Jordan River Oct 27-28

“For those of you who don't know - This thread is a spin-off of the zaleski trip report thread where we started planning yet another weekend hike.

laqtis - can you tell me more about the campground? where is it located?

jordan river veterans - we'll eventually need directions to the trailhead. please post them.

how about water sources? is there water at the designated camping area?”

“Tarabull, there's water from apump and an outhouse at the camp area.”

“Take my advice. Save yourself some embarrassment and take a saw for fire wood. Birch and I are big advocates of LMT (leave MUCH trace). He'll explain.”

“Tarabull -

Thanks for starting a new thread!!

Here is some information for all from an email that I sent out to my friends when I was planning an early September hike this year. It should give everyone a good feel for what to expect.

Joy/Birch, please post any more info you think might be missing. Sorry, I never tried HTML, so you'll have to copy and paste the links.

Graves Crossing Campground is a State Campground about 7-10 miles away form the Trailhead. It's 6 bucks a night. Water, it looks like to me, should not be a problem(Filters).

This link is to a website. This person gives a very good trail description, good info and experiences from his trip there.

http://my.voyager.net/~jacobjans/jordan.html

This is one quote that I found on another website:Deadman's Hill, East Jordan Overlooking the vast, color-rich Jordan Valley, you'll understand why the view, for sheer beauty, is called "Lower Michigan's challenge to the Grand Canyon." That might be going a little far, but....

This next link is to another site of a person who hiked it. He has good things to say.

http://hometown.aol.com/fredrick31/index6.html

Another site with personal experience and pictures.

http://my.freeway.net/fb/b9/mcmullen/jordan/


Here is trail map for the trail - http://www.angelfire.com/mi/fire3300/dnrmap.html.

Hopefully, this post will work out!”

“You guys are doing a great job of plaaning awesome trops on weekends that I have plans already! That weekend I dont have to work, but I have my anual Holloween bonfire that weekend. Which is sad because I would really rather go hiking. Oh well noext trip... lagtis sorry I couldnt meet you. Everyone else Im sad I cant hang out with you again”

“Directons to the trailhead:

I75 N to M 32 West, US 131 S. Go West on Dead Man's Hill overlook. Park in the lower level of the parking area, top is for sight seers only. You need a MI State Parks sticker or $4 per day if you're ticketed. There's also a charge for sites at the camp area $6 per night I believe.”

“Don't forget yer costumes!”

“Adventure girl Youre just too busy! :o) Next time, in the spring!”

“That's too bad, AG. We'll miss ya!

Thanks for more info, Joy.

I've got a full size van if anyone wants to carpool. If not, I'll just bring my Saturn for me and my sis. I live just north of Detroit.”

“As I have previously mentioned, my dad will probably be coming. He'll be celebrating his 54th bday on that Saturday. Anyone know any good cake/brownie recipes? I'd like to surprise him w/ a sweet treat.

OR maybe I should get the cherry cobbler recipe from joy/birch(but I would try apples this time). I think he'd really enjoy that.

Nigal - I heard about your crazy adventures in breaking wood for a fire. Too funny! Will you be attending this hike?”

“No, I won't be able to make this one. I am doing Shawnee around that time when the leaves are on fire. 8)

I am going to try and make the day hike up around Toledo in November though.”

“Can someone tell me exactly where the Toledo hike is? I was thinking of camping at a state park near there and found a nice one . I just don't know how close it is.

Sorry, I don't mean take the focus away from the Jodan River info.”

“Guess what????? Gaylord (the nearest "big" town) got 1" of snow yesterday....”

“Hey, Nigal, Maumee Bay is nice, but a little far from Oak Openings. The park with the hike is about 10 miles west of Toledo. It touches SR-2 in a small section and is very close to the Ohio Turnpike.

I'll try to figure out some camping ideas for you in the next several days. BTW, the park connects to Maumee State Forest. You had a link on your website to a map of the area if I remember correctly.”

“Nigal - I might be up for camping after the hike.”

“Mary Jane Thursten looks like it might be pretty close. They have 31 non electric sites and 15 are walk in camping only. Sounds pretty sweet.

mary Jane Campin'? ”

“Oh, you beat me to it. I gave a URL in the other thread.

BTW, I'm assessing my options as far as Jordan River.”

“Friend of mine has a cabin up near Gayloard. He said this past weekend was freezing. I hope it's a little chilly for the trip.”

“It'll probably be ALOT chilly! Last weekend in October....I bet we'll be lucky to see sixty during the day. Remember all those halloweens that we had to wear winter coats under or over our costumes?”

“I went as an Eskimo one year....”

“In the fifth grade I went as a flapper. It was so cold I had to wear a coat. Thinking it would go better with the costume I wore my mom's trench coat. I had some old guy ask me if I was dressed as a "lady of the night". Ruined my whole halloween. He was one of those guys who gave out pennys too.”

“That's too funny. One year, when I was real young, I went as Luke Skywalker and I got into a light sabre duel with a kid that was Darth Vader. I was so proud....”

“I'm game. I like this place. Perfect 2 day trip and not so far away. Who's going so far?”

“Are you guys going to do this trip again next spring/summer? I don't have too much cold weather gear, and no money to buy anything, so I'm not going to join you. From the sounds of the Zaleski trip, I'm probably going to miss a really good time. :( I'm still planning to join you all on the day hike on the 13th, though!”

“What do you need Smiley girl? We might be able to loan ya some gear.

So far: Birch and me
Tarabull and Max
Brian the lost camera boy
Mr. Tarabull (her pop)
Laqtis and sister laqtis
Lesubtil”

“Yes, Smiley girl, I don't believe I've heard of you before, but we does have lots of extra gear, and it shouldn't be that cold, and, if you had to, you could drop off heavier gear at the campsite and not carry it.”

“This would be a walk-and-look-down-at-the-pretty-leaves hike, I guess? Cuz leaves will be down from the trees by then. 'Course then maybe all the campsites won't be full. This hike seems to get more popular all the time.

A 'maybe' for me to go as of now.

There's no park pass or parking fee required, just the $6/site at the state forest campground.

Joy, are those quail getting their 'winter feathers' yet?”

“Le Subtil - Glad to hear you're going! I believe you once requested that other "old folks" attend a hike or two. You're in luck. My father should be coming along. He'll be celebrating his 54th that weekend! However, he can kick my ass on ANY trail. The guy is in GOOD shape!”

“Yep and they're getting big! They still haven't figured out how to get up into their coop. Joe's gonna have to crawl in there and show 'em soon, nights are awful cool and getting colder.”

“I probably won't be able to make it but I'm keeping my options open.”

“Max sorry that you can't make it. I will bring a book about "Law in Colonial America" and read it in your honor.

Joy and I are thinking of leaving a cache of "goodies" at the camp the night before. Maybe some hot dogs and beer. Sound good?

If the weather continues on its current path its gonna be a chilly hike. Hopefully we'll have some dry weather.I may actually have to grow my hair back to fend off frost bite...not a chance.”

“birch -

I was thinking along the same thing about the cache, but didn't know how that would go over. I'm in for the cache, hell, seeing that you guys won't get up there until late, I'll offer to "plant it". I'm planning on taking the day off Friday, so I'll be able to prep for the trip and get up there.

One ahead of ya on the skull. Since the start of the school year, I've had to let the 'do grow. I'm still not used to it.”

“GOOD IDEA! I'd be in for leaving stuff at the campground. Beer is perfect! Is it safe to leave it there. Wouldn't want any hunters drinking my Saturday night stash!

I have a meeting that day which will get me home from work earlier than usually. Hopefully, I'll be able to get up there at a decent hour.

Who else is camping at Grave's Crossing on Friday night. I wanna know who to look for!”

“We'll throw some back country voodu on the stash and it'll be safe..”

“Cool. I'll have to leave a "cache" too. we'll be eating and drikning like kings (and queens) on saturday night.

oct 26 won't come soon enough”

“I'm gonna have to hire a couple sherpas to help plant...”

“whatever it takes, laqtis!”

“We were thinking of actually leaving the stash somewhere near but not in the camp area. It's not a long walk from the road, shoot Laqtis you could even drop it along the road and we can hike to get it!”

“joy - is there a parking area near the camp area? how will i know where to leave me stash.

remember... i've never been to jordan river before.”

“There is a gate and a bridge just beyond the gate. By gate I mean one of the large type that block access to vehicles.”

“I might just take a vacation day on Friday so we can get up there earlier. It would just mean 9 or 10 instead of 1 or 2am. We'll probably still just sleep in the car tho. If you guys are up in Gaylord in time for dinner try that big buck brewery, great food! I didn't get to try the beer but Nige and Birch sure appreciated it.”

“thanks for the tip. i'm hoping to be on the road by 4:30. which puts us in gaylord around 8:30.

p.s. what the heck are we doing on the computer on a friday night... you have a child. what's my excuse????????”

“I had a great time on our Pickney hike.

So, now this is the next group hike, (unless anyone else is going next weekend).

Smiley Girl - did you decide to go? Above you said you needed some gear but yesterday I thought you said you'd go? Do you need anything?

I'm going to look for some decent campsites somewhere near there for Fri, sleeping in the car I don't like much.”

“Le Subtil -

My sister and I are planning on staying at tht Graves Crossing Campground. State Camp, real close to the trail head. Still taking the day off and I hope to get up there early evening.”

“I think we should all meet at a bar around eight or so just to make sure we're in peak condition for the hike. There's another big hill! Anyone interested? We could go for buffalo wings and local brew at the Big Buck or just hit a local dive.”

“Joy has made an excellent point here. Hanging in a bar for at least 6 hours, to acclimate to the altitude, would be the responsible thing to do.”

“I have some friends in Gaylord, I can meet you all at Big Buck then spend the night in a warm house.....

I have no tent, very few warm hiking clothes, my sleeping bag would probably be warm enough, no filter, no stove, (which I'm sure I could mooch off of you guys!). You guys are doing a good job of tempting me. I'll have to give it some more thought.”

“Smiley, we have an extra tent. You can use one of our many stoves,we can filter your water. You dont need fancy "hiking" cloths...NO MORE EXCUSES! You summited frickin' sackrider hill! You are a michigan mountaineer so stop making excuses and commit to coming already!”

“Glad to hear you had fun on the hike this weekend! Hope the weather was nice for ya!

Le Subtil - we'll be staying at Grave's Crossing as well. There are four of us going (Me, my dad, my brother and my friend) and I don't think we'll all sleep well in the car!

Joy et al - Are leaving time has been adjusted to about 5:30. That'll put us in the Gaylord area around 8:30 or 9:00. Just tell us where to meet for drinks!

laqtis - I just noticed that in an above thread you offered to "plant" the stash since you would be there during the day. I think we'll take you up on that offer!! It will be too dark for us to find the camp area since we've never been before. What are you planning to stash? I'll let you know if we need anything added and I'll give you some cash when we get there!”

“Ok, I found the campground on the map. All systems go.

SG - I have several spare tents, a son's raincoat and fleece that would fit, got a sleeping pad? There is tap water at the campground isn't there? And we all have stoves.

I think we'll have nice views with a lot of the leaves down. This is usually a great hike!”