This post is the first day of a hike across Michigan from Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. The trail is called the Michigan Shore-to-Shore Trail. It begins in Oscoda, MI and ends in Empire, MI. It is somewhere between 215 and 235 miles depending on what trails are followed. A map showing a complete breakdown of the trail along with resources along the way can be accessed here.
We started in Oscoda, MI at a hotel on Lake Huron. We walked from it to the trail head and then kept following the road until the trail crossed this same road. We then entered the trail for the next 15 miles or so. At around this time, it began raining very hard. It continued to rain for the next few hours. We learned that walking on a road and walking on a trail is different. It is easier to put more miles on flat hard surfaces than it is to walk a narrow trail maintaining your balance and watching every foot placement to avoid injury.
One of our first breaks was a waterhole on the trail. There was a Whitetail Buck amongst the brushy area that was nearby the waterhole. As we marched further along, we saw many acres of trees marked with a blue spray painted slash. It appeared these trees will soon be lumbered. A walk along a power line near a camping area across River Road introduced us to some sandy soil.
We continued along the trail until we were close to Lumberman’s Monument Campground. We then bush wacked our way to River Road and the campground.
We started at about 7:30am and walked 19.2 miles until 7:30pm. After nursing blisters, we returned with our vehicle to Oscoda to retrieve our start vehicle. We grabbed some dinner, fueled up our vehicles and returned to the campground. It continued to rain throughout the early evening.
Trip Summary: Total Time = 10 hours 53 minutes. Moving Time = 8 hours 12 minutes. Distance = 19.2 miles.
Here are the links if interested in doing a similar trip. Click below:
Check out the video below and thank you!
