Trapp Hills, Michigan UP, 2007

“Woohoo..I got my maps today!!
Come one Fri!”

“so sorry you can't make it ncthiker. some other time perhaps?”

“I'm trying to decide:

Alcohol stove or Whisperlite

-5* down bag or 15* down bag.....”

““so sorry you can't make it ncthiker. some other time perhaps?”
Jimmy san
3:51:59 PM
10/15/07
ignore this user

Thanks JS, yeah maybe at the Mobfest?”

“not if i see you first?”

““not if i see you first?”
Jimmy san
5:36:38 PM
10/15/07

Huh,Where?”

“xactly!”

“That is pretty close. The one quick test is to yell Cockapoooooooooooo, like Crash, and see how he reacts.

Mugs will be looking forward to your coyote calls this weekend.”

“AROOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Mugs should be on a leash 100% of the time to avoid tangling with a porcupine or being eaten by coyotes. Here is a photo of a nice dog who was leashed 95% of the time:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/prosecutor104/album/576460762345165286/photo/294928803682227156/0”

“I agree with Ed. As a basic courtesy, leash the pooch.”

“I'll second what prosecutor just said, and add that the wolves in the UP don't discriminate much between killing coyotes or dogs. The photo I'd show you if I had one would be of an adult Siberian husky who had to be carried out by his owner after tangling with a porcupine. The dog was so sure he wanted to get that porkie that he had quills almost everywhere including in his feet. He had been off leash.”

“Those that have hiked with Mugsy and myself know that Mugs stays within leash distance and does not chase wildlife.

If anyone protests, please post it and I will stay home.
last edited: 10/15/07 9:24:00 PM”

“when you have that microwave zapper collar thing on him i doubt he would crap without your permission chin.

...that said, if he saw a porcupine i doubt he would attack it but i am not sure he wouldn't try to hump it. my boots still have marks from the last time i hiked with mugsy!
last edited: 10/15/07 9:28:12 PM”

“when you have that microwave zapper collar thing on him i doubt he would crap without your permission chin.

The command is: "Big Business"”

“It's your dog, ChinMusic...Pros and cow patty were talking from past experiences...I have passed with 4 feet of porcupines on the trail more than once but since you will be in a group, most will hear you coming and get out of the way. Bring a small pair of needle nose pliers with you, maybe...

Last Friday I thought I would have to bail on this trip...my energy level was very low and I felt close to pneumonia again...I couldn't imagine finding the energy to pack much less organize food...I tried to take it easy this week-end and it seems to have worked...I feel much better this morning...

Luckily for me it didn't rain much yesterday so I was able to try out an unscreened Eagles Nest hammock that the founder of Eagles Nest gave me years ago at Canoecopia. I'd never used it with a sleeping pad...the bottom entry Hennessy is kinda a pain to live under when it's raining. I'll decide between the Eagles Nest or Moskito hammocks when I get up there...the nice thing about mosquito netting is it keeps stuff from falling out of the hammock:)

I felt well enough yesterday to get food ready...since you have to carry water up there for the most part, I opted out of dehydrated food...I will have hydrated food in food Saver bags so I can just throw the bags in boiling water...that way I can get all that cream and butter I like to throw in everything I eat...LOL...

Really looking forward to seeing you all....”

“Mugsy is a good dog to hike with, and does not bother any other hikers in my opinion. And dogs have a tendancy to keep bears away in areas like the UP where bears are often hunted with dogs. And the way that Mugsy tried to save ChinMusic when he cartwheeled down a cliff at night on the Disappointment Trail, I would want him along if I was the owner. Really looking forward to seeing you all, including Mugsy. We are just worried about the dog. That's all.

But as MataHariHiker said, "Bring a small pair of needle nose pliers with you".
last edited: 10/16/07 5:06:20 AM”

“Mugsy is a great dog! :D


Hey, is it panic time yet???”

“Fri
Oct 19 Showers
55°/45° 40%

Sat
Oct 20 Few Showers
60°/46° 30%

Sun
Oct 21 Few Showers
55°/43° 30%

Mon
Oct 22 Showers
50°/39° 40%


That's downright balmy, but we might want to have a few tarps.

My back was bothering me this past weekend and I couldn't even put on my socks by myself, but it's feeling a lot better now. Also, my son came down with a cold or something a couple days ago and I woke up this morning with a dang sore throat.

The stars are trying to align against me on this trip, but I will overcome!”

“dope yourself up! You are going, damn it!”

“I am going, damn it!!”

“Hi all,

Unfortunately, I have to take myself off. Co-worker's husband had a heart attack Sunday and obviously she won't be back to work this week. Therefore, we're short at the office and I've been asked not to take those vacation days. Hate to bug out on my first trip but, what can ya do?”

“Anyone wanna borrow my kilt?”

“I say, make jimmysan wear it!

sorry pinetreepatty :(”

“well that's a bummer pinetreepatty. we were all looking forward to meeting you. another time, perhaps.

my legs are so covered in scratches, scabs, and blemishes from cactus thorns that you can count yourself lucky i will NOT be wearing a kilt. my legs are damn effective but NOT a pretty sight.

it's going to be a great weekend, even with the rain. make sure to pack layers, consider rain pants and especially good gaiters. choose wool or synthetic clothes. you know the drill. consider bringing a pair of warm "sleeping socks". there are few things worse (for me) than going to bed with cold feet and only having wet socks in my pack.

Spirit Coyote, hubcap, and Randall: The back of my pickup is not covered. I strongly encourage you to bring your backpacks and other gear that will have to go in the back in a garbage bag/etc so it won't get wet on the drive up North.
last edited: 10/16/07 7:40:27 AM”

“a truck load of stankin' assed backpers on the ride home. I foresee some of us riding in the back with the gear LOL!”

“A contractor bag should do nicely to keep things dry in the back. I've got plenty if others need one.

I don't do rain pants for this kind of weather - too hot. I definitely do lots of dry socks though.”

“hub, i just have regular black bags, will that work?”

“You got rain gear Nicole? I have an extra jacket if you be needin one”

“I got rain gear :)”

“OK, lets lock in this forecast, ala Deal or No Deal....

Rockland, MI

Friday, Oct 19
Breezy with rain
Low: 43 °F
High: 57 °F

Saturday, Oct 20
Mostly cloudy and breezy
Low: 47 °F
High: 59 °F

Sunday, Oct 21
A shower possible
Low: 46 °F
High: 56 °F

Monday, Oct 22
Cloudy
Low: 43 °F
High: 54 °F”

“SC, any old trashbag should be fine to keep your stuff dry on the way up. I just have a big roll of 55-gal contractor bags laying around that you can fit a ton of crap in.

I don't hike with the contractor bags though since they are really heavy duty (e.g. heavy). I just use a light trash bag to keep my sleeping bag and clothes dry in my pack. If it's really coming down, I use a poncho that covers me and my pack too.
last edited: 10/16/07 8:05:43 AM”

“Crap...it's only tuesday!”

“Hubcap!!
I'll take one o those bags if ya don't mind.
Sorry your feeling bad, fight the good fight!! I am packing today and then putting down as many miles as time permits with the full pack. Did 7.5 yesterday with 28 lbs and hope to do more tomorrow.
JS!!
Are we still leaving at 7:00 AM???
See ya later.
Randall”

“No problem Randall. I'll bring a couple along.”

“dhutch,
I just saw your note a couple pages back concerning the carpool. Thanks for the offer. I'll defer to Jimmy whether it is going to be crowded in his vehicle. If so, I'll let you know and drive up to the NW burbs to meet you. If it's not too crowded, I'll ride with them since Jim and I only live a few miles from each other.”

“there will be four in my pickup truck. it should be pretty comfortable. it's a full-sized pickup with extended cab.

hubcap, could you leave earlier, like 6? sc will be here thursday evening and randall says he can get here earlier. this would get us up north an hour earlier. i don't mind hiking in while it's dark (I have to stage the shuttle) but it would be nice if i could avoid this.”

“mr knee, it's not too late to change your mind and not attend your brown-nosing party... come hiking with us. you KNOW you'll come back from that party saying, "crappity crap crap i wish i had gone backpacking with the gang!"”

“Jimmy, 6am is no problemo. We will all hang out in the dark in your driveway with headlamps on and weird out your neighbors.”

“See ya'll at 6:00 AM 10/19/2007
See ya later.
Randall”

“I know Jim. I wish I could make it”

“OK randall, sc, and hubcap... we'll be leaving at 6am them. this will give us a little more time. thanks!”

“Hey Guys!!
We just might make Mil-wa-kee by the rush hour...yeah buddy!!!
See ya later.
Randall”

“HOLY COW!!!! Work is a bloody zoo tonight :D I shoulda worn my running shoes, I've been running all over the hospital from end to the other on every freakin floor and back. at least the time is flying :D We got new machines, new comptuer gadjets going online today and tomorrow so Its been fun. I love being the hospital techie :D

Now hurry up friday :)
last edited: 10/16/07 6:18:30 PM”

“we are going up through madison, not milwaukee. i don't think we will run into any traffic, even in madison. basically we will go 90 -> 39 -> 51 -> 8 -> 45 -> Victoria Dam Rd”

“dam victoria!”

“Got my waypoints loaded in the Garmin and the Prius. I estimated the locations of the campsites from JS's links and a spattering of other points along the way.

All the waypoints seemed to line up well with my GPS maps. Looks good.”

“it'll be good to hike with you again bud. i can't wait.”

“My pack is going to weight a ton! I don't have food and water in there yet and it weights 20 lbs. YIKES! Well...about 6 or 7 of those lbs is my pack itself :(


I erally need a lighter pack LOL!
last edited: 10/17/07 8:29:07 AM”