This post is Day 6 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.
Day 6 of our hike began at the location we left off South of Zimowske Road and ended a few miles West and North of the Luzerne Horse Trail Campground. We started walking at around 9:00am and finished for the day at just before 6:00pm. This day was again one of the harder days due to the large number of Ticks and the need to stop and remove the little pests off of clothing every .25 miles. There were minor elevation changes that were manageable, less frequent, and shorter in length. During our time on the trail on this day, we encountered s scenic view, an Artesian Well, the East Branch Big Creek, a bridge, a long wooden walking platform, and a nice sitting area at the creek. The temperatures were comfortable and the wind was not an issue. This was one of the most rewarding days while being one of the most challenging in dealing with Ticks.
We will need to reassess the next 30 miles relative to tick management. One change is to not have Pixie, my Golden Retriever with us as we journey through these tick laced areas. It is not fair for her to have to deal with Ticks and it requires hours of addressing removal. Also, gators will be used, Promethium treated clothing, and pants that are smooth and less likely to allow Ticks to grip easily. An additional change is to have a motel/hotel each night to help with Tick inspection and cleaning up after using copious amounts of bug spray or being in contact with Promethium treated clothing.
After retrieving our vehicles, we retrieved our second vehicle and then visited in the Luzerne area to have dinner. We then camped at Harbor Canoe Campground. The next day, we spent some time in Grayling and then drove home to reassess and to continue another day.
Trip Summary: Total Time = 8 hours 43 minutes. Moving Time = 4 hours 46 minutes. Distance = 9.3 miles.
The video of Day 5 is below.
