilt. We had a great time. We would have loved to have you there. But, we understand that things come up!

Now that you live closer to SE Mich, you may be able to join us in a couple more day hikes.”

“Hey Buddha, no worries, it happens to all of us once in a while. We did miss you, (that's not a guilt trip-just a sentiment), but there'll be other trips.

It was a good time! I'm glad to see Brandy and Max posting!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GONZO!!!! (and many more):o)”

“Yes - Happy Birthday. I'm glad you chose to spend your birthday weekend with us!”

“Oh yeah...there's glow-in-the-dark fungus at the first campsite we stayed at. So if'n anyone else goes there...look fer it after dark.

Happy BD Mr.Gonzo!

And this next weekend is the Black Forest trip in central PA, if'n yer interested, Mr.Buddha. (hint hint)”

“Hey guys!

Hey Ohio/Michigan people. I was thinking that we could do the 17 mile trail at Oak Openings (Toledo) the second Saturday in November. It's probably a 1.5 hour drive from Livonia and a little more from Cleveland. I'm pretty sure hunting is banned there, so It'd be a good November place. And it's a really nice hike.

Oh, and while we're at it, the October hike is the second Saturday at 9AM. It starts at Big Portage Lake in Waterloo Rec. Area We'll hike 6 miles up Sackrider Hill and 6 miles back down to our cars.

Unlike BB, I'm not sorry I missed this. I had a nice time by the lake.”

“did you say 17 miles?”

“17 miles? This may be an all day affair!”

“Can we stop and nap half way through?”

“thank you to everyone for the kind birthday greetings....the only thing that is even better than spending time with old friends is getting out and making new friends....i'm just sitting here cleaning out our packs (munching down on all the leftover snack-type goodies....doritos jalapeno cheese crackers....yummmm) and reflecting on how amazing the technology is that allows a group of people who really don't know each other well, live in entirely different geographical areas, come from all sorts of different socio-economic and religious backgrounds, yet share the common interest (obsession?) of backpacking to converge upon a predetermined location at a predetermined time and have such a wonderful time....i think that i can speak for everyone who was at zaleski (or in the woods anywhere, for that matter) that getting back to the things that really matter to you, the things that you really love (in this instance, getting ripped to shreds by mick jagger bushes) is the perfect antidote to the sickness that the terrorists attempted to introduce into our society....

brandy (she's a fine girl) and i look forward to future hikes with all of you fine folks....thanks again to the moonville 9 for making my birthday weekend memorable!!”

“ps

how far did you get on 23 before you realized you were heading south?”

“sounds like a great trip. sorry i missed out, but to get to zaleski maybe next spring.

p.s. lurker ... i'm always in for a toledo hike.”

“I'd be down for the Toodleedoo hike.”

“gonzo - come on, give us some credit...we went south cause we knew there was a gas station there. had to fill up before the long drive home. it appeared that joy and birch went that way for the same reason!

joy - yes, a nap half way through the day hike will be necessary!! how long does 17 miles take?”

“tarabull....i figured you were all going to tim hortons for road coffee....”

“we were headed to taco bell. i was still hungry!

(kidding, of course)”

“Well, I hiked the Potowatomi Trail in Pinckney Rec. Area in about 5 hours. That's 17.5 miles. With solid breaks, I'd say that a 10AM hike would get done at about 6PM. BTW, Oak Openings wouldn't be quite as difficult terrain. And then we could go to Tony Packo's and check out everyone's buns. But, really, if things got rough, there are enough shortcuts to suit anyone.

But, I think that it would be fun and a challenge at the same time. We might even get a little snow if the gods smile down on us. Just thought I'd throw a little polytheism in there for the fun of it:)

rl”

“I bet we could do it! It really doesn't sound bad, especially if it's easy terrain. What's this Tony Packo's buns business?

Hey Reformed, what happened to eriehiker?”

“RL - I don't think it would kill me. I'd be up for it.

The same Tony Packo's that Klinger speaks of??? They have beer, right?”

“P.S. When John lived in Hamtramck, he lived on Klinger Street... and the last digits of his phone # were 4077.

Crazy, eh?”

“You guys could probably do it in 3 hours! puff! pant! puff! You Nas car, fire chasin', trail animals! Back to the stepper for me. BIG SOUTHFORK IS COMING.”

“I might be up for it. If I dont have to work.”

“I have what I thought was an imbedded thorn in my leg but, it is not something I can't dig out and it is turning into a pus pitted yucky thing. I,m thinking I might have got spider bitten. Considering I went though green brier hell bare legged it,s no surprise there may have been a bug or two in there.”

“Hey! Glad to hear everything went well and good times were had by all. Was the weather alright? Rained here a lot.

RL - For now, count me in for the Waterloo Trip in October. Daypacks, right? Gotta find a good one. I have a pack that I used in high school many moons ago. Maybe that'll work. The trip in November might be a maybe, however, trying to get up to Jordan River sometime this year as well. But I haven't had the time to plan. Great trip report, birch.”

“We still want to go to Jordan River in October Laqtis. Have you got any space free towards the end of the month?”

“Did someone say TTTTTony Packos? Oh man! My mouth is literally watering! Wait a second here...I don't eat meat! DAMN! I'll just buy and eat an intire jar of their garlic pickles instead. Kiss anyone?”

“Who would turn down a kiss from Nigal?! ;O)”

“Good news. I think my baby toe nail is gonna stick around for a while! The pain is subsiding and the color remains pretty good! YIPPEEE

It looks like we are open for Jordan River the last weekend in Oct. The other weekend we discussed (19th-21st) will have to be a maybe in my book. I'm still planning on being in Marquette that weekend. Any day now, my plans will be definite.

Wolfsister - sorry to hear about the puss pitted yucky thing on your leg. Hope it heals up soon. After that day hike, I'm surprised more of us don't have puss pitted yucky things on our bodies!”

“That would be the 27th and 28th. Sounds good to me. Will have to get the grandmas to decide who wants Abigail. Tarabull, is your pop coming along?

Laqtis can you make this one?

Wolfsister, Birch got a thorn right in the nose and it's turned into a nasty thing much like you described! I got bites everywhere! All over my tummy, underside of my arms and my wrists and chest. It's really odd how they're placed. I've no clue what they're from.”

“Yes, I believe my pops will be attending. My brother, as well.

Speaking of my brother... he's thinking about joining the crazy folks of TT. Any suggestions for his trail name now that you've all had a chance to meet him?”

“How 'bout TrailBurner, 'cause that dood "flys" when he hikes!”

“How very appropriate.

But, wait, he doesn't hike that fast.......

;)”

“Joy/Everyone -
Sorry, not tryin' to blow anyone off. I can't post at work for some reason, so all I can do is lurk during the day. 27th/28th sounds great, let's do it! Just got off the phone with my sister and she's in and excited to go. I'll see if she can make it any of the day trips that are planned. This will be great, can't wait. I'm still in for the second week in October for Waterloo (love that place).”

“Good deal!”

“Joy/Birch - is this the place where we'll need to sleep in the car at the trailhead? I'll have to mention that to my pops. I don't know if he's up to sleeping in the car. How close to a motel?”

“Not far. It's a five hour drive, you could always leave early am to get there. There's a little town just down the road. I'll ask Birch the name of it when he calls at lunch.”

“Elmira is the little town. Biggest town close to the trailhead is Gaylord. You'll definately be able to find a motel there.”

“The locals said Elmira is where you come in on vacation and leave on probation! :o)”

“Giddy up ummm bop ummm bop a mow mow ...
Birch, wish we hadn't 'a been talking about poison ivy, because I'm itching like a madman. At least it's not an my a**, yet ...”