The second full day of the Celebration. We went on a short hike in the morning. Total about 5 miles, but only 1.5 counted on the NCT because we started from AuSauble Institute and went up a side trail past Eagle Lake to the NCT.
![hikers](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgkh_dbYxskcJ8JZh9e0Z46CRAD7H2bNXiNgyR_aTrriAAvYGs5jbkRuzKfs3779NpxgLWV_8WfSMuArGkPc66VUnpX276CLX_R9nhdp8JvQjj5wxw8WV2ZAuDfPK840YehZhqHupI34/s1600/NCTAConf2019-04EagleLake.jpg)
I just liked the ripples with the hemlock branches.
![hemlock branches in water](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpe76Hb6mYmbw3oWZPmc3Xaslm4bZXYrB_rKd9WrX4U-yONLf6uY4KmARgEqndGeREbD-zHWwKF7nYKzUzp7fdk2-WIjkejsuyRxWBxLZaikFvbI1RusJv1fWHM6XABE4qzZ-suObfPU/s1600/NCTAConf2019-05EagleLake.jpg)
Then the trail went past McNeil Pond, a lovely tiny lake.
![McNeal Pond](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fwS_LN34-BOMs36qq_aXgQOeaZSChyzorVOosW_n2r08eJabPVzObHnQjU5bHVzBH9hpKA4mOroGnDTZ8OkNDf0Ue18qa1bJIIU5QkenypV-zw6FzbN98OYyyyM2S-mGDQJVbvGVvhA/s1600/NCTAConf2019-06MacNeilPond.jpg)
There are two active beaver lodges on that pond. We didn't see a beaver though.
![beaver lodge](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNapV1A5IVxSs9u-rJt992c1fqbDJgm7y0jpGKs4KArnkc_L4q4IBASL7aD3-Bj6Dojy0mvfiVxztxiRfa-B3RJ2y6aLg6c3GZCVnIgWRzyI2Yt7g_R08SshhBPv4DKWB1c4OYB95mCTw/s1600/NCTAConf2019-07BeaverLodge.jpg)
Can you believe this? They had coffee and hot chocolate waiting for us at the end of the hike!
![serving coffee](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMR0bKJKou5fmIdS5h0WUmozi1HlnkJOGkzHMhN5C7jKKwhskOmbQozMRclN59tlyOX1i3mRMIOaW2Tyvz0bsr4f9J13PhUs_ecflfllBZy5DzaW_WWYSw_OJ-wiWHKQfd4YAWsNJau4/s1600/NCTAConf2019-08coffee.jpg)
There were workshops all afternoon that people could choose from. Four of us who have hiked all the trail led a question and answer session for people who have dreams of being long-distance hikers.
Driving around later, we saw this male common merganser sitting on a log.
![common merganser](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBweZy4aPgPhY2vsuQfSveqWeGfuTUlibr53pRoQdiQ7bnpuNhqKnUeXqxKAWnp0zK8mcCfVZB_zISpedcysgYbX8q8wQOlkbd9okDMTcYQQ-vWVPiWnVkqDxM5qaFLPPfvJXz3hLItI/s1600/MerganserCommon01.jpg)
In the evening were the North Country Trail Awards. Way too many to list, but this is the Rising Star Award which goes to someone between the ages of 8 and 25 who shows outstanding potential for continuing to work for the NCT. Linus, age 14, is receiving his award from Andrea Ketchmark, Executive Director.
![Rising Star Award](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_SGrY3KMf33S7bSnBW1JiOMWhIbVBrXmIbaC_xWU6yfHMCEt7C9RivD0ZH-2JbYeANq4T7hW6ztDFW2XgIfxtc7oyNp0bA2YOlgolqknkYP_olsiPiB_TqD2Q-AEhKRj9ge3ti338uU/s1600/NCTAConf2019-09LinusRisingStar.jpg)
We are going on a longer hike tomorrow and have to get up early, so I have to finish this up and go to sleep!
Hike 100 Challenge: 20 miles
North Country Trail from AuSable Institute side trail to McNeal Pond
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1 comment:
I like the picture with the ripples in the water.
It looks like it was cold out there. I bet the coffee and hot chocolate was a welcome treat at the end of the hike
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