Hello all Michigan Backpackers.

“I ment thank you!

My spelling is always not that great!

8)”

“Mike, you are taking things far too personally.

I am glad that your club has meant a lot too you. And your posts and site show your effort. In the past you have asked why michigan folks dont show up on your trips, I was trying to offer some help.

happy hiking

from the

michigan jerk

birch”

“I needed that first thing at 5:30 am thank you.

8)”

“Mike:
I'm sorry I said anything, I just hoped to help you generate a little more enthuasism for your club.

I haven't not hiked with you for any other reason than scheduling. It just hasen't worked out. I like hiking and meeting new hiking friends just as much as you, and I'd hike with you anytime I could.

BTW I may see you at Jordan this weekend with my brother. Don't wait for us, tho. He has a new leg and they're still tuning it up.”

“Hey no problem.

I just want all the michigan people to know that the clubs door is always open.And anyone is welcome to go on any of the clubs trips.

By the way Birch you are not a jerk.And I am sorry if I get to much into things.So are we cool?

8)”

“we cool”

“Good I am glad to here that.

By the way do you or anyone else know if you can get into trouble if you backpack out of Nordhouse dunes wilderness?

Ya know what I mean if you get to the beach and turn right the u.s. forest ends in less of a .25 of a mile?Can you still backpack over there?

8)”

“Crazy Mike, if I'm understanding you right, you are heading to the beach near the Lake Michigan NF campground and crossing that little stream north along the beach?

Here's what I understand:

According to the Northwest Ordinance and subsequent congressional action, Michigan was given all Great Lakes bottomlands up to the high water mark. Judicial rulings, however, have given the adjacent property owner the right to control this public land up to the water line. So, you are fine if you want to wade a foot offshore or stay on the ice in winter. You'd need a little platform to pitch your tent, however.

Of course, you could sue, because according to the original treaty, this bottomland cannot be ceded. These judicial rulings might not stand a true court challenge.”

“Ya that is what I am talking about.

At Lake Michigan Rec Area.

8)

Becuase it looks like there is lots of neat places to go backpacking that way ya know what I mean?

Thank you.”

“The Nwihbc is going to be backpacking at Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness on 4-27 to 4-28.We are going to park at the Lake Michigan Recreation Area Trailhead and meet there at 12 Noon est.

If any Michigan TT'ers would like to go please let me know.

Happy Hiking

8)”

“You've got some directions that are way different than the ones we have Mike. Is there more than one trailhead @ Nordhouse Dunes? And where did you get your directions from? If it's from the MI Trail Atlas you may want some different ones. Birch and I drove in circles looking for the trailhead when we followed the directions listed in that book. We lucked out and ran into a police car parked at a rural crossroad at 4am. He told us the correct way to the trailhead.”

“I used then the last time I went backpacking there.It is the Lake Michigan Recreation Area Trailhead.You pay $6 to stay over night there?Ya there is another place to park off of nurnburg rd but it is more fun at Lake Michigan rec area.

8)”

“Yep, we went Nurnburg Rd. It's twenty dollars for a MI state parks sticker. You'd probably save a bundle if you bought one as often as you hike in MI.”

“Where can I get one of them at?And can you use it in Manistee National forest?

8)”

“I always have. You can contact the Michigan DNR to find out for sure. You can also purchase it from them at most parks and through the mail.”

“Cool thank you for the info!

8)”

“For 5-11 you have TBA scheduled, have you firmed up that hike yet? Looking for a trip that weekend. Though I am almost afraid to ask how you feel about dogs packing.”

“Dogs are cool with me.

8)”

“CM - You do not need a permit to do the Manistee River Trail if you park anywhere else aother than Marilla Trail head. If you go to that trail head, you will have to get a Demonstration Recreational Fee Permit (I think that that is waht they call it) at any DNR office. I have hear that you can buy one at some Hardware/Sport Goods places in the area.”

“I herd the passes are only $20 for the U.S. forest pass.

I think I will get one of them.

8)”

“State park passes (annual or daily) are valid for state owned lands requiring a vehicle permit. The DNR is the administering authority and passes are sold at DNR offices, state park offices, by mail, and some vendors.

Federal lands requiring a vehicle permit, such as Nordhouse Dunes, which is part of the Manistee National Forest, use a different permit. These are sold as daily, weekly, or annual passes by National Forest Service offices, by mail, and quite a few authorized vendors. Nordhouse Dunes was included in the designated fee areas two years ago.

National Parks in Michigan have other fee structures specific to each park for vehicle parking and camping.”

“You can find information about the Recreation Fee Demonstration program for the Huron and Manistee National Forests and the locations that sell the passes here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf/pages/recfeedemo.htm”

“Crazy - I think that the Rec Demo Fee is only 3 bones. It's not like the sticker you put on yer windshield, but one of those neat do dads ya hang from der mirror.”

“The Huron-Manistee national forest annual pass is a sticker for the windshield and is $20 (for more than one vehicle in the family - $30). The daily pass is $3 and is a paper one to place on the dash.”

“I am going to get the $20 pass.It will pay for it slef.


Thank you for the info.

8)

Hi Cow Patty good to see ya posting.....8)”

“It was a very wet trip this weekend but the club had a blast!!!!

The dunes when you get out of the widerness area is just tons of eye candy!!!!!

There is just tons of places to go exploring in there!!!!

I love backpacking there and I recomend it to everyone!

8)”

“Whats going on Michigan TT'ers?Well the club is going to be backpacking the 22 mile Manistee river Trail & NCT Loop Trail this weekend and if any of you cool catz from Michigan would like to go that would be great just let me know.

We are going to meet at the Red Bridge Access at 11 am CST on Saturday.

I look forward to hearing from ya all.

Happy Hiking.....8D”

“Sorry Mike, have a date at the zoo this weekend.”

“Thats ok Sass!

8D”

“I was hopeing for a better reply then this......

Sniff....Sniff......8(”

“Everyone's all busy at work. We have a few teachers who have just returned to work and a few who are swamped right now...they aren't posting about anything. Don't take it personally =).”

“8)

All good!”

“Stuck in town this weekend. Mike, looking for something on Labor Day weekend, where will your group be hiking?”

“I've got family obligations this weekend and next. I think my next overnighter will be in Oct. w/ Walkindude.”

“just don't put sugar in your grits and you will be fine Smiley girl”

“I am going to be backpacking with Evergreen for 3 days!

8D”

“Crazy Mike... are you gonna joing us for the Walkindude hike in Oct? I'm dying to meet ya!”

“I am going to try!

8D”

“Well, try hard, young man. I missed the snowshoe expedition last December... But I heard lots about you.”

“Times 2 what Tarabull said!


I was just in your area yesterday, last night, this morning, on my way back and forth to Chicago....”

“Hey all. I can't wait til October. I may be bringing a friend. :)”

“Cool! Looking forward to seeing you again.”

“A friend, BB? A girly friend? Or maybe it's General Custard. Where's he been??”

“Buddha, where have you been? Give us some details!”

“Makes me kinda long to visit Michigan again...”

“Hi Cindy! How's your new life going?”

“Hey cindy lu. We were wondering how you've been. Please fill us in and when ARE you coming back?”

“this was posted on the North Country Trail website:

"MI- July 23, 2002- While vacationing in the Baldwin MI area last week I decided to hike the segment from Highbanks Lake to Star Lake Rd. About a mile north of 16 Mile Rd I came upon a sow Black Bear and her cub. Being an occasional bear hunter, this was not a frightening experience for me, rather very exciting. I've never seen a bear in Lower MI. She was about 30 yds in front of me on the trail with the cub following right behind. When she became aware of me she whoofed to her cub and darted off the trail through the ferns with the cub in tow. Contact Dale Rosema. "”

“In South Eastern Ohio last year a deer hunter was (of course out hunting) saw a black bear! IN OHIO!!! But he panicked nd shot it dead. (idiot) He was fined, but thats it.”

“I guess that we just need to be more careful with food in that area. I did not think they were that far south on the NCT.”