Michigan Hikers! (and Ohio friends)

“Okay you hikers, Birch has found an A frame cabin on 35 acres, on a lake, with a rowboat for $155.00 a weekend near Hoist lakes. If you really want to spend a few days up there hiking and hanging out we need a weekend that'll work and a fer sure commitment from you. Soon. December's only a month away!!!!

Will the second weekend in Dec work for you? (Dec 7-9)”

“May I make a suggestion?

We should look at the State Park Cabins. Rifle River has a bunch. I stayed there last winter to ski. They have bunks (6-14 ppl) and woodstoves w/ wood provided. Very cozy and the park has nice trails too. There are others also; Hartwick Pines has some too. /Very nice, and cheaper (? $35/nite ?)”

“Cheap is always good. I am going to be the person that won't decide one way or another. I prefer to be a follower.

Here is what I will commit to:

I will be there (where ever "there" might be). I have the weekend marked IN PEN in my planner.
In addition, I will pay my share regardless of the place we stay.. whether that be $155/weekend or $35/night.

As of right now, Max is a maybe. I'll have to get back w/ you .

I'm soooo flexible, I would even agree to camp if that is what everyone wants to do. After all, that is what I had assumed we would do when we first discussed Hoist Lake.

I just wanna go. I need another weekend to look forward to. It makes going to work more bearable.

Last thing - Hartwick Pines has only one cabin. Sleeps 6. That one probably won't work. I'm gonna guess we'll have more than 6 people coming.”

“Good suggestion LeSubtil. Do you know much about them? I'm curious as to wether or not they have indoor plumbing, heat besides the woodstove, furniture in addition to the bunks, etc. I'll get on the phone and check it out tomorrow.

Depending on how many people come $155 may not be too much. Shoot, if 4 people come it would be roughly $36 each for the entire weekend.”

“Sass - typically, the State Park "rustic" cabins are beds and a woodstove. Sometimes a table and chairs. I don't recall seeing any w/ indoor plumbing.

Le Subtil may know better since he has stayed at the Rifle River ones before.

You are correct, if several of us go, it won't be too expensive for the $155/weekend cabin. As previously mentioned, I'll go anywhere.”

“Alrighty, I just got off the phone with the State Parks and Rec lady. She says:

The rustic cabins sleep 6
They have vault toliets
Hand pump for water
Woodstove for heat and cooking
Cost $40 per night.
There are some at Rifle River”

“Rustic cabins=cold toliet seats, no crockpot full of goodness and hot showers and lounging on sofas. Or playing cards at the kitchen table. And probably no stretching out on the floor in front of the woodstove/fireplace.”

“Not to push but, I need commitments (or the nearest thing to) by saturday. I want to set this up on monday.”

“you? pushy? i disagree......... completely.

i'm in. i don't care where we go. where should i send the check?”

“We will pay and you all can reimburse on that wknd.”

“you trust me?

by the way - who do i owe for the 2 nights at Pinney Bridge? I think I owe somebody $3 or so.”

“Same here. I was wondering who picked up the tab for the sites at Pinney. I owe somebody some dough.

P.S. Thanks, Tarabull for the pics. They turned out good. I just got back my pics and some are sub par. Oh well. I'll try and scan them at work tomorrow and send them out to everyone.”

“Max is a definite NO for the December weekend. Too much studying and too close to exams. Guess I'm on my own. I would invite Binra, but it might be too cold for him!!”

“Laqtis does same here mean you're in for the 7-9th or that you were wondering who paid for our site?

We sent in a check for $12. Not a big deal. Someone can treat us next time.


So the Free Press had a front page article about the cougars. They are on both pennisulas. More are in the u.p but quite a few near Nordhouse dunes. The article said the dunes are literally a natural litter box for the cats. It was an interesting article.”

“I'm in for Dec. 7th through 9th. I vote for the comfortable non-state park cabins. Cost is no object. I'll ask my sister if she wants to go.”

“Sorry, no I was wondering 'bout who I owed money to for the camp site. I WISH I COULD GO, but alas, the theater calls me that weekend. I will make sure that I'm in an extra cranky mood that weekend to show everyone that I RATHER BE HIKIN'!! :)”

“LOL laqtis! Next time maybe. I was hoping you'd come and bring the wife too! (we wouldn't make her hike :o) )”

“I'm in, as long as I'm still alive by then. Still can't get rid of this virus, but the doc finally gave me a couple prescriptions so I could live life. Hopefully I'll be ready to go on the Toledo hike.”

“tarabull, Binra could handle it! Maybe he could stir the crockpot? That's it! Sissyboy Brian can be camp cook!!! Tell him we need a pancake flipper! Sorry to hear Max won't go, the big studymuffin.”

“I'll invite the brother. He's one of those (as you learned at the Brighton and Jordan River hike) that often has to back out at the last minute. If he agrees to go, I'll get his cash in advance so he pays regardless of whether or not he shows!!! It's only fair.

Camp cook? I think he would like that.”

“Tarabull,we call that " camp tramp" I reckon he'd like the title.”

“I reckon he'd like any kind of tramp...


ooops. Did I say that out loud?”

“So far we have "commitments (or the nearest thing to)" from

Sass
Birch
Tarabull (& maybe brother)
Reformed Lurker (& maybe sister)
Smiley Girl

Le Subtil?
Adventure Girl?
Buddha Bear?
Buddur?
Nigal?

Ohio Folks - It's not too far. Especially since you get to drive on Michigan's Autobahn...

And well worth the drive, I suspect. A full weekend of frolicking in the forest, engaging in riveting dialogue around the fireplace (there is a fireplace, right?), enjoying a copious spread of delicious foods, and not to mention, the beer...”

“OK - ya sold me, I'm in.... we can discuss more this weekend, and maybe we can all put a downpayment on it in good faith for Birch and Sassy.”

“Camp Tramp (aka SissyBoyBrian, Binra, etc) is in. He said he would cook for everyone all weekend if we'd like!!

So far, that's seven people. $22.15 per person. What a deal!”

“Great! I figured that might entice him! Ask him how he'd like to handle the food. Maybe he could get his ideas for meals together and list the ingredients and we could purchase them? Or we could choose a meal and bring the ingredients, neccesary equipment and recipe? Or we could just pay him for whatever he purchases.

Lets just hope the cabin is available that weekend. The call will be put through on Monday. If not we'll find someplace else.

I bet Buddha and Binra are going to be fast friends. :o)”

“we'll bring the groceries. you can pay us later. any special requests or dislikes, let me know.”

“I WANT ONIONS AND SEAFOOD!”

“go somewhere else”

“sass - i can't imagine why you think buddha and binra will get along... beer?

i bought a card for a friend once that said:

we're such good friends. i believe fate brought us together.... (inside:) or, maybe it was just the beer”

“Beer?! I may break out the wine if we are cabin camping! Seriously, this should be fun. I am really looking forward to it.

BTW - It looks like my brother and sister in law may be joining us this coming weekend. They are not experienced hikers, so we'll see how it goes.”

“Buddha Bear, they should be fine on the Oak Openings trail. There isn't a lot of elevation change. It should be just about perfect.

I'm heading down there today to plot some routes.”

“Still no reservations yet. Guy hasnt answered or returned calls. Soon or its plan"b"”

“Check your email folks!”

“Me too Birch. I'm thinking about it hard.”

“Wolfsister...cool!

Okay everyone change 60000. We have reservations at a 3 bedroom cabin on lk Margarethe near grayling. It sound nice $120 for the wknd. Within a mile of a trailhead,plus hartwick pines around the corner. Anyone who wants to join us let me know!!!”

“Wow! That was a quick change. BTW, the cabin would be about 20 minutes from the Mason Tract Pathway along the S. Branch of the Au Sable - 9.5 miles one-way. Anyone ever hike it?”

“Oak Openings Hike

This Saturday (11/10), 10AM.

Directions from Detroit area:

Take US-23 South
US-23 merges with 475
Exit combined freeway at Ohio State Route 2
Go West.
Turn left/south on SR-64 just before Swanton.
Make left onto Reed Rd.
Follow signs for Mallard Lake/Buehner Walking Center/Trailhead.

Budget 1.5 hours from northern suburbs of Detroit.

Buddha Bear, I think you have pretty much a straight shot from Cleveland. 80/90 puts you right at SR-2.

As for the camping spots, Tarabull, I scouted Mary Jane Thurston. The designated campground is not bad. I didn't see any real "hike-in" campsites at the actual campground. You are definitely not in a wilderness area, but the river really reminds me of the Mississippi here - very wide and scenic. The nearby town of G. Rapids seems kind of interesting. Take 23 to US-24. Cross the Maumee. Boom - you're there.

If you get in the area during daylight hours, dispersed camping is possible in the North Turkeyfoot areas on the north side of the Maumee. You need a permit, though, and no groundfires. I didn't see any real great campsites, but I didn't look real hard. You would get a great sunset, though.

Oh, and if you want any pre-hike festivities, there are miles of canal towpath trails in the neighborhood.”

“Thanks for the info RL. Your a great help. Sounds like Buddha is camping, too. Wonder if he was planning on MJ Thurston, too? I'm coming alone, so I'm hoping to camp along w/ some other TTrs.

See you all on Saturday.”

“I'll be camping probably Friday and Saturday night. I am going to check into sites that may have fire pit access, so I'll get back to you if I find some. Hopefully some of you will be camping Friday night.... let me know!

BB”

“Hi Everyone! I'm finally feeling good, back to normal (whatever that is). I'm in for this weekend, and am trying to get a couple friends to join us.”

“I got the nix on this weekend from the podiatrist this morning. I'll miss you all, have fun without meeee. BOOhooo”

“I can not make any comitment yet. I have to work this weekend so Im out for Ohio. But I dont know about December yet, It all depends. Am i still welcome if December works out????”

“Sure.”

“Buddha - Keep me posted.

My plan would be to camp both nights as well. So, if you'll be there Friday, I will probably be there too. However, if something changes and you can't make it, let me know. Cause I'm a little bit of a sissy so I won't camp out alone in an umfamiliar area.

I will send you an email w/ my cell phone number in case anything comes up last minute.

Smiley - glad to hear you're coming! I went to Gaylans this weekend and thought of you!

AdventureGirl - sorry to hear you can't make this weekend. Perhaps we'll see you in December...

We'll miss you, Sassyfrassy. One less smoker should make the weekend easier.... But, according to you, Buddha is a cigarette pusher so I don't stand a chance!”

“BB - according to the website (http://www.ohioparks.net/maryjanethurston/) the MJ Thurston campground has fire rings. Some of the sites are "hike-in."”

“Tarabull!

If there were hike-in sites, I didn't see 'em. But I didn't get an in depth look. The camping area is absolutely deserted. But it looks to me that you can pretty much drive your car up to the area. There are fire rings. BTW, bring your own wood.”

“Possible hike for December:

Article - http://www.mlive.com/travelmichigan/ssf/article_m24_oa_masontract.html

Mason Tract Pathway. It's close to Grayling.”

“Some other options...

Hartwick pines 18+ miles

Hanson Hills (1 mile from the cabin) 35km trails”

“Mary Jane Thurston Sounds good to me.

As for december, where exactly is this place, it sounds like it's at least a 6 hour drive for me. I've been to Hartwick pines, and must say that it is great. The 6 hour drive sounds killer, but worth it.”