Escarpment Trail - Day 343

  I badly underestimated the total miles of the re-route through the Porkies. I was planning to finish today, but it would have meant a 20 mile day. Not happening, especially with limited daylight hours. So I still have a few miles to do another day, but I did complete the Escarpment Trail section. I can't say enough good words about this new addition to the NCT. The trail continues above Lake of the Clouds. Now we can see the east end of the lake and the Big Carp River feeding the lake.

The river upstream of the lake is very short. The headwaters are in that wetland you can see at the end of the shining river. I've also learned that the lake is only about 15 feet deep! The red plants are staghorn sumac that are so stunted by the wind that they look dwarf-sized.

Finally, I made it to the east end of the lake and am looking back to the west.

While I was up on this trail, I realized I was seeing something that I thought pretty amazing. Far to the west (picture is zoomed way in) is the Copper Peak ski flying tower.

Far to the east is the smokestack at the White Pine Mine (also zoomed in). I measured between these two places as the crow flies and they are about 27 miles apart.

Next, there is a missing piece I'll have to do another day. But I walked the section of new trail that was built outside the state park to connect back to the existing NCT route. The biggest news (and the biggest item) on this section is a beautiful, huge suspension bridge over the Little Iron River. This is within the Ottawa National Forest. This was paid for by a grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (an amazing constitutional amendment the voters got right a number of years ago). It was then built by an independent contractor.

And here's my artsy picture for today. This is looking down from the Escarpment Trail.

There is supposed to be significant rain for the next two days. I'll play it by ear, but I don't think I'm hiking tomorrow.

Miles today: 14.3. Total miles so far: 4009.1 Over 4000 miles! But the number yet to go is not under 800 yet. This trail just keeps stretching.

See Jumping Porcupine