Pictured Rocks

[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.

[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

[World-Wide]

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)?

Hey ChinMusic,
Regardless of where I'm at in the world, almost every June/July I head to Iron Mountain (Lost Lake) with my cousin and several other avid fishermen to reel in big northerns, wall-eye and crappie! That time of the year is absolutely beautiful! It can get a bit warm during the day, but the nights are awesome! If you're near a small lake/large pond, the call of the loons are magical. I can almost guarantee you'll see a black bear during your hike! Never had a problem with bugs except for what I think was either the 2001 or 2002 fishing season? They had a problem with catepillars that were dessimating the leaves of trees throughout the U.P. so the DNR released a "Black Fly" population that ate the catepillars during their early stage of life. What sounded like a good idea spread to be a Black Fly infestation. Thank goodness the species weren't extreme biters, but having 20-40 flys on you at any time is a bit unnerving! Mesquito's can suck at times also! Have a great hike!! W-W

[World-Wide]

Hey ChinMusic,
Regardless of where I'm at in the world, almost every June/July I head to Iron Mountain (Lost Lake) with my cousin and several other avid fishermen to reel in big northerns, wall-eye and crappie! That time of the year is absolutely beautiful! It can get a bit warm during the day, but the nights are awesome! If you're near a small lake/large pond, the call of the loons are magical. I can almost guarantee you'll see a black bear during your hike! Never had a problem with bugs except for what I think was either the 2001 or 2002 fishing season? They had a problem with catepillars that were dessimating the leaves of trees throughout the U.P. so the DNR released a "Black Fly" population that ate the catepillars during their early stage of life. What sounded like a good idea spread to be a Black Fly infestation. Thank goodness the species weren't extreme biters, but having 20-40 flys on you at any time is a bit unnerving! Mesquito's can suck at times also! Have a great hike!! W-W

Oops, guess I missed the "Pictured Rock" part! Scratch my post unless its near the area you anticipate hiking! (don't think so though!) W-W

[jrwiesz]

I was in the "Porkies" in 2002 packing with my two son's, and the black flies were indeed exceptional that year.

The breakfast of bacon and eggs were delicious; once you got past the realization that one couldn't tell the difference between the pepper and the black flies. High protein boost to your eggs, YUM!

I'm sure the whole of the UP and NCT was awash in the critters that year.

Great photos of your journey, thanks for sharing ChinMusic.

[World-Wide]

[quote=jrwiesz;862916]The breakfast of bacon and eggs were delicious; once you got past the realization that one couldn't tell the difference between the pepper and the black flies. High protein boost to your eggs, YUM!

LOL.............. W-W

[Odd Man Out]

Last time I was at PR it was 98 deg and humid. Swimming was definitely possible. But this is VERY rare.

Also, about 25 years ago I went on a day hike to spray falls (see picture 13 in the ChinMusic's great slide show). We had a picnic on the rock ledge right by the falls. To get a better view of the falls, I carefully worked my way to the edge of the cliff. I recall there was a small tree right at the edge that somehow made me feel a little less exposed so I could get right to the edge (with my foot right on the base of the tree trunk). On the hike back out, I took a picture from the same viewpoint at ChinMusic's picture. It wasn't until I got home and developed the roll of film that I noticed that the tree keeping me from going over the edge was really on a rather precarious overhang and there was only a few inches of rock between me and some unexpected swimming a hundred feet down!

Haven't backpacked there yet (only these day trips). Looking forward to it! I am not so young and stupid anymore and will stay away from the edge!