Winter Hike (in Memory of Mataharihiker) TR

““Great trip. Excellent planning by TaraBull and Nonconformist. More later. My photos:
Slideshow format:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/slideshow/569696444WxXhMe;jsessionid=abcz-aw5xCGsJ8POelT7r

Album format:
http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/569696444WxXhMe”
prosecutor
12:02:54 AM
1/19/09
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“It was a great time with great weather, scenery, people and food. Thanks to all who attended. I'll post up some trip info in a bit.

Nice photos Ed, thanks. Hope you had smooth sailing back home---looked a little snowy in some places!”
Nonconformist
7:26:09 AM
1/19/09
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“The five and a half hour drive to the trailhead from my Wisconsin cabin was over snow packed roads almost the entire way. I could have snowmobilied to the trailhead.

The drive south to Illinois was a whole lot better.”
prosecutor
8:05:14 AM
1/19/09
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“Man that looks like it was a lot of fun! I would have been crawling into Wolfy's tent at 3am saying, "I think my feet are frost bit, let me stick them in your arm pits to warm them back up.".”
Nigal
8:09:50 AM
1/19/09
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“

Pine Marten Run Trail

Here are the few photos I was thawed out enough to take.

I never thought I would eat cheese like a beaver naws a tree, but this trip, I did.

Had a great time, and it was nice to meet Prosecutor and hear all his "stories".

Thanks to Cowpatty for the company on the ride to and from!

Yo, Tarabull...I found some boot covers at Jay's in Gaylord on way home...all set there for next time...thanks for the warm feet.

Nigal...I kept my heat OFF for the weekend...Prosecutor had his furnace on before he went beddie-bye. That would have been the tent to crawl in.”
wolfeyes
8:43:28 AM
1/19/09
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http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/569704291DetmDV
last edited: 1/19/09 8:25:54 AM”
wolfeyes
8:44:36 AM
1/19/09
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“I love photo #14 Wolf Eyes. Dave looks like he's ready to pass out. LOL!”
Nigal
8:51:39 AM
1/19/09
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“My eyelids were frozen.”
Nonconformist
9:32:51 AM
1/19/09
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_______________________________________________________________________________

The Trip Report

Going into the weekend, Tarabull and I were a little leery of the weather. We had just gone through the deep freeze that most everyone else had and we were into our second day of school closings in the area due to the wind chill. The forecast promised some slight moderation so we all decided to drive to the trailhead, hike in to the shelter and decide from there whether to stay or not. When we pulled into the snowmobile parking lot at about 2:30 pm on Friday it was a balmy 8 degrees above zero with no wind and bright sunshine. Tarabull and I changed into our winter hiking clothes then drove our gear to the access road where real hiking would start.

As you can tell from the pictures, there is a LOT of snow in this area---getting close to three feet in some places. We were fortunate enough to have a fairly packed trail due to snowmobile use and the hikers and sleds who went in before us. I managed to hike into the shelter without having to rely on my snowshoes at all. I had made some modifications to my sled and harness system a few days earlier and was very pleased with the way it pulled.We got to the shelter in a short time and were greeted by a smiling Prosecutor and CowPatty. Wolfeyes was also there and she muttered something about “f’n freezing.” They had a nice fire going and even a small supply of firewood. We set up our tent, cooked up some grub, then sat around the fire inhaling lots and lots of smoke. Fireside conversation was pretty much standard camping talk: the correct pronunciation of the word “hog”; the bargain price of $1.35/lb for Russian whores; is Amber a hot stripper jumping into your lap or a hot coal jumping from the fire?” Several times throughout our fireside chat Wolfeyes chimed in with something about either “f’n freezing” or something else about not feeling her toes. We turned in pretty early that night……most of us to our OWN tents.

It started snowing during the night and kept up through the entire day Saturday. Temps were probably a bit above zero, again with no wind. We were all happy to be missing the deep wind chill temps. We enjoyed a hot breakfast, (Tarabull and I made up some breakfast burritos at home and heated them in foil over the fire. I had eggs, pepperjack cheese, roasted red peppers, and venison breakfast sausage in mine.) We were expecting Mountainrunner and Honeybunches to join us sometime around the middle of the day so I stuck around the shelter keeping the fire going, inhaling lots more smoke, cutting wood, shoveling snow, and maybe napping. (Manly work.) CowPatty took off on her snowshoes to explore the area and Prosecutor strapped on his skis and headed out on a different route---a route that he didn’t even know he was taking. Tarabull and Wolfeyes made a firewood run and I made sure the shelter stayed put. Prosecuter skiid in to camp again a few hours later and we had a nice hot lunch while we waited for CowPatty’s return and Mountainrunner and Honeybunches to arrive. I don’t remember who showed up in what order, but CowPatty eventually returned and Mountainrunner showed up without Honeybunches, who it turned out had been feeling ill that morning. We spent the evening cooking and chatting and having a sip or two of some warming liquids. We drank a toast to the late, great Mataharihiker and shared a few stories about her. The evening rolled along with the usual campfire topics: female German crosscountry skiers and their athletic bodies; the unmistakable rhythmic sound of nylon on nylon; the ethics of ordering coffee even if you don’t drink coffee because the woman pouring the coffee provides a nice view of her naked chest; how to give a judge a heart attack. We turned in for the night just as the snow seemed to stop.

The next morning Prosecutor was gone faster than the sunrise and Wolfeyes and CowPatty were not too far behind. Tarabull, Mountainrunner and I packed up the last of our gear and were back down the trail to the county road almost at the exact time that Honeybunches came driving up. Mountainrunner stowed his pack in the car and Tarabull and I sat in the trunk and dragged our sleds behind the car back to the parking lot. We laughed the whole way because we got covered with snow during the ride. The thermometer said it was 1 degree. We parted ways in the parking lot and then Tarabull and I loaded up our gear and headed home as well.

All in all it was a great trip and I can’t wait to go back and explore a little more. The right gear never lets you down even in the coldest weather. I hope some of the southern TTers can make it up here for a winter trip some time to see all the snow. I really enjoyed the company and the stories on this trip and can’t wait for the next time with all of you.

Our pictures should be up later”

“Nice report there NonCon. I didn't know you paid that much attention. LMAO!”

“Thank you for the great TR.”

“Still bummed I couldn't make it. But the look of you covered in snow and eyelids practically frozen shut as I pulled up to give you a ride back to the trailhead gave me a little comfort. :) Glad you had fun!!! I'll be there next time!”

“So I wasn't the only one with ice balls on my eyelids after the trek back to the road on Sunday morning?”

“A Michigan Winter Poem

It's winter here in Michigan
And the gentle breezes blow,
Seventy miles an hour,
At twenty five below.
Oh, how I love ole Michigan
When the snow's up to your butt.
You take a breath of winter
And your nose freezes shut. Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around.
I could never leave my Michigan
Cause I'm frozen to the ground!
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Good times in a beautiful, snow laden quiet north woods, a classic NonConformist trip report, it did seem I was cooking forever Saturday nite, some people use propane heaters in tents, don't let Wolfeyes in a clothing/gear store on the way to the hike or she will spend all her money, I snowshoed across Rim Lake as well as in the forest, three people and 1 dog were ice fishing on Ironjaw Lake thru 18 inches of ice, and I owe two batteries to Prosecutor.

Ah, winter in Michigan!
last edited: 1/19/09 11:15:29 AM”

“No, you weren't the only one, wolfeyes. I was constantly clearing the icicles from my lashes!

What a fun time. Some fantastic stories and great company. As usual, the TTers have not failed to me entertain me!

(NC - You failed to mention the two wonderful desserts provided by Chef Cowpatty)

Thanks for making the drive, folks!



It was two years ago this month that I planned a winter trip to Pictured Rocks and got to spend a weekend with Mataharihiker. So, for me, it seemed fitting that we do this trip in her honor. It's true, we talked about her several times. And, toasted her on Saturday night (wolfeyes has a pic of our toast!). She will be missed...
last edited: 1/19/09 11:35:09 AM”

“Great pictures and trip report. Looks like a lot of fun.”

“Great trip report and pics, looks like I missed a good trip. Where to next year? Any sign of Sasquatch?
My plans held true, for the weekend, X-C Skiing on Saturday at Mayberry State Park, with my Son along with me,(shock) for his first time skiing.
He did very well, and said he'd go again with me, so it was all worth it, not making this trip. Plus getting to work Sunday and Monday was an added bonus too. (overtime pay)
last edited: 1/19/09 3:53:33 PM”

“Excellent trip report there Nonconformist. You only forgot to mention that you woke up Saturday morning to the sound of sawing wood, literally.

When I got out of my tent Sunday morning, my little thermometer said it was a couple degrees below zero (which would make it 12 F degrees colder than forecast). I had a large cup of hot coffee, a hot breakfast, and packed up at sunrise, and left with Wolfeyes back to the vehicles.”

“That's right, I forgot about the sound of someone sawing logs!

Our pics are up:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/569510889dsPGlG”

“I just got home from the ER and now I know why I have had pain in my chest from breathing for the last month and a half...I got pneumonia! Who woulda thunk? No wonder I couldn't breathe well or walk too far without stopping this past weekend...I had no clue I had that crap lurking in there.”

“Winter camping with pneumonia in below zero weather. You're tough all right. But what sort of look did the doctor give you when you told the doctor what you did over the week end?”

“Well.....she had dollar signs in her eyes from the stupidity.”

“Holy wah! I hope your taking some sick time to relax.”

“...female German crosscountry skiers and their athletic bodies.

You must've been talking about Eurohike. I'll give a full report after her visit here in Atlanta Feb 1-3.”

“I sher do miss sno! Mebbe it will sno heer perty good to day or when never.”