Journals

Tue.  June 25
Trail Day 086
Miles hiked: 24.5
Muskallonge Lake State Park

I woke up to the sound of Mosquitos buzzing around my tent, gotta put the bug clothes on before going into town. It only takes me a few minutes to break camp and hit the road to head back to downtown Grand Marais. I need to mail a few things home including my first pair of shoes which are very tattered and my thick fleece pullover, so I need to stay until the post office opens. I'm here a few hours early so I eat my breakfast at the picnic pavillion on the harbor. No bugs around here. As I am getting some of my things in order and taking a look at my maps a guy walks by with a cup of coffee and stops once he sees my gear. Hence I meet Mark, a visitor to Grand Marais for a few days. He asks about my gear, the food box operation, and where I'm headed. I tell him the story of my hike so far and he is very impressed. He wishes me luck as he returns to his motel across the street. About ten minutes later as I am still sorting through some things to send home Mark appears again. First he shows me a brochure of the trail that he picked up yesterday, and wants me to confirm that it is in fact that same trail I am hiking. I tell him yes, and point out a few highlights I've encountered so far on the brochure's overview map. He then hands me a brand new bandana for me to add to my gear list. I accept it gladly as mine is getting pretty tattered. He wishes me luck again and leaves. After a few minutes he returns a third time with a laptop in his hand. He first apologizes for interrupting me again (It's ok Mark, I'm just killing time) and then he says that he found me on the internet. He shows me the screen and displayed on it is the home page of my website. I then explain why I created the sight, to allow others to follow along and hopefully increase awareness and interest in the trail. Afterwards Mark is thoroughly interested and absolutely impressed with my journey and says he will be following my progress from now on and that he will try and get out and hike some segments of the NCT. He shakes my hand and disappears for the third and final time. Almost immediately afterwards a car drives down the street and stops right next to the pavillion. The window rolls down and I recognize Judy, the park ranger from the Grand Sable Visitor Center. She asks if I need anything and tells me to take care before continuing on to work. The town has finally started to wake up and businesses are opening for the day so I head over to Grand Marais Outfitters to thank Dennis for paying for my meal last night. Afterwards he lets me fill up my water from his sink and then it is time to hit the post office and then the trail.
The trail leading out of Grand Marais is well marked and after awhile heads back to the lakeshore. My feet hurt today as I am now wearing my second pair of shoes. Additionally the day has turned quite hot so I need to take more frequent breaks to ease the pain and discomfort. Towards the end of the day I reach Muskallonge Lake State Park. I have the energy and the time to push on but my feet are on fire and I am worried about pushing too hard the first few days with new shoes. Additionally a picnic table and shower would be nice so I decide to end the day and camp in the park. As I arrive at my site and start setting up camp several people ask where I'm headed and where I've been, including two ladies on bicycles and the guy camping next to me with his family. After brief introductions and story telling I get a nice hot shower, cook dinner at the picnic table, and call it an early night.


Wed. June 26
Trail Day 087
Miles hiked: 28
About a mile west of forest road 500 - Lake Superior State Forest

I lingered too long in camp this morning. I decided to cook a meal for breakfast to take advantage of the picnic table and so didn't get hiking until well into the morning. The guy next door wishes me luck as I finally depart. By 10:00 it has already turned very hot and the sun is out in full force. I noticed last night at my camp that I mis-calculated the last food drop and I am actually a day short on provisions and won't have enough to make it to St. Ignace. Luckily there is a little convenient store a few miles from the park in the Deer Park Township. I head there first thing to get the provisions I need and to take a break from the blistering hot sun. Soon I am back on the trail and the going is incredibly slow, most of the tread way is nothing but sand. The trail zigzags back and forth from the lakeshore back to Coast Guard Road, nothing but a sandy two track, several times before finally staying fairly close to the lakeshore. It is at this point that the area Tim Hass warned me about in Munising comes into view. As far as the eye can see the ground, the trees, everything is scorched black. Of course there is also no shade so this stretch of trail is unbearably hot. I heed Tim's advice and watch the roots of the trees as I approach but there is no wind and none of the trees seem to be in immediate danger of falling over. After several hours I finally get a chance to stop as I approach a campground at the mouth of the Two Hearted River. A great suspension bridge straddles the river from the beach of Lake Superior and brings the hiker into the campground on the other side. At the end of the bridge a man is standing admiring the view of the river and he sees me coming across. He asks about the condition of the trail between here and Muskallonge Lake and I inform him about the vast burn area. He then proceeds to ask me how far I have hiked and when I tell him my story he invites me to his camp site for a beer which I gladly accept. Hence I meet Art, out on a week long camping trip with his son who is currently taking a nap in the van. We have a nice chat about previous trips we've both had and what I'll encounter as I head south. After I finish my beer I thank Art for his kindness and continue on.

I'm finally clear of the burned area and I'm in the woods for the next several miles but I take another break at the next campground on Culhane Lake to cool off and camel up. After this the trail heads south away from the Lake and the Mosquitos are out in full force. Within minutes they become so thick that I am swimming through a cloud of them. My bug clothes and head net are back on but because of all the bush whacking I had to do earlier in the UP my head net has holes in it so it no longer prevents the buzzers from getting in. My hands are the only thing exposed and there are so many mosquitos that I shove my hands in my pockets to spare them some of the torment. This doesn't last long as I need my hands to swat the ones that have penetrated the bug net. Of all my years hiking in the north woods of Minnesota these are by far the worst mosquitos I have ever encountered. It takes every ounce of what little energy I have left to keep from screaming in agony. I am exhausted and need to stop for the day but the bugs are such a torment I push on until dark, hoping to find a place where they aren't so bad, but there isn't one. Finally I have no choice but to stop and I pitch my tent as quickly as possible and jump inside. I haven't eaten in the past several hours and I am starving so I eat my remaining rations for the day in my tent to avoid the horrendous Mosquitos. It is very unpleasant, my hands are completely covered in blood, it looks as if I have just given surgery. My clothes, my tent, everything is stained. I have been bitten so many times that my body could no longer handle it and an allergic reaction occurred as a result of mosquito overdose. My hands are covered in swollen bites which has never happened to me before. I got a pretty good sunburn today as well from the lack of forest cover at the beginning of the day and I can feel the effects of heat exhaustion taking hold. I am definitely overheated and over-exerted. After stashing my food pack away I lie down in my tent and get what rest I can, the heat making it difficult to sleep.  


Thur. June 27
Trail Day 088
Miles hiked: 26
Rivermouth Campground - Tahquamenon Falls State Park

The sound of thousands of buzzers outside my tent is the first thing I hear as I wake up this morning. Oh how I do not want to get up out of this tent. I have to get going sometime though, and I'm only a few miles from the boundary of Tahquamenon Falls State Park where hopefully the Mosquitos will be thinner. I pack up as quickly as possible and head out. After a few miles I come to a trail junction with a sign of a park map, I've made it to the park but still have many miles to go to get to the visitor center where I can get some respite from these mosquitos. After a few hours I come to a road crossing, MI-123, so I know I am close. Sure enough about a mile further south the trail emerges from the woods and comes out to a wide paved trail and the stairway to the Upper Falls. I skip the falls for now as the visitor center is only a quarter mile further and I need something to eat. When I arrive I am amazed at what I see. This place is more than just a visitor center, it is also a gift shop, concession stand, and a brewery which is actually a full-blown restaurant! I waste no time going inside and trying one of their four specialty brews before they start serving food. As soon as the kitchen opens the server takes my order and it isn't too long before she comes out with my appetizer, a whole plate full of nachos. No sooner have I downed these than my burger arrives and I enjoy it. I get several refills of soda to quench my thirst and after I've finished gorging myself I head outside to the large patio to see what else is going on, and to let my stomach settle. Lots of people see my pack and want to know my story including a guy named Tyler. He thru-hiked the American Discovery Trail (ADT) in 2011 with a friend of his. I will actually be on that same trail for some distance in Ohio where the ADT coincides with the Buckeye Trail (BT). He is particularly fascinated with my trip and wishes me luck. Here I also meet Shannon, one of the servers at the brewery. She remembers Wolverine stopping in here about two weeks prior and I explain to her how we crossed paths in Marquette and ended up at the same place for two nights. I'm having a hard time tearing myself away from this fine establishment but alas it is time to hit the trail again. I drop my pack at the trail junction and head to the Upper Falls with only my camera. The view is spectacular and several people have flocked here to see it. After taking some good photos and a video I head back to the trail and hike the seven miles to the Lower Falls, encountering relatively few people along the way. The day has grown really hot and humid and it starts to drizzle several times. At the Lower Falls I encounter many of the same people I saw at the Upper Falls. Many of them commented that they wished they could have hiked the whole way between the two. I said it was only seven miles, but I guess to them that was a long way to go in the heat. At the lower falls there is a gift shop and a concession stand where I decide to have a late lunch; a hot dog and an ice cream cone. By the time I'm ready to get going again the rain has intensified and the thunder rolls in. I have no choice but to go out in it. After about an hour the storm ends and the sun is out again, making it very hot and humid. Also the bugs emerge once again and I scramble to get my bug net on as quickly as possible. After many miles of rolling terrain the trail emerges onto a gravel road and heads east towards the lake passing many summer cabins. A van pulls up and stops and a woman opens the window. "Are you hiking the North Country Trail?" I'm totally surprised that she knew this roadwalk was the trail. She then asks if I need anything. I'm all good so she wishes me luck and they continue driving. The road I am now hiking on ends at Lake Superior at a day-use picnic area and when I arrive the van that pulled over earlier is parked there. Hence I meet Doug and Sarah Fauser, and their kids who have just finished swimming. We talk for awhile about the trail and about my hike so far, especially about the horrendous mosquitos in this area. They say they may have something to help with the mosquitos and they hand me a tin container with contents that look like a bar of soap. It's a type of bug repellant that you rub on your skin. "Whatever it is, they hate it," says Doug. I thank them for their donation and as they prepare to leave they leave me their phone numbers in case I run into trouble. Thank you dear friends for your generosity, it was a pleasure meeting you. Afterwards a young couple that was nearby and overheard our conversation ask me a few questions about my adventure. They seem impressed and tell me that they are staying at the River Mouth Campground just down the street. Unfortunately they came to this picnic area to escape the bugs at the campground. It's getting dark though and there is nowhere else to camp for at least ten miles so reluctantly I head over and get a spot at the campground right next to the shower house, which I happily take advantage of before hitting the hay.


Fri. June 28
Trail Day 089
Miles hiked: 20, +12
IGA Apartment - Trout Lake, MI

I awoke early and left the campground by first light. I hike the few remaining miles of roadwalk to connect to the next certified segment of trail which heads back into the woods and to the Lake Superior shoreline for a short while before departing the Lake for the last time and heading south. I don't make it very far however as the Mosquitos are horrendous once again. I've been in these horrid conditions for several days now, and several weeks before that, and they only seem to be getting worse. I decide to bring my hike to the roads for the rest of today to get some relief from the buzzers. It helps a little but it is also very hot today, the hottest day so far this trek, and the road provides little shade. I drink plenty of water but I feel dehydrated and extremely tired. After awhile I can tell that I am not feeling well and that heat exhaustion is definitely taking its toll on me. I have to get inside out of the heat and the bugs for awhile or I could end up getting sick or worse. Reluctantly I stick out my thumb, intending to hitch a ride into the next town. To my dismay nobody stops, after five hours of hiking along the road with my thumb out over 200 cars drive by and not a single one stops. At one point I pass a nicely shaded driveway where I decide to stop and take a nap, physically unable to hike any further. I awake two hours later and continue attempting to hitch a ride with no luck. Eventually I reach the intersection of MI - 123 and MI - 28 where I was hoping to find a gas station or something but arrive to find only a small engine repair shop. They have a picnic table out front where I decide to stop and rest. A woman walks by and asks how I'm doing. I tell her about my day so far and by the look on her face I can tell she seems concerned. She offers me a nice cold bottle of water which I gladly accept as well as a nice cozy armchair to sit on inside the shop to rest for a bit. After a few minutes she comes out and says she will give me a ride to Trout Lake about twelve miles down the road. Hence I officially meet Becca, co-owner of the machine shop. She leaves her daughter in charge if the shop as we climb into her van and she shuttles me into town. We have a nice chat along the way, she relates to me how disappointing it is how nobody stops anymore to pick up people in need. Soon we arrive in Trout Lake, not much here, a motel and restaurant, an IGA, and an ice cream shop. We head for the IGA, Becca knows a woman there who rents an apartment above the store. She was not there but Becca shows me the right person to talk to to get me a room for the night. I thank her for everything she has done today and after a firm hand shake she is gone. I talk to the woman behind the counter about spending the night and she talks me through the process. She hands me two keys, each opens a different bedroom, and I get to pick which one I want before settling in. I head upstairs to see what the place is like. I am pleasantly surprised to find a three bedroom apartment complete with a kitchen and a living room with satellite tv. Only one of the rooms has a window in it so naturally I choose that one. After settling in I bring the unwanted key downstairs and pick out something for dinner tonight before heading back upstairs. There are currently no other tenants so I have the place to myself. After a shower and gorging myself with as fine of a meal as can be had from a convenience store, I jump in my bed and instantly crash from heat exhaustion and fatigue.


Sat. June 29
Trail Day 090
Miles hiked: 28
Carp River Campsite - Hiawatha National Forest

I slept for over 12 hours, waking up at mid morning. The first thing I do is make breakfast before settling on the couch to watch some tv and rehydrate. I'm in no rush to get going this morning as I want to make sure I am fully energized before heading back out into the heat. I finally get going at 11:00 and head east along county road H40 to get back to the trail. The most direct and time-efficient route would be to head south on MI-123 and pick up the trail there but I choose to take the longest way possible back to the trail without backtracking to add mileage to make up for the section I had to skip yesterday. After a few hours I finally reach the trail and head on in. I still need my bug clothes but they are not as bad as the past few days, perhaps the new bug repellent from Doug and Sarah is working. After a short distance blazes become scarce and I lose the trail. I spend the next few minutes walking around in a circle and backtracking trying to find the trail. I manage to find it again without too much trouble and soon the trail opens up a little more and becomes easier to follow. The rest of the day is a fairly pleasant hike as the trail heads through some damp areas and skirts along the edge of the Mackinaw Wilderness. I encounter lots of puncheon through this section as well as the first raspberries of the season. I end the day after crossing the Carp River and discovering the campsite that has been built there. After setting up my tent I roll inside and fall fast asleep.


Sun. June 30
Trail Day 091
Miles hiked: 25
A few miles northwest of St. Ignace, MI - Hiawatha National Forest

I slept well last night, considering the turmoil my body has been through since leaving Grand Marais. I eat a small breakfast before hitting the trail early this morning. Today’s hike has lots of ups and downs through some more sandy dry areas. At the campground at Brevoort Lake I stop at the picnic area to cook lunch and refill my water. I pick a table right on the lake shore to eat and take a nice long rest as I read a few pages of Tolkein. The lake is bustling with people, lots of tubing, water skiing and sailing going on. I consider going for a swim myself but eventually decide not to just as a large family comes barreling down from the parking lot and takes up almost the entire beach area where I am sitting, being loud and obnoxious. I decide to move on and make my way back to the trail. More ups and downs as I head east now toward St. Ignace, some of the hills being very steep. At the top of one particular uphill climb I can see the top of the Mackinaw Bridge and a glimpse of Lake Michigan way in the distance. Tomorrow I will be in St. Ignace, I can pick up my next food drop and get another respite from the mosquitos. Feeling a sudden spurt of energy I hike the rest of the day without any difficulty and make it to the end of the certified trail in the Hiawatha National Forest, where it intersects with an ATV trail. I still have about an hour of daylight left and most of the ATV trail is still within the Hiawatha National Forest so I continue on until nightfall. About a mile from the I-75 freeway overpass I find a nice flat spot between the trail and the road just large enough for a tent to squeeze into. Looks like this is home tonight.


Mon. July 1
Trail Day 092
Miles hiked: 05, +5
Vindel Motel - Mackinaw City, MI

Last night was a restless night of sleep. I don't know if it was the excitement of finally reaching the Mackinaw Bridge and crossing into the Lower Peninsula or what, but as a result I am up at 5:00 and reach St. Ignace before 6:00. The place is like a ghost town, a stark contrast from when I was here on Labor Day. Only one place is open for business, a little diner, so I head on in for breakfast. A few of the locals are in for coffee but otherwise it's a nice quiet morning in the diner on Lake Huron. After enjoying my meal I make a call back home to plan the next couple food drops and then I just sit and wait for the post office to open so I can get my next food box. After taking care of business I hike the remaining two miles of trail in the UP, passing through Straits State Park where I camped last year while preparing for the Bridge Walk.
As I reach the bridge now I head to the booth for the Bridge Authority, where I pay three dollars for a ride across the bridge. I wait about five minutes until an Authority vehicle pulls up and I hop in. On the other side of the bridge I decide to take the rest of the day off, but not before seeing the historic Fort Michilimackinaw. I have always enjoyed places like this, old historic forts, some rebuilt some original. I spend over an hour walking around inside amongst the buildings and along the palisade wall before finally heading to the south end of town where I check in at the Vindel Motel. This will be my first nero day (near-zero mileage) for this hike. I’m not complaining, as I feel taking the rest of the day off to rest will do wonders for me considering the shape I was in not two days ago. It’s a good thing too, as today is again very hot, probably the hottest day of this entire trek. As I get everything settled in my room I realize I am very hungry and an idea strikes me. A tradition began on the AT long ago that somewhere around the half-way point of the hike, hikers will attempt the “Half Gallon Challenge.” The idea is to eat a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting. I’m not halfway yet, but it’s close enough and I don’t know when I will get another day off like this so to the gas station I go to find some ice cream. I find that they only sell it here in pint containers, meaning I will need four of them to get the half gallon. Basic flavors tend to be easier for the challenge but they only have three chocolates, I guess the fourth will have to be cookies n’ cream. Back in my motel room I turn on the TV and start chowing down. In less than 40 minutes I have all four containers empty. My stomach is not happy, but I did it. I ate a half gallon of ice cream in one sitting (without throwing any of it up afterwards). Now I can say I did it and never have to do it again. After my “lunch” I lie down and take a nice long nap, catching up on rest.

Tue. July 2
Trail Day 093
Miles hiked: 32
Mackinaw State Forest

I’m well rested as I get up this morning. After spending a few minutes packing my gear I check out of the motel and head down the street to Burger King for breakfast. After downing two breakfast burritos I pick up the trail across the street where it follows a paved bike path for a good two miles or so. After walking a quarter mile or so without seeing any more blazes I stop and check my map. The NCT makes a sharp right off of this paved trail so it would be easy to miss. I backtrack and sure enough there it is, newly built trail leading off to the west. This section brings me to a nice stretch along French Farm Lake with many drive-in campsites right next.  From here the trail heads west toward and into Wilderness State Park. I must be careful where I put my feet along this stretch as there is lots of poison ivy growing on both sides of the trail. Before too long I reach the park access road and take a detour to the campground to use the facilities and hopefully find a place to cook a meal. As I am at the water pump filling up my bottles I am dismayed to find not a single camp site open to use. This shouldn’t surprise me, as it is only two days from July 4th.
As I am preparing to leave a guy comes out of the shower house and stops as he sees my gear. Hence I meet Greg, here with his girlfriend Courtney for a few days. He asks me where I’m headed and after I tell a brief version of my story he invites me over to his camp for lunch. I can’t pass this up so I accept and he directs me over to his site. As I am unpacking my food and cooking supplies Courtney emerges from their tent and Greg introduces me. Then they both watch in amazement as I cook an entire serving of homemade quinoa chili in less than 10 minutes on my tiny “supercat” stove. As the chili is cooking Greg hands me one of his recently cooked homemade pork chops to tide me over. Well done Greg, this is delicious. They then ask many questions about my journey so far, why I am doing this, where my final destination is, etc. They seem amazed that I have walked this far and I’m not even halfway there yet. Then they tell me a little about out
their experiences in the outdoors. Greg is a hunter and fisherman, has been his whole life. It turns out he and Courtney are from northern Ohio, only about twenty miles east of Defiance where the Buckeye Trail passes. I will be in their area in a little under a month if all goes well.
Before I know it over an hour has gone by and I need to get going if I am to make my goal. My next food drop is in Kalkaska and by taking yesterday off I will now get their on Sunday morning and have to wait an entire day to get my package. To avoid this I’m going to try and hike 30+ mile days for the whole week to cut out an entire day and make it to the post office before they close on Saturday. I shake hands with Greg and Courtney and with my pack shouldered again I head back to the trail. Thanks for your hospitality new friends, enjoy the rest of your trip.
On the south end of the park there is a large parking area with a boat ramp right on Lake Michigan. I stop here for a short break as I take in the view and see a few kayakers heading in from a paddling trip. The man is the first one up on shore and as he helps his girlfriend get hers up he turns and heads for the car to back it down to the landing so they can load their kayaks. As I am sitting there on the beach the woman turns to me and sees my gear. I meet Jessica, we have a brief conversation about my hike before I load up once more and head south into the Mackinaw State Forest.
At the next road crossing I have a decision to make. It’s over six miles to next section of trail and the area in between is a roadwalk through private land. I have to decide whether to pitch here for the night on the edge of the forest or push and try and make it to the next section before nightfall and risk getting thrown off track. Deciding that I need to hike as far as I can to make it to Kalkaska in time I push on. Not stopping for the entire six and a half mile stretch I make it back into the Mackinaw Forest and pitch my tent a few hundred yards from the road.


Wed. July 3
Trail Day 094
Miles hiked: 28.5
Home of John and Dove Day - Petoskey, MI

I am up at first light this morning and head out after a cold and quick breakfast. I have many miles to hike through the Mackinaw State Forest before taking to the roads a few times for short roadwalks, first through the tiny berg of Pleasant View then again through Conway as I prepare to pick up the paved bike trail to Petoskey.
As I arrive into Conway I spot the trail behind a nice little diner and cross the street toward it. As I reach the other side I look over and see a table with two women sitting at it, and one of them is waving trying to get my attention. I head over and meet Karen and Nancy, meeting at the diner before heading off to a bike ride. Nancy tells me that when she saw me she knew I had a story to tell. So at the request of Nancy and Karen I spend the next several minutes relating to them my trip specifically over the last few days. As I am handed a glass of water Karen asks if I am hungry, which I reply “Yes.” She leaves and heads into the diner. They stopped cooking about 10 minutes ago as this is a breakfast only joint, but when she comes out she says the chef agreed to cook me an omelet. Wow, this is fantastic. I order one with everything on it and continue telling my story to the two nice ladies. Before too long my omelet has arrived, complete with a side of hash-browns and an ice cold lemonade. I tell the waitress to thank the chef immensely for going out of their way to serve me. On top of that, Karen has covered the cost. Thank you Karen, I greatly appreciate it.
As we continue talking Nancy gets a phone call from a friend. When she hangs up she relates the conversation to us. As it turns out her friend has been following my hike online since I started, and happened to call right as I was sitting with Nancy. Talk about small world.
Soon we are joined at the table by a guy on a bike. Hence I meet Mark, Nancy’s husband. We spend a few minutes getting him caught up on what has transpired. Then Karen makes a call. She knows a family in Petoskey and requests that they give me a cold beer when I pass through town, as it has been pretty hot the past few days and will continue through the weekend. I realize again that I have been here more than an hour, I need to get moving again. With much reluctance I inform these nice people that I have to get moving on or I will never reach my goal. Before leaving I take a picture with each of them on the street corner and after a few hugs and a handshake I turn and head town the trail toward Petoskey. Thank you dear new friends for making this a great day. 
I follow the paved trail for the better part of two hours, hiking right along the shore of Lake Michigan before arriving right in downtown. First thing I do is get a smoothie at the ice cream shop on the corner before continuing on. Karen gave me a description of the house where her friend Patti Chapman lives. I spot it right from the trail and call the number I was given. Patti answers and comes out to her back patio when I tell her I am down on the trail and looking for a way up the bank to her house. She gives me instructions for the quickest way up and around and after hanging up I am at her front door in minutes. She invites me in with much enthusiasm and introduces me to her family as I enter. First I meet Dillon, Patti’s son. He is particularly interested in my hike and has many questions for me. I am offered a spot at the bar in their kitchen where Patti opens a beer for me. Next Patti’s husband Andy comes in and has many questions for me. It turns out Andy is a former professional soccer player, both in the US and the UK. A few minutes later Dillon’s girlfriend Becky walks in, back from a recent trip. They all gather around as I tell my story so far, and that I hope to make it to Kalkaska by Saturday.
As I am sitting enjoying a rest and another cold beer Patti asks me where I plan to stay tonight. Then it hit me, I hadn’t made a plan for tonight. After already having burned another hour I check my map and see that I am still a good eight miles from the next section through the state forest, and it is already evening. Then as I am thinking of what I could do I remember an email I received a few days ago from a guy near Petoskey offering assistance when I came through this area. I get online and check it again, find out he lives only a few miles from here right on the road walk section between Petoskey and the state forest. Now if only I could get ahold of him. I send him an email telling him of my situation and leave my number so he can call me. I hope he checks his mail tonight.
After informing Patti of my plan I decide to head out, not wanting to waste any more time in case the call never comes and I have to push on in the dark. After taking a picture with the Chapman family in front of their house I say goodbye to everyone and shoulder my pack once again.
The trail through Petoskey is a combination of sidewalks and a river park trail making for some quick hiking. Not even a mile down the trail from the Chapman’s home the phone rings. On the other end is John Day, he received my email and called me immediately. In my email I asked if it would be ok if I pitched my tent in his yard for the night, but he tells me on the phone that he already has a room for me in his house. I tell him where I am and he says it shouldn’t take me more than an hour to get there.
On the south end of town the trail crosses the North Central Michigan College campus and the woodlot that it operates around it. At the end of the property the trail ends and takes to the roads. Along the first part I encounter a porcupine scurrying across the road to get away from me. By the look of its back it has been in a fight recently and didn’t escape without losing many quills. Poor guy. As I make my way along the roadwalk I spot a sign with my name on it and a cooler sitting beneath it. I have arrived at my destination, and John and his wife have left me some trail magic. I snap a picture of the sign and within seconds I am greeted by two people. Hence I meet John and Dove Day, dedicated NCT members who have been following my hike pretty closely. They bring me up to their home where they have a fire going and I meet their two kids. For dinner tonight are hotdogs over the fire plus some goodies from the care package these kind folks left for me. I am pleased to find a beer and an Arizona Tea in the cooler, they have been paying attention to my journals. Also inside is an envelope with my name on it. I open it to find a note and a photo of the Lake Champlain Bridge, what lies ahead at end of the trail in New York. They explained that they got the idea after reading my post about my struggle in the Ottawa National Forest and how my dream that night gave me a surge of inspiration that was enough to keep me going. Now I had an actual picture of my destination and what I was striving for, and I could look at it whenever I felt like giving up if that sensation where ever to come upon me again.
I feel spoiled as I am sitting in a lounge chair in front of the fire with a hot dog in my hand and Dove brings me a strawberry smoothie. During dinner they ask many questions about my hike and I relate the full story of my journey up to this point, as my posted journals ended about two weeks ago. As darkness descends John lights off some fireworks as nearby some other folks are having pre-fourth of July celebrations themselves. I end up staying up later than I should have, but definitely don’t regret it. Once inside Dove says that I can take a shower and leave anything I want washed outside my door so it will be ready in the morning. After getting cleaned up I settle into my room for the night, grateful for another night in a soft bed. With a smile on my face I think back on the events of today, three separate events of unbelievably generous trail magic all in the span of one day. A good fourth of July celebration if there ever was one.


Thur. July 4
Trail Day 095
Miles hiked: 40
Alba, MI

I am served a nice warm breakfast as I prepare to depart this morning. I’ve enjoyed spending the night here with John and Dove, I do hope I will see them again someday. In a short time I have my gear all packed, my freshly cleaned cloths on and I am ready to depart. We take a few photos together and after a handshake and a hug I am off.
The trail this morning starts on private land before entering the Mackinaw State Forest. This section is finely groomed and maintained trail. Early on I am faced with the longest gradual uphill climb I have ever encountered, by my estimate stretching almost two miles. I thought I was in decent shape, but this climb kicked my butt. They should have a bench halfway up and one at the top, holy smokes! Today the trail is interrupted by many short roadwalks, some paved but mostly gravel. I’m not sure why but my feet are not happy today. After turning onto another gravel road I cross a creek running along the edge of someone’s yard. No one appears to be home so I get off the road and take a rest on the bank. I slip off my shoes and dip my feet in the water for a good soak. I also take this time to filter some water and have a lunch.
After a good 15 minutes of soaking my feet I slip my shoes on and begin hiking once more. My feet are much happier now, the cold water did wonders to ease some of the pain.
The trail continues down more gravel roads and some sandy two tracks and into the woods again before emerging out onto busy Hwy 131. The trail here looks to not have been maintained in awhile but I head on in to try it out. Maybe a half mile in I lose the trail. The brush has not been cut back so the tread is no longer visible, and I can see no blazes up ahead or on either side. I spend a good ten minutes looking around for any sign of the trail but am unable to locate it. I don’t have time for this, I need to be in Kalkaska by Saturday morning and this section has not been kept open. With nothing left to do I backtrack back to the road and begin a long roadwalk along the busy highway. There is a DNR fish hatchery a few miles down the road where I can hopefully pick up the trail again. A good distance down the road as I am walking I am surprised at how dark it has gotten already. I check my watch and am amazed that it is already late evening. I completely lost track of time focusing on doing as many miles as possible. Within about 20 minutes I need to get out my headlamp as it has grown too dark to walk safely along this road. I hike in the dark for what seems like hours until I notice a little cluster of lights on my right. As I get closer I realize that I have arrived in a small town, Alba. Having a strong sinking feeling that I have missed a turn I take out my map. Yep, I missed the turn to the fish hatchery in the dark and walked right past it all the way into Alba. This means I overshot my target for the night and missed a section of certified trail that I was looking forward to hiking along the Jordan River. With nothing else to do I keep walking to the far side of town and start looking for a place to set up camp. The plot of land behind the gas station is completely empty, a nice flat spot covered in long grass with a few trees to provide cover. This will have to do for tonight.


Fri. July 5
Trail Day 096
Miles hiked: 34
Near Wheeler Lake Road - Pere Marquette State Forest

Despite my incredibly long day yesterday I am up early this morning. To save time I don’t bother preparing breakfast but just pack up my gear as quickly as possible and decide to have breakfast on the go from the gas station. As I am paying for my snack the woman behind the counter asks where I’m headed. I tell her I am hiking the North Country Trail and I am surprised when she says she has heard of it. It turns out she knows the person in charge of maintaining the northern section along the Jordan River, the area that was impassable yesterday. She says she will pass on the maintenance issue and get it resolved and she gives me directions to the quickest way back to the trail.
The trail is only a mile out of town on a gravel road and I reach it in no time. Here I have a choice to make, continue on from where I am or go back and try and hike as much of this trail as possible. I decide with the latter, as I feel somewhat guilty for missing the certified trail yesterday despite it being an honest mistake. I head back north on the trail to the nearest trailhead, there to drop my pack and carrying only my camera I head back up the trail as quickly as possible to at least see some of the Jordan River before continuing on. I snap many good photos along this stretch before turning around again. By the time my detour is done I have hiked eight miles but have made zero forward progress. It is quite frustrating, but at the time I felt like I needed to do it.
Pack shouldered again I head south, finally making some forward progress. The off-road trail is well marked today  and I have an easy time staying on course. The trail winds around a few lakes on its journey through the Mackinaw and Pere Marquette State Forests. It is very hot today so I take frequent breaks to avoid getting another dose of heat exhaustion like I had back in the UP. Toward the end of the off-road portion I take a break at a state forest campground to take a rest and restock on water to stay fully hydrated. I spend a half hour sitting on a picnic table at one of the campsites snacking and drinking water. The campground is pretty crowded, I am at one of the only open sites. I get really annoyed when some guys on dirt bikes come speeding in and out of the campground while exploring some of the trails in the area. Technically it’s not illegal, but you would think some  people would have the decency to not make so much noise when a
campground full of people is right there trying to relax in peace and quiet… rude.
When the half hour is up I set out again and begin a long roadwalk out of the state forest. This brings me through the tiny village of Darrough where I stop at the gas station for another rest on this hot day. Inside I am pleased to find a small kitchen where they make homemade pizza and serve ice cream. I decide to indulge myself in both and no sooner have I sat down to enjoy my dinner than people start pouring in. This must be a favorite spot for the locals. Many of the people see my pack and ask where I’m headed. When I tell them about my adventure I am pleased to find that about half of them have heard of the trail.
I still have many miles to go and it will be dark in a little over an hour so as soon as I am done eating I shoulder my pack and head out again. I manage to make it to the next section of off road trail right at the forest’s edge just after dark where I am greeted by a swarm of mosquitos, the first since leaving the UP. I take off my pack to grab my headlamp and the mosquito netting so I can hike the last mile or so in the dark and find a decent place to camp. I find a place where the trail comes out into a clearing where a pipeline crosses the forest. A sandy two-track is located immediately adjacent so I make sure to find a spot well away from this in case any vehicles come by in the middle of the night. I find a small clearing just inside the trees and set up my tent. As I am driving in the stakes I notice that I have just pitched my tent on the edge of a large patch of poison ivy. At this point I am too tired to care so I just do my best to minimize exposure and hang my gear in a tree off the ground. We’ll see in the next few days if I managed to avoid getting it all over me.


Sat. July 6
Trail Day 097
Miles hiked: 14
Guernsey Lake Campground – Pere Marquette State Forest

I had another restless night of sleep, much like the night before reaching St. Ignace, probably from being worried about over sleeping and missing the deadline for getting to the post office in Kalkaska before they close. I have managed to make it within five miles of the town so to miss it now would be a shame. At 5:00 I am awake and decide to just get up and go. I hike the five miles into Kalkaska by 7:30 and make my way towards the post office. They don’t open for awhile so I find a small diner right on main street and head on in for breakfast. I spend some time lingering, enjoying my omelet and a few glasses of soda before heading out. I am at the post office as soon as they open and retrieve my next food drop, enough food and supplies to get me to White Cloud. By 9:30 it is already very hot. It’s already 90 degrees and tomorrow is supposed to be the same. Yup, I’m getting into the thick of it now.
I definitely need some time to rest before continuing on in this heat so I spend a few hours hanging out downtown, stopping for ice cream at the local joint and then heading to Burger King to use their WiFi to check email. Early afternoon I decide to finally get moving again. Heading out of town the NCT follows the TC to K trail through the Pere Marquette State Forest for a few miles before splitting off. I reach the Guernsey Lake Campground where I decide to head in and set up camp. Today was a short day, but given the heat and the intense miles I’ve done over the past week I think it’s a good idea to take it easy the rest of the day. I set up my tent and sit down at the picnic table to have one of my hot meals. After dinner I relax at the table and read many pages from Tolkein. After awhile a man from the adjacent campsite comes walking toward me. Hence I meet Tony. He had seen my pack earlier when he walked by to get some water. He is here with his family and they are just finishing dinner and wanted to offer me the leftovers. I can’t say no to that so I head on over to his campsite where I meet his wife Kelly and his son Max. They hand me a plate full of macaroni, corn, and a chocolate chip cookie. I spend the next several minutes telling them my story so far and where I am headed after this. They seem interested in the trail and I hand Kelly a link to my website so they can check it out once they get home. Thanks for the fine dinner folks, it was nice meeting you.
I head back to my campsite and head to bed early to catch up on rest from the past few days.


Sun. July 7
Trail Day 098
Miles hiked: 21
Home of Mark and Tamal Lindsay - Kingsley, MI

Despite heading off to bed early last night I still managed to sleep in pretty late this morning. I decide to cook another meal for breakfast before hitting the trail again. As a result I get a late start but my pack is now that much lighter from consuming another meal which in this heat makes all the difference. Heading out I pass by my friendly neighbors and Tony wishes me luck as I pass. Leaving the campground the trail passes through the Sand Lakes Quiet Area for several miles, I pass several isolated campsites loaded with people out for the weekend. The trail in this area is a variety of widely groomed trails and some sandy two tracks. After a few hours my phone rings and I am talking to Mark Lindsay from Kingsley. He had sent me an email awhile back showing interest in hosting me for a night and he has called me this morning to set up a meeting place. We make plans to meet at the end of the day near the point where the NCT crosses Hwy 186.
Despite the heat I manage to make good progress and make it through the forest and out to a short roadwalk where Mark plans to pick me up. I get maybe a half mile down the road when a van pulls up. Of course it is Mark here to pick me up for the day, what excellent timing. He says he will turn the van around and meet me down a half mile where the road forks and I can pick up there in the morning. In a few minutes I am loading my gear into his van and we head west a few miles off the NCT into the town of Kingsley where Mark lives. When we arrive I am introduced to his wife, Tamal, and pointed in the direction of the shower where I can finally get cleaned up. Dinner is ready shortly afterwards and I get the chance to sit down and meet Mark’s family. I am asked many questions and spend a good deal of time telling my story so far and Mark’s kids seem very impressed. Afterwards his kids disperse and I am left conversing with Mark and Tamal at the table. Mark relates his experience four years ago when Nimblewill Nomad stayed at his house on his thru-hike and what an inspiration it was to him. Mark hopes to one day have the opportunity to hike the whole trail. We share several other travel stories as Tamal disappears and comes back with a box of Klondike bars for dessert. I have never had one before so my taste buds are in heaven when I finally bite into mine.
After dessert I spend the next hour conversing more with Mark and Tamal and then it’s time for bed. I head to the basement to my spot on the couch and within a few minutes of shutting off the lights I am off to sleep.


Mon. July 8
Trail Day 099
Miles hiked: 30, +1
Unmarked campsite near 15 Road – Pere Marquette State Forest

I am up early for a quick breakfast before Mark needs to head to work. In no time I have my gear packed and am ready to go. Mark has me back on the trail by 6:30 where I say goodbye to another new friend. Thanks Mark for your hospitality and sharing your stories with me. I hope our paths cross again.
As I set out this morning the rain sets in and stays around most of the day. I am not hiking for very long when a thunderstorm rolls in. After awhile as I am making my way along a ridge above the Manistee River the lightning gets closer and closer until one hits less than a mile away. It is so close that I can feel the ground shake as I see a blinding white flash and hear a horrendous explosion directly over my head. This isn’t good, I’m in an area where the forest is thinner and I have these metal trekking poles. I decide I need to get to lower ground as quickly as possible to avoid becoming a lightning rod. Luckily near this spot the trail descends into a creek bed and I decide to hunker down here on the edge of the river until the lightning passes. My rain coat has managed to keep me mostly dry to this point so I decide to get out my rain fly from my tent to rig up a temporary shelter to wait out the storm in. As I am setting up I am surprised when two hikers come down the trail toward me. Hence I meet Dave and Patty Warner out for a morning hike. They are members of the local chapter and were hoping to meet me at some point as I hiked through this area. Despite being completely soaked they appear to be having a good time. We talk for a few minutes and then they continue on down the trail.
As I am just sitting under my rain fly I take the opportunity to have a snack and study my maps. After the lightning has subsided for ten minutes I decide it is probably safe to continue on. Before too long I come to a gate and a gravel road on the other side. I have a short roadwalk from here to connect to the next segment of trail. The road is supposed to turn within about a mile and I get concerned when I am hiking for more than 20 minutes with no sign of the road. I decide to hike on a little further hoping that the map may just be wrong. Soon I hear a vehicle slowing down behind me. As I turn and the window comes down and I recognize Dave and Patty. It turns out I was going the wrong way. On the map the gate was facing the wrong way so I was misled into hiking the wrong direction. Luckily Dave and Patty were here to get me back on track. I hop into their van and they drop me back on the trail at the correct place. They wish me luck as they drive away. Thank you Dave and Patty for helping me out today. If you hadn’t shown up when you did I would have wasted time and many miles trying to find the trail again. It was nice meeting you.
The thunderstorm has passed but the rain continues off and on for the rest of the day. During a break in the clouds the sun manages to come out for a short time and I stop where I am along the Manistee River for a break. As I am cooking one of my meals a van pulls up on the sandy two-track adjacent to the trail.  Down goes the window and I meet Terry. Turns out he has been following my progress on Facebook so when he saw a hiker with a big pack sitting on the riverbank he knew it had to be Strider. Before he leaves he snaps a picture so his family will believe that he got to meet me and after wishing me luck he is gone.
Continuing on, the trail parallels the Manistee River for the rest of the day. Towards the end I am again faced with lots of poison ivy lining the trail on both sides. I am careful not to let any of it touch my ankles if it can be helped. Just before nightfall I come to a nice little campsite that is not marked on the map. Here on the trail it is marked with the friendly tent symbol, and it even has a small bridge leading right to it. I pitch here for the night and settle in for a nice night of sleep.


Tue. July 9
Trail Day 100
Miles hiked: 24
Home of Loren Bach and Dave Martus – Irons, MI

I decided to sleep in this morning, I’m not hiking until after 8:30. From my campsite it’s maybe a half mile to the next trailhead, there to begin a roadwalk into the town of Mesick. I’m there by 10:00 and I stop at Ellen’s Corner for breakfast. A few slices of freshly baked pizza does just fine to satisfy the stomach. As I am sitting outside enjoying my breakfast a man comes around the corner with a bag of cherries in his hand. “Here’s something for the road,” he says. Hence I meet James, a local who saw me sitting outside with my large pack and walked across the street to a fruit stand to get freshly picked cherries. He is familiar with the trail and is amazed that I intend on hiking the whole thing. We talk for a few minutes and then he is on his way to begin the day. Thanks for the treat James.
Before leaving I fill up my water and head into downtown, there I run into a guy outside the grocery store with his dog. Hence I meet Brian, out walking his dog enjoying the nice day. He asks a few questions and then is on his way. I head to the library to use their WiFi so I can check my email. I also take this time to call Loren Bach, president of the Spirit of the Woods Chapter. She left me a voicemail about a week ago asking me to call when I reached Mesick. She lives not far from here and wants to host me and try to set up a few interviews with the local news outlets, hoping to raise some awareness for the trail. We make plans for her to pick me up at the end of the day at the crossing of the Coates Hwy in the Manistee National Forest. Plans made, I shoulder my pack and hike on, reaching the Hodenpyl Dam and the northern boundary of the Manistee National Forest. The hike along Hodenpyl Dam Pond is very pleasant. The view is wonderful, no underbrush to block the view. It is easy to see 100 yards or more into the forest most of the time. Along this stretch there are a few small campgrounds located right on the lake. At the Northern Exposure Campground I take a short detour and head up the road a quarter mile to Nate’s Country Store. Mark Lindsay told me stop in here when I passed through to try some of their ice cream so here I am. As I walk in a man comes out to the counter, Nate himself. “You must be the hiker,” he says. He grabs an envelope tacked to his bulletin board with my name on it. It turns out one of the local trail maintainers left six dollars for me to use to get one of the famous ice cream cones. Thanks very much to the generous donor, it’s just what I needed on a hot day like this. Luckily there was enough money left over after the ice cream to buy one of the Arizona Teas I’ve come to enjoy. I sit at one of Nate’s tables to cool off and get rehydrated after downing my ice cream. Soon Brian walks in, here to use Nate’s WiFi. “Hello again.” After finishing my drink I decide I could still benefit from some more hydration so I get up to purchase a gatorade to bring along for the road. As I am ready to check out a group of three men walk in, all local trail maintainers. They recognize me right away and have many questions about my travels. They are particularly interested in their section, if I had any problems getting turned around or if I thought it needed any additional maintenance. Everything is good from my eyes guys, thanks for all your hard work.
At the counter now I pay for my drink and am ready to leave when Nate tells me to wait a second. He reaches down, pulls out a 50 dollar bill, and hands it to me. Wow, thanks Nate for your generous donation. I will use it well. After thanking Nate and saying goodbye I head out once again, still many miles to hike before day’s end.
Shortly after leaving the campground the NCT meets a junction with the Manistee River Trail which basically parallels the NCT on the opposite side of the river. I’ve heard good things about it. Currently both routes are acceptable for a thru hike but I decide to stick to the blue blazes. I am greeted by more nice trail, again no underbrush to block the view and the soil is fairly sandy making it much softer on the feet. Early evening I reach the Coates Highway and after waiting only about seven minutes a van pulls up and stops. Hence I meet Dave Martus and Loren Bach, here to shuttle me to their place near Irons for the night.  On the ride over we make nice conversation about the trail in the local area, they give me a summary of what to expect in the days to come.
We arrive at their lovely home and I am directed to the guest house where I will be spending the night. I am then shown the way to the shower so I can get cleaned up and then we all sit down to a nice meal. Afterwards I am inclined to retire early as I am very tired from the longer days and the heat. I make my way up to the guest house and crash as soon as my head hits the pillow.


Wed. July 10
Trail Day 101
Miles hiked: 29
Home of Loren Bach and Dave Martus – Irons, MI

Last night I decided to spend another night with Loren and Dave after they offered, so we made a plan for me to get picked up at the end of the day near the Freesoil Trailhead. After breakfast I am back on the trail at Coates Hwy where I ended yesterday. The hike today is very pleasant. It starts off on a nice mowed trail through an open meadow with views of the Manistee River below. Back in the woods now I’m on many switchbacks winding up and around a steep incline. I pass a few bikes on this section today as this is one of the few areas where the trail is open to multiple use.
After a few hours the trail crosses the “High Bridge” and leaves the Manistee River to head south. At the Udell Trailhead I see a man walking toward me. Hence I meet Dave Yarnell, a reporter from the Manistee News Advocate. He is here to interview me about my trail experience so far, and he has even brought a chair for me to sit in. For the good part of a half hour I am in an interview talking into a camera to be posted on the Manistee News website. Afterwards I pose for a few pictures and thank Dave for taking the time to come out here. Immediately afterwards I get a call from Brian Mulherin of the Ludington Daily News, and so I have another interview. I don’t mind it in the slightest, I can’t think of a better way to raise awareness for the trail than getting an article in the local paper or on TV.
The second interview went a little quicker so after a good hour of sharing my story I am on the trail again hiking south. Before too long I get a call from Loren Bach. She informs me that a few of the chapter volunteers will be stopping over at the house tonight and one of them will be driving right by where I will need to get picked up. I inform her that I’m a little behind schedule so I will need to stop a few miles early at the crossing of Tyndall Rd rather than at Freesoil. With the new plans in place I hike on for a few more hours, ending the day with a long boardwalk section with a swarm of mosquitos. I emerge onto the road and there is a car waiting for me. Here to pick me up is Joan Young, one of 10 people that has completed the entire trail, and an active member of the Spirit of the Woods Chapter. I hop into her car and relate some of my experiences so far.
Back at the house I hop in the shower first thing and then head in for dinner. I am introduced to chapter members Ed and Nancy Chappelle, here to meet me and hear some stories. I enjoy a fine evening with these folks. Before leaving Joan hands me a bag with some trail goodies for the road. Afterwards I sit down for dessert with Loren and Dave and get a call from Bruce Matthews at HQ. Tomorrow there is a dedication ceremony for the town of Lowell. It will become an official trail town and since I am not far away they want me there if possible. We make plans for one of the staff to pick me up tomorrow around noon and bring me down to Lowell for the night. With all the excitement of the past few days I am definitely tired so I head up to my spot in the guest house and settle in for another night of comfortable sleep.


Thur. July 11
Trail Day 102
Miles hiked: 16
Home of Beth Keloneva - White Cloud, MI

Last night during dessert Loren told me to stop by a little convenience store just off the trail and talk to Anne, the owner. She was interested in meeting me. I load my stuff into the van and Dave drives me to Tyndall Rd where I will continue my journey south through the Manistee Forest. Thanks for the lift Dave.
The hike today is absolutely gorgeous, one of the nicest sections in the Lower Peninsula so far. The forest is thicker here with many oaks and pines growing together, but still very little under brush. I enjoy places like this, the tall red pines constantly reminding me I am still in the north woods.
Before too long I reach a short two and half mile section of roadwalk and watch for where the trail turns back into the woods. I locate it and then continue on down the road for another quarter mile to stop in at Anne’s store and introduce myself. I find the place, located right off the shore of a lake and head on in. There is a woman at the counter who I’m guessing must be Anne. I introduce myself, “You’re the hiker!” she says. She directs me over to the counter where she has a glass case full of many different flavors of ice cream. She asks which flavor I want, I respond with Mackinaw Island Fudge. I had this flavor back at Nate’s Country store and it has become a favorite of mine. I bring my large cone up to the register and Anne tells me “it’s on the house.” Wow, thanks Anne.
The day has turned very hot so before leaving I decide to grab a cold Gatorade for the road. In the fridge I see that Anne has a fine selection of beer as well, including almost all varieties of the Keewenaw Beer from the UP. I decide to grab one of those too, the blonde ale, to enjoy before leaving. I pay for my drinks and say goodbye to Anne, thanking her for her kindness.
About two hours after leaving Anne’s store I come to the crossing of Centerline Rd where I was planning to get picked up. I find a note on the ground tied to a small stump. It’s from Dave, NCTA, says he went up to the next road in case I hadn’t gotten this far yet and that I should wait here for him to come back. I’m not waiting more than ten minutes when a car pulls up. Hence I meet Dave Cowles from NCTA HQ, here to bring me down to Lowell to partake in the festivities of the day. We load my gear into his vehicle and begin the journey south, a good two hour drive.
On the way to Lowell we talk about many things regarding the trail; maintenance and markings, favorite sections, and future plans among other things. From hiking the trail these past many months I have seen the trail through a thru-hiker’s perspective and have come up with many ideas that I think could attract more users in the future and I share many of these with Dave and plan to share them with Bruce as well. We arrive in Lowell mid-afternoon with plenty of time to prepare before the celebrations start. Dave drops me off at Bruce’s house where they have already allowed for me to get cleaned up. When I arrive I meet Bruce’s Wife, Linda. She invites me in and shows me the way to the shower were I can get cleaned up. Afterwards I head back out into the kitchen where Linda pours me a large glass of juice on this hot summer day. She asks many questions about my hike so far and is glad that I was able to make it down here for the dedication ceremony. She then tells me how to get from here to the NCT headquarters only a few blocks away and I make my way there. I find the place easily enough, located right on main street near the flat river. I head on in and I am recognized as soon as I enter. Most of the staff are there at the moment. The first one I meet is Tarin Hasper. I have spoken with her many times, mostly before my hike began to coordinate supplies like maps, apparel and the GPS unit they have been kind enough to allow me to use. Next I meet Jill Decator, Beth Henkels, Andrea Ketchmark, and Bruce Matthews. After brief introductions I head back with Bruce into his office. First thing he does is pull up a video from the Manistee News Advocate, my interview from a few days ago has been posted and he wanted me to see it. It turned out better than I thought. We spend the next several minutes talking trail, I mention to him many of the ideas I have to attract more users and improve the trail in general.
Afterwards we head outside for a quick walk down the street. On the outside of the NCT headquarters building a new attraction has just arrived. Some of the local students spent much of the school year painting a mural of the NCT on three large palates that are now attached to the outside of the building. It’s a very clever way to raise awareness of the trail. It will play a part in the dedication ceremony happening shortly. Before long people start gathering on the street. A podium is set up outside the building and a few people with cameras arrive. I am brought aside for a quick interview for the local paper. Also here to capture the whole ceremony is Brandon Mulniks. He is an ultra runner and frequently does his workouts on the trail nearby. He has even done the ultra marathon up on the Superior Hiking Trail that happens every fall. He hands me his card and tells me to give him a call when I officially come through the area, about a week from now.
Soon the ceremony begins, lots of people are gathered on the street. The mayor of Lowell and Bruce are at the podium. All the NCTA staff including the National Park Service representatives are here. The mayor gives an opening speech welcoming the NCT, and the NCTA to Lowell. Bruce then gives a brief presentation about the trail followed by the Superintendent with the park service, Mark Weaver, who talks a little about the trail’s formation back in 1980 and the partnership with the NCTA. The presentation concludes with an official ribbon cutting and Bruce calls me up to do the honors. With a scissors in my hand, after Bruce gives an introduction about my adventure I cut the ribbon and Lowell is made a trail town of the NCT. To finish off the ceremony, the coordinator of the mural project comes up and introduces all of the artists who contributed to the great piece of art. Afterwards I stick around for many pictures. I then get a chance to meet a few of the local trail maintainers. First I meet Beth Kelenova from White Cloud who has agreed to put me up at her place tonight. Also here is the president of the Western Michigan Chapter, Chuck Hayden. Chuck gives me a short rundown of what I can expect the next few days as I enter his chapter’s area. Soon the party moves inside and there is a table of food in the back. Here I meet a few others, including Matt Rowbathom, the GIS Coordinator for the NCTA, and Jeff McCusker with the National Park Service. I thank Matt for the new maps he provided me, they have worked very well so far and are more up-to-date than the current retail maps. I can’t stay too long as I need to be mindful of Beth’s schedule so after meeting everyone I head to Bruce’s house to retrieve my gear and load it into Beth’s van. We head back to her place in White Cloud and she gives me the tour of her nice home. Her house is right on the back side of a small lake, complete with a dock. My feet were bothering me a little bit today so I decide to hang my feet in the water for awhile. Beth comes out and hands me a beer and we sit for awhile and talk about the trail. Afterwards it is time for bed, I have another long day tomorrow.


Fri. July 12
Trail Day 103
Miles hiked: 25.5
Near 96th St - Manistee National Forest

For breakfast this morning is a nice homemade meal from Beth and then it’s off to the post office to retrieve my next food drop. I call this one my “halfway” box as I am now very near the halfway point of the trail as it exists right now. Enroute to the trail we make a quick stop at the local bakery for some fresh donuts by Beth’s recommendation. Looks like we’re having Second Breakfast today. Before long I am back at the trail where it crosses Centerline Road. Beth waits patiently as I unload the contents of the box into my pack. This one seems heavier than usual and I soon find out why. My family has sent a few extra items in celebration of crossing the halfway point, including letters from all my family members, some candy, and a tiny bottle of wine. Thanks, Mom.
Pack shouldered and ready to hit the trail again I say goodbye to Beth, thanking her for being a trail angel. She snaps a few photos of me and I turn and continue my long journey south through the Manistee National Forest. After about six miles I reach the Timber Creek Campground where I stop to have lunch and stock up on water. A few hours later near Bowman Lake I stop for a rest and check my email again. I remember receiving an email many weeks ago from someone in this area and sure enough here it is. I call the number they have given me and I am talking to John Levings who has a cabin nearby. He is happy to help me out any way he can and he says he’ll meet me where the trail reaches Bowman Lake. I’m only a short distance away as I made the call so I am surprised when I arrive to find that he is already there waiting. It turns out his cabin is literally across the street from the trail so we head over there where he has a nice patio overlooking the river below. The day has grown quite hot and humid so it feels really nice to sit down in the shade. Before I can say anything John brings out a beer and a plate with some smoked salmon for a snack. Now this is some trail magic, I take smoked salmon whenever I can get it. We spend awhile talking and I find out that John has traveled all over the place, he’s been to Mexico and South America many times to a point where it’s almost become an annual occurrence. He comes back up to Michigan for the summers to pass the time away up here in the woods. After awhile we head to the nearby town of Baldwin for a burger at the local pub. John then drops me off at the trail again and I have a few hours yet until it gets dark. I finish the day hiking a fantastic boardwalk through the Sterling Marsh. I am instantly reminded of the Brule Bog back in Wisconsin, as this boardwalk is of a similar length, though it is chopped up into about six segments rather than being one continuous structure. Immediately adjacent in many spots a private landowner has put up fences and flagging to keep hikers away. Despite a few delays, I make it just past the sterling marsh before it gets dark and I pitch my tent on a low hill above the trail.


Sat. July 13
Trail Day 104
Miles hiked: 25
NCTA Schoolhouse - White Cloud, MI

Today is more hiking through the beautiful Manistee National Forest. I am up early and hike for several hours before taking a spur trail into Highbank Lake National Forest Campground to fill up on water and use the facilities. Despite filling up my water yesterday the humidity is very high today and I need to drink more to stay properly hydrated. The rest of the day is very uneventful as I make my way through the forest past many lakes. Early evening I come to a white-blazed spur trail that should lead me to the NCTA Schoolhouse. I take the spur trail, intent on checking out the former headquarters for the trail. On my map it looks as if the spur is no more than a mile long so after a half hour of hiking I get concerned when I haven’t crossed any roads yet. Soon I come to a sign that indicates the schoolhouse is still a mile and half from here to the north and a campground to the south. Totally confused I dig through my maps and find the new waypoint-added maps issued to me from HQ and realize my mistake. The trail I am on is an entirely new trail that doesn’t even show on the older map. I took a spur trail that took me three miles out of the way in a semi-circle around the schoolhouse.
After another half hour I finally arrive and find a few people camping outside in the back yard. They are volunteers from the Western Michigan Chapter, out here for a weekend of trail maintenance. Here I meet Paul and Jim, both friends of “Windigo Doug”. They invite me over to the picnic table to share in some appetizers before dinner so I sit down and enjoy snacking on some veggies and a nice cold beer. Soon a few other volunteers arrive and we spend some time exchanging stories. I tell the story of my hike so far, and they tell me of local happenings on the trail. This year they are working on a loop trail that will connect the main NCT to the town of White Cloud, making it eligible to be a trail town in the future. They’re hoping to have it done this year.
As we are talking Paul gets a call on his phone, it’s Beth and she is on her way. Paul hands me the phone and I’m on the line with Beth. She asks if there’s anything I want from town before she heads to the schoolhouse. I’ve been craving subway for the past few days so I tell her my favorite sandwich called the spicy Italian. Pepperoni, salami, pepperjack cheese, with some lettuce, spinach, black olives and mayonaise, delicious! In no time Beth arrives and hands me my dinner, a delicious subway sandwich. Another call on Paul’s phone, it’s Windigo Doug himself. He was originally planning to come out and work this weekend but his plans changed. Instead, we make plans for him to pick me up near Lowell in a few days and host me for a night. Looking forward to it Doug.
Afterwards we all head over to the fire for some smore’s and more trail talk before one by one dropping off for bed. I shouldn’t stay up too late, I have a long day tomorrow and they’re saying it’s going to be a hot one. I head into the schoolhouse with my gear, plop a mattress down on the floor and head off to sleep.


Sun. July 14
Trail Day 105
Miles hiked: 29
Home of Mike and Jane Hennes - Newaygo, MI

As I woke up this morning I took a few minutes to look around the inside of the schoolhouse. The seven state map of the whole trail is still up on the far wall, a table is set up with all the brochures. This schoolhouse at one time served as the headquarters for the NCTA. The HQ has since moved to Lowell but they still maintain this schoolhouse and it’s available for hikers to rent for a night or two if they wish. It also serves at a good staging area for the Western Michigan Chapter’s trail work weekends such as the one this weekend. Yes, surely a nice asset to the trail.
I’m out pretty early on a roadwalk to hook back up with the trail a few miles from here. After three miles I approach the first road crossing and I spot a cooler sitting on the side of the trail. My name is written on top. As I open it I find a note inside along with many trail goodies; water, Gatorade, fruit, and cookies, left here by Tracy, no last name given. Thank You Tracy for your generous care package. This road crossing is Hwy M-20 and the supposed half-way point for the trail as it exists right now. I snap a photo of the trailhead sign and continue on. A little ways down the trail as I approach the White River I stop suddenly in my tracks, a slight movement on the edge of the trail caught my eye. I focus my vision and realize I have just come face-to-face with a large blue racer, one of the fastest snakes on this continent. I’m not a fan of snakes, and this is the largest one I have seen in the wild so far, close to four feet long. It’s laying halfway across the trail so I nudge it with the trekking pole hoping it will scurry off, but instead it responds by raising its head in a defensive position. I move a little to the left looking for the best way around and it inches closer to me, head still raised. Finally I back off a few feet, take a wide turn to give it plenty of room, and get back on the trail. As I do so it darts in the opposite direction and I lose sight of it in less than a second. I guess the rumors I’ve heard about racers being aggressive are true. Shortly afterwards I can hear the sound of a mower coming down the trail and sure enough, here comes a small crew of trail volunteers lead my Jim at the head operating the mower. He smiles and gives a wave as we pass each other.
In less than an hour I can feel it, the heat has definitely settled in. I take frequent breaks to stay properly hydrated. At one point I hike a short spur trail down to the roadside park off highway 37. Here I take some time to have lunch and as I am preparing a meal a car pulls in and honks. It’s Jim, the trail crew has broken for lunch and he has driven down here to enjoy the shade of some of the many picnic tables. And so I get to enjoy another conversation with Jim before he heads back to work on the trail and I decide to eventually start hiking again.
The rest of the day includes hiking through Coolbough Natural Area and ending at Kimball County Park at the Croton Dam. This is the end of the Manistee National Forest, and the end of the north woods. For the next 1000 miles or so I will be hiking through open countryside through agricultural, suburban, and some urbanized areas through the rest of the Lower Peninsula and Ohio. I won’t get back into the north woods again until I cross into Pennsylvania.
With the heat today I am definitely exhausted and once at the dam I take another break. I received an email a few days back from a couple in Newaygo who were interested in helping me out if I needed it, and I think now might be a good time to accept their offer. I make a call and soon I am talking to Mike Hennes from Newaygo. He says he can pick me up any time. We make plans for him to pick me up somewhere along the roadwalk section south of here so after hanging up I get going. I manage to make it a few miles to a restaurant parking lot. As soon as the place is in view a truck pulls in and slows down. I walk over to the parking lot of Hit-the-Road Joes and meet Mike. We throw my gear into his truck and he drives me to his home in Newaygo where I meet his wife Jane. They offer me their shower and some delicious soup for dinner. Afterwards I head into the living room and just lie down on the floor exhausted. They ask me many questions about my hike and tell me stories of many of the trips they have taken on the trail in Michigan. They have hiked most of the trail within the forest, and some of the smaller sections further south. They tell me of the time they were hiking through the Manistee a few miles north of the Dam and Mike unknowingly stepped over a Rattlesnake, not even noticing it was there, freaky.
After awhile it’s getting late and they give me a few souvenirs for the road before we all head off to sleep. Mike will drop me off at Hit-the-Road-Joes first thing in the morning.


Mon. July 15
Trail Day 106
Miles hiked: 26
Home of Doug Boulee - Grand Rapids, MI

Mike had to be on the road early so I’m back at Hit-the-Road-Joes at 7:00. Within a few minutes they open so I head on in for breakfast as I haven’t eaten yet. After downing my patty melt and a few glasses of water I hit the road.
Today is mostly a roadwalk except for a smaller chunk of certified trail through Rogue River State Game Area. By 8:00 I can already feel the heat, today may be my first triple digit day for temperature on this hike. I take frequent breaks whenever I can, usually in people’s front yards beneath a tree for shade. It’s definitely in the 100s as I stop for another break early afternoon. I take a few minutes to check my small notepad. Back at the schoolhouse in White Cloud Paul gave me the number of a woman who lives near the entrance to the game area. She is always happy to help hikers. With this extreme heat I decide it would be beneficial to get inside for awhile, especially with the hottest part of the day approaching. Soon I am on the phone with Barb Cazier. I tell her my situation, “You’re only a few miles from my house,” she says. Unfortunately she also tells me she is out of town at the moment and doesn’t expect to be back until the end of the day. I am amazed when she offers me to stop by the house anyway, let myself in, and use the shower, sink, anything I need. Thanks for the offer Barb, but I would feel a little awkward if no one is there, I hope I get a chance to meet you in the future.
Continuing on now I finally make my way to the entrance of Rogue River State Game Area, seemingly the only forested place in this entire area. As hot as it is the heavy tree cover doesn’t do much to relieve the heat. It is nice to get a break from the baking of the pavement though. Somewhere in this forest there is a visitor center where I can hopefully rest for awhile but I am unable to find it at the road crossing where it is supposed to be. Just as I enter the woods again I get a text message on my phone. It’s from Barb, she is on her way back and wants to know my location. I let her know I’m almost through Rogue River and will be at the Red Pine trailhead soon. She responds that she will be there in 15 minutes. I arrive at the trailhead and am waiting less than ten minutes when a car pulls in. Hence I officially meet Barb Cazier. After a brief introduction we load into her car and head back to her house, but not before stopping at a convenience store for her to grab a few things. Before getting out she asks what my favorite drink is. I respond that I drink pretty much anything but I’ve been craving chocolate milk lately. She heads in and in a few minutes comes out with a half gallon of chocolate milk in one hand. “For you,” she says. Thanks Barb.
We arrive at her house, literally down the street from the north entrance of Rogue River SGA. I leave my gear by the door and sit down at the kitchen bar. Barb pours me a large glass of chocolate milk first thing and then we start a long conversation while she walks back and forth across the kitchen making preparations. She is ready to prepare dinner as her husband will be home soon and she invites me to stay. I gladly accept, happy to be out of the heat for awhile. Soon her husband Glenn comes home and we have introductions. Barb and Glenn have done a lot of traveling together over the years, and they both ride Harleys. I am also not the first hiker they have hosted. Many hikers have eaten or stayed here over the years, including Nimblewill Nomad back in 2009. Glenn and Barb share the story of when they hosted Nimblewill on his thru-hike over dinner. Nimblewill wandered in looking for the trail and a temporary respite from the skeeters. Barb ended up
fixing him a steak dinner with potatoes, and she tells me how he came to call her T-Bone Barb. She has a copy of his book nearby that recounts that night from Nomad’s point of view, the same book I have on my own shelf back home and have read many times. I hope to one day turn my own experience into a book as well, to share the magic of all the great happenings on the NCT and make it available for future hikers to use a resource.
After the delicious meal prepared by Barb it’s time for me to hit the trail again. We take a few pictures on their front porch before heading out. They take a few minutes to show me access points for the trail a few miles down the road as there are a few tricky ones that are hidden from sight. Then it’s back to the Red Pine trailhead where I say goodbye to these dear new friends. Thanks for your kind hospitality Glenn and Barb, it was a great pleasure meeting you.
There are a few patchy segments of off-road trail on the southern end of Rogue River. The first entrance was a little hard to find, but thanks to Glenn and Barb I knew right where it was. On this short segment I emerge from the trees into a wide meadow and am surprised at what I see. All around me, growing in large clumps and individually are thousands of prickly pear cacti! This is very unexpected, but a nice blast of diversity on this great trail. Apparently the soil is so sandy and dry here that these cacti are able to grow and survive even in the winter months. I’ve now traveled through a transition zone into a new environment and from here on out I will be in Rattlesnake territory until I get clear through Pennsylvania. They are not particularly numerous but I will need to stay more alert and watch my step on off-road segments.
Back on the road now there are no more cacti, being completely contained within the game area. I cross busy Hwy-46 and enter Long Lake Park on the paved road. Crossing the park takes only a few minutes and soon I am in some residential areas making my way east along farm country roads. Along Indian Lakes Road I am looking for a small cornfield on one side with an active sprinkler. I am getting picked up today at this location and before long I identify the house and head on up the driveway. I see three people sitting in the front yard enjoying a few drinks and one of them stands up and comes to meet me. Hence I officially meet “Windigo Doug” Boulee in person. Back at the schoolhouse when he was on the phone with Paul we made arrangements for him to pick me up today and bring me to his home in Grand Rapids for the night. It turns out he has friends who live on this road so that’s where I am now. After we shake hands he brings me over to where the
chairs are gathered and introduces me to his friend Randy and his wife Laura. They offer me a chair and a nice cold beer which I gladly accept and we spend the better part of an hour talking. A quick thunderstorm rolls in and after it passes it is time to move on. We say goodbye to Randy and Laura, load my gear into Doug’s van and we head for Grand Rapids. Once there I get cleaned up as Doug starts to prepare dinner. In his kitchen are framed pictures of the various hikes he has done on the NCT. He is on a quest to hike the entire NCT, hiking about 300 miles at a time. I recognize most of the places on his wall. Later Paul comes over as he lives just across the street and we enjoy more trail talk. All filled up and tired from the long days I retire to bed.


Tue. July 16
Trail Day 107
Miles hiked: 26
Main Street Inn - Lowell, MI

Doug has me loaded into the van pretty early as we head back to Randy and Laura’s house. He pulls into their driveway and helps unload my gear. After a firm handshake I turn and begin hiking. Thanks for your help Doug, it was great to finally meet you.
I have a short roadwalk to a crossing of the paved White Pine Trail that will bring me into the town of Rockford. It is an enjoyable hike but even this early in the morning I need to rest a few times from the heat. Rockford is a wonderful trail town if there ever was one, plenty of fine restaurants, ice cream shops, beautiful green space, and much more. I’ve already consumed a lot of water despite only hiking for two hours so I take the opportunity to stock up on some Gatorade and spend time in the shade. Just as I am ready to hit the road again a nice little ice cream shop on the corner opens up so I head on in for a cone. With some extra calories stored up now I hit the road again. It is extremely hot today and I feel like I’m taking a break every 20 minutes. The hike today is almost exclusively on paved roads and I’m often pulling off into people’s yards to enjoy a small speck of shade beneath a tree to rest. At one point towards the end of the day a woman comes out of her house, gets in her vehicle and pulls out as I am sitting at the end of her driveway beneath a large tree. She spots me on the way out and stops, “Are you okay? Need anything?” No I’m fine ma’am, just taking a rest in the shade, thanks for the offer though. I sure have met some kind folks on this trail, total strangers concerned for the well-being of others, very refreshing.
By the end of the day I make it to a gravel road just north of Fallasburg Park where Andrea Ketchmark from HQ will be picking me up shortly. I’m not waiting more than five minutes when she arrives, ready to haul me and my gear into Lowell for the night where the newly opened motel in town has a room set aside for me. On top of that she also took the time to pick up my resupply box at the post office in town, Thanks Andrea! She drops me off at the motel and tells me to head to the Flat River Grill down the street in 30 minutes for dinner. Not wasting any time I head on in and check into my room. This new motel is very nice, freshly furnished rooms and a nice balcony at the back right on the river. I enjoy a nice cool shower first thing and after changing into my fresh clothes I head down the street for dinner. Here Andrea is waiting for me and soon after I arrive a few others join us. Jill Decator and her husband Darl are here as well as their daughter. Also here is Andrea’s boyfriend Ted, and we have an enjoyable time talking trail over some delicious food. Afterwards I head back to my room for some much needed rest. Today it reached a scorching 103 degrees and I got quite sunburned, no wonder I feel so worn out. 


Wed. July 17
Trail Day 108
Miles hiked: 25
Private home – Lowell, MI

Last night after I had already fallen asleep I received a text message from Andrea. Since leaving the Manistee National Forest there has been a lot of roadwalking and with these hot temperatures it is definitely not the most pleasant place to be. On her way back from the restaurant last night she stopped by the motel to give me an NCTA ball cap to use for the rest of the hike to help with the heat better but the doors had already been locked. She left me a note saying she left a cap behind the flower pot outside on the street so last night I went out and retrieved it. Thanks again Andrea, this will definitely be a valuable item in the coming weeks.
I have quite a busy morning ahead of me. I kept my word and gave Brandom Mulniks a call last night. He is available today and wants to hike some with me, so we made plans for him to pick me up here for breakfast and then shuttle me to Fallasburg Park where he will park his car and then come join me.
Within a few minutes of leaving my room Brandon shows up and we head to a diner down the street for a nice healthy omelet breakfast before hitting the trail. Brandon drops me off at the spot were Andrea picked me up yesterday and shuttles his car back to the trailhead at Fallasburg Park and he will hike back this direction to meet up with me. It’s about a two-and-a-half mile roadwalk along a gravel road to reach the trail in Fallasburg Park and along this stretch Brandon meets back up with me and hikes about 10 miles with me, all the way back to Lowell. Fallasburg Park is a pretty stretch of trail right along the Flat River, complete with an old historic covered bridge, the first of this hike. I make sure to snap a picture with the bridge before continuing on. Along our joined hiked today we pass through Lowell State Game Area talking about the trail itself and our running careers. Brandon is an ultra marathon runner and has done the Superior Ultra up on the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota. He relates his experience from the many races he has done over the years as we hike along and before we know it we are back in Lowell where I again stop in at headquarters. I say goodbye to Brandon at this point, thanking him for his company today and after a firm handshake is off to retrieve his car.
While here at HQ I have a few quick errands to run, a trip to the post office to mail a package home and quick meeting with Bruce before heading over to the rotary club meeting for lunch. Afterwards I have a meeting with Howard Myerson, a journalist writing an article for the Grand Rapids Press, at Flat River Grill. He’s here to get a detailed interview about my experience for the paper. While we are sitting in our booth enjoying some more delicious food Dave Cowles and Jeff McCusker happen to walk by. We have a brief conversation before we all need to get back to our tasks. The interview lasts for over an hour and then it’s time for me to hit the trail again. I thank Howard for his time and interest in the trail and then I head out the door.
I hike the short section in town through the Kent County fairgrounds and then it’s a roadwalk the rest of the day. After several hours I pass a new section of trail built recently on some property owned by Trout Unlimited but unfortunately it is currently a dead-end segment so there will be no hiking it on this trek. After this I pass the Maher Audubon Preserve and reach the next segment of trail, a narrow two-track at the entrance to Middleville State Game Area and my target destination for today. I’m not waiting too long when a trail angel arrives to pick me up for the night and we head back towards Lowell. After downing a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream it’s time for bed, I have another potentially long day tomorrow in the heat.


Thur. July 18
Trail Day 109
Miles hiked: 15.5
South of Middleville, MI

I decided to sleep in an extra hour this morning, feeling no need to get out extremely early. Then it’s back to the narrow two-track at the game area to begin today’s hike. I am now hiking through Middleville State Game Area and this stretch I am on now is on the south side of a shooting range. This morning I decided to wear my blaze orange bandana over my hat while I hiked through this section just in case anyone is out there with a gun so I am much easier to spot. Within a couple hours I am approaching the town of Middleville and as I am making my way towards downtown the phone rings. On the other end is Jean Lamoreax, I met her at the Lowell trail town dedication last week and she told me to stop in when I came though, amazing timing. Within a few minutes I make it to her office and she then gives me the tour of Michigan’s first official NCT trail town. For lunch we stop in at the local bakery where she shares my story with the servers and most of the locals nearby. Fine folks here in Middleville. After lunch Jean walks me down to where the trail leaves town following the paved Paul Henry Trail. She snaps a picture at the trailhead and away I go. Thanks for your hospitality Jean.
Along the bike trail now the mosquitos are back. In fact they are the worst I’ve encountered so far since leaving the UP. I pick up my pace to try and outrun the little buggers with little success. Finally as I emerge at the other end into a wide open clearing that serves as a trailhead I take a break in the shade at a picnic table. Today is another scorching hot day and I can feel weariness coming on so I decide to take a little nap in the shade. An hour later I wake up and after drinking many full gulps of water I am on the road again. The trouble with these roadwalks is unless you’re in a heavily developed area with access to a gas station or other public facility there are very limited places where you can safely do your business. Luckily just down the road is a church, I stop in and sure enough the door is open. I head on in and the kind lady at the table kindly shows me the way. When I come out there is a bucket of ice sitting on the table with two full bottles of water. Wow, this is some timely trail magic. Thanks folks.
Only a few miles to go now I make it to the next off road segment of trail just north of Yankee Springs. Here I call it a day. I’m kind of bummed about taking a shorter day but under the circumstances I think I need it. These last few days have been in the 100s along mostly roadwalk sections and I haven’t taken a full day off since leaving Marquette over a full month ago. It’ll be nice to rest for a few extra hours to get my strength back.
 

Fri. July 19
Trail Day 110
Miles hiked: 25
Hickory Corners, MI

I’m out the door fairly early this morning. For breakfast we swing through the McDonalds drive thru on the way to the trail. At the trailhead I snap a photo of the two of us together then it’s time to say goodbye to Gail. Thanks for slack-packing me Gail, I truly appreciate it.
The hike begins through Yankee Springs Recreation Area. Many lakes and tall trees are all around. This is a gorgeous stretch of trail, reminds me of the North Woods back home. There are many trail junctions to contend with but for the most part they are well-marked and color-coded, different colored carsonite posts indicate which trail you are on. I navigate through this area without incident. After a six mile stretch through Yankee Springs I’m in Barry State Game Area for a little while before emerging out onto a gravel road. At this access point there is a note posted: Trail ahead not maintained, turn west here to Norris Rd and follow down to designated roadwalk. It looks like this segment has been recently abandoned, so I follow the detour. This brings me through a little area known as Circle Pine Center. I was curious about this place on the map and I quickly discover what it is, a summer camp for kids. It looks like they have been busy recently, a brand new picnic pavilion complete with a running drinking fountain. Across the street a set of small houses and cabins, one likely belonging to the care takers of this property. Off in the woods I think I see what appear to be trails zig-zagging around in various directions. I stop at the picnic shelter for a quick rest and to refill my water at the drinking fountain. Within a few minutes a large group strolls up, most of them appear to be kids between the ages of 10 and 12. They must be getting back from a hike. One of the group leaders spots me and comes over. Hence I meet Josh, around my age. He seems a bit curious why I’m lingering here. I tell him my story, why I’m here, where I came from and where I’m headed. He seems surprised and wishes me luck as he heads back to his group. As I continue on down the road I get maybe a quarter mile away and I hear my name being called. I turn around and I see Josh jogging toward me. He says the group is just getting ready for lunch. “The caretakers know you’re here and said you can stay for lunch if you want, we have plenty of food.” I thank Josh for the offer but explain that I need to continue on if I am to make the mileage I want to get to tonight.
After this encounter the rest of the day is entirely a roadwalk. Before long I reach the little berg of Prairieville, it shows on the map as a single icon, a restaurant. I find the little diner situated at an intersection of two roads and I head on in. Questions start coming instantly. This appears to be a family run business. They can tell I have traveled far, and are still surprised when I explain where I came from. They bring me a glass of water and ask what I might want to eat. I inquire about any fruit they may have, they respond that unfortunately the closest thing they have is jello is small quantities. My eyes light up, “Would it be possible just to get a big bowl of jello?” “Sure,” they reply. Within a few minutes a bowl is placed in front of me filled to the brim with jello. Afterwards I decide to get a burger as well and choose the Olive burger, it sounds intriguing.
As I am waiting for my food some locals come in for dinner, all mighty fine folks interested in my travels. I take the opportunity to tell my story, and not surprisingly they haven’t heard of the NCT. I point out the blue blaze on the telephone pole across the street and explain that the trail is marked by these for all 4600 miles of its length, from North Dakota all the way to New York. They had always wondered what the blue marker meant, and when they found out they were very excited. “Well, I learned something today!” says the waitress.
As I am enjoying my delicious olive burger I find out from the locals that some bad weather is coming tonight. They are saying hail for sure, possible tornadoes. Darn, looks like I should get going to try and get to the next sheltered spot before it hits. One of the locals says he is heading to Battle Creek and offers me a lift. I thank him for his offer but explain that I really can’t take rides to skip any trail unless it is life threatening, which this is not. I tell them I can make it to the next town before the storm hits. So back on the road now I pass a beautiful piece of property on my right called the Lux Arbor Preserve, owned by Michigan State University. I imagine it must be a similar concept to the Ekre Grassland Preserve back in ND, kind of a summer research station for students in environmental or outdoor programs. It would be cool if the trail could pass through this property, just from the road it looks amazing. I end the day at the little berg of Hickory Corners. Not much here, a diner, a church, a gas station, and a handful of houses. I head over to the diner and take a seat in the bench on their front patio. I can see the storm building to the north, it’s definitely going to be a bad one. As I am sitting out front composing some of my journal entries, waiting to see what happens with the weather a few of the locals passing by stop to talk to me. A few of them stay to chat once I explain what I’m doing, they seem interested in the trail. At one point a woman comes walking down the street and asks where I’m headed. I tell her I’ll be in Battle Creek tomorrow but I’m here now to wait out this impending storm. She says she happens to know the fire chief in town, she will go ask if he will let me in to the fire station for the night. After I agree to that idea she disappears and never returns. About 20 minutes later as I am sitting outside the diner talking on my phone two young cops show up and walk right up to me. As I hang up the phone they load me with questions and ask to run my ID. I spend several minutes explaining what I am doing, where I’m headed, why I’m here and the fact that there is an impending severe thunderstorm literally a few miles away. Apparently I was labeled as a suspicion person by a few of the locals (I suspect that woman) and these young cops clearly took advantage of the opportunity to find some trouble. After running my ID they came up with a bogus story that someone from Detroit with my name had a criminal record and they thought it may have been me. After explaining that I’m a Minnesota native only passing through to get out of this storm they said I couldn’t stay here in town, and asked me to move along. I don’t argue with them and simply shoulder my pack and head out. This is ridiculous. Cops are supposed to protect us and help us, not force us out into a thunderstorm on foot with no cause. I’m sorry boys, but you leave me no choice. I wait until they’re out of sight then I hang a left turn to walk in a semi-circle around the outer edge of town. I circle back to the church and unfortunately it’s locked, however I find a semi-secluded spot behind the storage shed between the church and the cemetery where I decide to pitch for the night. It’s the only spot that has any reasonable cover from wind, debris or possible falling power lines. If this storm is as bad as they are saying the church may be my only chance for survival. Hence tonight it looks like I’ll be stealth camping, hoping like hell I don’t get swallowed up in the storm. 


Sat. July 20
Trail Day 111
Miles hiked: 29
Ott Biological Preserve – Battle Creek, MI

I was woken up several times last night by pelting rain against the rain fly of my tent, coupled with pools of water forming inside the tent. I had decided last night to leave everything in my pack accept for the tent itself in case I needed to make a quick getaway, then everything would be in one place. I’m glad I did now because if my sleeping bag had been in the tent with me it would have gotten soaked. It was so humid I really didn’t need it anyway.
As I officially wake up this morning I can tell that it rained pretty hard but there is no sign of hail damage. The storm swung east pretty early on so the worst of it just missed us. I reckon many of the towns east of here got pelted pretty hard though. It’s first light now so I don’t waste any time stuffing my tent into my pack and hitting the road early. Before long I have made it to the next segment of trail at Kellogg Farms. Much of it is in the woods near the edge of the property, around some field edges and some open meadows. At the southern end is a biological forestry station, with a visitor center and another one of those historic covered bridges, this one has the NCT logo attached right to the front of it and is now only open to foot traffic. What a neat place. The trail heads south from here along the edge of a field all the way down to the town of Augusta where a short roadwalk connects to another segment through Fort Custer National Cemetery. While in town though I spot a restaurant across the street from the trail and head on in. The name of the establishment, The Barking Frog. I enjoy another fine olive burger before continuing on. Just outside of Augusta a car pulls over to the side of the road. Down goes the window and guy asks “Are you Strider?” Totally caught me off guard. It turns out this guy has been following my progress on my website and on the NCTA’s facebook page as well. He wishes me luck and then continues on his way.
After hiking through Fort Custer Cemetery the trail follows the paved Linear Park bikeway through the city of Battle Creek. Riding in a car through Grand Rapids was one thing, being in a big city now on foot is a great culture shock after being in the woods for three months. There are people everywhere, music playing in people’s cars as they drive by, lights, noise, distractions. I hike through this section as quickly as possible and by evening I’m clear through the other side and hiking through a wooded section through Ott Biological Preserve. There is one motel nearby and I am disappointed when I find out that there are no rooms available. Looking for a place where I can pitch for the night I hike to the next section through Kimball Pines County Park. When I arrive I am utterly confused by what I see. If there were any pines here in the past, there are none here now. All that remains is a very narrow path through nothing but brush and lots of wooden debris. There is a gravel parking lot a short ways in where I could pitch but the remnants of recent campfires with alcohol containers scattered about makes me think twice. This has clearly become a party spot for the local kids. I decide to head back to the road, there is a Mcdonalds right on the trail where I can duck in and use their Wi Fi and maybe find a place nearby where I could camp. Just as I emerge back onto the crowded street a guy walks out of a gas station and flags me down. He is familiar with the trail, saw my pack and came to the conclusion that I must be out for a lengthy trek on it. When I tell him I am attempting to hike the whole thing he is greatly impressed. I learn from him that Kimball Pines was destroyed by a tornado back in 2011, and the country hasn’t started the full rehabilitation yet. Currently all that exists are the bathrooms and a roughly cut trail through the middle of the debris. I tell him my issue of not having a place to stay since the motel is closed and he recommends I pitch in the Ott Preserve. “It’s pretty quiet, no one will bother you in there.” Thanks for the tip Sir, I will take your advice.  So with that I head back into the Ott Preserve, bushwhack a good distance off the trail and pitch for the night.


Sun. July 21
Trail Day 112
Miles hiked: 26
Days Inn - Albion, MI

I’m up at first light and hiking out of town. After passing Bridge Park the rest of the day is mostly a roadwalk. Within a couple hours I reach the outskirts of Marshall, and as I am turning a corner a car pulls up to the side of the road. Hence I meet Jim Moome. He knows about the trail and is curious where I’ve come from. He is amazed when I tell him I have walked here from North Dakota and am heading all the way to New York. He snaps a picture of me before wishing me luck and continues on his way.
In Marshall there is a small section of trail, a riverwalk maybe a half mile long. It winds through some small woodlots and ends at a decent sized dam. After this the rest of the day is a long roadwalk into Albion. This is the only town within walking distance that has a motel and there is no public land in this area so naturally my options for lodging are limited. When I arrive I find Albion to be in a state of disrepair. Many of the buildings on the outskirts are abandoned, windows are broken or boarded up. There is debris lining the sidewalks, weeds growing up through the cracks. The center of town is better, but still not a very pleasant place to hike. I head over to the Days Inn for a room and the woman at the desk seems very annoyed. When I get to my room I find that it hasn’t even been cleaned yet, there is still trash in the garbage cans, the beds are not made, nothing has been cleaned. Disgusted I head back downstairs to the desk and explain the situation. The woman hands me another room key and when I get to this room, same thing. Well this is just pitiful. Finally the third time does the trick, the woman at the desk getting extremely impatient, hands me a third room key, and this one is finally clean. What a terrible experience, the worst I’ve ever had in a motel. NCTA, if it all possible I would urge you to avoid bringing the trail through Albion. For me it was definitely an eye sore and it’s not a very hospitable place for hikers.


Mon. July 22
Trail Day 113
Miles hiked: 28
America's best value inn - Jonesville, MI

I’m happy to leave this motel this morning, I hope there aren’t any more incidents like this on this trek. Today’s hike is entirely a roadwalk except for a small section in the village of Homer where there is a short pedestrian walkway crossing a river. I stop here in town for a break and a refill of my water and then move on down the road, passing through Litchfield and ending the day at Jonesville where I check into a motel a short distance off the trail. I check my email and there is a message from Dave Turner in Hillsdale. He was interested in hosting me for a night when I came through town and wants to interview me for the show he has on his youtube channel. I send him a response saying I will be passing through Hillsdale tomorrow and would be glad for any assistance he could provide. So at some point tomorrow I will be meeting with Dave in Hillsdale. Today ends with a little bit of trail magic as I head to the vending machine outside with just enough change for a single soda but when I click on the selection it gives me two! How about that. Afterwards I write a few journal entries and then head off to sleep.


Tue. July 23
Trail Day 114
Miles hiked: 26.5
Student rental house - Hillsdale, MI

From Jonesville the NCT follows an unmarked bike trail into Hillsdale. Where the bike path ends I lose the trail as it has not been marked through town. I have a very hard time locating where the trail is supposed to go and eventually end up at the school. At this point I give Dave a call, asking for directions. He says he’s nearby and will pick me up for lunch. That sounds good, it’s another hot day today and it’ll be nice to get out of the sun for awhile. Within a few minutes Dave shows up and we head to a nice pizza joint for lunch. He asks me about my experience so far, particularly along the Chief Noonday and Chief Baw Beese chapter’s segments where I’ve been for the past several days. This segment was all good until I got to Hillsdale, no blazes or markings of any kind through town. After lunch we head over to the city park where Dave sets up his video camera for an interview. He has a show on youtube where he posts occasionally about enjoying the outdoors. He has several videos from various NCT hikes he has gone on and now he wants to add to it by interviewing me. We spend about an hour filming in the park, talking about the trail itself, various hazards and planning logistics, gear and other things. After it’s all done Dave shows me where to go through town and says he will pick me up again at the end of the day.
After finding my way through town the trail is clearly marked again on the far side where it returns to more traditional tread. The trail passes by lovely Baw Beese Lake and through the little berg of Osseo before heading through Lost Nation State Game Area. This is the last off-road segment in Michigan so the rest of the day is a roadwalk straight south along farm country gravel roads.  Late evening I give Dave a call and tell him I am ready to get picked up. He will be out in a half hour so I manage to get in about two more miles before he picks me up at Camden road, just a few miles short of the Ohio border.
Back in Hillsdale he brings me into an empty house. It turns out Dave is involved with a local church and they own a house that is rented out to college students during the school year. Being summer, there are no tenants currently living in it so Dave has set it up for me to use for the night. Thanks Dave, I appreciate it.
After taking a nice shower, downing my leftover pizza and half a bottle of Gatorade I’m pretty tired so I settle in for a nice night of sleep in a quiet house.


Wed. July 24
Trail Day 115
Miles hiked: 29
Rotary Park - Wauseon, OH

I’m up early this morning, in fact it’s still dark. Dave has breakfast to go and he drops me off back at Camden Road at first light. Thanks for all your help Dave, it was nice meeting you.
It’s about 3.5 miles to the Ohio state line at Territorial Road. When I arrive I snap a picture of the sign and continue on. In a few hours I reach the town of Aldvorten where I have my next food drop. I’m here a little early, the post office isn’t open yet so I have to wait about a half hour until I can retrieve my package. Afterwards the roadwalk continues into West Unity where I pick up the Wabash-Cannonball Trail. It’s a multiple use trail, at this point beginning as a two-track. I encounter two woman on horses a little distance down this trail and I find out that horses do not like packs, in fact they are afraid of them. The women had to dismount and let the horses sniff my pack so they would know that it was harmless. I suppose to a horse, a human with a giant pack on doesn’t look like a human anymore but rather some strange animal. The quality of this trail is hot or miss, some of the open sections have been kept decently cleared, other places it is over grown with branches hanging into the treadway. Right before entering Wauseon the trail turns to ballast and then becomes paved a few miles through town. This is as far as I will go today so I need to find a place to camp. There are only a few pieces of public land here so I hang around the pond at the Rotary Park, wait until dark and pitch my tent in the woods.


Thur. July 25
Trail Day 116
Miles hiked: 32
Young Cemetery - Liberty Center, OH

Before leaving town this morning I head over to the grocery store first thing, hoping for some fresh fruit for breakfast. I find a nice batch of fresh strawberries and raspberries and spend a few minutes out in the front of the store enjoying them. As I am sitting here a woman walks over and hands me an ice cold bottle of water. “Here, I got this for you.” She must have seen me while she was walking in and wanted to make sure I didn’t overheat. I don’t even know her name, I simply know her as “The Woman in Red.” Thank you very much madam. What a nice way to start the morning, with a bit of trail magic.
Not far out of town the pavement ends and the Wabash-Cannonball Trail turns to ballast once again. Soon the ballast stones become bigger and more difficult to navigate. It is very slow and unpleasant to walk on and at a railroad crossing the trail appears to narrow and then disappear. At the next road crossing I get off trail and take to the roads for awhile to get around this mess.  A few miles down the trail again turns to pavement so I will get back on at that point. My detour takes me through the town of Delta where I stop for a break under the shade of a gas station awning.
I pass by many orchards along the roadwalk today, and a few miles outside of Delta I get another small dose of trail magic when a pickup truck pulls up next to me as I am passing one of these giant gardens and down goes the window. “Are you hungry? Would you like a fresh peach?” A woman reaches out her hand with a giant peach and hands it to me. Wow, this is amazing. Finally I make it back to the Wabash-Cannonball Trail where it is once again paved and continue heading east. I am now in Oak Openings Metro Park, located near the outer suburbs of Toledo. Within a few moments I spot a carsonite post with the NCT logo on it and a foot path heading into the woods. This trail is not on my map but I decide to follow it anyway and I find that it is well marked and maintained. Oak Openings is a pretty park indeed, lots of giant trees, well-maintained trail and some very neat picnic shelters made of stone. I stop at one of these to enjoy dinner before continuing on.
On the south end of the park I emerge onto a road and spot another carsonite post across the street. Again this section is not on my map but I decide to follow it. This leads me into a chunk of the Maumee State Forest. I’m not sure what this area is meant for, but the trails I am following now are very wide, wide enough for a two-lane road and markings become sparse. Soon I regret my decision to enter this place as following the road would have been much safer as far as getting lost is concerned. Many of the intersections in this place aren’t marked and I end up having to consult with my gut feeling on many of them, hoping I turn the right way. In the end it turns out I made all the right decisions because I emerge onto the next road and figure out exactly where I am. If they build some single-track trail away from these strange wide, open clear cut trails and build some quality single track this forest would actually be a good spot for an Adirondack shelter in the future, as this area of Ohio has very few campgrounds and even fewer right along the trail. This first stretch of Ohio may be a challenge to find adequate hiking spots, we’ll have to wait and see.
After a short roadwalk I am back on the Wabash-Cannonball Trail heading southwest now towards Neapolis. Just outside of town the pavement ends once again and the trail becomes a grassy two-track. This section is generally better maintained than the northern section and along this stretch the mosquitos come out and I need to put on my bug shirt for the first time in many weeks. Eventually the trail ends where an abandoned railroad begins and I finish off the day with a short roadwalk into Liberty Center. Back in Jonesville I took the opportunity to scout ahead online for any spots of public land I could use to pitch a tent in this part of Ohio and I found a cemetery in Liberty Center. I never thought about cemeteries as possible options until I heard about Ed Talone camping out in a few back during his thru-hike in 1994. It’s actually a clever idea if you think about it, most cemeteries have running water and a bathroom, and technically speaking it’s public land. So with my campsite identified I run into the gas station to grab some snacks and once darkness settles in I head to the cemetery and find a spot in the corner between the fence line and a mound of gravel, well away from the headstones. This will be an unusual night.
 

Fri. July 26
Trail Day 117
Miles hiked: 28
Super 8 Motel - Defiance, OH

I’m up at first light hiking another roadwalk. This leads me to Hwy 424 and the first blazed trail in Ohio, segment of canal towpath. This section is well maintained and ends on the outskirts of Napoleon where another roadwalk begins. On the way into town I find that my passage is blocked by road construction. The road into town has a bridge crossing over a creek and they just happen to be working on it. I spend a few minutes inspecting the area looking for a way around because otherwise I would have to backtrack and take a detour many miles around. After much contemplating a find one place where some debris as piled up enough into the creek to allow me to pass without getting wet. I move as quickly as possible to avoid getting in the workers’ way, scramble across the creek and make it safely to the other side. I make my way to far side of town and find more blazes, these being of the Buckeye Trail (BT) which I will follow through Ohio for about 700 miles. From town is a long continuous stretch of trail along the Miami/Erie Canal Towpath. It’s wide, flat and makes for easy hiking. Today the mosquitos are out but nothing like they were up in Mighican. Along the way are many benches installed by Eagle Scoutes over the years. The main attraction of the day is the stretch through Independence Dam State Park where another roadwalk begins that brings me into the town of Defiance where I check into a motel for the night.


Sat. July 27
Trail Day 118
Miles hiked: 24.5
Cemetery on Auglaize River near BT

I slept in this morning, exhausted from the long day yesterday and from not having a decent rest day since leaving Mackinaw City way up at the north end of the Lower Peninsula. Today’s hike is mostly a roadwalk with a few isolated segments of off-road trail. Leaving Defiance I pass by a large berm on my right, on the other side is the Defiance Reservoir. The trail keeps to the road though I suspect in the future it may be moved to the top of the berm. Many people are out along the reservoir walking or running, enjoying the day. The few off-road segments today are along the former towpath of the Miami Erie Canal and at the north end of the longer segment there is a sign marking the place where another canal joined with this one before making its way to Lake Erie near Toledo. At this trailhead there is a car parked and a man comes out to meet me. Hence I meet Sam Bonifas, BT trail supervisor of the Delphos Section. He heard I was coming through and wanted to meet me and give me some pointers on possible camping spots along his section. He also wants to set me up with an interview with the Delphos paper when I pass through tomorrow. Thanks for coming out to meet me Sam, your advice was helpful.
Along the off-road segment now I come to a stile crossing that is blocked by a large herd of cattle. I take the road around the cattle pasture and get back on the trail in the woods on the other side. Here I find the first official campsite for the Buckeye Trail at the remains off Lock 21. I stop here for a break and have lunch before continuing on. As I leave the shelter of the woods and come back out to the road the sky is pitch black to the west and the wind is so strong that my hat is blown right off my head. I couldn’t have been at the campsite more than a half hour and a large storm has rolled in. I pick up the pace and follow the blazes south until I reach a road intersection with a gas station, a place called Charloe according to the map. I look back and the storm is now directly north of me, I managed to hike my way out of its path. Along the roadwalk I pass the site of Fort Brown and stop here for a moment. Sam mentioned this was a possible place to camp but I feel like I’m here a little early, I have enough daylight to make it many more miles. I decide to push on and make it to the next segment of towpath trail which is unfortunately overgrown. There is a cemetery nearby so I make my way there and pitch for the night, glad I decided to go the extra miles.


Sun. July 28
Trail Day 119
Miles hiked: 34
Old Acadia Park - Spencerville, OH

I am up at the crack of dawn and hike nine miles into Ottoville where I head into the local subway for breakfast. From here it is a 10 mile roadwalk to Delphos where just outside of town Sam Bonifas passes me in his truck. He has set up an interview with the local paper and will be waiting at the city park once I reach town. When I arrive I get a chance to sit down at one of the picnic tables and give a brief summary of my journey so far for the local paper. Afterwards Sam asks me how far I’m planning to go today and I tell him it would be nice to get to Spencerville. He tells me there is a city park there where they don’t allow camping, but says he knows the Sheriff and will find out if he can get permission for me to stay there. Thanks Sam, that would be great.
On the way out of town I stop at The Creamery, Delphos’ famous ice cream place. I walk up with my big pack on and order a large cone and of course the pack generates many questions from the ladies inside. When I give them the brief rundown of my hike to this point they are very enthusiastic and very amazed. One of them even asks me for my autograph, while another tells me that she “feels special” that I stopped here. I sit down to enjoy my cone and as soon as I take my first bite I come to the conclusion that this may be the best ice cream I have ever tasted. Nice work ladies. Nearby many locals also see my pack and the usual questions come in. None of them have ever heard of the trail even though it follows the street right in front of this fantastic ice cream establishment. I point out the blue blazes on the telephone poles nearby and explain what they mean, just like I did for the kind folks back in Prairieville, MI. Then as I am getting ready to leave my phone rings and Sam is on the other end. He tells me he got permission from the Sheriff’s office in Spencerville for me to camp in Old Acadia Park for the night. Wow, thanks Sam. I really appreciate it.
I’ve still got many miles to go so I follow the BT out of town along the canal towpath and make it to Spencerville before dusk. I pull into the picnic pavilion at Old Acadia Park and cook dinner before setting up my tent beneath a small locust tree and heading off to sleep.


Mon. July 29
Trail Day 120
Miles hiked: 23
Back lot of McDonald's - Minster, OH

Hiking along the canal towpath has made for some easy hiking the last few days. This environment through western Ohio is not the most scenic but it does allow for high mileage days and easy access to services. I have passed through at least one town every day since crossing the border from Michigan. From here until I reach Cincinnati I wont need as many food drops because I can pick up most of what I need right on the trail in the small towns.
Today the surface of the towpath changes from grass to dirt, then to crushed limestone. Also along the trail today are remnants of the old locks, by the end of the day I will have passed 21 of these old relics. Just outside the town of St. Marys I come to a culvert underneath Hwy 33. The trail uses this to cross under the highway. These are quite common on some other trails but this is the first for me on this hike. From here the trail leads into St. Marys, a nice trail town. There is an old canal boat still floating in the canal downtown across from the city park. I take a break here for lunch before continuing on.
A few miles south of town I find a spur trail leading away from the canal to a newly formed park complete with a new trail shelter built by some Eagle Scouts. I stop in to see the new shelter and to take a quick break before making the final push for the day. There is another man here and he walks over to talk as soon as I sit down. Hence I meet “Tall Drink”, another hiker. He is not following any particular trail, but making his way from San Diego up to Maine. Instead of a backpack he pushes his gear around in a backcountry stroller, much like Bart Smith did when he hiked the trail over a few years on his quest to photograph all eleven National Scenic Trails. Tall Drink is going further than I am but he is still very impressed when I tell him about the North Country Trail and my attempt to thru-hike it. We spend a few minutes talking trail and after signing the guest book at the shelter I shake his hand and move on.
I finish the day following the canal towpaths through New Bremen and Minster. I linger for awhile in Minster to have dinner at the McDonalds and use their wifi. As darkness descends I head out and pitch for the night in the clump of trees next to the drive-thru. 


Tue. July 30
Trail Day 121
Miles hiked: 34.5
Roadside Park north of Piqua, OH

I am up at first light and make my way back to the trail along the canal towpath. Most of the day is easy walking. I pass through Lake Loramie State Park and then the village of Lake Loramie where I have a food drop waiting. I arrive a little early and have to wait until the post office opens to get my package. Afterwards I stop to enjoy some treats that were sent in my box and as I am sitting there I get a call from Andrew Bashaw, the Executive Director of the Buckeye Trail Association. He is hoping for an update on some of the trail conditions I have encountered the past couple days. He also informs me of a few volunteers that know about me and want to help out any way they can so I take down their contact information. This is great news because over the past few days I have noticed that my pack is coming apart at many of the seams and after telling Andrew of my situation he gives me the number of some contacts in Dayton that may be able to help me out with that. He also informs me that a section of the trail through the Wayne National Forest will be going through a rehabilitation and will likely be closed when I arrive there in a few weeks. He concludes my telling me to stop by the BTA office in Shawnee when I pass through. Thanks for the help Andrew, I hope I get a chance to meet you during my trek through Ohio.
The easy walking continues until I reach the village of Newbern. At this point the towpath becomes overgrown in spots and I become lost when I arrive at the Lockington Dam. There are some blazes missing in critical places and the description on the map is not enough to navigate without them. Before I know it I miss a critical turn and end up walking extra miles. I stop to look at my map and find a way back to the trail. After a short time I realize that I missed another turn and ended up going even further in the wrong direction. I can’t believe the same thing happened twice in the same day. Eventually I do figure out where to go but it ends up being a five mile long detour to get back to an identifiable spot on the trail. With my feet on fire and totally exhausted I find a roadside park right across the street from where the trail heads into Piqua. Below the picnic shelter along a creek is a nice flat spot out of sight of the road where I decide to pitch for the night, not able to walk any further.


Wed. July 31
Trail Day 122
Miles hiked: 29.5
Super 8 Motel - Vandalia, OH

I had a nice night of sleep in my little spot on the edge of the creek. At first light I’m up and back on the trail across the street. I stop in at the gas station in Piqua for some convenience store breakfast. In Piqua the trail turns from grassy canal towpath to paved bike trail and continues all the way down to Cincinnati. It’ll take me a few days to traverse this segment through suburban Ohio.
The bike trail brings me through Troy and Tipp City with a surprising amount of historic sites. There’s an abandoned nuclear plant in Piqua, remnants of old locks and locktender’s house in Tipp City. I reach a short off-road segment of trail through Taylorsville Metro Park where the NCT leaves the bike trail and heads into the woods and through the remains of an old abandoned village. Somewhere toward the end of this stretch I miss the turn into Vandalia where I plan to spend the night at the Super 8. Much like my experience at Lockington Dam the turn was not marked and I walked right past it. By the time I figure it out I need to backtrack four miles on dangerous Hwy 40, no shoulders and high-speed traffic. With much frustration I make it safely back to Vandalia and check in at the motel. I enjoy a nice shower and hot meal before catching up on a few journal entries and heading off to sleep.


Thur. August 1
Trail Day 123
Miles hiked: 17
Comfort Suites - Dayton, OH

The thing I enjoy most about spending the night in motels is the continental breakfast. I get a chance to pig out on sausage, eggs, and waffles, something different from my dehydrated meals and trail snacks. The first thing I do this morning is head on down for another breakfast and then hit the road. I have quite a few miles on the road before hooking back up with the trail a little ways south of here. I decide to take an alternate route from the one I took yesterday because of the heavy road traffic and the busy highway with no shoulder and a bridge crossing. Between me and the trail there is a steep hillside and an active railroad so I find the next road crossing on my map and head for it. Shortly after crossing I-70 along the shoulder of the road I suddenly feel a sharp pain in the bottom of my foot. I limp across the road to the sidewalk on the next street corner, drop my pack and take off my boot. My sock is covered in blood and I see a piece of glass embedded inside. I am horrified when I pull the thing out and it’s almost an inch long. Immediately I take off my sock and as I do so blood starts oozing out of the puncture wound. I reach into my pack and grab my first aid kit and proceed to clean and bandage the wound as best I can right on the sidewalk. This is the first time I’ve had to use the medical supplies besides the blister kit and at this moment I am very grateful I have it. I clean the wound as best I can with water and disinfectant and bandage it up with gauze and duct tape.
Back on my feet again the first few steps are painful but like a batch of fresh blisters, once your feet get into a rhythm the pain isn’t so bad. On the paved trail today I pass through several metro parks into the very heart of Dayton, Ohio. At one of them I stop in at a picnic table for a break and make a phone call. On the other line is Brent Anslinger, works for Five Rivers Metro Parks. He is the contact Andrew Bashaw gave me regarding getting my pack looked at. Brent has been expecting me and is glad to hear that I am in Dayton. I tell him my pack situation and he says he and his coworker will meet me in Eastwood Metro Park. With plans in place I continue on through Dayton, even arriving at the entrance to downtown right as the large fountain goes off. I snap many pictures and stop for a few minutes to admire the water show. From this point the trail turns away from downtown and heads east along the river and soon I am in Eastwood Metro Park. Within a few moments I see two people walking toward me down the trail and so I meet Brent and his coworker Angie. We walk together for awhile toward the trailhead where their vehicle is parked. I planned on taking a short day today and getting a motel in town and there happens to be one right off the trail about a mile ahead. Brent says he’ll hike there with me and Angie says she’ll take my pack and bring the car up to the motel. She snaps a photo of me in front of the Buckeye Trail sign and then we head off down the trail. It takes us all of about fifteen minutes to hike to the end of this section of trail, right behind a Comfort Suites Motel. Well this is convenient.  We head on inside into the lobby and Angie is there with the pack. Brent knows some people at GoLite as he used to work in the backpack business so he makes a call. Through some negotiation he manages to get my pack to the top of a long waiting list for maintenance. On top of that he has about five packs of his own that he no longer uses and says I’m welcome to use any one of them until mine gets repaired and sent back to me. Wow, this is just incredible.
We make plans to meet here again tomorrow morning, Brett and Angie head back to work and I head upstairs to my room. After a nice shower I take a good look at my foot. The wound appears to have closed and there are no signs of infection. So far so good. Next I order some dinner to be delivered to the room then I spend the good part of an hour making some travel arrangements. You may notice that I have not taken a zero mile day since Marquette. So far I have taken one day roughly every 500 miles so I am well overdue for one, having come over 1000 miles since my last one. Part of the reason I have not is that a few days from now I plan on taking a brief break from the trail. My good friends Tony and Ashley are getting married next weekend and I have decided to fly back to Minnesota for their special day. I couldn’t commit until now because I had no idea where I would be, but now it is only a week away and I will be within range of Cincinnati. I had planned ahead and posted a request on the Buckeye Trail group facebook page about volunteers for a possible shuttle and I got a few responses. In my motel room now I am on the phone with Byron Guy, trail supervisor of the Old Man’s Cave Section. He volunteered to pick me up and drive me to the airport so we are making plans now. He knows a fellow hiker on the outskirts of Cincinnati he can leave me at and they can take me to the airport the following morning. With plans in place I purchase my ticket and then spend the rest of the night relaxing. Short days like this are nice when you’ve gone over 1000 miles with no rest.


Fri. August 2
Trail Day 124
Miles hiked: 24
Oldtown Reserve north of Xenia, OH – Buckeye Trail


Another continental breakfast to kick off my morning and then Brent and Angie are back in the lobby with a few packs. I find a Gregory one that fits pretty well, but it’s quite a bit smaller so I actually have to ditch some of my gear. I hand my pack off to Brent and he will send it in to GoLite headquarters to get repaired. Thanks for all your help Brent and Angie. You’ve done this hiker a great service and made Dayton a nice memory.
It’s another hot day here in southern Ohio and the entire hike is along roads and paved trails. I pass through the town of Fairborn to the east of Dayton and then take a temporary turn away from the blue blazes. When Nimblewill Nomad came through in 2009 the NCT continued all the way to Springfield but since then that section has been abandoned. Luckily for me it allows me to cut off a good chunk of mileage and avoid going in the opposite direction. I get back on the trail a little ways north of Yellow Springs, a very fine trail town if there ever was one. There are lots of little mom n pop places to eat, I end up having dinner at a place called the Corner Cone. I don’t linger in town long as I still have a few miles to go and it is already late evening.
As I am leaving town where the trail parallels the road I hear someone call out in load voice, “Strider!!!!!!!” I turn to see a jeep pass by, slam on the breaks and rip a U-turn then to pull up on the side of the road. Hence I meet Dave, on his way home from work. He has been following me on facebook for awhile and instantly recognized me when I was walking by. Apparently meeting me is the highlight of his day, he snaps a picture and wishes me luck as he jumps back in his jeep and moves along. I continue on until I come to Oldtown Preserve to the north of Xenia where I pull off into the trees and pitch for the night.


Sat. August 3
Trail Day 125
Miles hiked: 29
Morgan's Riverside Campground – Little Miami Scenic Trail (BT)

I’m up at first light this morning and stop in the grocery store in Xenia for some breakfast. After downing my fruit and muffins I continue on down the trail. Here in town the trail comes to a confusing junction at a place called Xenia Station. The trail can go one of many ways but none of them are explicitly marked as the BT or the NCT. I study my map closely trying to figure out which way is the correct one and ultimately decide on a direction. Luckily for me I chose right and make my way to the next trail junction on the edge of Caesar Creek State Park. At this point the Buckeye Trail heads off the paved trail and through the park and the NCT continues south along the bike trail. I pass through the towns of Spring Valley and Waynesville and eventually for Fort Ancient Memorial where I begin to look for a place to camp. Within a few miles I spot a campground across the river and luckily there is a road bridge up ahead that I can use to get to it. I check my map and decide that this must be Morgan’s Riverside Campground. I head on in and get a tent site right on the river for tonight.
After setting up camp I head back over to the concession stand and order a rib sandwich for dinner. As I am enjoying my food at the picnic table nearby the woman at the stand asks me many questions. She saw my pack when I checked in and has many questions about my travels. Hence I meet Lauren, co-owner of the campground. With the Little Miami Scenic Trail and the BT/NCT right across from the campground they get plenty of hikers and bikers in here every summer but I am surprised that she has never heard of the NCT. I tell her that it follows the Buckeye Trail through most of Ohio but that it starts way back in North Dakota and ends in New York. Many questions follow and I give the usual story of my trek so far. After I finish eating it is well past nightfall so I say goodbye to Lauren and head back to my campsite. Just as I am about to enter my tent I see movement at the edge of the bushes and shine my light to find a raccoon scurrying through my campsite. I chase it off and finally head into my tent and drift off to sleep.


Sun. August 4
Trail Day 126
Miles hiked: 25.5
Terrell Park Shelter – Milford, OH

I awoke early determined to have a quick breakfast and hit the trail right away. I open my odor-proof food sack and find my daily ration pack missing. I always keep the food that I will need for the day in the side pocket of my pack and I always put it with the rest of my food in the stuff sack at night. Then I suddenly realize what happened. Last night I completely forgot to put my food for the next day in the stuff sack so I left it in the side pocket of my pack. That’s why the raccoon was in my camp last night, those little buggers came and stole my food for the day in the middle of the night. Realizing it was just a dumb mistake I don’t think too much about it and simply transfer some food into a Ziploc bag for the day, I will just need to replace my daily food sack at the next opportunity.
The Little Miami bike Trail is packed with bikers today. I would be willing to bet that at least 1000 people pass me by the end of the day. In Loveland I stop for lunch at Paxton’s Restaurant for a great burger. The lovely hostess Carissa makes sure I’m well hydrated on this hot August day and makes friendly conversation. After awhile a couple sitting at the table behind me come over and ask me a few questions. They overheard my conversation with Carissa and are curious about my journey over the NCT. Hence I meet Barb and Tom. They know many people that have hiked the AT over the years so they are very intrigued that a sister trail comes right through Ohio. I really enjoy sharing the trail with people as I hike along. It’s nice seeing such positive reactions when they find out this amazing resource passes right through their backyards that they didn’t even know about. It’s a great feeling to know that many folks will now get out for at least a day and go for a walk in the woods and enjoy this national treasure. 
After gorging myself with the fantastic meal I hit the trail again. Many more bikes pass by, though the numbers are thinning now that evening is coming on. At some point a woman sees me with my big pack on and asks me a few questions. Hence I meet Heather, a Buckeye Trail member and volunteer. She figured I was most likely doing a thru-hike of the BT but is blown away when I tell her No, in fact I am thru-hiking the NCT. She wishes me luck on the rest of my trek and continues on down the trail. Not a mile further down I have a similar encounter with Betty, a local just out for an evening walk. People sure are curious when you walk through a populated area with a giant pack on. By the end of the evening I reach the town of Milford, my destination for today. Milford has the designation of being a crossroads for many thousands of miles of trails and the only official trail town for the BT at this time. From here the Little Miami Trail continues south about 12 more miles to a park in downtown Cincinnati and the NCT turns and crosses the river through Milford and along the southern tier, sometimes only a stone’s throw away from the Kentucky border. Milford is often called “Trail Town USA” as supposedly over 20,000 miles of trails converge here. The Buckeye Trail, North Country Trail, American Discovery Trail, Sea-To-Sea Route, Little Miami Trail and Underground Railroad Cycling route are the more popular ones locally among a few others, including a popular water trail right on the river. To take advantage of this unique designation the city has built an Adirondack Shelter right in town at the small city park where I set up camp for the night. It’s amazing to think that I have hiked almost 3000 miles on this hike and this is only the third shelter I’ve stayed in.


Mon. August 5
Trail Day 127
Miles hiked: 23
East Fork Lake State Park - BT

I had a comfortable night of sleep in the shelter last night. It was surprisingly quiet despite being right in the middle of a town with a busy highway nearby. For breakfast I head downtown to the local diner. There are a few locals inside otherwise the entire town is still asleep this morning. The outfitter right on the main street is still closed when I leave the diner, I was told by many BTA folks that I should stop in when I get to Milford but it looks like I wont get the chance.
I follow the blue blazes along the sidewalks to the edge of Milford where I come to a newly constructed off-road segment. I follow it as it zigzags around what appears to be an abandoned farmstead along a nice mowed path and come to end of the segment as it dumps back out to the road near the school. From here it is a roadwalk all the way to East Fork Lake State Park where I plan to spend the night. The roadwalk along Round-Bottom Road is very dangerous. There is no shoulder and I have to stop every 30 seconds and pull off into the ditch, many places filled with poison ivy to give the autos a clear space to pass. During a lull in the traffic a car pulls up next to me and a woman calls to me. “Are you hiking the Buckeye Trail?” I respond that I am hiking part of the Buckeye Trail on my way to thru-hike the NCT. Hence I meet Laura, she hiked the AT a few years ago and is familiar with the NCT. She offers me a ride as she tells me this road is incredibly dangerous and I respond that I would like to but I really can’t as I need to hike every section of trail to the best of my ability. She understands completely and tells me to stop in at the Cincinnati Nature Center up the road a ways where she works if I need a break. Thanks Laura, will do.
Not even ten minutes after Laura drives away the traffic flow increases again and I almost get hit by a car twice, missing me by mere inches. One idiot actually swerves closer to me and turns away at the last minute. I don’t know what the BTA was thinking routing the trail onto this road but I need to get off it as quickly as possible. Man, if I would have known this road was this dangerous I might have taken Laura up on her offer for a ride. Finally I see the sign for the nature center and anxious to get off this road I cross and head on up the hill to the nature center for a rest. Unfortunately this road isn’t much better but the amount of traffic is much smaller. Soon I arrive at the gate and the woman at the toll booth tells me to head on in. As I make it to the parking lot Laura is there and walks with me into the visitor center. At the desk I am greeted by Lester and soon another employee, Paula, walks over with a camera to take my picture. I take off my gear and rest for a bit while I make conversation with the employees at this fine establishment. Laura mentions that she once tried to get in touch with the BTA about possibly bringing the trail through the nature center to avoid most of the dangerous roadwalk. They already have a system of hiking trails and even have some abandoned bunkhouses that could possibly be restored to allow hikers a place to stay. If nothing else it would be possible to build a shelter at the same site or even just a place to camp. I am glad to hear that she is interested in making this place accessible to hikers and I will definitely pass on the information to the BTA once I get to their office in Shawnee.
Soon a man walks over and Laura introduces us. Hence I meet Bill Hopple, the Executive Director of the Nature Center. Paula takes a few photos of the three of us together for their newsletter and then I spend a few more minutes relating the story of my hike so far to everyone present. After an hour at the center I need to hit the road again so I fill up all my water bottles and even receive some trail magic from the staff. Lester hands me five dollars to help with my hike, Paula offers me some left-over brownies from a meeting this morning and Laura hands me a Hershey bar from the vending machine. Wow, kind folks here indeed.
Laura can’t be gone for too long but she does offer to drive me back down to Round-Bottom Road which I gladly accept to avoid backtracking on the narrow road. I find out on the short drive that she hiked the AT with her husband a few years ago and that she too has a trail name, “Sundance.” As I unload my gear from her car she wishes me luck and turns back around to work. Thanks for all your help Laura, I appreciate it.
I follow the roadwalk into Batavia where there is supposed to be a grocery store. I originally had a food drop here but since I will only be on the trail for three more days before taking a break it didn’t really make sense to send an entire box so I decided to just buy three days’ worth of food here in Batavia. Unfortunately I find out that I was given bad information and that the main part of town where I am now does not have a grocery store, only a post office. Batavian residents happen to live several miles south of here in a residential area where all the stores are. So I need to take a detour several miles out of the way to reach the grocery store in Amelia. There is a Walmart here so I head on in and pick out enough food to last three days. I end up lingering in town a little too long and don’t make it to East Fork Lake State Park until nearly dark. I don’t have enough time to make it to the campsite so about a mile and half in I pull off the trail and pitch for the night in the trees nearby.


Tue. August 6
Trail Day 128
Miles hiked: 25
Home of John and Theresa - Williamsburg, OH

The trail through East Fork Lake State Park starts off decent, past the first campsite and the first trailhead. The rest of the day is hit or miss depending on the section. Much of the trail within the park is open to multiple use and is in really bad shape from some recent horse traffic in wet conditions. The going becomes painfully slow over deeply rutted trail and some poorly marked intersections. I take a wrong turn several times by the end of the day. Along some intersections today I see the first markings for the American Discovery Trail that coincides with the BT until the Wayne National Forest. At one point the trail leaves the woods and wanders straight through a farmer’s cornfield. I feel very out of place, thinking for sure I have taken another wrong turn. However I soon come to a small clearing in the middle of the field with a few small rocks and one of them has a blaze painted right on it. By sheer dumb luck it appears I have managed to stay on the trail in an area with no markings, save this one lonely blaze. Eventually I do manage to find the trail where it enters the woods once again. To add to the confusion, in a lot of places the trail is crossed by large cobwebs, I have to stop several times to clear the sticky stuff off my gear and trekking poles. By the end of the day as I emerge onto the road from the woods I feel like I have just passed through Mirkwood and the webs of the giant spiders from Tolkien’s great work.
Back on the road now I come to an intersection and realize I have taken yet another wrong turn. I had intended to take the alternative route into Williamsburg for some dinner but instead ended up taking the shorter route that completely bypasses the town. With much frustration I backtrack over a mile to Williamsburg where I stop for dinner at Grandmas Pizza. Afterwards I head up to the gas station to refill my water once again, as today was another hot day and I have consumed most of my supply. On the way out of town I decide to linger at the bar for awhile and charge my devices while studying my map looking for a possible place to pitch tonight. After my first beer a man at the table across from me asks where I’m headed. Hence I meet John and his wife Theresa. They are familiar with the Buckeye Trail as it is currently routed on the road right in front of their house down the street. I find out that they have a son and daughter that did the AT a few years ago. They are very enthusiastic when I tell them my story and that the BT is just a small part of my journey to Vermont from North Dakota. John offers to buy me another beer, and offer I can’t refuse and Theresa asks me where I’m planning on staying tonight. I tell her that I’m not sure, but the only spot that looks feasible is the city park across the river. She responds by telling me I am welcome to spend the night at their home. I accept her offer and thank them tremendously.
It’s pretty late when they are ready to head out so I load my gear into the car and get a ride to their place, only a stone’s throw away from where I began backtracking into Williamsburg as I came out of the park. I bring my gear inside and set it by the door. John and Theresa say I’m welcome to use the shower and they will set up a mattress for me in one of the spare rooms. I don’t hesitate one second and after a shower I settle down onto a soft mattress on the floor. It feels nice to be clean again.


Wed. August 7
Trail Day 129
Miles hiked: 27
City Park Gazebo - Russellville, OH

I slept in a little later than I would have liked but I needed a little extra sleep after staying up late last night. Theresa is up right behind me and cooks me some eggs and bacon for breakfast. Afterwards I take a few minutes to change back into my dirty hiking clothes and I find some trail magic in the top of my pack, a package of licorice and some granola bars. Thank You John and Theresa, it was a pleasure meeting you.
Another humid day as I continue on my way through southern Ohio. The entire day is a roadwalk except for a short segment near a historic covered bridge. By the end of the day I make it to Russelville where I stop in at the local bar for dinner. The server asks me many questions about my hike and asks where I’m planning on staying. I respond that I have no idea. She suggests that I could sleep in the gazebo at the park next door and no one would bother me. She even takes the extra step to notify the sheriff that I will be staying there just so they know. She says it wont be a problem and I can feel free to set up there once I leave. She also says she will be here early and invites me to come back for breakfast, on the house. Wow this is incredible, I will definitely be back tomorrow! I leave the bar and head to the gazebo in the city park next door. I unroll my sleeping pad right on the floor and prop my gear against the wall and settle in for a night of sleep in my gazebo shelter.


Thur. August 8
Trail Day 130
Miles hiked: 17.5
Home of Bruce and Denise "Ladybug" Hill – Indian Hills, OH

I had a bit of a restless sleep last night, lots of semis driving through all night long. I still managed to get up early and head back to the bar for breakfast, on the house as promised. Leaving Russelville the hike is once again entirely a roadwalk to Bentonville where I end my hike for the day. I had arranged for Byron Guy to pick me up here today and bring me to Cincinnati so I can board a plane first thing in the morning to get me back to Minnesota for my friends’ wedding. There is nothing here but a vending machine outside an apartment, right where the two roads come together. Luckily the apartment has free wifi so I grab a sofa from the vending machine and enjoy some time browsing videos on youtube after answering some emails as I wait for Byron to arrive.
Around 3:00 Byron pulls up in his car we meet face to face. I load my gear into his car and we head to Cincinnati where we will have dinner with a local hiker who will bring me to the airport in the morning. We spend time talking trail on the way there, Byron gives me a heads up on what to expect on the upcoming sections of the BT leading up to his section through Hocking Hills. We pass through Milford where I was only a few days ago and shortly before dinner time we arrive to the outskirts of Cincinnati where I will be spending the night. At the door we are greeted by Denise “Ladybug” Hill, a 2011 BT thru-hiker and a friend of Byron’s. She gives a quick tour of her home before her husband Bruce arrives with dinner. Ladybug has also thru-hiked the AT and PCT as well as part of the CDT before an injury forced her off the trail. The room I am standing in now is filled with everything for the hiker; maps on the walls, books on the shelf, all related to hiking America’s great trails. Shortly afterwards Bruce arrives with dinner and Ladybug introduces us. Dinner tonight is take-out from Skyline, a Cincinnati tradition. I get a double order of the delicious stuff, pasta and fries drizzled with melted cheese, a hiker’s dream.
After dinner Byron has to head back home but says he will definitely see me again as I hike through the Hocking Hills. Looking forward to it Byron. Then it’s time for me to get cleaned up and enjoy a nice evening with a fellow hiker. On top of the beer I had with dinner Ladybug was prepared for my arrival and has many sodas in the fridge just for me. We spend a good while at the table talking trail, about my NCT thru-hike attempt so far, and about her own experiences on the AT and PCT. I thank Ladybug tremendously for allowing me to stay here tonight, and for letting me stash my gear here while I’m away for three days. I turn in for bed early as I will have to get up quite early for a morning flight to Minneapolis.


Fri. August 9
Trail Day XXX
Miles hiked: 00
Jordan Family Home – Minnetrista, MN

I’m up at 5:00 and Bruce has me at the airport by 5:30 where I have about an hour to catch up on journals. My short trip this morning actually allowed me to cross into another state on this journey. The Cincinnati International Airport is actually a few miles across the river in northern Kentucky, another state I have never been to. So I get to cross another one of my list. The flight from here to Minneapolis is pretty short and when I arrive Roxanne is there to pick me up. She is happy to see me and we talk about my travels and recent developments here in Minnesota on the drive home. When we arrive I actually feel out of place. This is my first time in my house since I left for Lake Sakakawea way back in March, over four months ago. Everything somehow seems small and close together, even the trees outside seem like their encroaching on the house. It’s a very strange feeling and one I did not necessarily expect. There are lots of goodies waiting for me as I look through the cupboards and the fridge. Fresh fruit, candy, pie, you name it. I don’t think my family quite realized I was only going to be here for a day and a half, but I’ll try to consume as much of it as I can while I’m here.
Right around noon Karlee pulls into the driveway and stays for a long visit. We enjoy a nice chat in the yard waiting for lunch to be served. We spend a good deal of time talking about my recent experiences in southern Michigan and Ohio and about her recent trip overseas to Croatia. After lunch to conversations continue until about 4:30 when more people start showing up. First my dad comes home from work, followed shortly by Matt and Trevor, all excited to see me. Around dinner time a few friends, relatives, and neighbors come over for a campfire cookout while I tell of my travels since leaving four months ago. Many questions and much laughter follows as I recount the highlights (and lowlights) of the hike and how much further I have to go. Based on the maps I estimated that when Byron picked me up in Bentonville I was right around the 3000 mile mark, which means I’m 2/3 of the way thru.
After dinner a few people head back to their own homes gearing up for a busy weekend. Around 6:00 Karlee says goodbye once again and I’m reminded of the day she left back on the SHT at the Fox Farm Road trailhead where this long journey I’m on had its roots over three years ago. The same sad emotions come to the surface and after a hug she is gone.
Back at the fire there are a few of us left, my family and a few friends from high school. Some of us end up talking late into the night and my planned day of rest turned out to not be a day of rest at all. I don’t get to bed until after 2:00 in the morning. Despite my derailed plans for recovery I have a feeling this will be a night I will remember long into my years.


Sun. August 11
Trail Day XXX
Miles hiked: 00
Home of Bruce and Denise “Ladybug” Hill – Indian Hills, OH

I’m back in Ohio after a nice weekend in Minnesota. It was a gorgeous wedding I attended on Saturday, and I was grateful to be able to see my two best friends start their lives together. Most of my closest friends from college were there as well so it was a nice change of pace from the day-to-day grind of the trail. There was a lot to catch up on after being absent for four months. I spent the night with friends and left for home the next morning in time to take care of some last minute planning for the remainder of the hike. I enjoyed listening to music in the car on the way home, music never sounded so good. Also the feeling of driving a car 70 mph on the freeway for the first time in four months was definitely a strange experience. I got to spend a few more hours with my family before catching my flight back to Cincinnati. Bruce was there right at 7:00 to pick me up and we headed back to his place for another home cooked meal from the Hills. After looking over some maps with Ladybug and packing my gear to prepare for the trail tomorrow I head off to sleep.


Mon. August 12
Trail Day 131
Miles hiked: 25
Pavilion at House of God Church & Cemetery near Shawnee State Forest

I didn’t get near enough sleep last night. I down an entire box of cereal before loading my gear into Bruce’s car and heading for Bentonville. Despite downing most of a soda after breakfast I am still incredibly tired and end up sleeping most of the way there. Before I know it we arrive at the intersection with the vending machine, the only landmark in town. I shoulder my pack, Bruce snaps a picture of me and shakes my hand as he wishes me luck. Then I turn and begin the roadwalk toward the Shawnee Forest. The entire day is a roadwalk through hilly country, before long it is clear that I have entered Appalachia and the foothills of the famous mountain range. There are lots of angry dogs to fend off today as I pass farmhouse after farmhouse. These trekking poles are great for efficiency and balance but in times like this they also double as a weapon. I end the day at a church with a picnic shelter nearby where I decide to spend the night. Across the street is the entrance to the Shawnee State Forest where tomorrow morning I will enter and make my way to the next off-road segment of trail.
Today has been a strange day. I thought I would be more excited to be back on the trail but today is somehow different. After spending three days back home with the best people I’ve ever known and to come back here to southern Ohio where so far the trail has been less than ideal with little redeeming value made for an ugly transition. For the first time I’m not looking forward to the next section of trail. Instead I’m looking back on the places I’ve been so far, places like the Manistee National Forest, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Park. I’m picturing my first day on the trail at Lake Sakakawea State Park and the snowy transition I had to make to finally reach the Superior Hiking Trail where I set my eyes on Lake Superior once again, the setting of so many fond memories. I remember what it felt like to see my friend come up to the cabin to visit me, how it felt to see them leave, and that I’ve missed them every day since then. Today that feeling was magnified and I just feel empty inside.

Tue. August 13
Trail Day 132
Miles hiked: 28, +5
BTA property off Mt Unger Rd.

Despite getting to bed early last night I slept in this morning later than I should have. I down a quick breakfast and head across the street to the Shawnee State Forest. After a short roadwalk I reach the access point for the off-road trail and find it to be over grown. There is a bypass route that would take me around this section directly to a campsite and would save me half a day of hiking but I head on in and give the trail a try. The first few miles are not in the best shape but after awhile the trail becomes better maintained. There are lots of blow downs to contend with on this section.
After the first road crossing the trail changes drastically. Bull dozers have been in here recently and have widened the trail to about eight feet. There are also no switchbacks on this section, the bulldozers simply drove right up the mountains and back down again. I say mountains here because that’s exactly what they are. This region of Ohio includes the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and are known locally as the “Little Smokies.” The name fits, as many of the over-looks provide a great sweeping view but in the distance the view becomes hazy.
At the base of the first climb I am surprised to see a water spigot in the middle of the woods. There is no campground nearby or anything, it’s just here by itself. After the first climb I can tell this will be a tough section, the trail heads straight up the bulldozer track and straight down the other side. This goes on for many miles until I reach the edge of Shawnee State Park where I stop at a picnic table to take a break and cook dinner.
There are a few people enjoying the park today, most of them walking or fishing. As I pass through I look straight ahead at the mountain in front of me and after reaching the entrance I head on in, and up. After a few miles I come to a confusing intersection along on old road. I take out my map and figure out where I am, I decide that I need to turn left here. After a few miles it has become apparent that I made the wrong turn. With no blazes or markings on the trail whatsoever I had mistakenly misplaced my position on my map and walked in the completely wrong direction. After almost two hours I am standing at a point I have already passed once, near the road crossing. Well this is just great. It’s going to be dark in a few hours and I now have to re-hike a very challenging section and hope that I don’t get lost again. I wish I would have taken the bypass route. If I had known how poorly marked this section was I may have done that to save myself this
frustration and heart break.
I decide to head back down to the parking lot and refill my water before attempting to continue on. Frustrated, I take one last look at my map and prepare to head out. Just then a fisherman walks by on the way to his car to head home for the day. He asks where I’m hiking to and I explain my situation, how I was supposed to make it to a campsite but now I have no idea where I’ll be because I wasted two hours walking in the wrong direction. He tells me to show him on the map where I’m heading and after he realizes where it is he tells me to get my gear, he’ll drop me off at the other end of the road.
Wow, this is great. Assuming the road is clear I can get dropped off very close to the point where I initially took the wrong turn and continue on from there. This will save me lots of backtracking. It takes us awhile to get there by car, all the roads are very windy and narrow. We make conversation as we go, I tell him why I’m out here and my ultimate goal of reaching Vermont. As I explain where I’ve been through Ohio so far he makes a few comments. He asks if I have a snake bite kit, to which I respond “No.”
“Ohio is really bad for that. You need to watch your step.” That’s very curious because I’ve been watching where I step constantly and have seen no evidence of snakes anywhere to this point. He also makes sure I know that this part of Ohio does have black bears which a lot of people don’t realize. I didn’t know for sure, but I have been hanging my food just in case. It turns out my driver, Tyler, is a fisherman and hunter. He is very knowledgeable about Ohio wildlife and thus why he know so much about the snake bite issue and the bear population.
Before too long we start seeing blazes along a narrow gravel road so I know we’re on the right track. Eventually we reach a junction with an old road that has to be where the trail comes out. Tyler drops me off here and wishes me luck as he drives away.
I am now very close to where I got lost in the first place and I have many miles to go to reach a legal camping spot on a piece of BTA property on Mt. Unger Road. I manage to make it there just as darkness descends and I have to set up my tent with my headlamp on. No time to hang my food tonight to I throw I find a low branch in a cluster of trees and hang it so it is at least off the ground away from my tent. Today was a very long and frustrating day and I’m glad it’s over.


Wed. August 14
Trail Day 133
Miles hiked: 23
Woodlot behind high school - Peebles, OH

The hike today is mostly a roadwalk and quite an eventful one. Right off the bat this morning I have a short walk from the BTA property to the small berg of Wamsley and on the way there I pass a home with many animal cages. As soon as I come into view I know instantly that they are all filled with dogs, I count at least 25. To make matters worse the five largest ones are not in cages or chained up and in an instant they are out in the road to intercept me. I turn to face them as they try to circle me, my trekking poles the only thing keeping them at bay. This face-off continues for a good five minutes as I slowly hike backwards down the road not to take my eyes off the aggressive attackers. Finally after having metal poles swat at their faces for long enough they give up and walk back to their home. Wheew, of all the wildlife encounters I’ve had so far, this was probably the most dangerous.
From Wamsley it is a long roadwalk on country roads, still with no shoulder all the way to Davis Memorial. This turns out to be a very cool place. It’s a state unit owned by the Ohio Historical Society that contains a network of natural dolomite formations with groves of cedars and surrounded by groves of native bamboo. It’s a pool of incredible diversity, I never even know bamboo occurred naturally outside the tropics. I take a break at the stone shelter at the far end of the park to get rehydrated and have some lunch before continuing on.
After a short walk along the gravel road the trail heads back into the woods on another bulldozed trail. The climb is very steep and I need to take a break halfway up. At the top the trail flattens out and follows the ridge line for a way before dipping back down into the next valley. At this point the blazes stop and I get turned around again. I walk back and forth a few times to try and find any evidence of the trail. It would be easy just to follow the skid trail, the only problem is at this point there is more than one of them. There has been a recent logging operation up here on the ridge and many paths converge in the clearing. I finally make a decision to follow my gut feeling and take the straightest path down into the valley. The damage from the logging operation has not been cleaned up yet, as even on this skid trail I need to walk over, under and around large blowdowns (or cut-downs). At the far end I come to an opening in the trees and it brings me right to a back yard of a house. There is a woman nearby hanging laundry on a clothes line. She looks over at me and I speak to her, “Am I still on the Buckeye Trail?”
She responds, “Yup, you’re in the right place.” Wheew, thank goodness. I continue walking across her yard and spot a carsonite post right at the road edge. I head towards it and spot the Buckeye Trail logo right at the top. It looks like my gut was right and I navigated the mess up on the ridge accurately.
From here the rest of the day is a roadwalk into Peebles where I’ve got a food drop waiting. I arrive too late and will need to wait until tomorrow. With nothing left to do I head down to the McDonald’s for dinner and use their Wi-Fi to find a place to camp tonight. As darkness descends I hike a mile and half to the wooded lot next to the high school and pitch for the night.


Thur. August 15
Trail Day 134
Miles hiked: 25
Butler Springs Christian Camp

I’m up at first light and head to the post office to wait for my package. I cook myself breakfast in the parking lot while I wait and read a few pages of Tolkien. Once the post office finally opens I waste no time in getting my package and hitting the road.
It is very hot today as I hit the pavement and head for Serpent Mound. On the way there I pass many houses and I spot a guy sitting in a lawn chair in his front yard. He sees me approaching and heads into his house. As I pass his driveway he comes back out with an ice cold bottle of water in his hand. “Here, you might need this today.” Thanks sir, I really appreciate it. This hot weather is certainly not fun.
Before too long I reach the entrance to Serpent Mound State Historic Site. The name speaks for itself, the main feature of this park is an ancient Native American earth work, a giant mound in the shape of a snake. The mound is certainly massive. I estimate it’s about a half mile hike around the entire mound. Right in the park there is a fire tower where one can climb to the top and see the entire thing. I head up and get some great photos from the top.
After checking out the mound I linger for awhile as I eat lunch and then I leave the park on a newly constructed piece of trail. Right next door is a property owned by the BTA where it is possible to camp. From what I hear, the plans are to build an Adirondack shelter here in the near future.
More trail magic as I hit the road again heading toward Sinking Springs, a guy mowing his lawn stops as I pass and hands me a cold bottle of water. I need to stop several times today and take a break from the heat. I take a break in Sinking Springs where I stop in at the convenience store and enjoy a cold drink and a slice of pizza. I finished the day by hiking through the off-road section of trail through Fort Hill State Memorial. More spectacular dolomite formations remind of the Davis Memorial I hiked through yesterday. At the main parking lot I stop for a break and check my map. Fort Hill ends just up the trail a short distance and the map shows a campsite located outside the boundary. I decide this would be a good place to stay tonight. Less than a mile from the parking lot the trail climbs a ridge and I notice a spur trail going off to the right and I can see a structure down below. At a closer look it is revealed to be a ropes course.
I stop for a minute and my mind drifts back to a week in sixth grade. Every year the sixth graders at my school would head up to Wolf Ridge for a week in the winter time for a week of “survival” training. Our activities included things like rigging a shelter from scraps, snowshoeing lessons, a rock climbing wall and ropes course. This was back before I knew about the Superior Hiking Trail and it’s funny to think that the trail crosses through Wolf Ridge, and that we bought a cabin literally across the street a year after I was there with my sixth grade class.
The ropes course at Wolf Ridge was much larger than the one I’m standing in front of now, but I must be at the right place where the map showed the campsite. I continue down the trail and come out into a large clearing and see a full setup of recreation activities. This is clearly some sort of summer camp meant for young kids. There are cabins across the clearing from where I am now, tennis courts, and bikes available for rent. I see a house right next to me so I head over and knock on the door. The owners of the resort are home and I explain that I am thru-hiking the trail and am wondering if I could camp here tonight. They point out a broad area between the road and the shower house where it is pretty quit and I can feel free to set up anywhere I want. I ask about the fee and they tell me not to worry about it, I can camp for the night free of charge. I thank them and find a spot on the lawn to pitch for the night.
Afterwards I take a shower and cook my dinner under the nice shelter complete with patio furniture. It’s nice to cook dinner on an actual table whenever the opportunity arises. I have enough quarters for a soda out of the vending machine and I enjoy a nice hot meal. I finish the night by reading a few pages of Tolkien and finally settling into my tent for a night of sleep.


Fri. August 16
Trail Day 135
Miles hiked: 19.5
Pike Lake State Park

I’m up and back on the trail at first light. After crossing OH-41 the trail conditions are not as good and I need to pay attention to stay on track. The hike today is very choppy, short sections of trail follows by short roadwalks. At one point the trail was not clearly marked and I missed a turn along a roadwalk and ended up taking a longer detour before I realized it. Along the detour I pass by Cave Lake Family Campground where I stop in for a break on another very hot day. As I am sitting on the front porch of the camp office I notice that my ankles are very dirty and have a bunch of red spots. I noticed this in the shower last night and thought I may have been cut somehow. Suddenly I feel like one of the specks of dirt is moving and as I examine it closer I find that is a tiny tick crawling around on my ankle. It’s so tiny I thought it was a speck of dirt and didn’t notice it until it started moving as I was sitting still. I don’t recognizethe tick as one I have seen before, it doesn’t appear to be an ordinary wood tick or a deer tick and it is far smaller than either of them. I start scratching to remove some of the dirt from my ankles and within a few seconds I am horrified as the reality of my situation sinks in. There isn’t dirt on my ankles at all, only ticks, hundreds of them! No wonder they didn’t come off in the shower, they’re already bitten in, every single one of them. I start picking them off as best I can but many of them are simply too small to grab even with my finger nails. I get an idea and reach into my pack for some duct tape. With no other tool to use I rip off a large strip of tape, tape it to my ankle as tightly as possible, and then rip it off in one swift motion. To my surprise it actually worked, the tape was strong enough to remove many of the ticks. I spend the better part of an hour doing this before finally deciding to move on. I got most of them, if there are any left they are impossible to see at the moment. 
I hit the road again, following busy OH-124 with no shoulder for many miles to the small town of Latham. There is a gas station here where I head in and stock up on Gatorade. I have no idea how long those ticks where embedded into my skin but there’s a good chance they were there long enough to infect me with any disease they may have had. I need to stay well hydrated until I get to more populated areas in case any sickness comes over me.
My cell phone has no signal here but there is a payphone outside the gas station. You don’t see many payphones around anymore, but here is one in the middle of Appalachian Ohio. I take this opportunity to call home and inform Roxanne of my situation. I tell her not to panic, but to research every tick species in the Appalachian Mountain Region and send whatever she finds in my next food drop.
I get back on the trail north of Latham but soon myself in a maze of poorly marked trail. To make matters worse horses have been out here recently and the trail is just a mud hole. I can’t tell which trail is the BT and which isn’t so I use my best judgment again and eventually find my way to the road that will bring a hiker into Pike Lake State Park. I soon pass a carsonite post marked with the BT sticker so I didn’t come out at the right spot but at least I know I’m back on track now. I reach the park campground and stop for a few minutes at the dam and study my map. If I hike a few more miles I can reach the Pike State Forest and pitch there for the night instead of paying for a site within the state park. Just as I am about the leave a woman flags me down. Hence I meet Cheryl “Questseeker” Winningham, currently thru-hiking the BT. She asked if I am the guy that’s thru-hiking the NCT and when I respond that in fact I am she is very excited. She brings me back to the campground where she introduces me to Dan and Ruth Dorrough of New York, currently section hiking the whole NCT. They are shuttling Cheryl around on her thru-hike while they hike other sections on their quest to hike the whole trail. After a few stories they offer to host me at their campsite tonight so I don’t have to pay for my own. I accept their offer and set up my tent behind their van.


Sat. August 17
Trail Day 136
Miles hiked: 25.5
Home of Mike and Connie – Richmond Dale, OH

I’m up at a decent hour this morning and enjoy a nice breakfast with the kind folks that invited me to share their camp last night. Ruth and Dan tell me many stories of their own adventures over the NCT so far. After breakfast it’s time to leave so I say goodbye to my new friends and head past the dam and up the trail.
The trail heading out of the park is in nice shape but after about a mile or so it quickly deteriorates and becomes overgrown. It proves to be a very frustrating day. I find another hundred ticks around my ankles by the end of the day that I need to stop and remove with the ol’ duct tape. Once I’m out of the Pike State Forest I have a long roadwalk to a short segment of trail on private land. I can tell this segment is going to be rough going as it hasn’t been cleared this year but to get around it would be an impossibly long road-walk, so in I go. This segment is the worst maintained trail I have encountered along this trail so far in this journey. It’s short but I spend the entire time fighting my way through rose bushes taller than myself and waist-high poison ivy winding up many of the trees. By the end of the segment my arms and legs are severely scratched up from all the multi-flora rose bushes, an invasive species. At the very end I have to scramble over a pile of debris at the edge of someone’s field and follow a fenced corridor down to the highway. The only problem is at the very end of the corridor is a fence crossing with no stile and right in front of it is dog house with two large dogs chained up right on the trail. As I approach they see me and start barking up a storm. I’m not getting close to these guys, so I take a wide detour around the perimeter of the fence through the yard of the nearest house and follow their driveway down to the road.
A short roadwalk brings me into the Scioto Trail State Forest where I follow the Bridle Trail a short distance and then finish the day at a 5-way road junction. Yesterday as I passed through Sinking Springs I had a message from Bruce Matthews at NCTA HQ. A couple along the Scioto Trail section heard about me and offered to help out anyway they could. While I was in town I gave them a call and they agreed to pick me up at this road junction tonight and host me at their home. I am not waiting very long when a van appears and pulls over to the side of the road. Hence I meet Mike and Connie, my hosts for the night. We load my gear into their van and head back to their home in Richmond Dale.
When we arrive they show me around and direct me to the guest room in the basement where I will be staying. After a nice shower and the removal of a few more ticks I head back upstairs for dinner.
Mike and Connie have hosted many hikers over the years, most of them travelling westbound on the American Discovery Trail. They also hosted Andrew Skurka for Thanksgiving during his C2C hike back in 2004. Here, yet again, I am following the tracks of a previous thru-hiker. We share many stories during the delicious meal and the question of my next food drop comes up. My next food drop is in Londonderry which I will reach tomorrow. The problem is it is Saturday, so tomorrow it will be closed. Luckily Connie knows everyone at the post office and says she’ll make some calls for me.
After dinner Connie comes out with good news. She tells me she will run over to the post office first thing in the morning, someone will be there with my package. This is truly amazing. Despite the harsh nature of the trail in Ohio I’ve had some of the best trail magic here, and when it is needed the most. Thanks Connie.


Sun. August 18
Trail Day 137
Miles hiked: 25
Home of Joe – Blue Lick Rd

Since I can’t get my package until a little later this morning there is no harm in sleeping in. Before leaving for the post office Connie made a nice breakfast and I downed it pretty quickly. When she returns with the package it takes only a short time to rearrange my gear and then we load into the van again and Mike and Connie shuttle me back to the 5-way junction where they picked me up yesterday. So now once again I say goodbye to some dear new friends, wonderful people along this NCT. “If you need anything in the next few days just give us a call.”
The trail today starts off well maintained and very nice. There’s very little underbrush to contend with. The decently maintained trail comes out to a road above the Scioto River and I’ve a short roadwalk across to reach the next segment at the base of Hang Gliders Hill. Getting to the top is no problem but once I’m there I’m disappointed to find once-again a lack of maintenance. There are no marking up here, no blazes, and no visible tread. I follow the only discernable path as I fight my way through eight-foot tall rose bushes. More bloody arms and legs as I slowly fight my way through. Soon the trail becomes lost in a thicket of these multi-flora monsters and I am forced to turn back. I backtrack the way I came to the base of the hill and begin a long roadwalk around this section eventually coming through Richmond Dale and Londonderry where I stop for a break. This huge detour has wasted several hours of forward progress and it’s almost dark now as I sit outside the gas station in Londonderry consuming a Gatorade.
I can’t stay here so I have no choice but to push on in the dark until I reach the state forest boundary outside of town. While passing by the local donut shop a guy sees me and waves me over. His name his Monk, lives right on the BT just up the road and offers me a place to camp in his yard. He gives me directions on how to walk there and before darkness falls I find my way down Blue Lick Rd where I should be. The houses are numbered a little weird so it’s hard to tell which one is which. I single out the one I think must be Monk’s and knock on the door. It turns out it is not the correct house, but I happened to knock on door of Joe, his son. Joe’s wife answers the door and when I explain how I came to be here she invites me in. Joe comes out to meet me and says I can pitch in the yard outside. It turns out I am not the first hiker that has stayed here, they’ve had many hikers pitch in their yard over the years. Joe’s friend Scott is visiting this evening so after I set up my tent he invites me inside for a few beers and I relax as I watch Joe and Scott battle it out on Wii Golf. They ask many questions about my hike as they play and seem very entertained by the adventures I’ve had. After enjoying a few drinks and some company I thank Joe again for his hospitality and head out to my tent for some much needed rest after this difficult day.


Mon. August 19
Trail Day 138
Miles hiked: 26
Hocking Hills State Park

Yesterday as I was relaxing in Joe’s house he mentioned that he had recently been up the trail behind his property and into Tar Hollow State Forest and it was not in very good shape. He recommended not wasting my time and hiking around it and getting back on in the Old Man’s Cave segment. Not wanting to have a repeat of yesterday I take his advice and hike up OH-327 on the edge of Tar Hollow and pick up the trail again where the Old Man’s Cave Section begins.
This segment starts off on a bridge and a privately held road and that has allowed access for hikers. At the top of the ridge the unmaintained road intersects with an ATV trail and the BT follows this for a good distance before heading back to the road just north of Eagle Mills. The rest of the day is mostly a roadwalk and pretty uneventful, with the exception of a strange piece of trail art, a tree with every branch capped with an empty can of PBR. With all the places I’ve eaten at, all the bars I’ve stopped into, and now this, PBR definitely appears to be the beer of the trail.
On the far side of Pretty Run as I am hiking along a car pulls up next to me. It’s Jamie, Byron Guy’s brother. He had heard I would be passing through here today and wanted to let me know that his place is available to stay at tomorrow. We make plans for him to pick me up at the end of the Old Man’s Cave section. He hands me a piece of paper with his contact information on it and wishes me luck before driving off. Soon the road walk descends into a valley and suddenly I feel like in the north woods again. I have reached Hocking Hills State Park and I can tell this will be a special place. All around there are large pine and fir trees, even a few cedars here and there. I haven’t seen them in this large of a cluster since leaving the Manistee National Forest. I appear to be in a small canyon, there are sheer dolomite cliffs and towers on either side of me. Before long I reach the trailhead for Ash Cave and stop here to have dinner. A few folks passing by on their way out stop to chat, wondering where I am headed. They all seem amazed when I tell them I walked here from North Dakota and still have two full states to go to reach my journey’s end. One couple offers me a fresh peach from their cooler before they load up their vehicle and drive away.
The park in Hocking Hills is gorgeous. The temperature is cooler in this canyon and there are caves and waterfalls all around. I take many pictures at Ash Cave before continuing on. As I reach the next parking lot the sun is beginning to set rapidly and I find that a newly constructed barricade is across the BT here. A sign says that the trail is closed and to follow different trails around to Cedar Falls. I’ve had bad luck in Ohio so far when it comes to detours so I decide to stick to the trail regardless of what the sign says. I hop the barricade and head on in a few hundred yards and find a spot off the trail to pitch for the night. I find a cool flat spot right on the edge of a ravine with a sheer drop on two sides and after hanging my food I am off to sleep.


Tue. August 20
Trail Day 139
Miles hiked: 27
Home of Jamie Guy - near Logan, OH

Nobody bothered me last night in my spot on the rim of the ravine. I’m up at first light and hike the trail to Cedar Falls. I quickly see why this segment was closed, a bridge got washed out so now one must pick their way through a mess of boulders in a stream bed. The stream is now bone dry so it’s very easy to pick my way through and I arrive at the other barricade with no problem and rejoin the open trail at Cedar Falls.
The trail through the park is well marked and I have no doubt this will be the highlight of Ohio, especially considering the condition of the rest of the trail in southern Ohio. Before long I’m at Old Man’s Cave with swarms of people running around, despite being a Tuesday. I stop here for awhile to have a snack and take some good photos. As I am sitting here a couple comes up and asks me some questions about my hike and other nearby listen in as I tell my story. Hence I meet Don and Pam Fouse. They live near Lisbon where there is some certified NCT and I will be hiking through there in a few weeks. Don hands me his contact info and offers to help out any way he can. 
On my way out of the park I stop at the visitor center concessions for an ice cream cone. It is very hot today and from the pack I’ve got a short roadwalk to the next section of trail through the Hocking State Forest. This section is just as gorgeous as the park itself. There are plenty of cool dolomite formations, cliffs, gorges, and north woods tree species. Some of the cliffs here are tall enough that there are some rock climbers out here today. Unfortunately there is some horse damage on this section of trail but otherwise it’s a very well maintained and gorgeous trail.
The rest of the day is mostly a roadwalk with a few short off-road sections in between. There is a cool trail register of the ammo box variety that is painted blue and marked with the symbols of all three trails I am currently on: NCT, BT, ADT. I am a little bit behind schedule because of the heat today and the last segment of trail across private land proves to be a challenge because it has not been mowed this year so I need to watch my step and navigate around debris. I finally make it to the church at the end of the Old Man’s Cave Section and Byron and Jamie are waiting for me. We quickly load my gear into the vehicle and we head to Jamie’s house for the night. Byron orders a few pizzas for dinner and after I’m done with a much needed shower I head to the kitchen where we wait for dinner to arrive.
Jamie recently got back from a hike of the AT so we spend some time swapping stories, and Byron is curious to hear about my adventures since he saw me last week. The weather is supposed to be brutal, the past few days were just the beginning of a massive heat wave that is supposed to linger over the area for at least a week. After hearing the bad news the pizza arrives and we spend the rest of the night relaxing.


Wed. August 21
Trail Day 140
Miles hiked: 21.5
BTA Office - Shawnee, OH

Yesterday sometime before dinner Byron put a call in to the BTA office letting them know that I will be passing through tomorrow. He told me they are ready to have me, I can even spend the night if I want. This morning I am dropped off at the church where Byron and Jamie picked me up yesterday. We snap a few photos before we shake hands and I thank them for hosting me last night. Then I shoulder my pack and head down the road.
The day is mostly a roadwalk, mostly paved roads until I reach the boundary of the Wayne National Forest and then mostly gravel once I enter. The day starts off hot but before I make it to the first section of off-road trail the temperature drops rapidly and the sky turns dark. Within a few minutes a big thunderstorm rolls in as hike along a wide gravel road. Up ahead is a pretty big exposed hill and lightning is flashing overhead. I decide it’s time to take cover so I bail off the road and head into the forest, a good 15 foot drop from the road bed. I find a nice clear spot to put my pack down, sit on it and wait for the lightning to pass. I’m in this spot for over a half hour before the lightning gets far enough away that I can continue on. With my rain coat on I head back to the road in the pouring rain and hike on.
This road section isn’t blazed very well and I miss a turn. I figure it out at the next junction and make my way back to the trail. At one point along this unintended detour I pass by a trailer house a good distance off the road and am startled when an angry dog barking at the top of its lungs come charging out at me clear into the road. I have a few rocks in my pocket and not wanting it to get close enough for me to use my trekking poles I lob one and land it right in front of him. No sooner did this occur than an angry voice comes booming out from the trailer. The owner had seen the encounter and warned me not to throw another rock at his dog, it will get me in big trouble in these parts. Excuse me dude, but your dog attacked me while I was on a public road, I have a right to defend myself. Not daring to turn my back on the savage animal I continue walking down the road until it is out of site and then I turn and pick up the pace. I’m not sure but I thought I heard a door slam as soon as I turned my back and I have this strange feeling like I’m being followed. I reach the next road intersection and cross Salt Run on a bridge and pick up the trail again there. Just as I make the corner some headlights come into view and not wanting to find out if it is the pissed off dog owner I make a dash for the trees and lunge myself a good distance into the brush and lie flat and still. The truck passes by and doesn’t stop. If it was the angry guy behind the wheel he didn’t see me. My mind is probably just going into survival mode, but for the first time on this trek part of me wishes I had a gun to defend myself from potential encounters like this.
I continue on with the nagging feeling I’m still being watched, or maybe hunted. At the next road crossing I quickly dash across just as a bolt of lightning comes out of nowhere and hits the ridge right above me. The rain quickens again and right on the edge of a creek I stop once again and hunker down with my pack until the lightning passes.
After 45 minutes or so the thunder and lightning passes on and I am finally able to keep going. I’ve got a few more miles to cover here in this part of the Wayne and once I hit busy OH-93 I bail off and follow the road into Shawnee where the BTA office is located. I find the place and knock on the door. It is after hours and no one appears to be around. I backtrack a little and make my way to the gas station and grab something to drink. As I am sitting outside my phone rings. On the other end is Richard Lutz, GIS Coordinator for the BTA. He is wondering where I am and I tell him that I just arrived in town and am waiting at the gas station. He will be here in a few minutes to pick me up. Sure enough in a few minutes a car pulls up and I meet Richard in person. We load my gear into his car and he shuttles me to the BTA office where I will be staying tonight, the top floor is actually an apartment where he currently lives. After grabbing a shower we head back down to the gas station for some freshly-made subs and soda and head back to the office for some trail talk. He is curious to hear my thoughts about the trail conditions so far and gets out his maps. I spend the next ten minutes pointing out all the areas where I had difficulty navigating because of poor blazing, unmaintained trail, or confusing intersections. I also take the opportunity to inform him about my visit with the folks at the Cincinnati Nature Center and how Laura was interested in talking with the BTA to see if they could route the trail across the property. Richard’s face lights up with excitement, it turns out he has been hoping that opportunity would come up for many years now. I guess someone just needed to be in the right place at the right time to make it happen.
I purchased most of my maps for this hike almost two years ago and many of the ones I have for the BT are the older additions. Richard takes a few minutes to print me off a new set of the areas I haven’t been to yet so they are more up-to-date and easier to read. After talking over the changes it’s pretty late so I head upstairs to the guest room and drift off to sleep.


Thur. August 22
Trail Day 141
Miles hiked: 20
Home of Andrew and Claudia Bashaw - Glouster, OH

Just as I am getting ready to leave this morning Andrew Bashaw comes into work. We spend awhile talking trail, he is interested in my feedback on the BT. He cringes as I relate my story of the tick infestation, and how I am watching very closely for signs of sickness. He also informs me that the trail in the Marietta unit of the Wayne is not open yet. That combined with the likelihood of me getting sick from a sudden tick illness I decide it would be safer to bypass the long roadwalk through Marietta and instead take the alternate BT route through the AEP Recreation Lands. If the 35 miles of trail in the Wayne is not open then there is no point in walking 150 miles further on remote forest roads just to walk past it when I can instead hike almost 40 miles of alternate existing trail that is in good shape with a shorter roadwalk and still end up at the same place. The past few days I’ve felt a little off, if I do get sick it’s going to be sometime in the next four or five days and being in the remote corner of the Wayne would be the worst possible place to be when it happens.
Andrew asks what my plans are for tonight and I tell him I can probably make it to Burr Oak State Park. He gives me his cell number and says I can stay at his house tonight if I can’t make it there. Before leaving we snap a picture in front of the historic building downtown and then Richard drives me back to the trail. After the first few miles the rest of the day is mostly a roadwalk except for a small segment of trail through a horseback resort and a wildlife area. In a small unit of the Wayne outside Burr Oak State Park I follow the last chunk of off-road trail to a style crossing to find that a large trees has fallen on it and there is no way to get over or around it. Additionally the fence is too high to climb over so I have no choice but to turn around here and road walk around. As I backtrack to where I left the road I notice dark clouds overhead. I give Andrew a call, looks like I wont quite make it to the park after all. He says he’ll pick me up near Tom Jenkins Dam in about an hour. To get around the impassable stile crossing I need to walk along busy OH-13, again with no shoulder. It starts to rain again a half hour into my trek to the dam and just as I approach the entrance Andrew pulls into the driveway. What good timing! We load my gear in the back and head for his house in Glouster.
When I arrive I am introduced to his wife Claudia. My first order of business it to take a shower and then catch up on some emails before Claudia has dinner ready. Afterwards Andrew gets a call from Herb Hulls, one of the volunteers with the BTA. My pack has been repaired and Brent Anslinger has sent it to him to be delivered to me. We make arrangements for Herb to meet me in Stockport day after tomorrow at the old hotel in town to make the exchange. I’ll be getting my own pack back and handing off Brent’s pack to Herb to be returned to him later.
After talking trail for a little while Andrew sets up the fold-out couch in his living room and I drift off to sleep.


Fri. August 23
Trail Day 142
Miles hiked: 30
Home of Ken and Karen Peters - Chesterhill, OH

This weekend is the BTA Annual meeting at the century barn in Deersville so the Bashaw family will be dropping me off enroute this morning. After a nice breakfast they shuttle me back to Jenkins Dam. I thank Andrew for his hospitality and after shaking his hand he drives away.
A short walk from the dam I cross into Burr Oak State Park. Very pleasant scenery along the route today, right along the shore of the Burr Oak Reservoir. The trail here is well maintained, a nice change of pace for southern Ohio but it is pretty slippery from the rain. All the moisture from the storms doesn’t help the heat situation at all, the humidity makes hiking in this heat unbearable. I need to stop frequently for breaks to stay hydrated. Despite the nice scenery in this park it brings back memories of passing through East Fork Lake State Park east of Milford. The reason, the cobwebs are back today and are just as thick, if not thicker than they were back then. If East Fork was like Mirkwood, then surely I must be in Shelob’s Lair today. During my frequent breaks I’m ripping the sticky netting off my body, my clothing and my gear. At one point while hiking along I feel something crawling on my neck. I reach back and pull a large clump of webbing off and am shocked when I inspect it. There, clinging to the strand of sticky web is the unmistakable black widow. I always thought they were a southern species but as I edit this now I have discovered there is a northern subspecies, and southern Ohio is along the edge of its range. I avoid getting bitten and watch myself more carefully after the discovery.
After leaving Burr Oak the rest of the day is a roadwalk and I stop for a break at a place Richard told me about, a tall hill near a water tower with a pavilion. The heat wave is definitely back in full swing, and I have a few text messages on my phone from Andrew regarding local trail angels who would be happy to help out. I also have a voicemail from Ken Peters in Chesterhill. Apparently he and Andrew talked last night and Ken wanted to offer to help out anyway he could. I give him a call back and he doesn’t answer but he did include his address in the message he left. In a few hours I complete the roadwalk to Chesterhill and easily locate Ken’s home based on the information he left me in his message. I knock on the door and a woman answers. It’s Ken’s wife Karen, and she happily lets me in. She knew I may possibly be stopping by and the first thing she does is sits me down at the kitchen table and brings me a pitcher of ice water. We talk for a few minutes and then Ken comes in from his work on the guest house next door. It’s a work in progress, not finished yet, so I will be sleeping in a guest room upstairs tonight. So I meet Ken in person and we spend a good amount of time talking about my adventure and future plans for the trail. Ken tells me he hopes to host a section of trail and a campsite on his property in the near future for hikers to use.
Karen says she will have dinner ready soon so the next thing I do is take a shower so I’m not completely disgusting during the meal. Once I’m finished I’m treated to more ice water and a delicious dinner. The evening is finished after more story-telling, then I head upstairs to the guest room for a comfortable night of sleep.


Sat. August 24
Trail Day 143
Miles hiked: 21
North of Onion Run Road - AEP Recreation Lands, BT

I sleep in a little this morning and then Ken shuttles me into Stockport to retrieve my next package. On the way back to his place we make a detour to a historic site a ways off the trail where the Indian Wars began. Ohio sure does have lots of history despite the poor trail conditions. Back at Ken’s house Karen serves some extra food for breakfast and after thanking the Peters’ for a lovely stay at their home I hit the road.
Another blazing hot day on the roadwalk to Stockport. Along the way I get a call from Herb, my pack was delivered to his house this morning. We make plans to meet in Stockport in a few hours. At a fork in the road, literally in the road, is a well with a freshwater spring. I roll on into town and stop at the gas station for some Gatorade and a rest in the shade. No sooner have I finished than I get a call from Herb. He has just reached town and is wondering where I am, to which I respond I have also just arrived in town. Another case of perfect timing.
I head on down to the old Inn on the river and meet up with Herb. He’s a dedicated member involved with both the BT and the ADT. My pack looks great, almost new. I spend a few minutes switching gear from Brent’s Gregory into my GoLite. Herb gives me a few pointers on the section of trail I will be hiking the next two days between here and Belle Valley. He says there is a nice camping spot a few miles up the trail where they plan to install a shelter next year. So my goal for today is to make it to that spot. I thank Herb for taking the time to bring my pack to me and he wishes me luck on the rest of my hike.
I decide to linger for awhile in the shade in front of the old Inn before continuing on. The rest of the day is almost entirely a roadwalk to the beginning of the next off-road segment on the edge of the AEP Recreation Lands. At this junction the wilderness loop, known locally as the “stupid loop”, continues along remote gravel roads and a 40 mile segment of off-road trail in the Wayne on a strange 150 mile detour to Belle Valley. Up ahead on my route I have 40 miles of off-road trail through recently reclaimed AEP lands to reach Belle Valley day after tomorrow. Why the NCT takes the long detour to Marietta over some historically poorly maintained trail a stone’s throw from West Virginia when this chunk of existing good quality trail is here I will never understand.
I head on in and up the finely maintained trail to the first ridge. I lingered too long in Stockport so I wont make it to the camping spot Herb spoke of so I find a nice flat spot up on the ridge just off the trail and pitch for the night.


Sun. August 25
Trail Day 144
Miles hiked: 20
Bicentennial Campground – BT

I’m on the trail fairly early this morning but it remains a slow day. The heat has really intensified and it’s showing no signs of letting go anytime soon. Parts of the trail through some of the open areas are overgrown with weeds up to my waist, but the sections through the woods are nice. There is a small dolomite cave early on the hike this morning and there are some nice views of some nearby lakes. The woods around here have a north-woods feel to them. I pass a trail register along an open stretch and figure that this must be the site of the future shelter. I stop here for a quick break before continuing on.
The afternoon sees the trail following some mowed service roads through previously mined land. It hasn’t been mowed in awhile so the grass is up past my ankles and unfortunately some ATV’s have been out here and created some muddy rutted areas. Along this stretch my time scanning the ground for snakes finally pans out but what I find isn’t what I expected. Across the trail ten feet in front of me is a huge black snake, so large in fact that the seven-foot corridor I am hiking through now can’t contain its entire body. I freeze, as the horror of what I’ve stumbled upon sinks in. I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a fan of snakes, when I was younger in fact I had a near-phobia of the buggers. Where I stand now that fear takes hold again. I stamp my feet hoping the vibrations will scare it off. No movement. I edge a little closer continuing to stamp my feet but nothing happens.
I stand motionless for what seems like forever trying to control the fear and think rationally about how to navigate around this. The brush is too thick on either side to make an easy time getting around so I am left with little choice. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and count to five. Eyes closed and the fear temporarily contained I take a leap and hit the ground running, literally. Not daring to open them knowing the fear will take hold again if I see the massive beast moving I run the length of half a football field before opening my eyes. The trail here is wide and straight so there are no worries of running into a tree. Miraculously I didn’t step on the beast or stumble on a rutted ATV track and made it to the base of a gentle uphill climb. I follow this to a gated entry off a paved access road leading to the nearby campground and stop here for a break.
My water is almost gone from the heat of the day so I head on down the road to the campground and fill up. This heat wave has really wore on me and I can tell my strength is starting to diminish. I decide to take a nap here in the campground on the picnic table at one of the empty sites. Nearly two hours go by before I wake up and decide to cook myself a hot meal once I realize I’m hungry.
After a good meal and rehydrating I hike a few more mils and finish the day at the Bicentennial Campground where I get a spot and pitch for the night.


Mon. August 26
Trail Day 145
Miles hiked: 25
Property of Jerry Marolt - Buffalo Hills Resort

It’s only a few miles to the end of the trail through the recreation lands and then a short roadwalk to the small town of Belle Valley where I have another food drop waiting. When I arrive I am disappointed to find that it doesn’t open until 1:00 so I now have several hours to kill. I decide to consume some of my extra food and catch up on some journals to pass the time. There is a gas station across the way and today is another blazing hot day so I purchase more Gatorade to stay well hydrated.
At 1:00 the post office finally opens and I can get hiking again. The day is mostly a roadwalk except for a small section through Wolf Run State Park. There is a nice section over an earthen dam and then a few more cobwebs to contend with at the end of the section.
Along the roadwalk is another historical site-one of the many crash-sites of the USS Shenandoah, an American zeppelin that was ripped apart by severe thunderstorms and rained down on the countryside below. The trail passes by one of the sites of the wreckage, I snap a photo of the sign marking the spot.
Later on I pass through an Amish community on the way to Buffalo Hills Resort. At the resort I head on into the office to possibly see about pitching my tent somewhere on the grounds away from everyone else. My map says the resort is private and permission of the owners is needed. Unfortunately the woman at the counter wont let me stay so I have no choice but to push on. I follow the BT through the huge campground, many campers and small cabins are occupied. I find the gate where the BT leaves the resort and heads into the woods but it is currently blocked by a large tree that has fallen right behind the gate. I look for a way around but there doesn’t appear to be one. I wander around looking for a place to leave the resort and get out onto the highway on the opposite side but there doesn’t appear to be a way out. As I am wandering I pass an occupied site with a pavilion and a camper and the occupant flags me down as I approach. Hence I meet Jerry
Marolt, the tenant of this lot. After a brief conversation he offers his lot for the night, I can set up my tent anywhere. He was quite frustrated when he heard the woman at the counter wouldn’t let me camp here. Well this certainly worked out and was extremely helpful, Thanks Jerry.
Before I can get my tent set up completely Jerry has to leave for awhile to meet with some friends but he tells me to make myself at home and enjoy his pavilion. There is a wall on one side with a fireplace and some patio furniture around to sit on. I relax in one of his chairs as I enjoy some dinner and read some pages from Tolkien. After awhile Jerry returns and offers me a beer. I gladly accept and he gets a fire started as we start chatting. He is familiar with the BT and the ADT but the NCT is a mystery to him. He is excited that I am here and when he learns there may be more like me in the future he tells me he would be willing to open his lot up for hikers to camp in, and even set up a register box. I will definitely pass on your request to BTA headquarters Jerry. Many drinks with Jerry and many hours later it is far past time for me to get to sleep. I thank Jerry for his generous hospitality and head into my tent for a night of sleep.