Date: 2015-08-24
To: North Country Trail/Pictured Rocks 
Miles today: 0.0

Dates: August 24 - 28, 2015Weather: 50s to 70s; rainy, windy to sunny and clearMiles Hiked: 42.5Place: North Country Trail through Pictured Rocks National LakeshoreWildlife: Water and woodland birds, coyote, deerThis was my second trial run. Pack weighed in around 28 pounds carrying five days worth of food, two quarts of water and my winter clothes (down jacket, long underwear, camp clothes, rain jacket, rain kilt and umbrella.) The 42.5 mile section of the North Country Trail runs between the two Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Visitor Centers in Munising and Grand Marais, Michigan. A good 11 miles or more of the trail is atop the dramatic cliffs.Day 1: I parked my car at the west end at the Munising visitor center and got a noon shuttle to the east end near Grand Marais. After dropping off two hikers at the halfway point for a shorter hike, I arrived around 1:30 p.m. Almost as soon as I grabbed my gear the rain started. Gave me the opportunity to try out the new Marmot Pre-cip rain jacket, ULA rain kilt and umbrella in heavy and intermittent rain showers while hiking for the first 7.1 miles. They worked great. Arrived at Au Sable East campsite around 5:30ish. Rained all day. Got into the low 40s overnight, but I was toasty in my down sleeping bag and silk liner. Day 2: 12.9 miles from Au Sable to Beaver Creek campground. Hiked through the lighthouse property and into forests and along the beaches and through the BeaverCreek Wilderness area where I ended up meeting my friend Joyce within five minutes of her arrival from another parking lot trailhead 3.5 miles away from the east. The day was blustery all day long with the wind blowing off the lake and funneling into the camping area. During the night, the wind began to die down.Day 3: 10 miles from Beaver Creek to Mosquito River campsite. This part of the trail follows some of the most spectacular parts of the national lakeshore including Chapel Rock. The trail gains little elevation overall, but we were hiking right along the edge of the towering bluffs plunging down to Lake Superior. Day 4: 6.9 miles from Mosquito River to Cliffs campsite. The day was sunny today and got warmer. The trail from here descends down to Miners Beach, and we even took a quick dip in Lake Superior. Stopped at the interpretative center and scenic overlook by Miner's Castle. Our campsite tonight was at Cliff, which was in the woods, well away from the water and not very special. Day 5: 5.1+ miles from Cliffs back to the Munising visitor center. We left the North Country Trail and took the Sand Point side trail that led through a sandy peninsula and looped back to the road connecting to the visitor center. The NCT mileage was 5.1, but we may have walked more taking the side trip. Back at my car by 11:30 a.m. and drove back to the trail head to retrieve Joyce's car.Reflections:- Love the rain gear. Happy. Kilt also worked well shielding the wind.- Recipe testing/food quantities all worked out well- Distances were fine. 12.9 mile day, while tiring, wasn't exhausting. Only hiked in the Merrell Moabs on this trip and no blisters.- Pictured Rocks is an awesome place to visit and a great place to hike.