Jordan River Oct 27-28

“All right! Forget the Big Buck, Ponderosa it is! Geeze.”

“Sorry, I didn't mean to drive ya crazy with my earlier shanigans :)”

“laqtis - You are cracking me up. What's worse, is that I completely understand you!!!

Here is the plan as I understand it..

Friday: Campground (those who want to go to Big Bucks, should do so. Let us know and we'll hold sites)
Saturday: Plant stash then hike.
Sunday: Hike then Big Bucks if $$ and energy permits.

laqtis - anything to add? LOL!”

“Well.....”

“I'm wanting to sleep out tonight and the weather is good. I think I'll go do some recon...”

“all of that earlier stuff was just a bunch of BS. I can get a little hyper and outta hand at times......

What Tarabull laid out sounds good to me, I can't wait to get there. I hope we get good weather!”

“Extended forecast from weather.com for Elmira, MI:

Friday: Snow Showers. High 46* Low 30*
Saturday: Mostly Cloudy. High 44* Low 29*
Sunday: Mostly Cloudy. High 44* Low 30*

Brrr.”

“Perfect”

“A girl goes out to play & the plans all change.....! Ok, boys & girls, looks like a mite bit more discussion is in order. I have info:

For all the stash happy MI Mtnrs. - Pinney Bridge is out & being replaced so that means a cold ford thru the Jordan possibly; I'll try to get an ETA on a use date on Monday when the DNR office is open. If the bridge construc. guys are working, there is no crossing allowed (they quit at 4:30.....) No bridge also means no service to the campgrd. (bring yer own TP and expect full trash barrels). The hand water pump is out of service, also. Sorry, want more news?

Graves Crossing Campgrd. is off M-66 2 miles north of the Pinney Bridge Rd. The Jordan River runs right by both campgrds.

A Big Buck stop on Sunday prolly will be pushing it unless we break camp very early on Sunday. If hiked in the usual direction, that's a 10 mile segment with the most scenic photo op spots & most hills (UPhill). Might need oxygen to summit some of those peaks.

This is a really busy time of year for that trail & unless an early start is made Sat. we'll be cozying up to a spot of weeds to place tents. There are 15 sites with fire rings & even picnic tables and I'm 99.99% sure we won't find any vacant w/o an early start.

Sorry to have you come back from the road rally, birch & joy, to read this posting, just thought everyone should know & I don't have everyone's email addy. Not to dash cold water on plans being made but that river is a brisk 42* on a sunny day!

Oh, I vote for skipping the Big Buck & gathering at Graves Crossing. I'll be able to play Friday. Uh, did I say I'm going? Anyone bring up we all take Fri. off and do this on Fri-Sat and miss the crowds (as she throws a little fuel on the fire...)?”

“No biggy on the plan change. I dont mind crossing the Jordan. There are lots of small islands that can be hopped on,I have done this before. Worst case we get wet and dry by the fire.

I say that we try to hit the trail by 830am on Saturday to avoid the rush. If everyone cannot get goin early, maybe some of us can go ahead to save sites for us all. I bet that one large site would suffice. We will bring our filter. We will share so no one has to bring theirs.

BTW we won the road rally!”

“You won - cool! What kinda car & what distance?

Ok, I'll watch ya island hop. Somehow, I thought you'd say that! The river is up...

Um, maybe I should back up here a bit & ask if your group is full so I'm not just assuming I can join in the reindeer games. (Can't help it, I worked on some reindeer just lately.)”

“Our group would never be too full for you Cowpatty!

Just placed an order for a down "sweater" $39.95 from Sierra Trading post!!!!!!! I'm gonna be warm Saturday night! Merry Christmas to me!

That water is cold too. Is the water that high? We can always just backtrack day two. We'll have to maybe take a look Friday before setting up camp and decide then.”

“Make that $49.95. 54% off!!!

It was just our ol' taurus wagon. It was our quick wits and cat-like reflexes that won the day! It was all over our area, no idea how far....a scavenger hunt incorperated too. It was a blast!”

“Darn, forgot to ask if you're bringing quail for supper, birch!

Aww, Joy, thanks, I feel better now! Geez, it is Sweetest Day, isn't it!

I'll likely be attired in feathers, too. Hope yours gets to you in time. Nothing like down at 30* temps.

On the walking on water - I thought everyone would want to know about the current campgrd. status just in case the construction has things really messed up the next week. I will call on Monday & see what I can find out. The river & creeks are high for this time of year.”

“The quail are about half grown now...doing well, except for the one escapee. Well, who knows it might be well too. I've got a great recipe for quail in Michigan cherry sauce. Yum

3 day delivery on the jacket. I hope it's nice!”

“I think I have an idea that will help. Details to follow in the morning.

Cow Patty - Many thanks for the info.

How might I return the favor?”

“laqtis - What are the odds we have the same idea?! hehe! I'm mulling over suggesting a couple of ideas that would buy us time.
I'm hesitating over posting 'em. I've prolly not ever posted this much on TT !”

“Post them, post them!”

“Damn, just looked at the map and my first idea will not work.

Second idea is that we get to the trail head real early, post a sign that sez "closed due to some reason" and hit the trail. hehe”

“laqtis, joy/birch -please check yer email.”

“laqtis - i like it! very sneaky... i think it will work.”

“I drove up to Jordan Saturday afternoon. The trees are getting more bare but what color is left is still pretty. It was 2 hours from my house in Midland to Gaylord, another 15 minutes to the trailhead at Deadman?s Hill. The parking lot was filled to capacity but most were just on the overlook. I drove down to Alba, over to Cascade road, up to the Pinney Bridge parking area which is ¼ mile from where we will be camping next Sat.
There were a lot of hunters.
They are removing the old metal bridge over the Jordan River, and the trail across is "officially" closed. Everything is gone but a few planks but it is still possible to get over (today).
I left my truck at the bridge overnight (without a guard, too) and went up and camped in the campground. There was only one other site taken.
The pump is broken so you?ll want your filters. Bring your own TP too!
The sites are pretty nice really. This time of year you can get your choice and the ones near the bridge are nice and flat and grassy. $6/ nite.
Sun morning I drove over to Graves crossing. It?s not a very impressive campground. I like Pinney Bridge would be better for both nights.
All in all a nice relaxing little trip. The Megamid worked well, too.”

“Sounds like a good idea to me Lesubtil...all in favor of Pinney Bridge campground both nights?

We have two fors here.”

“Pinney Bridge = 2 votes here as well...

cow patty?”

“Really, le subtil & I didn't plan this together (since we don't even know eachother) to suggest to ya.....sure I'll vote for Pinney Bridge camp for both nights. Guess I could've posted more of the thoughts, eh, laqtis & Joy?

DNR office info from this morning:

Tthe bridge is being totally removed and replaced with a pre-fab one so the work is still in the removal stage. Completion may be by Nov. 15 (coincidence?) but the new bridge won't be delivered til Nov.10. Prolly we need to be ready to go wading.

The nonfunctional water pump will be checked out & hopefully fixed as the office said no one had made them aware of that b4.”

“Tthe = the. Geeze...”

“Cow Patty and LeSubtil, thanks a lot for taking time this weekend to check out the conditions! It might have been real difficult next weekend if we hadn't know about the bridge.”

“Joy, I read your post about "important" things before a trip....little do you know I'm a diva in the car! But don't get too excited, there will be no campfire serenades.....

So now I have to bring my own TP and cross a river? I don't know, I might not be able to handle it! :)”

“Yes, I agree with Joy. Thank you guys very much. It's nice to be able to send the intelligence gathering portion of the Michigan Mountaineers before an assult. Medals for your serivce are on the way.

CP - Novemeber 15, why is that a coincidence?”

“Am I gonna be able to find my way to the Pinney Bridge campground in the dark??

What is the plan? We gonna camp. Then pack up. Then camp there again?

Joy - just noticed your "sweater" post. Hope you didn't order the "dark greyish/blue"... Or we may look pretty silly on Saturday night!”

“Jeez, I may have to make a surprise visit again, this trip sounds like it's going to be a good one!”

“Buddha - We could car pool up there if you go. I'm just north of Detroit, right off of I-75. Let me know.

Suggestion for trip:

We get there to the campground (Pinney) and set up on Friday. Next morning, we basically day hike the pathway, starting with the north side of the trail (6 miles) and take that to the Deadmans Overlook. Have lunch. At that time, those who would like to go back to Pinney can turn around a hike back. Those who want to complete the loop (south side of trail, 10 miles total, I believe) move on. In all, those hiked to Deadmans and back to Pinney would hike 12 miles, those who complete the loop would hike 16 miles.

Whadda think? I'm up for anything, really.”

“That makes the most sense since we are camping in the same place twice. Kinda takes away from the "backpacking" idea. But I would do it anyway!

Who is gonna tell me how to find this place in the dark?

BB - as usual, we'd love to have you.”

“Tarabull: it's an old road from the bridge to the campground. Very obvious, follow the blue blazes. I suspect you'd hear us even if you couldn't follow the road LOL.

Laqtis - I thought the north side was over 8 miles; the south almost 12.?

I think a tent left set up for 5-6 hours at the cg, while we hike, would be safe. It's an individual choice, though.

Buddha - hope you do decide to show!”

“Tarabull - Maybe cow patty or Le Subtil could shed some light on that. Judging on what time I can get outta here (planning on 3:30), I might arrive at night time as well....”

“Pssst....laqtis - actually one scenario could be to leave camp Sat. a.m. by car to the Deadman's Hill trailhead and hike the south segment back to Pinney Bridge camp (10 miles). It's very scenic. Then Sunday a.m. pack up camp and hike the north leg to Deadman's Hill T.H. where our cars are (8 gentler miles). All 18 miles covered & should be comfy for everyone. I think tents & stuff would be fine while we're gone.

Tarabull - like LeSubtil said. As long as you get on M66 & take Pinney Bridge Rd. (gravel) for ~3 miles to the parking area, you'll be fine. It also is where 3 gravel roads meet.

Laqtis - November 15 is the opening day of rifle deer season. Hunters use the camp sites.”

“Tarabull, Joy chose a medium gray. I liked the blue/gray myself.”

“That sound like a good idea. What does everyone else think?”

“Now all we need is someone to set up a potluck for dinner and breakfast ;-)”

“There are three of me. Ok, that sounded wierd. I am bringing myself, my dad, and my brother - that makes three. We put 3 votes in for cow patty's suggestion of driving to the deadman's hill trailhead on Saturday AM and leaving our stuff at the campsite. Then, backpacking out on Sunday.

I talked to my dad today and told him the earlier suggested plan which had us dayhiking only. He was less excited because he really wants to backpack (not just camp and day hike). He's only backpacked twice before and he really wants to do it some more. So, cow patty's route would be one day of backpacking. I think that would go over well with him.

Otherwise, I told him we would camp at Grave's Crossing on Friday night and follow the original plan of backpacking on Saturday and Sunday. This means we would meet up with you folks on Saturday night.”

“birch - medium gray and dk gray/blue sound pretty similar. I bet we'll still look like twins!”

“Tarabull, It's a charcoal grey.

I'm in favor of Cow Patty's idea.

LeSubtil, hotdogs and smores Saturday night, oh and pistachios and beer. There are eight dogs and buns, we'll share....roast yer own of course. Five dogs up for grabs!!!

I don't know what we could contribute to a breakfast potluck except a cobbler or a pot of oatmeal. If ya want to do breakfast I'll make a cherry cobbler to share.”

“Tarabull I don't want to add to the confusion, but your Dad could stay at Pinney Bridge both nights and still backpack 2 days. Just carry the stuff. I probably will.”

“Talked to my sis about "The Cow Patty Plan" and she's cool with that. I like because it does involve at least one day of backpacking. One thing we could do is decide how to hike this thing when we all get there on Friday night.

Le Subtil - I've heard a couple of different totals on the milage. Your esimate is probably right.”

“For potluck on Friday, I could bring 4 more servings of potato soup. My sis and I are having soup and french bread for dinner that night. I will bake some beer bread or Ana's Apple Cake and bring that for potluck also.”

“beerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeerbeer.

I may bring beer”

“Le Subtil - good point. although, i have to admit, it seems a little strange to pack up your tent, etc on saturday morning only to set it up again on the same spot saturday night. i'll leave that up to him on saturday am.

I think we'll be bringing hot dogs and beers, too. plus, i'll be mooching off joy for s'mores. if i find some time, i'll bake some cookies, too.”

“"a little strange"... I seem to hear that phrase used in the same sentence as my name a lot...”

“Tarabull, I'll get ketchup and mustard packets from work for everyone.”

“I'LL BRING THE CHEESE SLICES!!!!!!!


i love cheese”