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Monday, May 27, 2013

These Are The Days

Since I started this hike, I've passed through all sorts of landscapes: City streets, suburban highways and open farmland. But the last week or so has been my favorite: The deep, remote woods of north central Michigan. I've also seen every kind of weather out here from hot and muggy to snow. Some days are spent road walking in the rain. Some days are spent roasting out in the open, hiking over miles of railroad tracks. Some days are spent desperately trying to find the next blaze and splashing through swamps. But today... These are the days where everything comes together so nicely that you feel like someone has planned the day for you.  

I awoke after a really good night's sleep. It was cold but not freezing that night and I slept a solid 10 hours. The birds chirping and the thought of hot coffee are the only reasons I finally sat up. The sun was warming me up nicely and drying out my gear. I cooked up a bowlful of oatmeal and drank my coffee while I looked over maps of the trail. A sure sign that it's gonna be a good day is when all my gear fit just right into my pack. I've eaten enough food from my last re-supply that it's not so heavy. The trail today was compact earth softened by pine needles. I hiked through thick woods and past beautiful little lakes without seeing another soul. 

Of course, all my best trail stories involve other people and this one is no exception. I was taking pictures of flowers when two men and a woman came walking toward me. We quickly established that I was hiking and that they were collecting mushrooms. They kindly invited me to their camp for lunch. I honestly did not want to impose but I did need water and they said they had plenty. Here's where it gets hard to believe. Within a half an hour of arriving at their camp, Bob tells me he's into craft-brewing beer and he has a corny keg of IPA and one of oatmeal stout (and a CO2 tank to dispense it). Jerry sets up a comfortable chair and table for me and Kelly asks me if I want a giant slice of homemade apple pie. Now, those of you who know me are saying "Poor Wolverine... He's been out there so long he's starting to hallucinate. He thinks people are magically appearing in the woods with delicious home-brew and apple pie. Poor guy." But they did! Honest-to-goodness Trail Angels came out of the woods to drink beer with me all afternoon. They said they were from Grand Rapids and that they had been coming up to Pigeon River to look for Morell  mushrooms for 25 years. I so enjoyed their company but I had to get back to it. I tore myself away and tripped along the path for a few more hours making pretty good miles even with the break. I hiked until sunset and found another sweet spot to camp. 

The lesson I keep learning on the trail that I try to apply to my life is that you've got to keep moving forward. You never know what you'll see or who you'll meet. Keep at it even when it's cold and raining and hard to find your way. There will be warm, sunny days ahead filled with craft-brewed beer and apple pie!

If Jerry, Kelly or Bob reads this, please leave a comment to confirm your existence. 



Pack explosion! Drying my gear in the sun.


Solid blue skies. Sunny, but with a cool breeze.

Trillium. The forest floor is covered with them.

Flat, straight, well-blazed trail.


Trail Angels Jerry, Kelly and Bob. I swear they really exist!

21 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks, Bri. I'll be crossing the Mackinac Bridge late tomorrow or early Wednesday. Can't wait to get back and tell you about this crazy hike. UP here I come!

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  2. "No, really, they were real! They had pie and beer and everything! And then they let me ride their pet water buffalo for three miles! To a summer camp for aspiring bikini models! Really!!"

    I would say maybe lay off the "morells" but it sounds like you're having a blast, so definitely don't. And while you're at it, saute them in your kettle with a knob of buttah, ramps, and some solomon's seal shoots (which is like asparagus if asparagus were made out of rainbows and happiness and pure unadulterated crack cocaine. Get em before the leaves start unfurling: http://www.desirableplants.com/images/web%20pics%20new%20Sep%202012%20new%20format/polygonatum_x_hybridum_betberg.jpg)

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  3. Schrody - I WISH I knew edible plants the way you do. I would eat so much better and I could carry less. That guy 'Jerry' showed me some ramps - pulled them right outta the ground at our feet. He said they're like an onion. I'm always afraid that I'll get sick if I eat the wrong thing. I wish you were out here with me!

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    1. It's pretty hard to screw up with Allium. If it smells like onion or garlic, it's probably closely related to onion or garlic, and you can eat it.

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  4. Awesome. On the trans county trail I too found trail magic a few times, on a trail that perhaps a dozen have thru hiked. As hikers, we have no option other than to be open and receptive- we are truly exposed to the world. People see this energy that comes with that and are inspired to help. The ' coincidences', though, truly are magic. Synchronicity is probably a better word for it.

    Keep having a good hike, buddy.

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    1. For those of you who don't know, Brett is aka Scrub Rat. He's a long distance hiker and a brewer of fine beer. He speaks from experience and his words are true. Thanks for the comment Scrub Rat.

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  5. If someone were to ask me what Chris might dream about on a trail, without hesitation, I'd answer BEER! Sometimes I send him beer lists from places I go. Hiker porn.
    And I have learned not to bring apple pie into the house if I plan on it lasting more then 10 minutes!
    I often find him talking to himself.
    'Fess up, Chris, you atr some old cheese or somethi.g and "dreamed" all of this.

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    1. Martha knows me - perhaps better than anyone. She knows that I love Michigan craft brewed beer. And because of the experience I've had brewing beer with my brothers, I feel like I can really appreciate when someone produces a good beer at home and this guy Bob had it down pat. Plus, they were total Michigan beer snobs - just like me!

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  6. Beautiful! There are GOOD people everywhere, even in the middle of nowhere northern Michigan. Thanks for the reminder to "just keep moving forward". God Bless you :)

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    1. I should mention that Devonne, above, is from the amazing Cracked Pot Kitchen in Frederick, Mi. It's a 'must stop' kinda place if you're hiking the Shore To Shore Trail or if you're just driving by! Great food and great people. Check 'em out.

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  7. Hey Bro...wonderful that you came across those good folks on the trail...we made it through the mountains in CO and UT yesterday, and are exploring in Vegas today...safe travels...love ya...J&P

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    1. You would have loved these folks. Good people. Enjoy your journey and let me know when you get to Cali. Love you both!

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  8. My parents and Uncle! I hope she makes another pie when I come home next!

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    1. Jerry and Kelly are your parents? Am I spelling their names correctly? They are good people!

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    2. Ahhh Matt! You got to claim them before I did! and yes Chris, that is how you spell their names :)

      btw, Uncle Bob is probably the coolest uncle in existence!

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    3. Mandy - You're related to Jerry, Kelly and Bob? They really exist? It wasn't just my imagination? Thank goodness. They are the coolest. They are kind to strangers for the sake of being kind. That is very rare these days. Please tell them I said "Thank you". Chris

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    4. My parents are pretty cool like that :) I'll tell them you said thanks :)

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  9. Chris,

    Of course we exist! I brew, therefore I am. At least, I think that makes sense. It took a little while for my little brain to remember to look at your site, but here I am. I’m glad that you enjoyed a few refreshments with us. I know full well what something like beer & pie can be on the trail. I have longed for such treats many times while hiking. Weight & pack size totally eliminates the possibility of these kinds of items, and there are few things that could be better on the trail.

    It was a pleasure to have you in camp. Talking to you aroused the greatest amount of nostalgia that I have felt in years for life on the trail. To be honest with you, beer brewing was the thing that filled the gap in my life after I was no longer able to hike. It has done so quite admirably, I must say, but I still miss the trail. Not that my jelly belly could possibly stand up to the rigors of it these days.

    Good luck on this journey, and may the spirit of the woods watch over you.

    Wishing you the best,

    Bob.

    By the way,

    If you should be in the Pigeon River Forrest again on Memorial Day, look for us in the same spot. Only once have we missed this date. A pint (or a few, await you). And Kelly’s magic pie seems to always follow us.

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    1. Hey Bob! So glad you found my blog. It's funny, you used to hike and now you brew. I used to brew and now I hike! I have very fond memories of my brothers and I standing around the carboy, watching the CO2 bubble off. I'm proud to say that I've tried many of Michigan's finest craft beers and the stuff you're brewing is right up there with them. Thank you for sharing it with me. Chris

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