Feeling Nostalgic, had an itch....decided to Edit old backpacking footage

 

I don't know what it is lately and I'm not complaining, maybe it's all of the sorting of chaos I've been doing in my head or maybe it's just a sudden strike inspiration. DON'T KNOW, DON'T CARE. I just know that I've been bitten by the creative bug again lately (which feels nice if I'm being honest) and I'm going to let it take me where it needs to go. It's funny, over the last few years I've ben getting bummed about how my artistic eye is dying and how I have writer's block but with the new journey I'm on, time is allowing me to recover and reinvigorate myself. 

TLDR: I got inspired last night and started editing two videos, the first one I forgot to save and my editing software FROZE on me, so I lost that (man it was a bummer, I was 3/4 of the way doen and it wasn't half bad imo) BUT I did start on another and that carried me over to this mornign where I finished it up....so here we are... CONTINUE READING to watch my Montage of our Second trip to ISLE ROYALE (CIRCA 2021)

Day 6: Packing out to a Custom Trail

 

Today we do the unconventional. Today we enter the backcountry. Today the warm boys are in search of the perfect spot to spend the night with sweet Mother Nature.

Trail: Custom (a mix of the AT & the Pocosin trail)

Length: Estimated ~5.1 miles

Elevation: 550ft

Time: 11:52-3:20

Today we say goodbye to CASA de Warm Boyz but alas....nothing lasts forever (even cold November Rain) so we broke down camp and skidaddled ASAP. 

This is George, he's a park Ranger and Eagle Scout. Dude is HARD AF, soo funny and has mad respect for nature. MY guy is 80 and still showing up early and putting in a day. I see him raking leaves, getting firewood, and just being pleasant with the campers as well as helpful to the thruhikers on the AT (This is a stopping point where people can layover, take a shower, resupply, whatever needbe)

Today was going to be a great day for me...... today is the day I planned to have my annual check-up with the universe. When we make camp.....I'm taking Psilocybin baybay :-) aquired LEGALLY in the City of Ann Arbor for the record.

Day 5: Hazel Falls (Probably the best trail)

 

Day 5 (May 5th)

Destination: Hazel Falls  

Length: 5.2 miles

Elevation:  950ft

Time: 11:20- 2:30

Day 4: Layover day

 

This will be short and sweet, not much to report on here……

We slept in, recovered, had an amazing breakfast, waited for the weather to break (and it did twice) and eventually just rallied up and played some board games. I really can’t talk about the rest haha

Day 3: Afternoon Monsoons

 Well…..currently battling some fun weather lol. It’s uh……yeah. It’s a spectrum I’ll tell ya

That’s right. I thought I’d have it easy after the hike….. Yanno, rush through the second half to beat the rain and then go home and hunker down. But NOOOOOOOO, the weather has to go all whacked out on goofballs. Shenanigans I tell you, SHENANIGANS

The CAVE CEMETARY fiasco

 Oh boy…. Get ready for this one.

The Rose River trail has been my most anticipated trail since we started planning this trip in November, it’s always seemed the most evenhanded of our selections and as far as sightseeing goes it’s got a little bit of everything for everyone. So since about a month ago I have been even more eager to hike it, I was putzing around the inter webs and found out there was a cave cemetery there! Sooo cool. How friggin awesome. I was super jazzed for it, I mean how can you not be? Well here’s my tale of that…..

Day 3: Warm Boyz take Rose River

What a great time today. I have been looking forward to this trail most of all, and since day 1 have been pitching it hard and advocating on its behalf fiercely. It looked like it had a little of everything and now that we’ve gone and came back I can confirm that that is true. The spot we chose for lunch was an added bonus as well, with the only drawback being cutting things short in an attempt to beat the rain (and right so because….. yeah…. You’ll hear about THAT)

Destination: Rose River falls Loop

Length: 4.1 miles 

Elevation gain: 830ft

Time: 11:15- 2:11

Day 2: Hike 2- Lewis Falls trail loop

Destination: Lewis Falls (waterfall)

Distance: 3.3miles

Elevation gain: 841ft

Time: 12:40- 3:20

After our nice warm up we were ready for the easy finish with a bonus of lunch AT the falls. Absolutely spectacular…. Wanna check it out? CONTINUE READING

Made it! Time to set-up

At about 3:20 we rolled up into this beezy, with hope in our hearts and adventure in our minds.

The speed  limit was a whopping 35mph so we definitely got some time to soak in the sights, plenty of mountainscape on alternating sides as we make our way to the middle of the park. CONTINUE READING to see more of our home away from home.

Road Update…. Still driving (2hrs 19mins left)

Sitting here….. staring, zoning out, sight-seeing, and taking in the landscape. Not much going on but wanted to check in

Just some random pics I snapped.

Mountains are majestic

I gotta add page breaks or blogger won’t be too happy, so please CONTINUE READING for the scooooop.

Kicking it off in style

 Update: 9:54- in Pennsylvania now. Had some delicious French Toast sticks from Burger King. Car is full of gear but for a solid hour ish nap using a cardboard box as a pillow. Hashtag roughing it

One week until my annual commune with Nature

How exciting! It’s almost that time again to join me and THE WARM BOYZ (with a ‘z’) on our annual excursion into the bosoms of Mother Nature! This year we visit Shenandoah national park in VIRGINIA. :-)

Update!: Just coated my gear in permethrin today. All packed up for the most part. With my new ultralight additions……pre water weight is about 20lbs. Nice.

Backpacking trip 2024: The Porcupine Mountains (a recap)

It’s been almost a month since I took my annual backpacking trip with my cousin, Father’s Day is coming up, and my baby girl is graduating kindergarten….. Life is good. On that note: 

Posting a shortcut to all the pages for each day of the trip. Separating the videos and pics too. 

Super happy and grateful to be able to share these with you. Continue reading for the links

The Pre-journey Journey

The Journey Begins (Sort of)

Day 6: the long and winding road (after backpacking our last stretch that is…) (PHOTOS)

Headed back to the beautiful LAKE IN THE CLOUDS, only this time we are approaching from the opposite side. Got some real gems here, tons of majestic and natural beauty. Bittersweet that the trip is ending but had a blast the whole time. This is another successful adventure in the books.

Day 6: bittersweet endings

Day 5 photos (in no particular arrangement)

 

Day 5: No working title

A continuation of Day 5 as we chill, it rains, and the day passes. Very fortunate to have taken this trip and this path. Super grateful for the tradition of backpacking every year with my cousin Bryan. I am privileged to have see the sights and made the memories

Day 5: Big Carp river trail

 

 

Day 5 was exciting. We were rested and ready from lay over day, our trip was backtracking so it was a place we had already been through (swampy and flooded out), and we had to re-cross our bridgeless river area. Rain was in the forecast so we made haste! Luckily it held out, we were able to find camp and make it as well as gather wood before getting blasted. Also made a hot fire that withstood the downpour. It was a night of reflection for sure, and we tried to stay up for the northern lights. Unfortunately it got cloudy around midnight and we tried to hold out but we not able to see aurora borealis.

Make sure to check out the story after we crossed in river!

Day 4: Photos in no particular arrangement

Not much to explain here....had a lazy day, explored the local area of our campsite, took a day hike to a very underwhelming waterfall, visited Lake Superior, got firewood, listened to music, got wasted, and relaxed. Lot so music and definitely pigging out on trail snacks...YUM!

Day 4: Our Bs day. colloquially known as F#&k off day (aka Lay over day)

More from our lazy day including our impromptu day hike. Good times