Gary Hits 100 (aka Colette Hike #2)

 This was Colette's second leg of her quest to hike all of our Chapter's miles of trail this year. But it was a milestone day for Gary. He completed his Hike 100 Challenge for 2024.

Everyone was hoping to find some Lady Slipper orchids, and we did. Cypripedium acaule.

Now for two plants that don't look alike, but have recently been linked as cousins by DNA testing. This is False Solomon's Seal, Maianthemum racemosum.

Its cousin is the familiar but much smaller Canada Mayflower, Maianthemum canadense.

Another popular spring flower is the Wild Geranium, Geranium maculatum.

We saw several other nifty plants, but I think I'll save them for another day. Also saw a leucistic robin (had white spots). And I forgot to tell you about the best sighting from last week's hike. A vary large blue racer snake was parked in the trail. But he felt me coming, and was outa there like a flash. No chance at all for a picture.

Here is our intrepid group for today. The weather was cooler, and the distance was shorter. It was a lovely day for a hike.

I had high hopes for getting some work done this afternoon, but I answered a few emails, opened a file and fell asleep. Guess a rest day is not out of line.

Total miles hiked in 2024: 237.4, of which 94.3 is North Country Trail.

North Country Trail, Lake County, MI. Bowman Lake TH to Upper Branch Bridge, 5 miles

See Gary and the Six Dwarves