Porcupine Mountains Trip in August

“I don't have an itinerary yet. Would love some suggestions. Will probably do some kind of loop so we don't have to mess with shuttles. My goal is to see as many good sights as possible, keeping the mileage to about 7-8 miles a day if possible. I'm going to drive up and car-camp on the Wednesday the 19th, then 3 nights in the backcountry (Thursday the 20th thru Saturday the 22nd). Hike out and drive home Sunday the 23rd.”

“I know of a short cliff ya could take a long hike at ;) :P :D”

“you get first bear watch”

“cool, I love watching beers!”

“look at my trip plan from a few years back. we didn't do the original trip because of access issues to the trailhead. also, that trail i referenced is a winner.”

“dude, you need to come to this. attila is a maybe”

“Start at the Escarpment overlook, then down to the Lake Superior trail, then take the Big Carp River trail back up.
Then if enough time allows, down the Escarpment to the Government Peak trail and back up to the Escarpment overlook. (start)


http://www.michigandnr.com/Publications/PDFS/RecreationCamping/Porkies_bcmap.pdf
last edited: 7/08/09 11:16:13 AM”

“I believe we will be in Pic Rocks that weekend. Keep us posted if anything changes.”

“august is the kids trip to nordhouse dunes that i have to go on and swinging two trips in one month might be tough.”

“get over it! i'll drive!”

“-and- i am climbing in CO in september -and- i am going to the grand canyon for a week in october -and- somehow i have 3-5 more climbing runs down to red river gorge to make this season.

i'll think about it. it's always a great pleasure to go on your trips.”

“I dunno....7-8 miles a day is doable....

BUT.....

I just don't know...”

“i didnt know you backpack”

“i have seen her do it!”

““i have seen her do it!”
Yogisan
2:03:18 PM
7/11/09

Really..........so, you like to watch? Hee,Hee!”

“Pervs!”

“I would really like to make this trip. I already have Thursday and Friday off work, and could be on the road by 1:00pm on Weds. Probably take me at least 9-10 hrs to get UP there? So, I'd be getting in btwn 10:00-11:00pm possibly even a bit later. I would probably want to get a room nearby in Silver City? If they have vacancy's?
My only issue is clearing yet another trip, with the BOSS? If ya know what I mean.”

“I would probably want to get a room nearby in Silver City?

i have no idea. im going to stay at the closest campground to the trail”

“Hey Crash, there's a pretty nice campground right at that entrance of the park called Union Bay Campground.”

“the silver sands motor lodge is right at the entrance of the park. it's fairly affordable and a decent place to spend the night.”

“car campers!!! I smell car campers!!”

“you pass a trailhead on the nct w a parking lot as well. not sure where good spots to camp there may be but the area seemed pretty decent when we staged a car there a few years ago.”

“car campers!!! I smell car campers!!�
Spirit Coyote
10:00:06 AM
7/13/09

i smell a NON-camper!
last edited: 7/13/09 9:55:31 AM”

“CB get a plan so we can run with it!”

“athena
I know your passwords! ha ha ha just kidding!”

“Just a suggestion:

The figure 8 loop that I already mentioned would be a nice hike.
Park and start at Lake of the Clouds overlook, then short road walk over to the Lake Superior trail. Take the Lake Supeior Trail to Big Carp River Trail, back up to the Overlook, then hike down along the Escarpment trail to the Goverpeak Trail, then on to the North Mirror Lake Trail, and back up to the start point/Overlook.
last edited: 7/16/09 6:37:37 AM”

“CB get a plan so we can run with it!�

Athena55
11:58:08 PM
7/15/09

youre awfully pushy for someone whos a weak maybe

im kinda busy this week, but i will start working something up next week. ill probably end up basing the trip on the suggestions of others, like yogi and nct”

“Crash,
I have not hiked this route, but know that the Big Carp River trail is the best trail in the park for views, as well as the Escarpment trail.
This route could be done Clockwise as well, which would have you going down the Escarpment to the Government peak trail, looping around Carp lake, then back up to the Overlook, then onto the Big Carp River Trail, then link up with the Lake Superior Trail, hiking back to the overlook.
This route would offer excellent views, waterfalls, and hiking along the Big Lake as well.
Man.....I gotta make this Gig!
last edited: 7/16/09 8:25:57 AM”

“'Michigan Dogman' Recently Sighted in Upper Peninsula”

“big carp river trail rocks. very scenic along the river... lots of cascades, pretty camp sites, sound of the rapids, etc. highly recommend this.

...awwwww... hell... i don't care what your plan is. you know i am down with it. if you are driving i am riding. :)”

“i just realized you are driving up on wednesday. i have to see if i can get three days off from work. being back to work on monday helps.”

“CB Im still hanging in as a weak maybe”

“heres an idea...

starting at the east end of the lake superior trail, follow the LST to big carp river trail. then BCRT to north mirror lake trail, govt peak trail, then finish on escarpment trail, with a short roadwalk back to the start. we'll essentially be doing 2 loops, sort of a figure 8”

“actually, we could do that in any order, but those are the stretches that i think i would like to do. the nice thing is, you dont have to make reservations, so we can alter the gameplan mid-stream if we want to”

“sounds good. gvt peak trail is oh hum. but bcrt is awesome as is the area around mirror lake.”

“I agree yogi....in my opinion the bcrt and the escarpment are the two best trails in the whole park...altho the lcrt is pretty cool too!
Actually the area right around the mouth of the big carp river is my favorite spot in the whole park.

Couple of things...first just a heads up...the begining of the LST is a long downhill most if which you'll be walking on softball sized loose rocks...it's a great trail just be aware that it's going to beat the snot out of your ankles the first few miles!

Also if you can work it in I would try to get over to the lookout tower on top of Summit Peak....the view from the top is pretty cool...especially in the fall!

And if you have the time...there's an underwater spring about two miles in on Union Spring Trail...good little side trip.

Man I wish I could make this trip! You all suck! lol”

“i'd like to go to summit peak and union spring if there is time

any campsites to avoid because of bugs or lack of water?”

“there are 3 drive-up campgrounds near the visitor center. 2 rustic and 1 modern. im going to camp at one of the rustic ones when i get there. is either one better than the other?”

“I really don't remember any campsites that didn't have water relatively close by and you really shouldn't have any bug problems in Sept.

And as for the rustic campgrounds I have to be honest, I've always stayed at the modern one...it has some awesome sites right down along Lake Superior...

If I get a chance this weekend I'll try and dig out some of my photos from trips up there...”

“how much per site and how many campers/tents allowed?”

“2y ago all fed campgrounds up there were still $10/night and the state ones $15 or $20.. obviously i hardly ever camp at those.. lol”

“why "obviously"?”

“yeah I think it's like $16/25 a site now...technically I think you're only supposed to have two tents on a site but ya know :)”

“$20/night? are you kidding me? ;) :D”

“OK, I'm in, unless a major heat wave goes down at trip time?

Two questions: Are we planning on staying at designated sites, so we can take advantage of the bear poles, and is there a good amount of designated sites?
Anyone taking a bear canister? Not that I have one though? Guess, I could purchase one, but I usually just hang my food bags with the two tree method.
last edited: 7/27/09 6:09:10 PM”

“i'll prolly bring my bear canister. the bears in the porkies can be a real PITA... i am NOT joking.”

“definitely will be staying at designated sites, and will try to stay at the ones with bear poles every night. according to the map i have, it looks like about half the sites do, and half the sites dont have them. also, according to my map, there is a metric sht-ton of sites to choose from

yogi, if i can get attila to drive up tuesday after he gets off work, we could take turns driving thru the night and be there by wednesday morn. we would then have practically the entire day to explore, rest, whatever, before the main part of the hiking starts thursday”

“you know i am down with whatever... just tell me the game.”

“Add one more person, "Jim", from the Grand Rapids MI. area. He emailed me with interest in joining. He still can't join TT like everyone else new, for some reason.
We'll probably meet and car pool up, from Gaylord, for the remainder of the drive.

As for food storage, I'm going with my standard bear bagging routine and hope for the best.
This is only when, and if, we don't stay where there isn't any bear pole to use?
last edited: 7/28/09 2:23:44 PM”

“dont worry, i have every intention of staying where there are poles every night.”