Miles - 10.27
Total Miles - 112.2, Miles left - 103.5 (per NCT map)
Elevation Gain - 279' - 7,737' total
days - 15 hiking, 22 total since start
Bike shuttling - 0 miles (total - 55.5 miles)
I was planning on camping this weekend but with the Fiat on the disabled list my plans are altered. Deb shuttled me today. I can't thank her enough. We got to the trailhead at about 9:30 and I was off. I did 8 miles and met Deb at the trailhead on County Rd. A south of Iron River WI. I sat in the car and ate lunch before I was off for 2.25 more miles. This stop was significant as it marked the end of trail that I had previously been on. The vast majority of the trail completed thus far (roads not included) I have previously run on - the remaining trail I have never been on. It's kind of exciting that the rest is completely new but it's also a bummer because approximately 48 of my remaining miles are on the road. Some of the remaining road miles are gravel road but still it's kind of yucky.
I'm now out of the Chequamegon National Forest. I know there must be other amazing sections of the trail but the Chequamegon has to be one of the jewels of the NCT and of Wisconsin trails. It has been amazing.
When I stopped to eat lunch I had no issues - 2.25 miles later I sat in the car and there was 2 ticks on my pants. I got out of the car and Deb checked me. I lifted my shirt and dropped my pants and we found 12 more ticks. After I got home and showered Deb found 3 more ticks on me for a total of 17. We also found a tick squished on the sole of my shoe, one that I was sitting on and Deb found one on her. In the most bizarre happening I also found one crawling on the inside of the windshield - what the heck?
Ticks not withstanding the trail was beautiful and there were no muddy sections of the trail - the first time that has happened. Every other time I end up with wet feet and muddy shoes. My Trillium's are gone. I swear the biome that I was in changed from the last hike to today's. Tomorrow I'm off and on Monday I'll hike and bike shuttle and be off again on Tuesday. Sharing a car definitely will change things. Fortunately Deb is happy that I'm doing this and is helping me out. Unfortunately my car appointment is June 10th - my mechanic is not hurting for work.
Ticks not withstanding the trail was beautiful and there were no muddy sections of the trail - the first time that has happened. Every other time I end up with wet feet and muddy shoes. My Trillium's are gone. I swear the biome that I was in changed from the last hike to today's. Tomorrow I'm off and on Monday I'll hike and bike shuttle and be off again on Tuesday. Sharing a car definitely will change things. Fortunately Deb is happy that I'm doing this and is helping me out. Unfortunately my car appointment is June 10th - my mechanic is not hurting for work.
Of Course there must be burls.
Clear Cutting and nothing left
Nice picture of the porkie.
ReplyDeleteDenise says the ticks are bad at home this year too
Dad