Saturday, June 15, 2013

More From Lake Superior

The trail up here continues to astound me. I always thought Michigan was beautiful but I never felt like it had the natural scenery to match California's Sierra Nevada or New Hampshire's White Mountains. Pictured Rocks may rival those places for awe inspiring beauty. It helps that I've had great weather up here including a day of dark skies and high winds but no rain. The cold air was refreshing and the huge waves rolling in added to the drama as they crashed against the steep cliffs. 
Lighthouses still warn ships on the 'Graveyard Coast'

Alternating sugar sand beaches and rocky cliffs make for great hiking. 

Spray Falls pouring out of the forest. 
Chapel Rock. Possibly the most amazing natural formation I've ever seen. 
Tim and Ellen Hass manage the Superior Shoreline chapter of the North Country Trail. The were very gracious hosts and even took me out for all-you-can-eat whitefish. Right outta Lake Superior to my plate. I ate all the fish. The lake is now empty. 
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11 comments:

  1. MarthaJune 15, 2013 at 4:57 PM

    I hate how when you tell people you are from Michgan all they think of is Detroit. I've see Ludington, Manistee, Paw Paw, Sault St. Marie, Paradise to name a few. Michigan is full of beauty, awe and unbelievable sights.
    I'm so glad you are seeing all of these sights and sharing your thoughts.

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  2. AnonymousJune 15, 2013 at 6:11 PM

    LOL about the whitefish & Lake Superior, Chris. Love hearing your travel tales. :D Nan Frazier

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    1. Chris HillierJune 18, 2013 at 9:57 AM

      Hey Nancy! I made sure to clarify with the server at the restaurant "Is it all YOU can eat or all a THRU-HIKER can eat? Cause I can eat ALOT." Sorry if anyone else wanted some fish.

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  3. UnknownJune 15, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    Just got back from the UP....we were in the same spots this past week but must've missed you! It was a gorgeous week, especially at Au Sable Lighthouse. Had a nice lunch at the Lake Superior Brewing Company in Grand Marais...they have great burgers!

    Enjoy your hike! I did the entire Lakeshore last August and loved it all!

    Thanks for the posts, and enjoy God's country UP there Z-Man

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    1. Chris HillierJune 19, 2013 at 2:06 PM

      Lake Superior Brewing had some mighty fine craft beers on tap and the Lakeshore portion of the NCT was fantastic. Thanks for posting - do I know you?

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  4. UnknownJune 19, 2013 at 7:23 AM

    Hi Christopher - What a cool journey! I'm with Stormy Kromer and we're located in beautiful Ironwood, MI. We'd like to invite you to stop and see us when you arrive here - we think you deserve, at the least, a complimentary cap made right here in Michigan to celebrate your hike!
    All the best - Gina Thorsen

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    1. Chris HillierJune 19, 2013 at 12:56 PM

      Dear Gina - I LOVE Stormy Kromer caps! I had one years ago but I lost it on the Appalachian Trail. It was a gift from my brother and I was very upset that I lost it. I would LOVE to stop and see you guys. Thank you so much! Chris

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  5. AnonymousJuly 1, 2013 at 3:54 PM

    Mr. Hillier - you don't know me but I was an adult leader with the Boy Scout Troop (171 from Gobles MI) that was lunching at the Subway in Munising on Friday, June 14th, when I'm pretty sure we ran into you.

    I stumbled into your blog today when a co-worker with the City of Kalamazoo (I'm the CFO here) who follows your blog asked if we might have crossed paths with you.

    One of the other adult leaders at the Subway with us struck up a short conversation with you and told us all later that you were in the process of hiking from Detroit to Minnesota -- WOW! Good luck -- you are quite the trooper...we hiked just the Pictured Rocks that week and thought we were pretty tough... :>

    - Tom Skrobola, Kalamazoo MI

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    1. Chris HillierJuly 1, 2013 at 4:14 PM

      Dear Tom - I did, in fact, meet some scouts at the Subway in Munising. They were all very polite and seemed interested in my hike. I was a proud scout myself (Troop 110, Farmington Hills, MI) back in the day. And I know Gobles very well as the Kal-Haven is one of my very favorite hikes (sccroll back to a post from March called 'The Kal-haven Trail') in the whole state. Thank you for the kind words and for leaving a comment. Just a couple hundred more miles and I'll be finished. Chris

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  6. UnknownJuly 23, 2013 at 9:15 PM

    Hi Chris,

    I hiked from Campo to Reds Meadow this year. May have met some people who know you from Michigan that were also on the PCT. Anywho, I'm hiking from Petoskey to Marquette on the NCT with another dude I met on the PCT. Just wanted to say love your blog. If you have any resupply pointers, or general what have you, I would love to hear it.

    oldlemonparty@gmail.com

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  7. Chris HillierJuly 24, 2013 at 7:20 AM

    Hey Ron - I have lots of friends on the PCT this year. It's cool that you crossed paths with them. Campo to Reds Meadow is a huge chunk of the trail. Are you section hiking?

    Petoskey to Marquette would be a great hike. First, you should call or stop in the North Country Trail Association's HQ in Lowell, MI near Grand Rapids. They are super friendly and can help with maps, advice and contacts. I picked up resupply at Mackinaw City, Grand Marais and Marquette. I bought some stuff in Munising to keep me going. I also had some 'supplemental' meals along the way (like the brewpub at Taquamenon Falls). The stretch from Mackinaw to Grand Marais was tough. I arrived flat outta food and starving. What time of year are you gonna do this?

    Thanks for hittin the blog - Chris

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