Up North Trails

A flyer from IMAGIN just came across my desk with an article about an interactive map for trails in Michigan. "The Up North Trails Collaborative has a common goal of promoting all trail systems together for all trail users in a 21-county area."

They have been aggregating trail data from multiple sources along with points of interest. Check it out!
http://www.upnorthtrails.org/

Kentucky

For us Michiganders, Kentucky is actually a relatively short drive away. Here is a Kentucky trip planner post for Mammoth Caves National Park and Red River Gorge Geological Area.

Mammoth Cave Waterproof, Tear-Resistant, Topographic Map - This is a very nice National Geographic map showing contours, trails, campsites and more. A must have! Thanks Jacob for sending us this map and so fast! It helped with planning, and will be awesome in the backcountry. :)
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave Maps
Cave Tour Schedule and Booking
Helpful Folks @ Mammoth Cave

If you plan on doing a cave tour you should book early. I waited too long to book a trip and missed out on a tour I wanted to do. We are going to do the Violet City and Domes and Dripstones tours which l am excited for. The park seems to be dog friendly and even has 10 kennels available at the onsite hotel for your dog to wait while you are touring the cave.

(Post Trip Notes: Kennels were very accommodating, there was a little shelter for the pups to go in if they wanted and you are able to padlock the gate while you're gone. The cave tours were amazing! The first tour was 3 miles, 3.5 hours. It was nostalgic and lit by 10 oil lamps our group of 40 carried. Our Guide's Grandfather (Wood) used to be a tour guide here also. We learned about salt/peter mining, geology, historical sites such as the church and hospital and saw multiple cave rooms. It was hard to see but you could really appreciate the darkness and what what the first visitors would have experienced. The second tour was totally different and a nice contrast to the first tour. This tour was 3/4 mile 2 hours. You follow a steep staircase down and travel in sort of an L pattern. The entire thing is lit up and we travelled with a group of 120. It was nice being able to see the rock formations especially at the end where the dripstones were. We even saw bats! )

Campsites are first come first serve, so it's a little hard to pre-plan the exact itinerary. We typically like to do multiple nights in the backcountry so we will try to string a couple sites together once we arrive.

(Post Trip Notes: Even if you don't see bugs flying around, wear long pants and deet up, or visit during the winter months. We didn't realize it was happening at the time, but we got DESTROYED by chiggers and ticks in Mammoth's backcountry. Chigger bites seriously itch for 5+ weeks. :(

It rained a lot the day we arrived and the visitor center folks steered us away from the sites we wanted to stay at due to flooding. They suggested Sal Hollow (Nathan likes to call it Shallow Hal) and Turnhole Bend. Both places looked great in the picture book they showed us and both were water accessible (so they say). Long story short, you cannot get to water from either of these two sites! Personally I would say skip backcountry camping at Mammoth... do some cave tours and get out of there. Head to the Red River Gorge Geological area.)

Red River Gorge Geological Area

(Post Trip Notes: Upon arrival at the Red River Gorge Geological Area, we went to the visitor center and managed to slip in just before closing time. We purchased a glossy topo map of the area for a just a few dollars. If you can stop into the Visitor Center, purchase this map. I was unable to find it online, but the ISBN is 978159351669-7.)

Red River Gorge Topographic Map with Campsites - I highly recommend this map. It comes as a package of 4 maps depicting trails, campsites, mileage, views and much more. I was not able to find campsites anywhere online, so I say it is a must have. It is a nice thick glossy paper, and folds up to a small size. Jacob, Thank you again for sending us your maps!

Red River Gorge Geological Area Map and Mileage

Red River Gorge Geological Area Trail Descriptions

OutrageGIS: Online Maps & Short Description

Parking Permit Purchase Locations

Bourbon Trail Distillery Tours

Helpful Folks @ Gladie Information Center

The Red River Gorge Geological Area looks amazing! I'm very excited to hike, camp, and view the arches in the area. The Red River Gorge Area is also dog friendly. Just remember to pick up any food or waste to keep disease from spreading through the park. We plan to split our stay here into 3 round trips.

• Hike Auxillary Ridge Loop
• Power Loop
• Swift Camp Creek Trail

----------KML/GPS File & Interactive Map Section----------

Here are the routes and waypoints I entered into our GPS. If you want to create your own file to upload to your GPS follow these steps.

1. Get a .jpeg image or screenshot or the map you want to use. If you map is very large, take a look at this post about 1024 pixel images.
2. Add an image overlay in Google Earth. (Steps 1-4 in this link).
3. Trace the trails and add campsites, placemarks, etc. It should look like this.
4. Organize your routes, waypoints, images into a folder under My Places in Google Earth.
5. Export a KML file from Google Earth with Right Click on Folder you made > Save Place As > Save as KML file to a location on your computer.
6. Convert the KML file to a GPX file. I used a free online converter.
7. Connect your GPS and drag the GPX file to your device. On my Garmin Oregon 400, it goes in a folder call GPX. Note: You may need to tinker with the settings on your GPS to get the routes and points to show up. On the Oregon 400 you have to go into Track Manager and set each route to "show on map".

To get the map in Google Maps, I just uploaded it as a KML file. You can download the file by navigating to the map, clicking on the folder icon under the title, and selecting Download KML. You can open the file in Google Earth and make modifications or go right to step 6.

These maps do not depict every trail, campsite etc. I used them for my own trip planning but thought I would share them.

Kitchel-Lindquist / Harold Hartger Dunes Preserve

Connie and Gerald Lindquist, Harold Hartger, and Marjorie Hendricks made it possible for us to take a walk through this 112 acre dunes preserve.

The Connie Lindquist Trail and Marjorie Hendricks Trail are both interpretive trails. There is a box at the trailhead with the brochures but it is typically empty. The city of Ferrysburg was kind enough to email me the brochures which I have posted here.

Connie Lindquist and Marjorie Hendricks Brochure
Marjorie Hendricks Brochure

I was also told next year they will do a better job of having the boxes full as well as create a trail map for the Harold Hartger Trail.

There is a parking lot on Berwyck St. Map

Killarney Provincial Park

If you're looking for a challenging and remote trip, Killarney Provincial Park's La Silhouette Trail Loop in Ontario, Canada is the hike to do! This is a very scenic area with many lakes and a number of excellent lookouts on the mountain peaks.

For the most part we would not see anybody except for a couple of locations where day hikers can make it in and the canoers/kayakers on the lakes. We went counter clockwise and crossed a couple of hikers each day going in the opposite direction as us. Clockwise is the normal direction for most, leaving the most difficult days for when your pack is the lightest.

The Friends of Killarney are very helpful and will help you plan your trip.  When you are ready to book you can call Ontario Parks and reserve your backcountry sites. This is a tough hike, make sure to plan the mileage according to your ability. They say you should plan at least 6 nights, but there are people who have done it in 2-3. I don't recommend it unless you and your group are in excellent shape.  ;)

Ontario Parks Website
Friends of Killarney

Book with Ontario Parks Reservations:
1-888-668-7275
Trip Planner with Friends of Killarney:
705-287-2800 (careful with this number, you may get extra charges on your bill since it is international)


I highly suggest purchasing the waterproof Map and La Silhouette Trail Guide Book. The book describes the campsites, wildlife, trail, and also provides a nice mileage map. Unfortunately there is not a lot of information online on the La Silhouette Trail making purchasing these items a must.

Make sure to purchase these early.  It took a couple of weeks for these to travel snail mail to Michigan from Canada. You will also want to make sure to plan your trip early! The campsites are not shared which is very nice for solitude and privacy, but its first come first serve when making reservations. We did not do this and ended up doing the trip counter clockwise in order to book some campsites.

The terrain is very rugged so make sure to have sturdy comfortable hiking boots.  We saw a guy wearing his camp sandals because both of the soles of his hiking boots blew out!  I should have taken a picture, it was kind of awesome. I suggest a hiking pole as well.


View Killarney in a larger map

VanRaalte Farm

Take a stroll through VanRaalte Farm in Holland, MI.
There are 160 acres of meadows, forest, ponds, and streams.

It is accessible from both 16th street and 24th street.
This farm is also open in the winter for cross country skiing AND they have a sled hill.

Map

Early Spring Flowers

The first warm days of spring are upon us.  :)
Get out and get hiking, and keep your eyes peeled for April Michigan Wildflowers.

Top: Bloodwoot, Dutchman's Breeches, Hepatica, Jack-in-the-pulpit

Bottom: Marsh Marigold, Spring Beauty, Wild Garlic, Skunk Cabbage

DNR Michigan Wildflower Viewing Sites Guide

Michigan Wildflower Photo Contest Muskegon, MI

Sleeping System

So I hear you're in the market for a sleeping bag?
Some questions you will have to ask yourself:

• What is my budget? (Buy the best you can afford, or you will probably be upgrading in the future)
• What is the weather like? (Bags have temperature ranges for different seasons. We have a summer and a spring/fall sleeping bag)
• What kind of camping am I doing, backcountry? (If so, you'll want to keep weight in consideration and go as light as possible)

Down vs. Synthetic Guide
Down Pros: Warmer, retains shape and can last forever, lightweight, highly compressible, moisture wicking
Down Cons: Loses insulation value when wet, requires special cleaning, costly, potential allergens
Synthetic Pros: Dries quickly, provides insulation when wet, easy to care for, less expensive, hypoallergenic
Synthetic Cons: Bulky, heavier than down, breaks down over time.

Popular Brands: Marmot, Big Agnes, Mountain Hardware, The North Face, Western Mountaineering

Sleeping bags come with a right or left zipper. If you travel with a companion and want to zip the sleeping bags together, you'll want to get one of each. Also think about what side the zipper on your tent is on and have your sleeping bag open in that direction for convenience.

Sleeping Pad: We carry a Therm-a-Rest to sleep on, we're also a fan of the compact seating system that turns your sleeping pad into a camp chair. You will want to consider the questions at the top. If you are backpacking you'll want something lighter, if you are camping in colder weather you will want something with more R-value, get something that fits your needs and comfort level.

Pillow: Most minimalist backpackers will try not to carry anything they don't need. Some stuff their clothes into a pillow case for a pillow, but I like to travel with a small thermarest pillow. I have to be honest though, it can be cumbersome to pack.

Liner: A liner will keep your body oils and dirt from getting on the bag. The liner can be machine washed very easy compared to the bag itself.  It also adds a little bit of warmth. Most backpacking bags simply have nylon inside which is sticky to the skin, a liner is usually made of a more comfortable polyester or fleece. I have used the Cocoon. Disclaimer, if you toss and turn in your bag, you’re apt to have the liner twisted around you tighter than a pair of briefs by morning.

Care: Be sure to air it out after each use. Sweat and condensation get in the bag when you sleep. Even if it feels dry to the touch, it will be moist enough inside. You don’t want it smelling or degrading the insulation over time. Give it a couple hours hanging in the breeze to let it air out when you get home.

Storage: When storing your sleeping bag and pad, NEVER leave them compressed and crunched down, most sleeping bags will come with a large mesh storage bag and a small stuff sack with compression straps for carrying. Make sure to fluff everything up and put it in the large bag for storage.


LOL, or you can just get these:

Manistee River Trail

I have spring fever and backpacking has been on my mind. One of my favorite hikes is the Manistee River Trail. The scenery is beautiful, the camping spots are great and the distance is up to you. You can choose to do a 20 mile loop by adding in the North Country Trail (NCT), or just hike in so many miles and camp for a night or two, and hike back out.

Information and Directions to the Trailheads
Printable Trail Map
NCT Map MI-05
DNR Site

The NCT side of the loop has its ups and downs. There is no water access on the NCT and it is physically challenging, but you will have a sense of accomplishment, solidarity, and a great workout.

On the NCT side, there are 15 miles of new trail north of the Hodenpyl Dam! This trail is on my list of places to hike for 2011. Maps and information can be found here:
Guide-to-Hodenpyl-Reroute