Manistee River Loop
Brethren Michigan
June 22-24, 2022
Co-Trip Leaders: Steve Kinch and Jill Whelan
Type of Trip: Backpacking
Trip Cost/Deposit: $50/$50
Cancellation Date and full payment: May 22, 2022
Wilderness Level: 3 - typical meetup day event in good weather setting with cell coverage
Trip Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous - 10 miles for two days with moderate elevation gain and loss
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment Level 1: Applies to trips in which we carry only day packs and stay on maintained trails. Hiking distances range from 3-6 mile, and elevation gain can be as much as 2000 feet. You should be comfortable hiking 3-6 miles in a day with considerable gain/loss on good trails. Level 2: Primarily applies to trips in which we carry only day packs. In one day, we can hike up to 9 miles and 4500 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 7 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged, less-maintained trails. For a Level 2 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light day pack. If a backpacking trip has a Level 2 rating, it means the distances are 2-4 miles with little elevation gain/loss. Level 3: Applies to backpacking trips in which we hike with 25-35 pound backpacks. In one day, we can hike up to 7 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 5 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged trails. For a Level 3 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack.
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
Level 1: Applies to trips in which we carry only day packs and stay on maintained trails. Hiking distances range from 3-6 mile, and elevation gain can be as much as 2000 feet. You should be comfortable hiking 3-6 miles in a day with considerable gain/loss on good trails.
Level 2: Primarily applies to trips in which we carry only day packs. In one day, we can hike up to 9 miles and 4500 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 7 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged, less-maintained trails. For a Level 2 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a light day pack. If a backpacking trip has a Level 2 rating, it means the distances are 2-4 miles with little elevation gain/loss.
Level 3: Applies to backpacking trips in which we hike with 25-35 pound backpacks. In one day, we can hike up to 7 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain on maintained trails, or up to 5 miles and 2000 feet of elevation gain on more rugged trails. For a Level 3 trip you should be comfortable hiking 6-8 miles in a day in hilly or mountainous terrain with a 25-pound backpack.
Group Size: 8/7 Maximum/Minimum
Adults Only
***Before registering***
While considering your participation in CIWC trips, be aware that some trips will involve shared transportation, lodging, and other activities. Each participant is encouraged to evaluate your comfort level with such arrangements based on your health condition, vaccination status, and unknown COVID positivity rates at the time of the trip. Members are encouraged to review the COVID waiver as a part of this evaluation.
Come join us on this 3-day backpack trip in the Manistee National Forest of Lower Michigan. We will meet at the Red River Bridge area on Wednesday, June 22nd at 11am to start our adventure. The 1st day we will hike 5-9 miles on the Manistee River Trail and camp near Eddington Creek on the North Country Trail. The hike will wet our appetite for the next day’s hike.
The 2nd day will be the jewel of the trip. We will have stunning vistas of the river and the forested east shore. We will cross a wooden replica of the mighty Mackinaw Bridge and continue along the east side of Manistee River. We will cover 8-10 miles on the 2nd day and make camp along the river.
Day 3 we will hike the North Country Trail back to our cars. We will cover 3-4 miles.
The club will provide 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners. Each hiker should be prepared to carry some extra weight as we divide up the group food and equipment. Hikers are responsible for all meals in transit, as well as snacks and lunches on the trail.
The club trip does not start until we meet at the trailhead on Wednesday. Participants may carpool or travel independently.
Questions may be submitted to ciwcinfo@gmail.com.
All trip participants must fill out and submit a CIWC Medical Form and Long Waiver Form.
Effective on all trips, there will be a $50 non refundable registration fee. This fee will be assessed to those who sign up for a trip, get on the roster and then later cancel. Even cancelling before the cancel date. Those who never make the active roster (i.e. those who stay on the waitlist) will NOT be charged the $50 cancellation fee.
