Pictured Rocks Thru Hike 2020 Part 4
A Few Muses from the Hike -
This is a hike that many folks do in 3 days/ 2 nights. And that is immanently doable - but I think you might miss the point of this hike if you speed through it. In other words, there is something to say about stopping to ‘smell the roses (or views)’ on this hike. But, hey, ‘Hike your own hike’.
The bugs were not an issue for us. Sure, they were there but we did suffer as everyone warns. Why? I don’t know - maybe we were lucky. The fact that there was always a breeze seemed to help. But, we did always wear long pants and long sleeves.
The weather was spectacular and if you time things well, you can get a private beach all to yourself in the wilderness to enjoy. Even the one day of rain was not horrible - as we had so many other great days on the trail.
Doing the hike with friends and family was a new thing for me - and I think I might have found a perfect hiking partner with my best friend. And, a long stretch in a tiny tent is a real relationship tester (grin).
Any cold lunch option from Packit Gourmet is a winner. They were a complete winner on the trail for all parties.
For dinner, the Good to Go options were not tasty - over spicy and salty. They were a miss. Mary Jane’s Farms made some great dinners and would do eat their food anytime. And, lastly, from AlpineAire - Forever Young Mac & Cheese was a home run.
This my third coast hike - Olympic National Park, the West Coast Trail, and now Pictured Rocks and they all have this unique flavor to them that sets them apart. One nice thing about Lake Superior vs. the Pacific Ocean is the water is always cold and easy to filter (grin).
You will not get cell service on the trail. That is a good thing.
The trail is very well marked and maintained. A real credit to the NPS and AmeriCorps folks that keep things ready for all of us.
Even though I did not prepare physically at all, I did finish the hike - but then again that seems to be a theme for me that ‘blowing up’ my body is part of the fun-factor for my vacations.
Hiked the last two miles of the trail with a couple of ‘locals’ out for their daily hike and small town America is alive and well. Gracious, generous, and unfailingly polite - even agreed not to share any news from the week as we had enjoyed the respite for our oppressive media.
One thing I would suggest if I were to do it again would be to get up early and do some early night hiking so you can stop on the beach and watch the sun come up. I ran into a group that did it once and enjoyed it so much they got up and did it twice it was so special.
This hike is beautiful - and seems to be a bit of a secret in the broader hiking community. It is not to be missed -
Lastly, do not miss the chance to have a very cold beverage at the By George Brew Pub in Munising. The Root Beer is brilliant. And the perfect place to celebrate the finish of your hike.