tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19986472062740129402024-02-07T11:36:40.726-08:00Wolverine Hikes MichiganI may be from Detroit but my home is on the trail. My name is Chris Hillier but other hikers call me Wolverine.
Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-62383300976000253112014-03-18T09:21:00.000-07:002014-03-18T09:21:14.651-07:00Next Big HikeBig thanks to all of you who follow this blog. Please join me on my next and greatest adventure yet: an attempt to thru-hike the mighty <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Divide_Trail">Continental Divide Trail</a>. I'll be starting the trail on April 17th and blogging all about it at: <a href="http://wolverinecdt.blogspot.com/">WolverineCDT.blogspot.com</a><br />
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Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-52760204277826729862013-09-30T07:03:00.000-07:002013-09-30T07:20:28.198-07:00Gratitude<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Completed my 250 mile hike from South Haven to Port Huron. Took two full weeks.</td></tr>
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One of my favorite things about long distance hiking is that wave of gratitude that fills my soul when I complete a hike like this. I think about all the people that helped me along the way and I give thanks. I'll blog more about the hike later but for now, indulge me in a few shout-outs.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nancy Krupiarz giving a speech at a ribbon cutting in Pinckney.</td></tr>
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Nancy Krupiarz and everyone at the <a href="http://www.michigantrails.org/">Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance</a> made this whole thing happen. They were there, every step of the way, making sure we were okay and that we had what we needed. Good people who really care about the trails in our state.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at Arcadia in Battle Creek.</td></tr>
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Jim Coury and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CalhounCountyTrailwayAlliance">Calhoun County Trailway Alliance</a> helped me with the route, took me out to eat and helped me with newspaper interviews. Seems like everyone in Marshall, MI knows Jim and I'm proud to call him my friend.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was staying with Roger and Sue the night a storm took out this tree and picnic table.</td></tr>
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Roger and Sue Storm know more about the trails in Michigan than, perhaps, anyone else I've ever met. Roger has been identifying and bringing trails to fruition since the 1980's. In his work with the DNR, Roger designed the <a href="http://wolverinehikesmichigan.blogspot.com/2013/01/this-is-it.html">Ironwood Trail</a> that I hiked this past summer. It was my honor to hike with he and Sue from Stockbridge to Gregory.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marlyss Hollyer, me, Drew Chinarian and Susie Hollyer at the Uptown Grill</td></tr>
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Susie and Drew have been hiking with me and helping me since I first put boots on. On this hike, they hiked a good bit with me (after having run a 5K that morning!), treated me to delicious Michigan craft beer, resupplied me and let me stay at their beautiful home on Wolverine Lake. Susie's mom, Marlyss, has been working on a website for me: <a href="http://hillierhikes.com/">HillierHikes.com</a>. She's got mad web design skills.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie and her amazing folding/touring bike.</td></tr>
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Bonnie Campbell is glad to host touring cyclists for <a href="https://www.warmshowers.org/">Warmshowers.org</a>. She made an exception when she let me (a smelly hiker) stay with her for two nights. Not only did she provide a warm shower, but she fed me some great food and let me enjoy the company of her wonderful family. She is truly a Trail Angel.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't she cute in her Conductor uniform?</td></tr>
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Finally, I knew Stacey Jones worked for Amtrak but I was certainly surprised when I ran into her at the station in Battle Creek. She introduced me around and let me watch her in action. It was lots of fun and it made the miles fly by.<br />
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Of course, huge thanks to my housemates Martha Rogers and Sandy Lowe who help me with all these crazy hikes. My partner in crime, <a href="http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=13093&v=9">Chris Bowman</a>, inspired me and kept me on track all the way to Lake Huron. Bob Burr, the Mayor of South Haven, gave me a great send off. My dear friend Libby Shaw took the time to keep me company on the West Bloomfield Trail to Sylvan Lake. Jeff Kindy and the guys from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASightToRemember">A Sight To Remember</a> got me through the first few miles. As usual, my friends at <a href="http://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/shop/home____">Moosejaw</a> kept me well supplied and geared up. Thanks also, to my friends in the <a href="http://burningbootstrailclub.com/?doing_wp_cron=1380549304.2948830127716064453125">Burning Boots Trail Club</a> for their service to our country and to the <a href="http://www.dearborngsumc.org/">Good Shepherd United Methodist Church</a> for all their thoughts and prayers. See you guys next Sunday!<br />
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Without all this help and support, I'd still be standing in the waters of Lake Michigan, trying to make it across the state. This kind of thing just doesn't happen without good friends and family. Thanks, everyone!<br />
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<br />Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-14258412751021599212013-09-18T14:23:00.003-07:002013-09-18T14:23:53.305-07:00Pictures From the TrailMartha here:<br />
Chris has been in and out of data signals, so he asked me to post some pictures.<br />
He'll describe these images as soon as he can.<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-44984544224572492922013-09-13T08:26:00.000-07:002013-09-16T17:55:31.983-07:00Walkin' the walkI've been talkin' the talk for weeks. Now it's time to hit the trail and do what I do best. I'm going lighter than I've ever gone before because I've got so much support so close to me. If I wind up in a pinch, I've got a list of phone numbers I can call thanks to Nancy Krupiarz and the <a href="http://www.michigantrails.org/">Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance</a>. They have been so helpful in planning this hike. I would love for people to go to the <a href="http://www.michigantrails.org/">website</a> and leave a comment for them. Or me. Heck, just go to the website and check it out!<br />
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Not bringing as much food as normal. I'll have access to re-supply along the way plus I need to make miles so no need to overload the pack. This will get me through the first few days:<br />
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And, of course, custom spices to flavor this otherwise bland diet. My sister Carol makes these for me, special.<br />
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I'll be starting from South Haven in a couple of hours. I'm meeting with a reporter from the <a href="http://southhaventribune.net/">South Haven Tribune</a>, the Mayor of South Haven and Jeff Kindy and his gang from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASightToRemember">A Sight To Remember</a> on the beach of Lake Michigan to begin this hike. I'll also be attending the <a href="http://www.hamburg.mi.us/events/09212013-PARK%20IT%20ON%20LAKELANDS%20TRAIL/">ribbon cutting ceremony</a> in Putnam Township to help dedicate the Lakelands Trail. All of this is in celebration of <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10365_16839_62555---,00.html">Michigan Trails Week</a> which is from September 21st to September 28th. I will be celebrating, appropriately, by hiking.</div>
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I hope everyone will mark Saturday, September 28th on their calendars and consider coming out to Port Huron to welcome <a href="http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=13093&v=9">Chris Bowman</a> and I to town. Not exactly sure where we're gonna dip into Lake Huron to complete our adventure but, wherever it is, there will be story telling and beer flowing.</div>
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And I'm sure this goofy dog will be waiting just inside the door for me when I get back. She always is.</div>
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Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-1666060417992056072013-09-05T17:58:00.000-07:002013-09-06T08:13:52.699-07:00A NEW TRAIL!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to Nancy Krupiarz and the good folks at the <a href="http://www.michigantrails.org/">Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance</a>, I'm going to hike Route 1 of the <a href="http://www.hamburg.mi.us/lakelands_trail_state_park/Lake-to-Lake-Brochure.pdf">Great Lake to Lake Trail</a>. I'll be leaving from South Haven with the guys from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASightToRemember">A Sight to Remember</a> on September 13th. We're going to hike a few miles of the <a href="http://wolverinehikesmichigan.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-kal-haven-trail.html">Kal-Haven Trail</a> and camp on the Black River. I'll hike out Saturday morning and try to cover more than 20 miles per day through Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Jackson, Pinckney, Pontiac and, finally, Port Huron. To highlight the multi-use aspect of this trail, my buddy <a href="http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=13093&v=9">Chris Bowman</a> is going to ride all 250 miles on his bike. We're going to arrive in Port Huron together on Saturday, September 28th. I hope that everyone who can, will come out and join me for a minute, a mile or a whole day on the trail:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I will be very proud to hike this trail on behalf of the <a href="http://burningbootstrailclub.com/?doing_wp_cron=1378427976.0137679576873779296875">Burning Boots Trail Club</a> and <a href="http://www.michigan.org/">Pure Michigan</a> and I'll be thrilled to finish this hike at the Wolverine Market in Port Huron to help them celebrate their Oktoberfest. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think about this hike and this trail. I'll respond to every one.</span></div>
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Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-42827666725910591932013-08-16T07:55:00.001-07:002013-08-16T09:22:57.481-07:00The Next Big Hike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My return trip to Ironwood, MI was amazing. I have developed a sincere fondness for this city and I was excited to be invited back for the <a href="http://www.yourdailyglobe.com/story/2013/08/13/news/trail-authority/1119.html">Governor of Michigan</a> to dedicate the trailhead of what I refer to as <a href="http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2013/08/06/news/doc520189d832b91262612376.txt">The Ironwood Trail</a>; he called it the <a href="http://www.michigan.org/blog/outdoors/hiking-924-miles-of-michigan">Pure Michigan Trail</a>. There were marching bands and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1l2c9pgcQM">TV interviews</a> and good vibes all around. Some of the crowd had specific messages they were trying to convey to our leadership:<br />
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Even the drive up to Ironwood was great. Ten hours with Roger and Sue Storm went by like ten minutes. These two are a wealth of information about hiking in Michigan and Roger did, after all, design the trail that I just hiked.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSAXG7TkIUzu39NJ41yl_SjQsyGqh0hQyG1h1bEFDbX3psq9N4pmIPHt47ev9iG_7LJq6WCJt5Yysoin45o81kT-k81al4V8fBLoO9I70IYU9T3OlpZ1u_-LMdFwN5mdcmGjNuyTrBLs/s1600/photo+2-18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSAXG7TkIUzu39NJ41yl_SjQsyGqh0hQyG1h1bEFDbX3psq9N4pmIPHt47ev9iG_7LJq6WCJt5Yysoin45o81kT-k81al4V8fBLoO9I70IYU9T3OlpZ1u_-LMdFwN5mdcmGjNuyTrBLs/s320/photo+2-18.JPG" width="231" /></a></div>
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During my visit, I gave a presentation about my hike at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maplewood-Steakhouse/252763327318">Maplewood Steakhouse</a>. It was nice to talk trail with an enthusiastic audience and enjoy some Michigan craft beer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51pmKnJeg0Yp6T9G8ktsJMkZ00u2ZNrdPSF0S9uE9FvyhhKQz5Hu0U2-qaJ8W4l4ZwdOJY3kJWtkIQdVrlpnIrCa2xeHvqmlUD8zl8MEuevpEMprUnohQ9nAJiwKwxgxvWveDRZFPax8/s1600/photo+3-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj51pmKnJeg0Yp6T9G8ktsJMkZ00u2ZNrdPSF0S9uE9FvyhhKQz5Hu0U2-qaJ8W4l4ZwdOJY3kJWtkIQdVrlpnIrCa2xeHvqmlUD8zl8MEuevpEMprUnohQ9nAJiwKwxgxvWveDRZFPax8/s320/photo+3-17.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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My hosts for this incredible trip were Bob and Annette Burchell at the <a href="http://www.westernup.com/classicmotorinn/">Classic Motor Inn</a> and my dear friend Lee-Ann Garske from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Downtown-Ironwood-Development-Authority-DIDA/348046898569174">Downtown Ironwood Development Authority</a>. She made this entire trip possible, including a ride from Ironwood to Traverse City with my new best friends Denise and Rachel Stephens.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1xbNUa95zAbJzedb1s_pbbHQ6EBi3wJ-XXdLLleH9F8xudqbhW0ov98DShTyvWbDbtA8Y7YtGyKDK0xDoLbqYcwYv-DCh4PNrDS_77-uRn_foTMSDycwyx2iVKffjngQPr6ADZri69Y/s1600/photo-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO1xbNUa95zAbJzedb1s_pbbHQ6EBi3wJ-XXdLLleH9F8xudqbhW0ov98DShTyvWbDbtA8Y7YtGyKDK0xDoLbqYcwYv-DCh4PNrDS_77-uRn_foTMSDycwyx2iVKffjngQPr6ADZri69Y/s320/photo-17.JPG" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Burchell, Me, Annette Burchell, Lee-Ann Garske<br />
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Not only did they get me back downstate, they let me stay at their BEAUTIFUL home right on Long Lake in Traverse City. This was the view out of my window when I woke up in the morning:<br />
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I really hope to make it back to Ironwood this winter for the <a href="http://www.sisuskifest.com/">SISU Ski Fest</a>. This part of the state really has a grip on me. Find out why <a href="http://www.felivelife.com/">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDiQXTdQve03h9L6YvBmF__Fn_wjH5_6EX9qCZh54lUjFRN8uZB_yzz4hXyYsV792dEu3y4D3JF4Dqlc9BAEitxHlvMKBHXdyFfegZZO3qmQR-n8I1S9XbOI4keaN9Aw-j1C-K_wXIBc/s1600/photo+4-18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDiQXTdQve03h9L6YvBmF__Fn_wjH5_6EX9qCZh54lUjFRN8uZB_yzz4hXyYsV792dEu3y4D3JF4Dqlc9BAEitxHlvMKBHXdyFfegZZO3qmQR-n8I1S9XbOI4keaN9Aw-j1C-K_wXIBc/s320/photo+4-18.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why? Because up here, even the statues wear a Kromer</td></tr>
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Okay, let's get to the reason you clicked on this stupid blog: To see what's next. One project I'm really excited about is called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ASightToRemember">A Sight To Remember</a>. These are visually impaired folks who want to taste the sweet life of the long distance hiker and I want to help them. I'm also working with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/michigantrails">MTGA</a> planning a hike of the Great Lake to Lake Trail but my main focus, the thing that leaves me tossing and turning at night, is the mighty <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Divide_Trail">Continental Divide Trail</a>. The King of the Trails. Three thousand miles of no-joke hiking. I'll confess right now - I'm intimidated as hell. Better hikers than I have attempted this trail and been turned away. Come next April, I'd like to give it a shot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcLe4IR2pkjjjlWHLzsgkKW1mY5h6hkucGeAbtMI55Z2UZfvXSrDP1vJPnfmBXZHdXd4XI6W-KtnEseFvO75gAQoaPBjilBmAgVi2SRYkPPAWEXF4DO6msp1WyC-EiXy6XUAnsAMQXEk/s1600/photo+1+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMcLe4IR2pkjjjlWHLzsgkKW1mY5h6hkucGeAbtMI55Z2UZfvXSrDP1vJPnfmBXZHdXd4XI6W-KtnEseFvO75gAQoaPBjilBmAgVi2SRYkPPAWEXF4DO6msp1WyC-EiXy6XUAnsAMQXEk/s320/photo+1+copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If I made it, I'd forever be known as a 'Triple Crowner'</td></tr>
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Think I can do it? Leave me a comment!Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-72597128361952225512013-08-09T07:52:00.000-07:002013-08-09T07:55:57.604-07:00The Return To Ironwood!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On April 25th of this year, I had the chance to meet Governor Rick Snyder at the capitol in Lansing as part of being nominated for a Governor's Fitness Award. I only had a brief second to shake his hand and say something so I thanked him for proposing the trail from Detroit to Ironwood and said that I intended to be the first one to thru-hike it. He responded politely but probably had more important things on his mind. He'd better! He is, after all, the Governor.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwpmOkmxryQ9Cb2sO0McJd8iEUEKI_kyZ0JrYcnz4idJ2vORFKuwJMAs76E6Iq0htryKbmY06CEHPXcIsZ3OajUqh80IwxyqN-Fmf4xeWSY_JaCVLmI6edznNlD2piFiW9fSl1hZNmbo/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiwpmOkmxryQ9Cb2sO0McJd8iEUEKI_kyZ0JrYcnz4idJ2vORFKuwJMAs76E6Iq0htryKbmY06CEHPXcIsZ3OajUqh80IwxyqN-Fmf4xeWSY_JaCVLmI6edznNlD2piFiW9fSl1hZNmbo/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks, Dude!</td></tr>
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Now, it looks like I might get the chance to shake his hand again and tell him that I was, indeed, the first person to thru-hike his trail. The good people of Ironwood have worked very hard on a beautiful park and trailhead and Governor Snyder is going to be there on Monday, August 12th to dedicate it. I'm honored to have been invited to return to Ironwood to participate in this event. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CvBbP_h2yxIl5cHNIitNqwS5WzxOAh54k2KQuqT10MLhQoM3gHvCuDZEPDO1yPD_rpiJk7zuAvImJTcps4jIxICMTbjbIfJgyUvOVU6eAp9tQatjdewtc8bq56qwX7F6xW053AiAQHM/s1600/photo-14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CvBbP_h2yxIl5cHNIitNqwS5WzxOAh54k2KQuqT10MLhQoM3gHvCuDZEPDO1yPD_rpiJk7zuAvImJTcps4jIxICMTbjbIfJgyUvOVU6eAp9tQatjdewtc8bq56qwX7F6xW053AiAQHM/s320/photo-14.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Ironwood!</td></tr>
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Better still, I was offered a ride up there by Roger Storm. Roger is a Trailway Acquisition Specialist for the DNR and he is actually the man who came up with a rough outline of the trail the Governor proposed. That outline became the graphic that the Free Press printed as the 'proposed trail' and that's the trail that I stuck to. We have many questions for each other so I'm really looking forward to the ride up there.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0F5m0y1Z4F-WAzAzJVK7zLq6EDF35e9jBCAPGLd4Ja5Aox2r4JehbqGJIpo9wNjaC53wlooced_2VkAuVu2pfW66rfvXWjb-yeQMzx-OUTt4EyyR4lm4Djmv90SnOwaL12FYskFuBEk/s1600/MI_Trail_Snyder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ0F5m0y1Z4F-WAzAzJVK7zLq6EDF35e9jBCAPGLd4Ja5Aox2r4JehbqGJIpo9wNjaC53wlooced_2VkAuVu2pfW66rfvXWjb-yeQMzx-OUTt4EyyR4lm4Djmv90SnOwaL12FYskFuBEk/s1600/MI_Trail_Snyder.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the trail that Roger came up with...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9dmp-ZwL5FHnFo3tCMcIQrAtN3e0Ahxln0YV2fWtd5LHan0plVGqxaQqBtX4dlyfsZAyvlO8bKcl3Mc9D6HXVSS0HfbHXFitTWXIz6Vx_JSHfB42MvK_kVC8L2nWQcrVLQAKb1RvHP0/s1600/mail.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9dmp-ZwL5FHnFo3tCMcIQrAtN3e0Ahxln0YV2fWtd5LHan0plVGqxaQqBtX4dlyfsZAyvlO8bKcl3Mc9D6HXVSS0HfbHXFitTWXIz6Vx_JSHfB42MvK_kVC8L2nWQcrVLQAKb1RvHP0/s320/mail.jpeg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...that became this graphic printed in the Free Press.</td></tr>
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Not sure where I'm going to stay up there or how I'm going to get home. I'll figure that out later. In the meantime, I'm really excited to be returning to Ironwood and seeing the good friends I've made up there. Special thanks to Lee-Ann Garske for making all this happen.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikONIr2Y8KzTb5MEEFLGrZD50gXqZJlAXJ382Mc6LeAw_SY9ICE4rtLgbcrlH0cwrh6sCBKGPkVydyE8B1VzJ6R4T9A-pQR7TLFnnTNYmHFfOxQFWP4m1FbEzoUE2daZGvONYUdlHZe3k/s1600/photo+4-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikONIr2Y8KzTb5MEEFLGrZD50gXqZJlAXJ382Mc6LeAw_SY9ICE4rtLgbcrlH0cwrh6sCBKGPkVydyE8B1VzJ6R4T9A-pQR7TLFnnTNYmHFfOxQFWP4m1FbEzoUE2daZGvONYUdlHZe3k/s1600/photo+4-5.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Lee-Ann at the trailhead the Governor is going to dedicate.</td></tr>
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I posed this question before and I received some really interesting answers: If I get to see the Governor again, if only for a second, what should I say to him? Leave me a comment!<br />
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<br />Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-47416465597329917932013-07-30T13:11:00.000-07:002013-07-30T15:57:27.113-07:00IronwoodIt's taken me way too long to get back to this blog but I've only been home for a week and it's been filled with friends and family, meals and reunions, pictures and stories.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgAgUR6B-NIjbyNU7WhxJX_nDYRexXHDMGmLt7LQWhPtaTetThIXhcTdvM_jD830bjkYVArD2pi6iAO7llXedWyrw4o9yO4xxDfupbDY5JtecBDmE_HnIqspWjaK06pi2deTb1Ud3jf8/s1600/photo+5-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgAgUR6B-NIjbyNU7WhxJX_nDYRexXHDMGmLt7LQWhPtaTetThIXhcTdvM_jD830bjkYVArD2pi6iAO7llXedWyrw4o9yO4xxDfupbDY5JtecBDmE_HnIqspWjaK06pi2deTb1Ud3jf8/s320/photo+5-2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's me with maximum beard and long hair. I couldn't wait to shave this crap off.</td></tr>
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Finishing this hike in Ironwood on July 18th was something I will never forget. The welcome I received was just amazing. The main thing I remember about it was this overwhelming feeling of gratitude. All the people that helped me, all the support, the kindness... It washed over me in a giant wave that lasted for two whole days. I'll make another blog entry thanking people specifically but, for now, let me just describe to you the last couple of days.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFIb0NkKEavbzDQzMSkYS3Q1GWopNRIpiwy5593q53sRnfPlmvct4F1MGyMQGgqgoy2CFUCqTtUrN85n-pfNBHV50jTY01yCc3cwazwWso0NqqWrRnaPqaY-OolSwYqZKRmHxZIrCTYc/s1600/photo+1-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFIb0NkKEavbzDQzMSkYS3Q1GWopNRIpiwy5593q53sRnfPlmvct4F1MGyMQGgqgoy2CFUCqTtUrN85n-pfNBHV50jTY01yCc3cwazwWso0NqqWrRnaPqaY-OolSwYqZKRmHxZIrCTYc/s320/photo+1-4.JPG" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made it!</td></tr>
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The main person who made my Ironwood experience so positive is Lee-Ann Garske. She's a member of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Downtown-Ironwood-Development-Authority-DIDA/348046898569174">Downtown Ironwood Development Authority</a>. She's worked very hard on a beautiful park and a multi-use trailhead right in the middle of town. She contacted me and asked if I could time my hike to arrive on the first day of Festival Ironwood which worked out perfectly for me. She said Ironwood wanted to 'welcome me'. I had no idea what I was in for...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinet0g5QADT5tcLuFMg71A-G_xG_Z2K0evGiLgAIXvvNJmDdaX-wUPhCQOPAJVtSn8fLxdWn3xR2dqJPsqVOhx7NhKXIKsYgnnFaCei445QXFv6swV-aMl6TnCLhNkFr39MFS9zx6O06k/s1600/photo+4-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinet0g5QADT5tcLuFMg71A-G_xG_Z2K0evGiLgAIXvvNJmDdaX-wUPhCQOPAJVtSn8fLxdWn3xR2dqJPsqVOhx7NhKXIKsYgnnFaCei445QXFv6swV-aMl6TnCLhNkFr39MFS9zx6O06k/s1600/photo+4-5.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lee-Ann Garske and me.</td></tr>
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I met Lee-Ann and her husband John as well as the Mayor of Ironwood and members of the community a few blocks away from the park. After greetings and handshakes all around, we hiked into town together WITH A POLICE ESCORT! That's right, sirens and waving to people... Drivers pulling over to yell "Are you the guy who hiked here from Detroit? That's awesome!" It was surreal. Most hikes end with a shrug of the shoulders and a murmur of "Glad that's over." Maybe you high-five the guy next to you if you're with someone. When I finished the Appalachian Trail, I was lucky enough to have my faithful Resupply Coordinator, Martha, there and a glass of sparkling grape juice from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for a toast. This, by comparison, was WAY over the top. There were hotel marquis and banners with my name on them. There were hundreds of people at this festival and they all seemed to want to meet me and welcome me to Ironwood. It was overwhelming. Before I knew it, there was a plate of delicious food in front of me and a cold beer in my hand. Seems like the whole town came out for this festival and I felt like the guest of honor. At one point, I was being interviewed by a woman from the local paper when Lee-Ann interrupted "We're going to have to cut this interview short, the mayor is about to introduce him on stage." Who? Me? I don't think I'll ever hear those words again: We're going to have to interrupt the newspaper interview because the mayor is about to introduce him on stage. Amazing.<br />
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So I made a short speech and accepted a round of applause and went back to eating and drinking and meeting cool people and answering questions about my hike. Has any other hiker in the world ever had this kind of experience at the end of their hike? I can't imagine so. The only downside was that I was still covered in a thick coating of trail funk. I hadn't showered in weeks. During this hike, I couldn't even soak in a swimming hole or take a hippie shower in the rain because if I exposed my skin for one second, the black flies would tear me to pieces. Thus, I stunk.<br />
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After a wonderful evening, I was invited to stay at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Classic-Motor-Inn/122104167799923">Classic Motor Inn</a> owned by Bob and Annette Burchell. It was so nice to take a nice hot shower with real soap and clean towels, to sleep in a nice soft bed and to make use of a fancy flushing toilet. I didn't even have to tie my food in a tree! I wasn't bitten by bugs all night long. I didn't get rained on. I didn't spend 20 minutes in the morning pulling off all the ticks that latched onto me during the night. It was, in a word, comfortable.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19pzMlVSHEZZ6LzuoBH_TeAa2BdGv3tL_bHn3egwjM5sRgZ1aEg7mmSdUiqA2bSPVDtPHIGBVY-yYUGfoUoWq4nDOyosdSeK4uFvAxGaszZnkldE2ke2-4uuDeLOng2YPmzhzeEMvLyg/s1600/photo+3-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19pzMlVSHEZZ6LzuoBH_TeAa2BdGv3tL_bHn3egwjM5sRgZ1aEg7mmSdUiqA2bSPVDtPHIGBVY-yYUGfoUoWq4nDOyosdSeK4uFvAxGaszZnkldE2ke2-4uuDeLOng2YPmzhzeEMvLyg/s320/photo+3-3.JPG" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob Burchell, Me, Annette Burchell and Lee-Ann. This place is awesome and it's right on US2 if you're passing through Ironwood.</td></tr>
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I spent the next day checking out Ironwood. What a cool town. The whole <a href="http://felivelife.com/">Gogebic Range</a> area of Ironwood, Bessemer and Wakefield in Michigan and Hurley in Wisconsin seems like it's growing. It once had a huge population and mining community but that kinda fell off over the years. Now, families looking for an 'outdoorsy' lifestyle are moving back to the area and tourism is booming.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57Ct-KjY-9IezvYCKawKtrgH0cPcOwpN8scSkQ5tKFshU_Opo66UeuB37k62bG68YUQjAz0-dzL-_Dk1abogaJve7BYqIlYAB3EiQ-bbyKuLnnx7OyMdl6RXks9F-EPtc1P6opCXs00E/s1600/photo+4-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57Ct-KjY-9IezvYCKawKtrgH0cPcOwpN8scSkQ5tKFshU_Opo66UeuB37k62bG68YUQjAz0-dzL-_Dk1abogaJve7BYqIlYAB3EiQ-bbyKuLnnx7OyMdl6RXks9F-EPtc1P6opCXs00E/s320/photo+4-2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When they asked me to be a driver for the Soapbox Derby, how could I say "No"?</td></tr>
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I spent Saturday evening at Festival Ironwood which had some great live music and more people than ever. I had a bus ride home leaving at 11pm so I tore myself away and headed over to the bus station. The ride home was tough. It's hard to go from the freedom of life on the trail to being cooped up in a giant metal tube but mostly, I was just glad for a way to get home (thanks Sandy Lowe!). I didn't get to Lansing until late Sunday afternoon and, by then, I was ready to be home. Ready to see my family and friends again. Ready to sleep in my own bed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1ngx-2Y8Ou2ox3e9jSCS0vLvk7G4Z3HxGNmdQpVLLBpIxxNSb1C0bhFH3fR3oouEllR1Ys-eV0pxXHWfzRVAvFyibxzTWCWHdGQRYQR9prvhvlYrmEm4wgVk9tuTHVoL0gYWc5DZMS4/s1600/photo-9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw1ngx-2Y8Ou2ox3e9jSCS0vLvk7G4Z3HxGNmdQpVLLBpIxxNSb1C0bhFH3fR3oouEllR1Ys-eV0pxXHWfzRVAvFyibxzTWCWHdGQRYQR9prvhvlYrmEm4wgVk9tuTHVoL0gYWc5DZMS4/s320/photo-9.JPG" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thinking back to when I started from Belle Isle on April 26th.</td></tr>
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I've got more pictures and stories to tell. I'll post every couple of days until I run out so stayed tuned and please, leave me a comment!<br />
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<br />Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-77904681821299695882013-07-23T16:05:00.000-07:002013-07-23T16:06:55.896-07:00Stormy Kromer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I saw a comment on my blog from Gina Thorsen, daughter of the owner of <a href="http://www.stormykromer.com/">Stormy Kromer</a>, I was elated. The iconic <a href="http://www.stormykromer.com/mens/caps/original-stormy-kromer-cap">Stormy Kromer cap</a> was one of my most prized possessions. A gift from my brother Rob. My 'go-to' cap. A symbol of all things Michigan and outdoorsy and tough. You can imagine my heart break when I lost it while hiking the Appalachian Trail. Touring the factory where they makes these caps and getting a replacement one - in the same dark green color - made it all better.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPGdibCFuN7nAWHv6vfShmveZer2K9giJgMhwH3UNHPzH8548BQelvLrmB93A4kHX9Kzv4eL5I1ux7qc2p2i-sSgE0Zy7JpAvcBkTeWeuvYrpIVQLtbYxXdiKUTMmewShf7ilFdr01CA/s1600/photo+2-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPGdibCFuN7nAWHv6vfShmveZer2K9giJgMhwH3UNHPzH8548BQelvLrmB93A4kHX9Kzv4eL5I1ux7qc2p2i-sSgE0Zy7JpAvcBkTeWeuvYrpIVQLtbYxXdiKUTMmewShf7ilFdr01CA/s320/photo+2-2.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This wall is at the entrance to the factory</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxfmVxuWc4h6ousN9QczBphRcKEVMs_-5ck7rRb4cY51xrTaJ32uormNaYs4QiVv2DUkl5WsI-o2baR9cYTxo0WcCc-KNI0joehg75hEzFBcog8Pagnwz_-92Rr6o2tM0sJlwwfoKCg4/s1600/photo+1-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxfmVxuWc4h6ousN9QczBphRcKEVMs_-5ck7rRb4cY51xrTaJ32uormNaYs4QiVv2DUkl5WsI-o2baR9cYTxo0WcCc-KNI0joehg75hEzFBcog8Pagnwz_-92Rr6o2tM0sJlwwfoKCg4/s320/photo+1-3.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They let me sign the wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOan5UiI4oSzBH1LLntingDnlXBW16zrtlo7_DI44tgTyxBxCkcptP1qtynrIPdCv2eUzkd2M8MEvPWFf1eUei8s1iXuPtHgRReP0-pvfrrI8LVzDayHmoALxS7IMuFbJSndJGSyL3AA/s1600/photo+3-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzOan5UiI4oSzBH1LLntingDnlXBW16zrtlo7_DI44tgTyxBxCkcptP1qtynrIPdCv2eUzkd2M8MEvPWFf1eUei8s1iXuPtHgRReP0-pvfrrI8LVzDayHmoALxS7IMuFbJSndJGSyL3AA/s320/photo+3-2.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Know who else gets to sign the wall? Governors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTawg67ZCvrgKiJPr_IliQ7gk5cs0uuA0POcl32gnof6vvc3qpCAD37z1xnu-UVpR23cNlu5FUFkDE58W7TKX1-PPbY4Rf-ta8RL6g9N1Z_SX1y5-W2ioZl1lb6ChNbHAZWriLxLTLdVQ/s1600/photo+5-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTawg67ZCvrgKiJPr_IliQ7gk5cs0uuA0POcl32gnof6vvc3qpCAD37z1xnu-UVpR23cNlu5FUFkDE58W7TKX1-PPbY4Rf-ta8RL6g9N1Z_SX1y5-W2ioZl1lb6ChNbHAZWriLxLTLdVQ/s320/photo+5-1.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Gina and I after she kindly replaced the hat I had lost long ago</td></tr>
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I'll post more stories about the hike and arriving in Ironwood soon but I was just so thrilled to visit Stormy Kromer that I had to post this. Feel free to leave a comment here or on <a href="http://www.stormykromer.com/blog/">the blog</a> on the Stormy Kromer website.Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-51500484708672742442013-07-22T12:17:00.001-07:002013-07-22T12:17:23.528-07:00Done and done!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ-igLmxXzio3ViIw4rnqB9baoFKElavcMd6_JfwmoOoNYVbjego5t30MyMjsRocvM9y0kPTkNeeN4YgLefwEgYvR9sMgB0lk8qHqp3l9-pRTJ0CjlSWPdKiOfEunu0ACldnSksuqxZU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ-igLmxXzio3ViIw4rnqB9baoFKElavcMd6_JfwmoOoNYVbjego5t30MyMjsRocvM9y0kPTkNeeN4YgLefwEgYvR9sMgB0lk8qHqp3l9-pRTJ0CjlSWPdKiOfEunu0ACldnSksuqxZU/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made it! I arrived in Ironwood on Thursday, July 18th to a wonderful reception. The good people of Ironwood really welcomed me to town. I have so much to blog about but I just got home (to Taylor). I'll tell the whole story and post pics soon. I'm happy to be home and filled with gratitude to all the people who made this hike possible. Thank you! More coming soon!Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-5264767347284362022013-07-02T09:31:00.000-07:002013-07-02T13:46:55.574-07:00L'Anse<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">Seems like it took me forever to get to here from Marquette. Some of that was weather related, some of it was me getting 'temporarily displaced' (we hikers don't call it 'lost') and some of it was tough trail (see the entry on bushwhacking). When I finally emerged from the woods and started walking the roads into town, I met Bill and Shari Kayramo. Really cool people. A few miles later I wound up at their home, meeting their wonderful family, eating sub sandwiches and drinking cold beer. They were kind to a complete stranger for no other reason than just to be kind. Their son runs a great printing business so, if you need promotional products, silkscreen, embroidery, vinyl graphics... anything, call this guy:</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;"> Joe Kayramo</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;"> Homestead Graphics and Design</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;"> 906-353-6741</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;">I spent the night on the edge of town and got an early start so I could visit the Hilltop Bakery before getting my resupply from the post office. They sell a sweet roll that's as big as my head! I ate it in about two bites and licked the plate clean.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;">At the post office, I picked up a perfectly packed resupply box (Quarterback Martha hands off to running back Wolverine for the touchdown!) and a box from my friends at Moosejaw: a new backpack and trekking poles to get me through to the end of this hike! Thanks so very much to Tom Miedema and Perry Keydel. They are hikers who help hikers and it is much appreciated.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 15px;">Things kept getting better: Bob Dudo and his family at Java By The Bay literally called me in off the street to enjoy a fantastic sandwich and some really fine coffee. They were so kind and generous. They let me hang out, let a local reporter do an interview for the newspaper and, perhaps kindest of all, let me stay in their pop-up camper that looks out over the beautiful </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Keweenaw </span><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">Bay. What a great day.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">Tomorrow, I can't wait to get back to the trail. I heard that sweet trail and waterfalls await me as I hike on toward Rockland. It's gonna be awesome!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span>Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-70015459390464072762013-07-01T07:07:00.000-07:002013-07-01T07:07:08.310-07:00 Bushwhacking<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">Bushwhacking is a term that hikers use to mean crossing rough terrain where there is no trail. Sometimes we do it because we lose the trail and sometimes we do it to get from one trail or trail segment to another. I've had to do a fair share of it on this hike and I've learned from it. That's a good thing because bushwhacking is a skill that I'll need if I hope to complete the mighty Continental Divide Trail next year. Here's what I've learned about bushwhacking:</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">1) Avoid it if you can. Bushwhacking is hard on your body and on your gear. You'll cover less ground and use more of your resources (food, fuel and water). I also believe you run a higher risk of injury. If you can road walk or take a different trail around an area where there is no defined trail - even if it's WAY around, it's probably worth it.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">2) Keep your cool. After eight hours of pushing through thick Michigan woods, I was so tired that I was shaking. I was ready to be done but there was nowhere to sit down, let alone set up a tent. Unfortunately, you can't just stop when you want to and that can create a sense of panic. You can ease this feeling by making sure you have the basics covered: stay hydrated, check your map and compass often so you can (if possible) know where you are and where you want to be. Try to keep your situation in context: if you hike enough miles, eventually you'll wind up bushwhacking. It's a part of long distance hiking. Relax, do your best to get through it and try to learn from the experience.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">3) Pick a compass heading and stick to it. If you can, head for a body of water. Both for a source of hydration and as a topographical landmark. When something unexpected gets in your way (like a swamp or bush that's literally too thick to push through), you'll have to adjust and go around but try to stick to the original plan. Resist to the temptation to repeatedly change your direction simply out of frustration.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">Even when I knew I had to bushwhack a section to get to the next part of my trail, I still found it incredibly difficult. I sprained my wrist, broke a trekking pole and wore myself out mentally and physically. But I'm proud of myself for making it through and for learning from it. I'm blown away when I read about guys like Andrew Skurka hiking hundreds of miles in places where there is no clearly defined trail. I now look at it as a skill that I continually need to sharpen. Perhaps best of all, when you finally do get back to regular, blazed trail, you'll feel like you're flying!</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">Got a good bushwhacking story? Leave me a comment!</span></span>Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-62228410866759690312013-07-01T07:03:00.002-07:002013-07-01T07:03:35.066-07:00THANK YOU!Martha Here:<br />
I want to thank all the kind and generous people who donated food and/or money to Chris's hike:<br />
Dustin Newman<br />
Jason Phelps--Hee Haw<br />
Susie Hollyer<br />
Lee-Ann Garske<br />
Jeff Kindy<br />
Scott Williams<br />
Lorana Jinkerson<br />
Carol Machak<br />
Tim and Ellen Hass<br />
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<br />Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-64179904795535528692013-06-21T09:27:00.001-07:002013-06-24T08:06:32.426-07:00Marquette<br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What an amazing time. I called Trail Angel and Hikers Chapter President Lorana Jinkerson when I was still about 10 miles outside of town. I was thrilled to hear that fellow hiker Strider was at her home. I had been looking forward to meeting this guy for weeks. He's only 23 and he was taking on the entire 4,600 mile North Country Trail as his first big thru-hike. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">From the moment I arrived, there were TV and newspaper interviews to do
and everyone wanted to take us out to eat! I couldn't believe it.
Usually, if you're lucky enough for a Trail Angel to put you up for the
night, you might get a cot, a meal and maybe a shower. Here, we were
being treated like stars. We were being interviewed and meeting people
from the North Country Trail Association and going to all these nice
restaurants... It was fantastic. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This is Strider in front of Lorana's incredible 'earth home'. Follow Strider's adventure's at Stridernct.com</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: small;">Out for (another!) delicious meal with folks from the North Country Trail Association at the Vierling Brewpub in Marquette. Great company, great food, great beer...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This is Jennifer Perez from Channel 6 filming me.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Everyone was so kind to us and it was a pleasure for us to be able to thank the people, in person, who work really hard to maintain the trail, for all their hard work. Plus, I got to ask Strider about the trail immediately ahead of me. He had lots of good advice. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIj6ZPVPWnvm3SO8F9cK1ip1Ca6HkMr169xiF1Vk2dDvjVSt7Dbr8yZi47_WUExVt2onTCMEmx3QBExkBQGnxB0gTI9E9v-QYerIsrLgr61nfCA_miXCYLIDcLDBPRCtnIDz72PKrVd0/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIj6ZPVPWnvm3SO8F9cK1ip1Ca6HkMr169xiF1Vk2dDvjVSt7Dbr8yZi47_WUExVt2onTCMEmx3QBExkBQGnxB0gTI9E9v-QYerIsrLgr61nfCA_miXCYLIDcLDBPRCtnIDz72PKrVd0/s400/photo+3.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This is the official paint that trail crews everywhere use to paint blazes on trees. I can think of many times when I was really glad to see a blaze and know that I was on the right path. Of corse Lorana has gallons of it in her garage. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Trail Angel, PHD, Author, Chapter President, Dear Friend: Lorana Jinkerson. She is the bomb. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So now I have my resupply (thanks Martha!). I had two good nights of rest on a real bed. I have a belly full of good food. I have all these new friends rooting for me. I have plenty of time and beautiful trail ahead of me. I can't wait to get back to doing what I do best. <br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" /><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" />Anyone out there ever been hiking in the Porcupine Mountains? That's where I'm headed. Leave me a comment!</span></div>
Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-55532660206618734442013-06-21T09:18:00.001-07:002013-06-21T09:18:24.833-07:00Video Interview From Marquettehttp://abc10up.com/mi-man-hiking-from-detroit-to-ironwood/Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-83735494101287573942013-06-16T07:11:00.000-07:002013-06-16T07:11:53.737-07:00SOME VIDEOS FROM WOLVERINE/CHRIS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy7abv5PCeNQ0RX-OxZ0QBPUGwZYKsqXJHWFo8u3kYo0dzXQovwkB2KIgsPetFMYWgbiC2POrKHOmEYq6ptTg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxqtSk00Qc0dn7877HP3BiCcuqFy-Ehd2z0kE3VkKDbQsvSAVq5Qdf_oDsnQyLhs1EjjU9VkDO-8Cl5UZocZA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyAwHEDwekVZp4FLO8jHgMvs6QvugJF0aCbrJ40NZYVp7y4sMMCaWZzwPC9J6AW6nMSQ9qTKkodiBUmZmedRg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-77751658593787890722013-06-15T12:58:00.000-07:002013-06-15T12:58:00.162-07:00More From Lake Superior<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">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.</span><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Lighthouses still warn ships on the 'Graveyard Coast'</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Alternating sugar sand beaches and rocky cliffs make for great hiking. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Chapel Rock. Possibly the most amazing natural formation I've ever seen. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHHc_-tjkEvAU6Ee5C4uqP9sxG_zvymiir6uCP2hyXMJmNj5ZU18rGpdYDwEVS2Ez3qprYIpoHizDzVHqk2VUWkRTs6q2oprA8alWPq17AcbLETdsxmsHC0qkb57FKCqp7M0MbiRdv4U/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHHc_-tjkEvAU6Ee5C4uqP9sxG_zvymiir6uCP2hyXMJmNj5ZU18rGpdYDwEVS2Ez3qprYIpoHizDzVHqk2VUWkRTs6q2oprA8alWPq17AcbLETdsxmsHC0qkb57FKCqp7M0MbiRdv4U/s400/photo+5.JPG" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">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.</span><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span>Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-15633077666823291192013-06-14T07:51:00.000-07:002013-06-14T07:51:39.638-07:00The Best So Far<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">The trail between St. Ignace and the coast of Lake Superior is solid woods. And solid bugs. Taquamenon Falls offered a short break because they had a restaurant so I could go inside and the falls themselves were beautiful but still, solid woods and solid bugs. As I hiked north, the woods turned into a charred shadow of a forest. There had been a huge fire up here last August and all that remained were the burnt trunks of the largest trees. It was simultaneously eerie and beautiful. Finally, after climbing a high ridge, I could see the mighty Lake Superior. The trail ran parallel to the shore on a fifty foot high bluff. As soon as I found a spot that wasn't too steep, I made my way down to the water. There was a steady cold wind and there were finally NO BUGS! I removed my mosquito netting for the first time in a week and felt the cool air on my face. I was overcome with joy. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">I decided then and there to call it a day. I put up my tent and spent the afternoon washing my body (skinny dipping in the freezing water) and my gear. It felt so good to rinse off the layers of dirt, DEET and sunscreen. The sun was warm and the wind was strong. Perfect for drying out all my clothes. I built a nice fire and watched the sun set over the lake instead of diving into my tent and swatting at bugs all night, as I had been doing for the past week. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">Hiking along the coast has been the best part of the trail so far. I kind of abandoned the actual North Country Trail and just stick to the shoreline. It's flat and the hard-packed sand is great to hike on. There are bald eagles soaring above and salmon swimming at the mouth of the Two Hearted River. I don't ever have to carry water and I've been able to stop at state campgrounds along the way to use the restrooms and charge up the phone. The girls at the Muskallonge State Park were especially helpful, providing me with maps, information and good company. Thanks, girls!</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">I have another 20 miles of coastline to hike before I get to Grand Marais and resupply at the post office. From there, I'll also stop at Marquette, L'Anse and Ontonagon before finishing at Ironwood. Seems like a long ways away but if any of it is half as sweet as the Lake Superior coast has been, then I'll enjoy every step. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">Have you ever been to the northern coast of Michigan's Upper Peninsula? Leave me a comment and tell me about it!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Selfie in the burned out forest. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I've been camping on the beach every night. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The sun setting over Lake Superior is worth staying up for. </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-41481921760493037502013-06-11T04:21:00.004-07:002013-06-14T07:38:26.399-07:00With A Little Help<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The trail from St. Ignace to here (I'm writing this from Taquamenon Falls State Park) has been beautiful but tough. The only way I made it through is because of good people like Stanley and Kay Kujawa. They spend a lot of time and money maintaining the Hiawatha Shore To Shore portion of the North Country Trail. They met me in St. Ignace and again at Rivermouth State Park. They gave me maps, food, information and genuine kindness when I really needed it. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Kujawas haul this trailer all over the UP. It has chain saws, mowers and all kinds of equipment necessary to clear and maintain the trail.</span> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I also got a helping hand from Bob and Pat McNamara. They re-routed me around a portion of the trail that was flooded by a beaver dam. I would have been waist deep in a swamp (again!) if not for these good folks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Bob and Pat McNamara</span><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" /><br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;" /><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I should be hitting Grand Marais within a few days and Marquette after that. I can't wait to go for a swim in Lake Superior!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-32037702115580554662013-06-10T09:38:00.001-07:002013-06-11T04:23:59.713-07:00Grand MaraisI just made it in to Grand Marais. Before I even got into town, I was greeted by Ed Bowen. He and his wife Karla put a lot of time into maintaining the North Country Trail up here. It was my pleasure to meet him. I'm also looking forward to meeting Tim Hass, the President of the Superior Shoreline Chapter of the North Country Chapter.<br />
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Big thanks to Bruce Matthews, Matt Rowbotham ans Jill DeCator at the North Country Trail Association headquarters in Lowell, MI. They hooked me up with contacts along the trail and they sent maps that I desperately needed to Grand Marais. They really came through for me.<br />
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I stopped into the Sportsman's Restaurant here in town and found everything a hiker could ask for: power outlets to charge up the phone, a bathroom with a fancy flush toilet, a wi-fi signal, cold beer on tap and really friendly folks. Anyone passing through Grand Marais should stop here for a bite to eat. You'll be glad you did.<br />
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In contrast to Mackinaw, getting my resupply here was as smooth as silk. Like a handoff from a great quarterback (Martha Rogers) to a charging running back (me), when the plan works, it's a thing of beauty. My box was full of everything I need and just as important, nothing I didn't. I should be good to go until Marquette. Thanks Martha!<br />
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Now that pictures and blog posts have been sent, look for a few more updates over the next several days.<br />
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<br />Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-79957027968512545092013-06-02T10:05:00.000-07:002013-06-02T07:21:56.235-07:00What a Wolverine Eats...<span style="font-size: large;">Martha here-</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A bunch of people ask me what Wolverine eats while he's on the trail. The answer is---anything! Rice, pasta, hot sauce, granola bars, oatmeal, TVP, tuna in foil pouches, jerky, pop tarts, vienna sausages, trail mix, his sister Carol makes fantastic seasoning packets that he uses on rice, beans and pasta. Here are some great pics he sent showing a meal.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">Before</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Any food you might have part of a box of, something you think you and your family won't use, please feel free to send my way (email me mrog12275@yahoo.com or message me on facebook or here) and I'll get it to Wolverine. Donations of food are always welcome and help fuel Wolverine's body and spirit North and through this new trail. Likewise, there is a button at the top left of this page to donate money. Any and ALL money donated goes to Wolverine's hike. Through kindness and generosity, we got him through the PCT and the AT, we can do the same with this trail!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you in advance and stay posted! </span></div>
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Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-29922885035942567482013-05-31T17:42:00.000-07:002013-05-31T17:42:32.232-07:00Finally!<br />
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<span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;"><span style="color: #073763;">The past few days have been rough. I came into Mackinaw City last Tuesday with a full head of steam and a smile on my face. The trail had been sweet and I was ahead of schedule. Just needed to grab my resupply box from the post office and I could cross the Mackinac Bridge to Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Unfortunately, my box wasn't there. No problem. I could just stealth camp outside of town and get my box the next day. Except it wasn't there then, either. Or the next day. Or the next day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em;">Mackinaw is a nice little town. At first. It's full of stores selling tee shirts and fudge to tourists. But after four days, I was just plain sick of it. And they were sick of me. Nearly everyone I interacted with had seen me walking up and down the sidewalks with my giant backpack. My spirits were low. I was fighting a horrible rash and I had a prescription for antibiotics but there's no pharmacy in Mackinaw. I seriously thought about quitting. Or at least coming home for a few days to heal and rest.</span><span style="line-height: 1.2em;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="color: #073763;"> Finally, on Friday, my box had arrived (thanks Martha!). I crossed the bridge, got my </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="color: #073763;"> script filled and was </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;">feeling better. I even ran into Kay Kujawa and her husband. She's </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"> the Chapter President of the Hiawatha </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;">Shore To Shore section of the North Country </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"> Trail. They gave me maps and information that I really </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;">needed. Those folks work hard </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"> maintaining their section of the trail and it was a pleasure to meet them </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="color: #073763;">and </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="color: #073763;">thank them </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2em;"><span style="color: #073763;"> in person</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.2em;"> </span> </div>
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<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">I'll be on the North Country National Scenic Trail all across the Upper Peninsula.</span></span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline: none;">Next stop is in Grand Marais for rest and resupply. Ever been there? Leave me a comment!</span></span></div>
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Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-20858837281721780482013-05-27T07:53:00.001-07:002013-05-29T04:03:16.920-07:00These Are The Days <span style="color: #073763; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">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. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">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. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">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. </span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">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!</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;">If Jerry, Kelly or Bob reads this, please leave a comment to confirm your existence. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHqP4iuQGL_Nyu6DWauo1G5XyM3APJQCQY1glbWEYWugFlx7Z1w2QpBWej_5BfedE3B2LA9wKrzNGYyeOfMpLUKOS2L0dErPB7NngP8jFc9uyqgdH_Ja_iKlj1lv3ZjMrzSiQd4JvWL0/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHqP4iuQGL_Nyu6DWauo1G5XyM3APJQCQY1glbWEYWugFlx7Z1w2QpBWej_5BfedE3B2LA9wKrzNGYyeOfMpLUKOS2L0dErPB7NngP8jFc9uyqgdH_Ja_iKlj1lv3ZjMrzSiQd4JvWL0/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Pack explosion! Drying my gear in the sun.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Solid blue skies. Sunny, but with a cool breeze.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Trillium. The forest floor is covered with them.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Flat, straight, well-blazed trail.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Trail Angels Jerry, Kelly and Bob. I swear they really exist!</span></td></tr>
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<br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px; outline: none;" />Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-38880007702318795462013-05-20T18:13:00.000-07:002013-05-20T18:13:02.406-07:00What a weekend!Since starting on April 26th, I had hiked a couple of hundred miles up to a very remote part of Michigan kinda near Lewiston. I was feeling pretty good. A fews days had been freezing cold but my body and gear were in good shape and I was REALLY looking forward to being home for the weekend. Housemates Martha and Sandy picked me up Thursday night in a car loaded with beer and pizza. Took a few hours to get home but was it ever nice to sleep in my own bed.<br />
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I spent Friday doing my hiker chores (shower, laundry, dry out my tent, etc...) and resting. Saturday was the big <a href="http://www.relayforlife.org/learn/index">Relay For Life</a>. I had collected lots of donations on the premise that I was going to walk all 24 hours of the Relay BY MYSELF. Most people do the Relay as part of a team with 8 to 15 members but a few months ago, I got the bright idea that I could get more donations with a gimmick like being a one-man team. Now it was time to pay up. The Relay started at about 10am with opening ceremonies and a Survivors Lap. I hit the track (which was really a 1/3 mile loop in a very nice park) right after that. It was a carnival-like atmosphere with all the other teams selling goods and services to raise money for the American Cancer Society. During the first lap, I bought a necklace to which you could add a bead for every lap that you did.<br />
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I had friends and family come and join me for many laps. Even the other teams were really supportive, giving me water, food and high-fives along the way. By about 2am, I was didn't think it was a very good idea and by 5am, I was certain I had made a mistake. But when the sun came up, I got my second wind, a cup of coffee and more people to walk with. I stopped long enough to listen to the closing ceremonies where I was awarded the Gordy Klatt Award. I was flattered but almost ready to pass out. By the time the 24 hours was up, I had covered 149 laps or about 49.6 miles. Congrats were given and received and I was ready for bed. I slept soundly for about 20 hours.<br />
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Monday was spent sending out emails, repacking my gear and going to see the new Star Trek movie. I really needed this day to rest, hydrate and stretch. Tomorrow (Tuesday), my dear sister Carol and her daughter will take me back up to that remote part of the Midland To Mackinac Trail and I'll get back to doing what I do best.<br />
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I should be able to make it to the Mackinac Bridge by the 1st of June. After that, the trail coincides with the <a href="http://wolverinehikesmichigan.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-north-country-trail.html">North Country Trail</a> so it should be pretty well blazed. If you have a question or if you want to wish me luck, please leave a comment below. Thank you!Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1998647206274012940.post-56376561801875118362013-05-20T08:42:00.003-07:002013-05-20T08:42:46.309-07:00Kellogg's BridgeThis is the place Martha and I decided to meet to pick me up to go back to Taylor for the Relay For Life. This little store, the Kellogg's Bridge One Stop Shop, is near the intersection of F97 and Down River Road and they were super-friendly. I would love to see a business like this do well if this trail becomes popular. The trail goes right past it and you could easily do a full re-supply from here. Thanks to all who work there for being so kind!<br />
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Yes, gas up north is very expensive.Chris Hillierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08992687337882874258noreply@blogger.com1