"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
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.
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
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| 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.) |
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| The further north, the wilder the colors. |
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| In the Porkies! Presque Isle waterfalls. |
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| Lake Superior rocks and Porkies hills. |
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| Twilight Fun at the Summit Peak Scenic Area. |
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| Atop Summit Peak tower. I wasn't going to wait for it, but Phil was waiting for it... |
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| BOOM! Worth the wait. (Note: I definitely did not play with these colors. Real deal.) |
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.
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| Sunrise glow. |
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| Color gradients along the 2x4 trail. |
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| Lush. |
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| Lake of the Clouds from the Escarpment Trail. |
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| A river runs through fall. |
1 comment:
Amazing, gorgeous landscapes. Popped or not, the autumn colors are breathtaking. Thanks.
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