Yesterday began by getting up much too early. Our township does a "cleanup day" where you can bring anything (we try to get rid of big stuff that won't recycle this way). But it's always the same day as one of our NCT Chapter hikes. I had some stuff on the trailer, but I really wanted to take more. I was too tired on Friday after getting home from backpacking. But I made myself get up early and collect some additional things. It should have been more, but I just didn't have time or energy. We need to do a better job ahead of time to make an appropriate collection.
Anyway... I got rid of a small trailer load. If I leave home early enough, I can get there in time to be first or second in line and then I'm home in time to make the hike.
Then it was off to Bowman Trailhead where we had 33 people show up for the hike! And 4 dogs and a ferret.
There's nothing particularly special about this little wetland except that I like it. It's there every spring. It's connected to no larger body of water. But these ephemeral pools do big duty as nurseries for frogs and friends.
Most people walked as far as the turnpike through another wet area that our chapter built last year. (A few went farther before turning around and a few didn't go that far). It's looking good. Pete and crew did good work, and that section is no longer awful to walk through in spring. I think there must be a clay lens under the surface that collects water. You can see how it puddles beside the turnpike.
There were a few wildflowers blooming. I saw hepatica and spring beauty. The best were some nice patches of trailing arbutus. It doesn't always show off the flowers this nicely.
I put my nose to the grindstone today and managed to accomplish a bit on quite a number of projects. I got the tent waterproofed and most of the camping gear packed up. I need to get more silicone to spray my little tarp. I have no idea when it was last waterproofed.
Miles hiked in 2025: 165.7. Hike 100 Challenge: 72.5 miles.
NCT- Bowman Trailhead (Lake Co. MI) south 2.75 miles and back for a total of 5.5 miles
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3 comments:
Always nice to get rid of things. The recycle days they have around here, I always forget about.
Nice turn out for your hike with even a ferret showing up
Ann- we are trying hard to remember and use these cleanup days because there are things we can't recycle.
Lulu: "Walks are always better with dogs!"
Java Bean: "We haven't tried one with a ferret, but the more the merrier!"
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