September 25th - 26th, 2012: The Porcupine Mountains

"I work for a summer camp with extensive adventure trip offerings. I attended the camp but never participated in the adventure trips. Better late than never..."

That's what I said last year, as I documented my Georgian Bay Sea Kayaking adventure. This year, my goal was to find my way to the Minnesota Boundary Waters for a canoe trip. The timing just wasn't working out, so I dialed it back and set my sights on the Porcupine Mountains (Wilderness State Park) of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Camp Echo sends groups to the "Porkies" for about a week of backpacking. I had set out to knock out the trails in 3-4 days, but my departure got pushed back by the North Shore Century. With only two days in the Porkies, I traded the backcountry camping for a light pack and some hile mileage day hiking. I was very pleased with what I found! Hopefully I'll return, possibly with skis.

September 25th: The Approach
Parnell Tower of Kettle Moraine North in Wisconsin provided a far-reaching Midwest view.
(Note: I definitely played with the colors to make it all pop.)
The further north, the wilder the colors.
In the Porkies! Presque Isle waterfalls.
Lake Superior rocks and Porkies hills.
Twilight Fun at the Summit Peak Scenic Area.
Atop Summit Peak tower. I wasn't going to wait for it, but Phil was waiting for it...
BOOM! Worth the wait.
(Note: I definitely did not play with these colors. Real deal.)
September 26th: The Carp to Escarp

With one day to cover as much of the Porkies as possible, I laid out a 20 mile path that would hit a number of the known highlights and hopefully some of the unknown:

Lake of the Clouds Lookout - Big Carp River Trail - Correction Line Trail - North Mirror Lake Trail - Government Peak Trail - Escarpment Trail - Lake of the Clouds Lookout (Trail Map)

It was a great route, with varied trails, wonderful views, lots of fall color, and hardly a hiker to be found.


Sunrise glow.
Color gradients along the 2x4 trail. 
Lush. 
Lake of the Clouds from the Escarpment Trail.
A river runs through fall.

1 comment:

Catherine said...

Amazing, gorgeous landscapes. Popped or not, the autumn colors are breathtaking. Thanks.

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