Pictured Rocks

[ChinMusic]

I've been invited to hike this trail (40ish miles) in the UP of Michigan in late June. It has been on my list of places to hike. I understand that it is a very easy trail and VERY scenic. I think I would take my good camera equip with me.

Couple questions:

Is this a good time of year for this trail?

Is late June prime bug season?

Is the soil sandy at the designated campsites to the point that I might have trouble with tent stakes (Lunar Solo = stakes under tension)?

[Pringles]

Hi,

It's a beautiful area. I hike there regularly. Definitely take your camera.

The trail should be fine then.

The bugs should be splendid. Magnificent, even. Take DEET, and maybe a head net. On the other hand, if you get here and it's cool, that should keep the bugs down. You may be lucky and hit an off few days, but be prepared.

I've never had problems with tent stakes and I've stayed at all the camp areas.

Pringles

[cmcdonal2001]

I've hiked there several times, and it is an amazingly beautiful stretch of trail. In summer the bugs CAN be horrendous. A few summers ago I was up there and the amount of black flies could only be described as 'biblical'. However, I think that was a heavier bug year than usual. Take some DEET and maybe a head net and you should be fine.

No problems pitching tents, and other than some sand walking and a few minor hills, a very easy hike. Well worth your time.

[conmcb25]

So far the weather has been very cool in "DA UP". You may luck out with less black flies than usual.

Good Luck, I want to hike this again, this time with my son, maybe in the summer of 2010.

[ChinMusic]

We got our permits for the campsites lined up. Will def be prepared for serious bugs as best as possible. Should be a nice and easy 4 days.

[ChinMusic]

Our trip through Pictured Rocks was truly memorable. The scenery was amazing. I will def be returning. The mosquitoes were indeed "splendid" but thanks to better-life-through-chemistry they were kept at bay.

Here is a slideshow of pics from the trip: http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...view=slideshow

Here are a few of my faves:

[mudhead]

Very nice pics.

I have to ask: Swim?

[ChinMusic]

Very nice pics.

I have to ask: Swim?

Thanks and no, no swim, WAY too cold water. It was GREAT to cool off the feet though.

[mudhead]

Thanks and no, no swim, WAY too cold water. It was GREAT to cool off the feet though.

Big sissy. I jumped in Superior. Once.

[beakerman]

Big sissy. I jumped in Superior. Once.

Once...I'm sure that is the active word there. Twice could get you commited I'm sure.

[Pringles]

Big sissy. I jumped in Superior. Once.

I have some friends who wait until late August *every year*, then go to the Logslide (top of the big dune) and slide/run down. Then they walk and swim over to the Au Sable Point lighthouse and walk back on the trail.

Yes, the bugs go away in September and October. If it's not too cold too early, November is magnificent and a little lonely. If you can deal with the winters here, the summers are incredible.

As to swimming in Superior, I'll practice kayak rolls and wet exits in the pool and nearby inland lakes, and even Lake Huron, but I'm not going in The Lake. Nope. No way.

Pringles

[Lyle]

Need to get back there soon. been too long.

[Rockhound]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cUNNKzj_Nc Just beware of shrinkage!

[Lyle]

Occasionally Superior gets warm enough in the Pictured Rocks area to swim. I remember one year at the Twelve Mile Beach and at the Chapel Falls campsite we went swimming. Could stay in the water for close to an hour, fairly comfortable. Granted, these situations are rare and depend a lot on time of year, currents, and how warm the summer has been - but they do occasionally happen.

[ChinMusic]

I remember one year at the Twelve Mile Beach and at the Chapel Falls campsite we went swimming.

We dropped down to Twelve Mile Beach for an hour or so. I let my buddy get far enough in front of me for this pic:

[conmcb25]

Occasionally Superior gets warm enough in the Pictured Rocks area to swim. I remember one year at the Twelve Mile Beach and at the Chapel Falls campsite we went swimming. Could stay in the water for close to an hour, fairly comfortable. Granted, these situations are rare and depend a lot on time of year, currents, and how warm the summer has been - but they do occasionally happen.

Swimming in Superior has everything to do with wind direction and being in the right place to take advantage of that wind. You need an onshore breeze for a day or two and it blows all the warm surface water into a bay or something similar.

I can remember trying to swim in Misery Bay (Southwest of Houghton, north of the Porcies and Ontonagon.) twice in July. One week it was the usual cold as heck, and another week, it was like swimming in bath water, I was in the lake literally for hours. That was because of a perfect west wind, just enugh to blow the surface water into shore.

Now back when I as in college at "Da Tech" in Houghton, a spring rite of passage was to go to Misery Bay after the ice was out, build a huge bonfire on the beech, get falling down drunk, and jump in. Despite the liquor, you didn't stay in long. It was a great spring fever cure though

[sheepdog]

Great Pics. I love this area. Try it in September. No bugs and the leaves are starting to turn.

[ChinMusic]

Next time I'd like to incorporate kayaking in with the backpacking. Maybe have 4 people, 2 hiking, 2 kayaking, meet at a reserved campsite, swap out roles the next day....repeat.

[sheepdog]

Next time I'd like to incorporate kayaking in with the backpacking. Maybe have 4 people, 2 hiking, 2 kayaking, meet at a reserved campsite, swap out roles the next day....repeat.

Now that's an idea. You really have to watch the weather when you kayak. If a storm comes up when you are in the cliffs, you could come down with a bad case of dead.

[ChinMusic]

Now that's an idea. You really have to watch the weather when you kayak. If a storm comes up when you are in the cliffs, you could come down with a bad case of dead.

That would make for a bad day.