Crazy Mikes Trip Report.

“Your site rocks! I like your format and the links.”

“wow, nice site dub. i have to say i don't love my pic tho. guess i'll just have to go on more trips with you guys until i get some better pics. =)”

“My pictures are being developed now. I will post them tonight.”

“Dub, on your trip site you forgot to add Joe on the list of participants.”

“I could have sworn I put Joe up there since he was in the trip report and had a photo. I'll be sure to fix stumblers name too. Thanks for pointing that out guys!”

“I got my pic's back. I wish I could take better one's. I suck.

Some of them are ok. I will post them tonight.”

“Cool! Can't wait to see them! It will be this weekend before I get mine online.”

“So what did you all think of Daves picture that I put on the clubs front page?


8)”

“Nice shot! and that new sign totally rocks!!!!”

“I like it too!


8)”

“That picture is great! You should build the clubs website around it. Move it higher, move the banner add to the bottom, and make the "Indiana Backpacking and Adventure Club" smaller to fit on one line. The picture being the first thing you see would be awesome and welcoming.”

“This was my second trip to Nordhouse. My first trip was in the fall of 2002 and was my trip ever into backpacking. I headed up Friday and met up with Mike and Nicole at the Michigan Recreation Area at noon Saturday.

We were a small group:

Mike aka Crazy Mike Backpacks
Nicole aka Free24
Dave aka ChinMusic
Mugsy (Chin's pup)

Tons of folks jammed the parking lot on this beautiful day but we knew most were just there for the beach. We soon hit the trail and left the crowd behind. Mike was talking about the Nordhouse sign being all chewed up by porcupines but when we got to it it was brand-spanking new. The quilled ones hadn't gotten to this one.....yet.

I hadn't backpacked since March and the dunes soon reminded me that I was out of backpacking shape. There's nothing like an uphill in sand to burn out the batteries and to let your calves you mean business. We had a short hike on the trail and after a couples miles branched off to the beach. Mike scouted out a site overlooking Lake Michigan and we set up camp. For whatever reason there were no flies or mosquitoes to speak of and the weather was perfect.

The area of our camp:


We ditched our boots (Free hiked in sandals) and headed for the beach for some exploring. Here Mike and Nicole just take in the view.



Mugsy had never been to a beach until this weekend and was a little timid about heading into the water. At home he loves swimming across our local pond but the waves on Lake Michigan were a little more than he wanted to tackle. With a little "help" from Free Mugsy got his Nordhouse baptism:





Free, Mugsy, and I then took a walk south in attempt to get a glimpse of the lighthouse...no luck. Free, with Mugsy's help found some tadpoles in the warm inland water just off the beach.



After a few miles we turned back only to find Mike still napping. Free wanted to try out a recipe she got from Prosecutor but it wasn't ready for primetime. Either the stove was too hot, the pan not the right type, or something as all it did was burn. I managed to forget my spoon and had to stir my chili with a stick.

After the early supper Mike and Nicole called it a day while Mugsy and I did some more Dune climbing. I used this time to play photographer.

Mugsy did a great job of posing for these shots:







Mugsy was a little tired after the big day and almost blended in with the sand at sunset:


This is the sunset over my tent:





We had a short hike out early Sunday morning and went our separate ways.”

“Great pics!”

“nice! cool dog too!”

“And I applaud your choice of tents particularly.”

“How long before Michah shows up and rants about LNT?



Nice pics, looks like all had a good time.”

“Cool pics ChinMusic!

Free is wearing the bandana I gave her for Christmas! :-)”

“Excellent pictures! Thanks for posting them and the report.”

“nice sunset”

“Nice pics! Cool dog? Is he a bichon frisee?”

“bacon frisbee?”

“Bacon RING?”

“Oh, good trip report! You were nice about the food disaster :) Lets just say, nobody wanted seconds!”

“C!B! - When you getting your a$$ back on the trail?”

“Here we go”

“treebait: "Nice pics! Cool dog? Is he a bichon frisee?"

Mugsy is an 9-mo-old cockapoo. He just had a major haircut on Thursday. This is what he looked like May in a shot taken with one of our local pitchers:

”

“nice poodle”

“Looks like a totally different dog.”

“Mugsy is cute! But, who are you?”

“LOL! That one picture of Mugs laying on the dune looking pitiful is exactly how I discribed Honey sitting on the same dune..."Come on! Let's go back down to the water!". Looks like ya guys had a great time!”

“thanks for sharing.”

“Capn Bobo: "Mugsy is cute! But, who are you?"


I don't seem to get in that many pics as the camera is usually in my hands.

Here is a pic Free took of Me and Mugs

”

“ChinMusic is alright with me!

Up on the hill
They think I'm okay
Or so they say
Chinese music always sets me free
Angular banjoes
Sound good to me
Aja
When all my dime dancin' is through
I run to you”

“I love Steely Dan as well but, The Crux of the Biscuit is the Apostrophe.”

“Zappatista?”

“Yep, Ain't this Boogie a Mess?”

“Hey Free and CM, This is what Mugsy looked like last week before his "trim" on Thurs:

”

“chin, if you look real close, it looks like he is peeing blue.



its from your water bladders hose.

heheh good aim boy.
he is sooo sweet.”

“why are u looking that close?”

“and do u mean the dog or the boy?”

“That dog looks like a rabid, vicious man-eating animal!”

“He only eats men that make salmon for cook-offs, and win!

MOOOOOOOOOOOOHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa”

“Written By Spirt Coyote.


Saturday- I was excited to finally be escaping the city, it's hustle and bustle, after too long a time away from the woods. We left home too late (in my opinion) but Mike really likes to sleep in and it was a miracle to get him up at 8 a.m. as it was. By 9, we were on the road- the road that takes to long! I daydreamed of being the inventor of some kind of teleportation device that would have us in minutes to the trail head. We hit Cadillac Michigan just after noon, and had reached the Highbridge trailhead about 45 minutes later so it was nice and warm, dry and sunny for the hike in, WOHOO!

Leaving the trail head behind we followed north along a road and very tall grass for 10 minutes or so and began to veer away from all sounds of humanity. Behind us were the cars and tourists. Ahead- meadows, oaks, birds and surprises. Hiking in the Midwest does lack the amazing views that out west has, so we take them when we can!

The trail was primarily down hill at this point but began to rise a bit above the Manistee river, which looked lower then last year but refreshing. I SOOOOO wanted to go swimming. Or first view of the river was at a little bridge with a sign that marks an old historic train bridge foundation. I stood there appreciating it while munching on a wild apple. Yes, there was but one apple tree I saw the entire hike, and there was only one apple on it and it just happened to be at the perfect height for me to pick. It was small, had a couple blemishes on it but oh was it flavorful! I haven't even had store bought apples that tasty for years. I truly was blessed.

We rose in elevation slowly, nothing to break a sweat over and came to another view where we could see endless trees for miles. We then left the views and the river for a while, hiking in the shade of oaks primarily, through an understory of bracken ferns, dancing with pipe vine swallow tail butterflies. Clumps of green moss were plentiful. Mushrooms of all kinds and shapes were displayed. Tall white ones, cupped ones that held water, slimy yellow ones, clumping yellow ones, bright orange tiny ones, ones with orange caps, yellow coral fungus to mention just a few.

We stopped to admire a humongus oak tree- old growth for sure, and the only one I saw the entire trip. Yes, before you ask, I did hug it.

The path headed towards the river again and took us down about 6 or 7 switchbacks in deep shade with lots of mushrooms, then the forest opened up and the hiking became primarily flat through tall grass, and blooming golden rod, and over a couple streams that were blooming with snake root and other flowers I do not know.

At this point we decided to start looking for a camp where the access to the river would be easy so we hiked a while along the Manistee but could not find any way down for water before the path started leaving it again. Taking a break under an oak and dropping our packs we took a break to eat snacks and to discuss the situation. Finally we decided to turn back along the trail about 10 minutes to the last good flowing stream. We cut away from the trail across a grassy meadow and set up camp beneath a nice sized tree.

It was here Mike took a rest and I did some exploring and playing with the camera (until the batteries decided to fail and I didn't bring spares!)
I explored the creek and going through a lot of brush and logs discovered a really cool water fall that was flowing very good despite the drought. I climbed out to the middle of it over logs to a mini island, where water was crashing all around. It was so cool! Its just a shame I couldn't get any pictures.

I relaxed the rest of the evening. We listened to the owls and coyotes, insects and other night sounds. The stars came out, which I had not seen in so long. I always miss the stars in the city. We both slept well.

Morning came, everything was covered in dew and misty fog making the world seem like a magical mysterious place. We dallied around until the sun came up, filtered fresh water from the creek, packed up camp, and headed out along the same way we had hiked in. Although the trail was mostly up, we did not feel winded- and infact mike says since he quit smoking, he can breath easier on the trail. The ups were nothing to sweat over and we made good time, faster time then on the hike in. We saw a bald eagle watching for his breakfast over the river in a tree, and lost of fish in the water.We were back at the trailhead by 9. I really enjoyed my trip, and though it was short, it was well worth it!

8)”

“We hiked this section in June, but started at 8 mile rd., which is about 20 miles south of high bridge.

The best section was from High bridge to the upper river trail head.

I liked that knive edge ridge, were it's a steep drop on either side of the trail.
There was also a hollow tree, almost right on the trail that had a bee hive in it.
This spot was maybe 2-3 miles north from high bridge, I'm guessing?”

“yeah that bee hive is still there!”

“great report...sometimes those small trips with your significant other are better than the big ones with lots of friends”