North Country Trail, Upper Peninsula, MI
Tahquamenon Falls State Park - Grand Marais
October 1-7, 2022
Co-Trip Leaders: Dave Hoffmeyer and Bob Klecka
Type of Trip: Backpacking
Trip Cost/Deposit: $400/$280
Cancellation Date and full payment: July 1, 2022
Wilderness Level: 3 - minimal cell phone coverage
Trip Difficulty: Moderate; 1200 ft elevation gain total; 500 ft for 1 day
Policy on Fitness Self-Assessment
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: 8/6 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.
Join us for 5 days of hiking on The North Country National Scenic Trail through the Beautiful Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This trip is scheduled to be at the same time as peak fall color. Participants will receive credit for 35.5 of the 100 Miles for the North Country Trail hike 100 challenge.
The hike is 5 days long covering 36 miles. Daily mileage is 4-9 miles. While there are some hills the terrain is fairly gentle uphill portions being rather short. We will begin at Grand Sable Visitor Center after a 4-mile hike to our campsite the first night and the hike will end at Miner’s Castle near the West end of the park. WE have Motel rooms at Grand Marias for the last night, before heading home on Friday the 7th.
5 nights of camping will be in the National Lakeshore in reserved campsites. Transportation includes gas reimbursement for two private vehicles. All meals are the responsibility of the participant. There will not be cell phone coverage for much of the hike, but your trip leaders will have emergency communication devices. Overnight backpacking experience is required with daily mileage of 8 or more.
Itinerary
- October 1st Drive from Indianapolis to Pictured Rocks national lake shore 10 hours, stop for lunch on the way Hike 4.1 miles to Masse Homestead campsite.
- October 2nd Hike 7.1 miles to Benchmark Campsite.
- October 3rd Hike 6.8 miles to Trappers Lake Campsite.
- October 4th Hike 3.7 miles to Coves Campsite.
- October 5th Hike 8.7 miles to Mosquito River Campsite
- October 6th Hike 5 miles to Miner’s Castle Drivers picked up by shuttle.
- Voyageurs hotel 2 rooms
- October 7th Return to Indianapolis 10-hour drive.
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.
