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 7: Bittersweet ends and the last hoorah

Trail: Pt.2 of a Custom trail (a mix of the AT & the Pocosin trail)

Length: Estimated ~2.7 miles

Elevation: 400ft

Time: 8:33- 9:32 (on the dot I want to add)

 So I write this from the backseat of our vehicle on the 10 hour journey home. Fresh off of the last hike and I gotta say, THAT WAS A TOUGHIE. We wanted to push hard and fast and we did. For the most part the elevation was good to us, but there were some stretches where it got brutal for a second. The worst part is that we had limited water, due to the location of our campsite and the custom route we took we prepared for a zero water scenario. That part was fine but there's something mentally taxing about knowing you're low on water...... Either way though we hoofed it and made it back AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.  

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 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…..

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

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

Day 4: a Time Lapsed sunset of Superior

This one is pretty Self explanatory.....set up my camera and caught the sunset (which took FOREVER to disappear over the horizon)

 

Day 4: The most hype event in all of the forrest

Game of thrones? Star Wars? Shogun?

All pale in comparison to the number one show all across the forest.....

Day 4: What's in store?

 

A little rhyme scheme coming your way.....ya see, I rhymed 4 with store (take that EMINEM). Come join us as we navigate the lazy lay over day and recoup

Day 3: Photos in no particular arrangement

Captured ALOT of good footage today. Wonderful sunsets and good ambiance if you ask me. Check out the pics! 

Day 3: The end of our journey to Lake Superior. and the fruits of its labor

Honestly today was the day we saw more people on the trail than any other day. Obviously at the time we didn't know that, and I'm writing this part in hindsight from my cozy computer chair several days later.....BUUUUT this was the spot we chose after MUCH deliberation. Since the place was filling up we needed to tread lightly, technically did not have reservations here so the last thing we wanted to do was make camp and then get booted out by folks who did it right and paid for a site. The winds of fortune blew our way though and we found a nice secluded site atop a hill. The hill totally killed the cool superior winds for the most part, so we just got set up and found PLENTY of firewood. I had to do some engineering on our firepit to make it radiate heat better but that was our biggest hurdle and after the last two days or hiking and the soar feet setting in I aint mad about that.... CONTINUE READING for more.