How would the next line go? "I get high with a little hike with my friends."
So... I am seriously in need of getting even more in shape in the next 2.5 weeks. I'll share what that's all about soon. But today, a few of us got together to hike a section of the NCT I don't do very often. The link below is to when I did it on the big hike, and that was two years ago. This is the piece that is part of the Manistee River Loop and I don't like how busy it usually is. But this is a Thursday (not a weekend), and still fairly early in the season. Also, it's our hilliest section and that's what I need to be practicing on.
A total of eight hikers participated. Four of us walked the entire distance, and the other four went to the end and hiked in and out for shorter mileage, and then they were able to take us back to our cars.
Here are some of us on Eddington Bridge.
The big news of the day is wildflowers. We saw lots! And that is a little unusual because most of where the NCT runs through the Manistee National Forest is rather dry. Here's a sampler. This post would be out of control if I tried to show photos of them all.
This is Downy Yellow Violet, Viola pubescens. Flowers above the leaves, slightly hairy. And there are even some seed pods!
Here is Wild Sarsaparilla, Aurlia nudicaulis. This is always a fun find, and due to a slope of the land I was able to get a good picture from a low angle. See the balls of flowers below the leaves?
Back to yellow, we saw large patches of this in bloom. This is Lousewort, or Wood Betony, Pedicularis canadensis. It also comes with maroon flowers, and sometimes maroon leaves. We only saw yellow ones today.
Much to be expected at this time of year, and even in dry woods, is Gaywings, or Fringed Polygala, Polygala paucifolia. This looks like a little orchid, but it's really a milkwort.
And speaking of orchids, we saw a LOT of Pink Ladyslipper. This is a true orchid.
It was just warm enough to coax out a little garter snake.
It's really hard to get nice views across the river because the trees are pretty dense, but this one isn't bad. I'm pretty sure the bare spots you can see on the far hill are sand banks below a section of the trail that is about four miles farther, just north of Mesick.
We also saw Foamflower, Canada Mayflower, Great Solomon's Seal, False Solomon's Seal, Starflower, Indian Cucumber Root (not blooming yet), Wild Lupine, White Trillium, Wild Strawberries, Common Blue Violet, and Rattlesnake Hawkweed in bud.
I am tired, but not too bad. Need to keep working on my core.
Miles hiked in 2025: 180.8. NCT Hike 100 Challenge: 77 miles
North Country Trail, Manistee County, Upper River Road to Hodenpyl Dam. 9.2 miles
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