A couple years ago I got this crazy idea that I'd like to try backpacking, and somehow put my whole kit together scouring the forums here over one winter. Since then, I've been spending time in beautiful places in my own state that I had no idea even existed but a few seasons before. So... thanks!

I took the last two vacations days allotted for 2012 and sandwiched Labor Day Weekend between them to travel up to the Porkies with some fellow Michiganders that I'd met on the trails.

Not much to say, except that the hike was a perfect mix of escarpment, old-growth forest, Great Lake, and tumbling rivers!

Lake of the Clouds:


Big Carp River winding through old-growth hemlock:


Escarpment tree:


Little maple that could:


Lunch spot:


Big Carp ford:


Shining Cloud Falls:


Campsite on Lake Superior:


Comrades on the beach:


Sunset over Lake Superior:


Little Carp River:


Good rock-hoppin' when chores were done at campsite along Little Carp:


Dam on Lily Pond:


Forgot to set the alarm:


Born this way:


-Pete

Pete,
Great report on a worthy destination. Thanks.
Ike

Pete, great stuff, thanks for sharing. What I love about these trip reports is discovering that there really are a LOT of great places to go backpacking in this country! And other countries!

Thanks so much for sharing this. I grew up in the Keweenaw, and got my first taste of backpacking in the Porkies. It's a place near and dear to my heart.

I hope you had a pasty at Syl's while you were in Ontonagon!

Nice pictures Peter. I was up there the same weekend. Must of missed you. A lot of the creeks sure seemed low or non existing. Couldn't have asked for better weather and nicer people.

Edited by jpovs on 09/10/2012 21:05:32 MDT.

Peter,

Good trip report. I really like that you can find places all over the US to enjoy.