Russ&Suzie

Trip Log
2009-09-15 11:13:44 (UTC)

Porcupine aspirations and books

I had some fantasies about meeting the twins and their aging
cousin Chris in western North Carolina next year, say
August, and then hiking on the Appalachian Trail for
stretches between highway contact points. This seems a bit
doubtful as Chris willynilly cancels things in consternation
over not being able to prepare well enough. She gets
flustered, her perfectionism gets in the way, and then she
loses more details and gets even more flustered. But the
twins will consider it more but not even bring it up if in
their judgment the prospect feels dim to them (don't get her
excitement up if her malady will surely doom it).

So the Porcupines and the North Country Trail amply marked
in this park may substitute for such ambitions. Susie
inquired as to why such hiking and roughing it captures me
so we discussed it at some length, she accepting of my wish
for thought and consideration with a limited supply of books
and writing/expression materials. Plus I found on the AT
that extended considerable exercise that challenges the
joints maximally helps them.

So perhaps I'll extend my AT fantasy to the NCT (North
Country Trail) which a small but less publicized group has
obviously devoted great energy and attention. I've never
aspired to hike all 2160 (exact length of the AT varies in
its estimates) from ten miles longer than this to ten miles
shorter -- and it does in fact vary some). Not to abandon AT
fantasies completely: if an interested co-walker wishes, I
can see a plan for some year.

IN the meantime, I acquire two books yesterday, one by long
time Porcupine rangers, Michael Rafferty and Robert Sprague,
who put out four editions of Porcupine Mountains Companion:
Inside Michigan's Largest Park. Nequaket Natural HIstory
Associates, 2001, 267 pages. Handsome with some lovely
pictures: the park has 60,000 acres, 35,000 never cut
timber, 23 miles of Lake Superior shoreline, and occupying
95 square miles, and over 100 miles of trails. The NCT goes
through much of what we traversed in the Preque Isle region
yesterday and keeps going south along route 519 where we
mistakenly went yesterday (seems to be its west to east
entrance). I can see getting my "sealegs" on park trails as
one registers, therefore can leave one's car, can plot a
circular or loop trail, and camp backcountry style (or not
as there are yurts (whatever these are) and cabins for which
one can register.

The other book will go on to Beccy and therefore other
family enthusiasts: by Kathleen Meyer, it's How to Shit in
the Woods. (http://www.kathleeninthewoods.com) in its second
edition and many other languages. Use of the simple
anglo-saxon word has catapulted her to fame! Her website
shows how charmingly she writes.




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