Done and done!

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!

L'Anse

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:
                                  
                               Joe Kayramo
                      Homestead Graphics and Design
                                 906-353-6741

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.

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.

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 Keweenaw Bay. What a great day.

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!

Bushwhacking

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:

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.

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.

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.

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!

Got a good bushwhacking story? Leave me a comment!

THANK YOU!

Martha Here:
I want to thank all the kind and generous people who donated food and/or money to Chris's hike:
Dustin Newman
Jason Phelps--Hee Haw
Susie Hollyer
Lee-Ann Garske
Jeff Kindy
Scott Williams
Lorana Jinkerson
Carol Machak
Tim and Ellen Hass

Marquette

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. 


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. 

This is Strider in front of Lorana's incredible 'earth home'.  Follow Strider's adventure's at Stridernct.com

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...

This is Jennifer Perez from Channel 6 filming me.

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. 

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. 

Trail Angel, PHD, Author, Chapter President, Dear Friend: Lorana Jinkerson. She is the bomb. 

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. 

Anyone out there ever been hiking in the Porcupine Mountains? That's where I'm headed. Leave me a comment!

Video Interview From Marquette

http://abc10up.com/mi-man-hiking-from-detroit-to-ironwood/

SOME VIDEOS FROM WOLVERINE/CHRIS