Michiganers-wanna hike with me June 21-2 3?

“I heard Shane snore at Hoist Lakes... He's pretty loud for a dog!

I don't really need to share tent space for the hike, I was just offering it up in case we ran out of space at the campground. We'll play it by ear.”

“That's because I snore so loud I couldn't possibly hear anyone else. Just ask other TTer's who've camped with me. You'll feel earth move. Bring your ear plugs!!!”

“Sunshine, you are nothing compared to Binra (that man shakes the camp) and Dhutch if that was the dog I'll eat my hat! Sunny, you will have someone to accompany you this trip, lol. I'm glad you're coming.=)”

“I just got done packing for my trip up to Manistee (same trip we're doin') for this weekend. I'm not at a "Sass-like" 17 lbs (you crazy ultralighter, you), I'm going in with 49lbs. I gots goodies to go, that's why I'm so high on the pack weight. Might be able to trim down at Seaton before hitting the trail. On the last day, I figure I should be around 28. The last time I was there, I had a real bad time and made TOO MANY mistakes. This time, I WILL have fun, even if I have to fall of the edge of one of those cliffs.... (always a party favorite!)”

“LOL Q! How many beers are you carrying??

Remember, folks, Sass's pack is sans shelter - that's what Birch is for! (Sounds like just one more great reason for me to find a man - no shelter for me to carry!) But I've still got a lot to learn about shaving my pack weight too.”

“Only carrying 2 quarts.........of wine......I figured the booze to weight ratio was better carrying wine than trying to carry a case of beer :)
Also in that is two lbs of peanuts and peanut M&M's gorp and 4lbs food, amoung some other new gear debuts. After all that food and liquid goes through the "compator", the weight will shrink quickly.

I don't carry this much all the time, but this is a fun trip. My friend that I'm going with went on the last trip. One common comment between the two of us last time was "D@nm, a beer would be nice about now". This is the first time back there and it will be like going back to the scence of a real bad accident. I CAN'T WAIT!!!


P.S. I wonder if birch is up for carrying my shelter too???”

“Ok Smiley...I'll carry the shelter too. That puts me at 20 pounds. =Pssssbt. I am also carrying the pot and stove and first aid kit. The only thing I wont be carrying I'd need to if I was solo is the water purifier.

Q, the secret is : get a smaller pack. Less cu inches equals less weight, lol.”

“Great! just when I thought I had everything I needed, now I gots to get a smaller pack. My wife will be thrilled!! (just joking!!)”

“But Sass, I can't fit everything in my pack now! LOL!!

Maybe I need a lighter shelter too. I've only been out three times total, so I have a lot to learn.”

“I am shooting for a 15 lb pack for this trip. How will I do this? I have absolutely no clue. I will pack my stuff, weigh it then leave my food or someting...”

“Shoot! Wyatt weighs 32# all by himself. Sunshine = human pack mule.

:o)”

“Sunny, you da ma'am!”

“Sunny - my pack will weight less than Wyatt alone! You really are "da m'am"!”

“The weather looks really cruddy for the weekend up Manistee way. Not to put a damper on anything, but prepare yourselves. Luckily, it is only Monday. Forecast should change about 25 times before Friday!”

“I saw that....and it doesn't look much better for the U.P. The only day its not forecasted to rain on us is the day we drive home....”

“This past weekend was supposed to rain for three days straight... according to weather.com. I was pleasantly surprised to have really great weather and few rain showers.

Besides... it's only a 40% chance of t-storms. So, in other words... chance of NO RAIN is 60%. I like those odds. :)”

“have you checked out the weather today? poured this morning as soon as I walked into work. then bright, beautiful sunshine, not a cloud in the sky. then more rain! even some really loud thunder. now more sun! guess no matter the forecast, the weather man gets it right today.”

“Good thing I bought Wyatt a rain suit!

"water bobbles, Momma"
"Craig come"
"me hiking"

I'm not the only one who is excited. :o)”

“Sunshine, I think you're a brave women! :)”

“Sunshine - I had a raincoat for Wyatt!”

“I'm in Eastern Wisconsin tonight. Gonna be at Sunshine's Wednesday...sometime... Today is my first day of not-working. I kinda like this retirement thing!
I am soooooooo excited about this hike. rain or shine or whatever! let's party!”

“I'm looking forward to it, too, cindy lu!”

“Hey, the weather can't be any worse than it was this weekend for me - thunderstorm camped near the peak of a "mountain" in the Alleghenies - PA. Beautiful area. All of you should go there.”

“....what a blast!!! I gots secrets and I gots plans. It rained real bad at night, the first two nights (Friday and Saturday). We started at the damn and did the NCT side first (going south). We camped at the Fire Tower. We got up the next day and went to camp 7 (Manistee) on the bluff, over looking the river. Pics and trip report are on the way by Tuesday.

When we camped at Seaton the first night(Friday), I reserved a spot for this weekend coming up with the Host. I told him what the deal was with all of us coming up. He's ready. I didn't have enough money to get two sites at the time, but we can deal with that (more sites) later. We have at least one spot reserved for this weekend at Seaton, for two people. He told me that they are now charging 5 bones, per person, regardless of the site. We can put as many tents on a site as we want, as long as that site can hold it. I will have more info on the way tomorrow. I have to go sleepies now..........................................................”

“Thanks Q!”

“Lurker, you gonna post a trip report?”

“No. I don't think so.”

“We didn't want one anyways. ;)”

“Sorry. I was just being an ass.

This was NOT a backpacking trip. My sister and I were going to do N. Manitou, but she didn't want to be on the island with possible thunderstorms.

Hehe. So, of course, we had lots of thunder and lightning in Pennsylvania instead. The hiking is really great in the Alleghenies. The NCT passes through for like 97 miles. On one day, we hiked the 7.1 mile Minister Creek trail which loops up to the NCT. It heads up to ridges on the mountains - in the 2500 foot range, a bit bigger than the Porkies or Huron Mts. The highlight of that day's hike was a rock outcropping on top of one with good views, mountain laurel in full bloom, and climbing around in the crevices of building sized rocks that populated the area.

On day two we hiked a bit near the longest and highest railroad bridge circa 1900. It was like 400 feet high and 2000 feet across. You get a great view from the center. We also hiked a bunch in the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Again, nice views, but not the Grand Canyon.

Finally, on the way back, we stopped at Presque Isle SP on Lake Erie. The place is situated just right to get great surf. The winds were a howling and the surfers were out. Kind of neat to see the beach bum culture on the Great Lakes.

Gnarly Trip!
rl

BTW, there is lots of state forest, national forest and state game land in western PA. And Alleghany SP just across the border in NY is the biggest SP in the state. You can camp anywhere. Since it's only 4.5 hours from Detroit, people should check it out.”

“CindyLu -- You have worked so much so hard for so long you really deserve retirement. You done good kid.”

“Can't wait to see you Cindylu! Make yourself at home if you get there before me. The weather is suppose to hold out... at least that was the most recent weather report. :o)”

“rl - it sounds great. did you run into buddur while in western pa?”

“Yup. I pushed him off a cliff:)”

“OH NO! Did you hurt his knee, lol?

HEY LAQTIS.....Do you remember any sites early on, on the MRT closer to Seaton Creek, that's be large enough for all of us? Trying to figure out where to tell Sunshine and Adventure Girl to meet up with us. Think the Little Mac?”

“the dog, too????”

“Honestly, the dog looked relieved.”

“Rl - have you been hittin' the sauce tonight? You are in rare form...

LOL”

“Absolutely saucy.”

“Sass - little Mac might not be a bad idea. They can park atthe damn and hike down just a little bit and meet us there. I noticed that all designated campsites on the Manistee side have access by road. We could name a camp spot and they could park real close to any one of them. But, seeing that they are DNR access roads and the maps are shakey at best, Little Mac might be the call. BTW - what are we doing on this trip? Just Manistee side or?? It's a tough loop to do in two days/one night. Let's rap about this!”

“Are you thinking of starting at red bridge and camping at the north end? The camping is much better on the south end IMO. Camping by the bridge is ugly.”

“Camping at the north end can be problems. Good sites, but they get taken up early on the weekends and there is a lot of traffic up that ways. I would suggested that if we are doing just the Manistee side, that we start from the Damn and head south to a half way point. That would put us at the camp that we camp at, camp 7 (the camp I stayed at this past weekend). It's half way, going north or south and offers great views. Sunshine and Co. could meet us there, then hike out to Red Bridge. They could park right outside the gate ( camp 7 )and walk in about 200 feet to meet us for dinner/what ever. Plus that site could hold the amount of people we have going. My friend "cupp" might be up for meeting us there (or anywhere on the trails, both sides) and doing a cache/hookup for us for a "picnic" that night.”

“We are still meeting Friday night at Seaton Creek Campground, correct?”

“Have a good time, you guys. Wish I could meet Cindy Lu and Sunshine. But I'll be on my way to the Yoop by 1Pm today. If you don't hear from me next week, the bugs got me. :)

Here's to good weather, and beautiful views!”

“RL/et. al. - yep. meeting at Seaton on Friday. I have camp space five, right accross from the bathrooms. It's one of the largest site there.

Tara -

I replied to your message, but it got bounced back to me. No problem with the request. Can I email you at the "u of m" addy??

Sass - I have a map of most of the designated camp spots that I will try to send to you after I get back fro the zoo. I think I miss understood what you were asking. There is a spot that they could hook up with us. I think it's camp 4 or 5, pretty large site.

I take it that we will be doing just the Manistee side of the river?”

“NO! Yucky, backtracking! Both sides of the trail are great, let's see them both. I think we can manage both sides in two days. We have before with no problems. Saturday would be about 10-12 miles, Sunday 7 or so. I was hoping we could drive to Red Bridge, hike N on the NCT and cross the little Mac, meet AG and Sunny or leave a marker showing we'd passed (they can hike in from Seaton Creek trailhead or Hoddenpile Dam) and camp at 4 or 5. I thought I remembered #5 as being nice and big, with an established fire ring and good water access.

I have told Sunshine we'd meet her or leave a marker at Little Mac already. She needed to know and emailed late last night. I hope I haven't stepped on anyone's toes.”

“Q - yes, you can use my umich.edu addy. Don't know why the other one bounced back... THANKS!! I'll give you "details" when I get your email.”

“Nope, my toes are in fine shape. I just didn't know what was the haps. Since SuperB and her great knee will be coming, I have an idea, let me know what you guys think:

People who want to hike from Red Bridge north on the NCT can take my van (I am assuming that this group would be the bigger of the two and the van can carry a good amount of people. Heck everyone just might want to park there, but the "B" and I would need a quick ride back to the damn) and park it at Red Bridge. SuperB and I (and of course anyone else) will start from the Damn and hike south. When the two groups pass each other, if there is time, maybe lunch and I'll get my van keys back. SuperB and I will continue south and out to Red Bridge for a knee check. If the knee is in good shape, we will "bust a move" to camp 5 for the hang out and give my keys back to the main group so you guys can get back to the Damn or Seaton Trailheads. If it's not looking good, we'll hop in the van and meet you guys at camp 5 any ways (with goodies?). In the morning, SuperB and I will park back at Red Bridge and do a short hike to hike out with the main group, at which time I could do shuttles back and forth to cars.

SuperB couldn't make hiking on the NCT going north, but I don't want to have everyone change plans just because of that. This way, she can test the knee out and we'll have an out in case for her. Plus, we will still be able to hike with everyone.

Should I change my name to CRAZY Q BACKPACKS 8)

or does this sound good”

“Are the hills that much worse on the NCT side?

Whatever works...maybe we can figure out some way of meeting AG and Sunny or leaving the marker and still hike together. I forgot Super B's knees were coming. ;)”

“I can check mail until Friday am and check for notes left on cars in the parking lot for trip details and where to meet.

I'm still trying to get out early from work on Friday. If so, I might come to Seaton Creek Friday night and get details myself.

Take your time planning. Just leave directions! :o)”

“The hills have more of an incline on that side going north. Don't worry about us, we'll figure something out. It could be one of our many camp activties on Friday! :)”