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When:
8 a.m. Friday, November 7, to midafternoon, Monday, November 10
Level: Intermediate-level, on- &
off-trail, map-and-compass recon.
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous
for the fit; cold (10 degrees); snowy, slippery terrain.
Prerequisites: Participants must
have prior cold-weather backpacking experience.
Costs: This is a free trip. All transportation,
lodging, meals, public transit, permits, etc., are the responsiblity
of each participant.
Organizer: Michael Neiger
(LandNavMan on the boards), Marquette, Michigan (Web
site; e-mail; bio).
Sign-up process: After reviewing
the material presented below,
e-mail your first name, last
name, city, state or province, and e-mail address to Michael Neiger
(LandNavMan).
Chimo (Inuit for welcome) to
fellow alumni
of southeastern Michigan's SOLAR
Club,
the School for Outdoor Leadership, Adventure, and Recreation,
and fellow members of the North
Country Trail Association.
The man [woman] with the
knapsack is never lost.
No matter whither he may stray,
his food and shelter are right with him,
and home is wherever he may choose to stop.
Horace Kephart, the Dean
of the Wilderness, Camping & Woodcraft, 1917
There is pleasure in the
pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not man the less, but Nature more.
Lord Byron (George Noel
Gordon) 1788-1824
Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, canto IV [1818], stanza 178
The Michigan Bush Rats' November '08, 4-day, ..........-km,
on/off-trail, backpacking trip will see them trekking along a section
of North Country Trail in the Hiawatha National Forest in the southeastern
Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
An excerpt from last year's November trip
journal:
...... After greeting old friends and
being introduced to Sarah and Rob, SOLAR Club members who were doing
their first trip with the Bush Rats, we launched into a discussion
of the trip at hand.
The Nov '07 Mackinac Wilderness Tract
crew: Mary, LandNavMan, Rob, Sarah, NightBlazer, IsleRoyaleGirl,
Mary Ann, WoodsRunner, and Bill.
(Photo courtesy of NatureLady's photo
album)
A sizeable group of new faces in a village
restaurant attracts a bit of attention and several customers made
friendly inquiries about our plans. One local resident, hearing that
we would be starting near her home, offered to let us park there.
The crew on the North Country Trail during
the Nov '07 Michigan Bush Rats' Backpacking Trip. (Photo ourtesy
of IsleRoyaleGirl's photo album
Another customer shared that he was from Davison
and came to the UP as often as he could to enjoy getting out in the
woods as we were about to do. The friendly reception seemed an auspicious
beginning for the hike.
The crew crossing a beaver dam during the Nov
'07 Michigan Bush Rats' Backpacking Trip. (Photo courtesy of WoodsRunner's
photo
album.)
After breakfast we spotted cars along the
proposed route to allow for several alternative endpoints. I spotted
my car so Chris, who would hopefully be joining us in camp at the
end of the day, could use it to get back to his car since he was planning
to leave the group on Sunday to be back home for work on Monday.
Flocks of snow buntings rose from the
road in many places as we drove, a reminder that winter was not far
off.......
read
more of NatureLady's photo-journal.
View journals from prior Michigan Bush Rats'
November Backpacking Trips
2007
:: 2006
:: 2005a
:: 2005b
:: 2004
:: 2003a
:: 2003b
:: 2002
:: 2001
View photo albums from prior Michigan Bush Rats'
November Backpacking Trips
2007a
:: 2007b
:: 2007c
:: 2006
:: 2005
:: 2004
:: 2003
:: 2002
The section of the Hiawatha National Forest that
we will be exploring is situated just north of Moran, Michigan, in Mackinac
County, which is situated north-northwest of the Straits of Mackinac,
in the south-central Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
The bush we will exploring is located along M-127,
between the old railroad villages of Moran and Ozark.
This free, 4-day, moderately-strenuous, map-and-compass,
on/off-trail winter-backpacking trip is suitable for the adventurous,
intermediate-level, independent, fully-equipped, 10-degree, foul-weather,
substance-free (tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs), swimming-proficient,
adult, winter backpacker with a strong mind and body who enjoys exploring
off-the-beaten-path wilderness and bivouacking in remote, non-campground
settings.
Although we will try to keep them to a minimum,
due to the potential for cold weather, our un-scouted route may require
an occasional shallow-water stream ford.
Since our area of operation will likely be snowfree,
and we will be bivouacking in pristine, highly-combustible, non-campground
settings, we will not be having any campfires (or using any twig-burning-type
hobo stoves) except in an emergency. Everyone should be equipped with
the necessary insulating layersleg, torso, and headto stay
warm and stave off hypothermia at rest, especially at lunch when it
is cold, rainy, and windy. Everyone should be carrying a lightweight
backpacking stove for heating water and cooking their rations.
LandNavMan, Ms Mich., IsleRoyaleGirl, Mary
Ann, and Bill atop the Taylor Creek bridge during the Nov '07 Michigan
Bush Rats' Backpacking Trip. (Photo courtesy of WoodsRunner's
photo
album.)
Taylor Creek, just downstream of its confluence
with Bissel Creek, on the Oct '03 Michigan Bush Rats' Backpacking
Trip. (Photo courtesy of Gail Staisil's photo
album.)
I shall be telling this with a
sigh
somewhere ages and ages hence;
two roads diverged in a wood,
and II took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost (1874-1963), The
Road Not Taken, 1916, stanza 4
If you are looking for lodging, one option is the
McGowan's Family Restaurant & Motel, which is located on M-123,
about 30 miles northwest of the Mackinac Bridge:
McGowan's Family
Restaurant & Motel
P.O. Box 315
21459 S. M-123
Trout Lake, Michigan 49793
906-569-3366
E-mail:
Web:
St. Ignace,
Michigan-area Travel Info
1-800-338-6660
Our 8:00 am Friday morning assembly location will
be McGowan's Family Restaurant & Motel. Breakfast is optional.
Leave a message for me, or check for one from me,
at the above restaurant.
After signing waiver forms, we'll aim for a 9:00
AM departure from the restaurant.
The North Branch
of the Carp River on the Nov '07 Michigan Bush Rats' Backpacking
Trip. (Photo courtesy of IsleRoyaleGirl's photo
album)
Upper Peninsula
of Michigan travel information
1-800-562-7134
Michigan
travel information
1-800-644-2489
Sault Ste.
Marie, Ontario-area travel information
1-800-263-2546
Province
of Ontario travel information
1-800-ONTARIO
Ontario
travel information
1-800-668-2746
For brick and mortar breed filth
and crime,
With a pulse of evil that throbs and beats;
And men [women] are withered before their prime
By the curse paved in with the lanes and streets.
And lungs are poisoned and shoulders
bowed,
In the smothering reek of mill and mine;
And death stalks in on the struggling crowd
But he [she] shuns the shadow of oak and pine.
Nessmuk (George W. Sears), Woodcraft,
1920
If all goes well, we should be back at our vehicles
about mid-afternoon on Monday.
Additional itinerary info may be posted on this trip
thread at a later date.
The North Branch of the Carp River on the Nov
'07 Michigan Bush Rats' Backpacking Trip. (Photo courtesy of IsleRoyaleGirl's
photo album)
Two roads diverged in a yellow
wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Robert Frost (1874-1963), The
Road Not Taken, 1916
Mackinac Wilderness is located in Mackinac County,
Michigan approximately 12 miles northwest of St. Ignace. The southwest
boundary of the wilderness lies along the Soo Line railroad and State
Highway M-123; boundary on the south is FR-3450 and on the east and
north sides boundaries are formed by FR-3119 and 3122, respectively.
Mackinac Wilderness is administered as a part of the St. Ignace Ranger
District of the Hiawatha National Forest.
The entire area was logged in the late 1800's and
early 1900's. Following logging, much of the area was burned. There
has been little logging or other human influence since that time.
As a result, the second growth forest covering the area is now 60
to 80 years old. The general area surrounding Mackinac is similar
in terrain and vegetation. Noise influencing the wilderness comes
from along State highway M-123.
The northeast quarter of the area contains low
ridges and is forested mostly with northern hardwoods and occasional
stands of birch and aspen. The south half has fairly large areas of
wetland types that lie between sand ridges. These types vary from
marshes to shallow bogs to clumps of small trees. Beaver have dammed
drainages and created approximately seven major ponds in the area.
A seven-acre lake called Spring Lake forms the headwaters of Spring
Lake Creek.
Mackinac's most notable feature is the Carp River.
The north branch of the Carp River, Taylor Creek and Spring Lake Creek
all flow into the portion of the Carp River with the wilderness. Several
stretches of minor river rapids are located near the center of the
wilderness.
Over hundreds of years, a number of oxbows have
formed along the well defined floodplain of the Carp River. Oxbows
are former river curves which were cut off from the main river as
its meanders straightened over time. The presence of the oxbows and
the water-cut riverbanks add to the diversity of the river plain.
Much of the Carp River has a sandy bottom.
Brook, brown and rainbow trout use and spawn in
the Carp River and its feeder streams. The diverse nature of the area
attracts a wide range of wildlife. Beaver living along the river and
tributaries continually alter the landscape by cutting aspen and constructing
dams, which in turn create ponds and meadows. Other wildlife species
native to the area are osprey, sandhill crane, great blue heron, bald
eagle, beaver, black bear, raccoon, pine marten, pileated woodpecker,
mink, muskrat, red squirrel, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, and brook
trout. Dense fir and cedar stands attract wintering deer.
The wetlands and dense forest of Mackinac present
a challenge to visitors. There are no marked trails in this Wilderness.
People must make their own way through the area. Good orientation
skills are a must. The northern portion of the wilderness is accessible
by foot. Some places which have exposed, broken bedrock at the surface
may be more difficult for foot travel. Foot travel in the southern
portion of the Mackinac Wilderness is difficult. Wetlands may be dense
and tangled with shrubs, and the open areas are often wet and mucky.
Current recreation use of the area is primarily
along the Carp River and includes canoeing, fishing, hunting and trapping.
The southern half of the area offers the visitor a chance to observe
and study various kinds of wetlands.
Contains material adapted courtesy of the United
States Forest Service.
- U.S. Forest Service, Hiawatha
National Forest, St. Ignace Ranger District, 1900 W. US 2, St.
Ignace, Michigan 49781, 1-906-643-7900
- Exploring Superior CountryThe
Nature Guide to Lake Superior by Craig Charles (1992, NorthWood
Press, Inc.)
- North Country Trail (National
Park Service)
- The North Country Trail through Pictured
Rocks National Lakeshore and Hiawatha National Forest West
by Byron Hutchins (1991)
- Official North
Country Trail Association Web site
- Field, Forest, Farm and FoothillAn
Incomplete Guide to the North Country Trail, by Wes Boyd
- Hikeable Segments of the North Country
National Scenic Trail, by the North Country Trail Association
(2003, North Country Trail Association)
- Hutchins Guide- All Certified Miles
in Michigan Upper Peninsula, by Byron and Margaret Hutchins
(2002)
- North Country Cache: Adventures on
a National Scenic Trail, by Joan H. Young (2005, Books Leaving
Footprints)
- North Country TrailHiawatha
Shore-to-Shore Chapter (2002, Hiawath Shore-to-Shore Chapter)
- North Country TrailSt. Ignace
Segment (1986, St. Ignace USFS)
- North Country TrailSault Ste.
Marie Segment (1987, Sault Ste. Marie USFS)
- "Pleasing Pathway," by
Deidre S. Tomaszewski, Michigan Out-of-Doors (June,
2001)
- "North Country's 'Long and Winding
Trial'Eastern U.P.'s section of trail offers 4 seasons of fun,"
by Betty Sodders, Michigan Outdoor Times (January, 2002)
- Following the North Country National
Scenic Trail by Wes Boyd (1997, Hutchins Guidebooks)
- Search destination in Google's search
engine
Camp out among the grass and gentians
of glacier meadows,
in craggy garden nooks full of Natures darlings.
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.
Natures peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.
The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
John Muir (1838-1914), Our
National Parks, 1901
- Since we will be bivouacking
on Federally-owned land during our trip, no permits will be necessary.
- Pre- or post-trip lodging,
meals, and campsite fees are optional and the responsibility of the
participant.
- There are no other fees
or costs to participate in this trip.
Anyone bivouacking on land owned by the State
of Michigan outside the boundaries of state parks, state forest
campgrounds, etc., is required by state law (Natural Resource and
Environmental Protection Act, Sec. 74201 et seq., P.A. 451 of 1994)
to post a Camp
Registration Card (Form no. PR 4134; view
sample copy) at their bivouac site. Notice: Backpackers have
been ticketed and fined for not posting Camp Registration Cards
in the past.
This permitwhich is freemust be filled
out in pencil (to make it legible when wet). Since this two-part
permit is perforated (for partial removal by Department of Natural
Resources officers) and made of heavy cardstock (to withstand weathering),
it can not be reproduced.
These 8.5- by 11-inch permits can be picked up
free at any Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) office.
They can also be ordered by the DNR by e-mail.
No permits are generally required to bivouac
on federal land outside the boundaries of national parks, national
lakeshores, national forest campgrounds, national recreation areas,
etc.
Anyone bivouacking on Crown landproperty
owned by the Province of Ontariooutside the boundaries of
a provincial park, national park, etc. is required by provincial
law to purchase http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/fishing/crownland.htmlCrown
Land Camping Permits.
These permits cost $10.00 Canadian per night,
per person and are generally available from any Ontario sports shop
that sells hunting and fishing licenses, such as the one below,
which is conveniently located along the east side of Highway 17
on the northern outskirts of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Chippewa
Trading Post
1332 Great Northern Road
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 5K7
1-705-759-4518
Fax: 1-705-759-0887
E-mail: trading.post@shaw.ca
The trail has taught me much.
I know now the varied voices of the coyotethe wizard of the mesa.
I know the solemn call of herons and the mocking cry of the loon.
I remember a hundred lovely lakes,
and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees.
The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk,
opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets.
It has given me blessed release from care and worry
and the troubled thinking of our modern day.
It has been a return to the primitive and the peaceful.
Whenever the pressure of our complex city life
thins my blood and benumbs my brain,
I seek relief in the trail;
and when I hear a coyote wailing to the yellow dawn,
my cares fall from meI am happy.
Hamlin Garland, "Hitting
the Trail," McClure's, February 1899
- Breakfasts3
- Snacks4
- Lunches4
- Dinners3
- Backup rations1
full day(s) (breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner)
Measure, weigh, and triple check your rations.
You should be carrying about 1.75-2.75 pounds of dry weight food,
or about 2700-4500 calories of food per day, depending on your body
weight and exertion level. It is recommended that you avoid "bulk"
packaging and instead consider packing each complete meal serving
in its own, separate, plastic bag, which is sealed with a simple overhand
knot. This system has the following advantages over putting all of
your snacks, say nuts for the whole trip, in one bag:
- You'll know for sure at home (visually)
that you've packed enough rations;
- In the bush, you'll
now exactly how much to eat without eating into another days rations;
and
- You'll further reduce
the chances of your food getting ruined if moisture penetrates the
food bag itself as the moisture will still have to work its way
into each and every individual ration unit.
Meticulous ration planning, measuring, and
packaging is tedious, but its essential for safe and successful long-range
recon of remote wilderness.
A nature lover is someone who,
when treed by a bear,
enjoys the view.
Author unknown
We must be extremely careful with our cooking stoves
and when burning bug coils to make sure we don't start a ground fire,
which has happened more than once on past trips of ours. Please bring
a fire-proof stove base (aluminum pot lid, etc.) for your stove and
bug coils.
During snow-free periods, we will NOT be having
any campfiresor burning any hobo stovesunless we find
a very, very safe area, such as an open mud-gravel-or-sand-covered
area immediately adjacent to water. If a fire ban is in effect, which
is sometimes the case during the summer, we will not have any fires.
To prevent accidental ground fires during snow-free
periods, everyone must have a heat-resistant, fire-proof stove base.
This has been a problem in the past with both solid fuel (Esbit) stoves
as well as liquid fuel stoves, especially MSR-type stoves.
If the weather is very hot, come prepared to do
battle with swarms of mosquitoes, black flies, no-see-ums, ticks,
and biting beach flies while hiking, swimming, eating, and bivouacking.
Loose-fitting, tightly-woven, full-coverage, light-colored
clothing treated (saturated) with permethrin (e.g.: Repel's Permanone
Clothing and Gear Insect Repellent) before the trip combined with
liberal doses of 100% DEET (e.g.:Muskol's Maximum Strength 10-hour
100% DEET Insect Repellent; Repel's 100% DEET Insect Repellent), a
head net, and a love of the outdoors should do the trick.
Since they are so critical to one's sanity, bring
an extra bottle of DEET and an extra headnet. If you are going to
experiment with alternatives to DEET, pack some 100% DEET anyway as
most experienced deep-bush travelers swear by it when all is said
and done, especially most Bush Rats, who bivouac sans tent.
A supply of smudge-creating bug coils (e.g.: Pic
Mosquito Coils) are also a staple of most deep-bush travelers (note:
a flat, fireproof base must be used under these to prevent accidental
fires).
Out of 8 billion applications of
DEET from 1966 to 1999,
less than 40 instances of toxicity appeared in the medical literature.
Dr. Mark Fradin, in the May 2000
issue of Backpacker Magazine, on his study of DEET
It is highly recommended that some form of eye
protectionsafety glassesbe worn while bushwhacking as
several trippers have suffered near-incapacitating eye injuries on
past trips.
This is a tour, not a basecamp-type trip. We will
move everyday, bivouacking in a different location each night.
We do not go to the green woods
and crystal waters to rough it,
we go to smooth it.
We get it rough enough at home,
in towns and cities.
Nessmuk, (George W. Sears),
Woodcraft, 1963
Reduce the threat of thefts or vandalism to your
car by keeping it locked, relatively empty, and uninviting looking.
To help stymie gasoline theft or vandalism, consider using a locking
gas cap. The expense of a locking gas cap$10 or $20will
look pretty cheap compared to the alternatives: having to get someone
to haul gas to your remote location, much less have your car towed
and repaired after vandals contaminate your gas tank.
All persons participating in a Bush Rats trip or
expedition organized by Michael Neiger must read, acknowledge understanding,
and sign a liability waiver at the trailhead.
No high-cotton-content clothingsave a bandana
or twois allowed to be worn or carried for safety reasons. When
wet, cotton is VERY hard to dry and often leads to hypothermia. Wool
or synthetic clothing fashioned from nylon, supplex, polypro, fleece,
or microfibers are much safer and easier to manage during prolonged
bouts of foul weather.
There's no such thing as bad weather
only wrong clothes.
Author unknown
An on-your-person, in-pocket, survival kit (knife,
waterproof matches, firestarters, compass, and whistle) secured with
a loss-prevention lanyard is highly recommended.
The beginning of wisdom is a salutary
shock.
Arnold Toynbee
Bring an adequate amount of water to the trailhead
as there is generally no water available.
Everyone should have the containers (Nalgenes and
bladder) to hump 4 quarts of water when needed. While we often trek
with just a quart or so of water in our rucks, when we range far from
waterlike when we bivouac long distances from surface waterwe
will fill up all our containers so we can remain independent for an
afternoon of bushwhacking, dinner at night, breakfast, and a morning
of bushwhacking.
To keep your gear dry during foul weather, consider
lining the main compartment in your rucksack with a huge, heavy-duty
"contractor-grade" plastic bag. Critical items within the
"contractor" bag, such as clothing, sleeping bag, and rations,
should be further protected from moisture by lining their respective
stuff sacks with heavy-duty "garbage-compactor" bags. Avoid
using regular garbage bags as they tear much too easily on long, rugged
trips.
It is recommended that you carry a water bottle
and snacks on your waistbelt in separate pouches so you can snack
and sip water while underway, without stopping to take your pack off.
Regular snacking and hydration are essential for avoiding dehydration,
hypothermia, and exhaustion, especially when things get challenging,
like late in the day or during foul weather.
If you are allergic to bee stings, consult your
physician about carrying an injectable epinephrine unitsuch
as an EpiPen or Ana-Kitin your rucksack.
Canadian money: You may want to consider
getting Canadian money from your local bank before the trip, or using
one of the money exchange services located in Sault Ste. Marie, Canada,
if they are open when you cross the boarder. Currency exchange calculators
on the Net include XE.com or
X-Rates.
Gasoline: You may want to consider
topping off your gas tank, before you cross the border, in Sault Ste.
Marie, Michigan
Identification: Bring appropriate
identification with you to reduce problems getting into Canada as
well as back into the United States. If you don't have a visa, you
must have a copy of your birth certificate to establish your identity.
Prescription medications: If you
are carrying prescription medications in your first-aid kit or elsewhere
that are not in a properly-labeled container, it may be a good idea
to stow the original, labeled containers, with at least one example
pill in each, in your vehicle to reduce problems with Canadian and
U.S. customs officials.
The tendency nowadays to wander in wilderness
is delightful to see.
Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people
are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home;
that wildness is a necessity;
and that mountain parks and reservations
are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers,
but as fountains of life.
John Muir (1838-1914), Our
National Parks, 1901
Wilderness tripping and expeditioningespecially
remote, foul-weather travel, bushwhacking cross-country, cliff and steep
slope travel, climbing, canyoneering, cave exploration, river fording,
swimming, canoeing, portaging, skiing, snowshoeing, winter camping,
ice travel, ice crossing, deep cold, high winds, etc.involve unknown
and unpredictable hazards and perils.
A wilderness tripper's or expeditioner's failure
to physically and mentally prepare for a harsh trip or expedition;
acquire the necessary skills and equipment for a harsh trip or expedition;
and recognize, take responsibility for, and avoid the unknown and
unpredictable hazards and perils that often present themselves on
a harsh wilderness trip or expedition will likely result in the serious
injury, paralysis, or slow, painful death of the tripper or expeditioner.
Nature never overlooks a mistake,
or makes the smallest allowance for ignorance.
Thomas H. Huxley (1825-1895),
A Liberal Education, 1868
On Bush Rats trips and expeditions organized by
Michael Neiger, the only first-aid equipment available is that which
is carried by each participant. Each participant should carry their
own first-aid kit, which should be stocked with the items and medications
recommended by their personal physician.
We need the tonic of wilderness.
. .
We can never have enough of nature.
Henry D. Thoreau (1817-1862),
Walden: Spring, 1854
On Bush Rats trips and expeditions organized by
Michael Neiger, there are no doctors, nurses, EMTs, paramedics, or
other trained emergency medical personnel. At best, other participants
may only be able to render the most basic of first-aid care.
On Bush Rats trips and expeditions organized by
Michael Neiger, no one is trained in rope handling, rappelling, climbing,
caving, ice travel, high-angle slope travel, swift-water travel, etc.
No one is trained in rescue from any of these activities either. There
are no search-and-rescue personnel, and no one is trained in high-angle
rescue, ice rescue, swift-water rescue, etc.
In
nature there are neither rewards nor punishments
there are consequences.
Robert Green Ingersoll
(1833-1899)
American lawyer, orator, and civil war cavalry commander
Some Reasons Why, 1896
On Bush Rats trips and expeditions organized by
Michael Neiger, no insurance coverage is provided for participants.
It is recommended that participants consider purchasing their own
insurance coverage
such as:
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Dental insurance
- Medical insurance
- Prescription insurance
- Evacuation insurance
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
Early and provident fear is the
mother of safety.
Edmund Burke (1729-1797), Speech,
1792
On Bush Rats trips and expeditions organized by
Michael Neiger, emergency communications gear such as cell phones,
satellite phones, and satellite beacons (ELTs, PLBs, & EPIRBs)
are not provided. Even if a participant carries SAR-comm gear, it
can't always be relied upon, especially in rugged terrain, remote
bush, or extremely harsh weather.
The only way to summon search and rescue personal
or emergency medical personnel on Bush Rats trips or expeditions organized
by Michael Neiger is for another uninjured participant to walk, snowshoe,
or paddle to a point where help can be summoned.
The wait for assistance may be very longsometimes
measured in daysand could possibly be very painful, maybe even
fatal. Since the evacuation process will be very difficult and costly
to arrange, participants should consider purchasing evacuation insurance
and carrying their own communications
gear.
Let
me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal.
My strength lies solely in my tenacity.
Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), French biologist & bacteriologist.
[ ] Waterproof matches
with loss-prevention lanyard
[ ] Waterproof firestarters with loss-prevention lanyard
[ ] Magnesium firestarter with loss-prevention lanyard
[ ] Sturdy pocket knife with loss-prevention lanyard
[ ] Compass with loss-prevention lanyard
[ ] Whistle with loss-prevention lanyard
[ ] Signal mirror with loss-prevention lanyard
[ ] Map of area in plastic bag
[ ] Elastic ankle wrap
[ ] Moleskin
[ ] Vaseline
[ ] Band-Aids
[ ] Waterproof first-aid tape
[ ] Pain relief medication
[ ] Anti-inflammatory medication
[ ] Cold & flu medications
[ ] Small tweezers
[ ] Small scissors
[ ] Powerful, prescription-grade pain killers for long trips (see
your Doc)
[ ] Broad-spectrum antibiotic for long trips (see your Doc)
[ ] 50 feet of 1/8-inch
braided nylon cordage (lashing, repair, difficult [2-rope] bear hangs)
[ ] Small roll of duct tape
[ ] Sewing kit
[ ] 1 very thin balaclava
[ ] 2 thick hats that can be worn together
[ ] 1 pair of sun glasses
[ ] Protective eyewear for bushwhacking (very important)
[ ] Prescription glasses (spare pair if important)
[ ] Bandana
[ ] Wide-brimmed sun/rain hat
[ ] 3 or 4 thin polypro
tops
[ ] 1 thin breathable nylon windshirt
[ ] 2 1/4-inch thick micro-fiber-insulated or fleece jackets
[ ] 1 hooded, synthetic-insulated parka in (early spring, late fall)
[ ] 1 nylon rain parka (no vinyl; no ponchos)
[ ] 1 pair of mitten
shells (early spring, late fall)
[ ] 2 pair of mitten liners (early spring, late fall)
[ ] 1 pair of polypro
undershorts
[ ] 1 or 2 pair of polypro long underwear
[ ] 1 pair of thin nylon hiking/wind pants with zip-off legs
[ ] 1 pair of 1/4-inch thick micro-fiber-insulated or fleece pants
(sidezips are very handy)
[ ] 1 pair of heavy synthetic-insulated overpants with sidezips (early
spring, late fall)
[ ] 1 pair of nylon rain pants (no vinyl)
[ ] 1 pair of sturdy
boots (insulated in early spring, late fall)
[ ] 3 pair of thick synthetic or wool socks
[ ] 1 or 2 pair of liner socks
[ ] 1 pair of gaiters (to seal boot-pantleg opening against mud and
debris)
[ ] River-fording footwear
[ ] 1 large rucksack
lined with contractor-grade plastic bag
[ ] Full-coverage raincover
[ ] Waist-belt water bottle parka
[ ] Waist-belt snack pouch
[ ] Waist-belt map pouch
[ ] Tarp and bivy (or
small, light tent)
[ ] Stakes and ropes to rig tent or tarp
[ ] Sleeping bag with appropriate rating
[ ] Sleeping pad (& repair kit if needed)
[ ] Sleeping booties (early spring, late fall)
[ ] Flashlight (LED with headstrap is recommended)
[ ] Spare battery
[ ] Candle(s)
[ ] 2 one-quart durable
(Nalgene) water bottles
[ ] 1 two-quart water bladder
[ ] Water purification system (pump, iodine tablets, etc.)
[ ] 1 spare bottle of iodine tablets (even if carrying a pump)
[ ] Lightweight backpacking
stove (repair kit for liquid-fuel stoves)
[ ] Fuel for stove (five to six Esbit fuel tabs per day for NATO-type
stoves)
[ ] Lighter on loss prevention lanyard
[ ] Windscreen for stove
[ ] Fireproof base for stove
[ ] Pot holder
[ ] Pot
[ ] Lid for pot
[ ] Spoon
[ ] Mug
[ ] 50-foot food-hanging rope (use cheap, hard, 1/8-inch-diameter,
slippery poly-rope for heavy loads)
[ ] 1 bottle of 100%
DEET per week
[ ] 1 spare bottle of 100% DEET
[ ] 1 headnet
[ ] 1 spare headnet
[ ] Several anti-bug smudge coils
[ ] Personal medications
[ ] Driver's license
[ ] Birth certificate and/or passport (recommended for Canadian trips)
[ ] Emergency contact names and phone numbers
[ ] Credit cards
[ ] Cash and travelers checks
[ ] Medical, prescription, and dental insurance cards
[ ] Sunscreen
[ ] Lipbalm with sunblock
[ ] Wrist chronograph
[ ] Paperback book
[ ] Toilet paper
[ ] Synthetic pack towel
[ ] Toothbrush
[ ] Toothpowder (or toothpaste)
[ ] Toothpicks & dental floss
[ ] Handcleaner
[ ] Extra car key on
lanyard
[ ] Vehicle registration papers
[ ] Vehicle insurance papers
[ ] Locking gas cap
[ ] Heavy-duty battery in good condition
[ ] Road map (Michigan 1-800-292-2520; Canada 1-800-268-3736)
[ ] County map book for Michigan trips
[ ] Spare tire (check pressure!!)
[ ] Tire jack and lug nut wrench
[ ] Shovel
[ ] Windshield scraper and snow brush (winter)
[ ] Safety CheckTire pressure (including spare)
[ ] Safety CheckTire tread wear
[ ] Safety CheckWiper blade condition
[ ] Safety CheckWiper fluid (front and rear)
[ ] Safety CheckOil level (level; thinner in winter)
[ ] Safety CheckRadiator fluid level (level and rating)
[ ] Safety CheckTransmission fluid level
[ ] Safety CheckHeadlights, taillights, brakelights, & turn
signals
[ ] Jumper cables
[ ] Nylon tow strap
[ ] Single-bit axe (optional)
[ ] Bow saw (optional)
[ ] Hi-lift bumper jack (optional)
[ ] Hand-operated winch (optional)
[ ] Pick axe (optional)
[ ] Tire inflation system (optional)
[ ] Battery jump-pack power unit(optional)
It is one of the blessings of wilderness
life
that it shows us how few things we need
in order to be perfectly happy.
Horace Kephart, the Dean of the
Wilderness, Camping & Woodcraft, 1917
- 1:24,000 Ozark SE, Michigan
- 1:24,000 Charles, Michigan
Note: UTM easting and northing grid lines may need
to be drawn on these quads
Topo map ordering
info and waterproofing
info
County map ordering
info
- Mackinac Wilderness
Map
US Forest Service
St. Ignace Ranger District
1798 US Highway 2
St. Ignace, Michigan 49781
1-906-643-7900
- Hiawatha National
Forest Service Map, Michigan 2001
US Forest Service
St. Ignace Ranger District
1798 US Highway 2
St. Ignace, Michigan 49781
1-906-643-7900
- 1:100,000 Mackinac
Bridge to Whitefish Bay Scenic Byway (Map MI-08) segment map of the
North Country Trail (Available from the North
Country Trail Association at 1-866-445-3628)
1000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
Grid
Michigan Trips:
1927 North American Datum CONtinental U.S.
(NAD 27 CONUS)
Canadian Trips:
1927 North American Datum Canada (NAD 27 CA[nada])
for older edition maps; 1983 North American Datum (NAD 83) for
newer edition maps
Zone 16
Northern hemisphere
Metric
Use lithium for deep cold and long-range use
Select type of battery being used for accurate
battery-life readings
In the setup menu, key-punch in your name, address,
and phone number so if your GPS is lost and found by a willing party,
it can be returned to you.
05° 29' west
00° 19' to 00° 25' east
5° 48' to 5° 54' west (we'll
use these magnetic declination figures to correct our field and
map azimuth calculations in the bush)
1:24,000 and 1:25,000
1:20,000 and 1:50,000
Metric: Nine 100-meter beads and four 1-kilometer
beads
I cant rightly say Ive
ever been lost,
but Ive been mighty perplexed for two or three days runnin'.
Davy Crockett (1786-1836)
To review journals and photo albums from Michigan
Bush Rats' trips and expeditions, visit the RuckSack's Journals
and Photos Page.
I believe that there is a subtle
magnetism in Nature,
which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright.
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862),
"Walking," Atlantic Monthly, June 1862
To review photos of sheds discovered on Michigan
Bush Rats' trips and expeditions, visit the RuckSack's Sheds
and Skulls Page.
Years from now
you will be more disappointed by the things you did not do
rather than the ones you did do.
So throw off your bow lines,
Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens,
1835-1910)
- Mackinac County Sheriff:
1-800-892-6156
- Chippewa County Sheriff:
1-906-635-6355
- St. Ignace State Police:
1-906-643-8383
- Sault Ste. Marie State Police:
1-906-632-2216
- Hospital (St. Ignace): 1-906-643-8585
- Hospital (Newberry): 1-906-293-5181
- Hospital (Sault Ste. Marie):
1-906-635-4460
- Hospital (Newberry): 1-906-293-5181
Everybody needs beauty as well
as bread
places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal
and give strength to body and soul alike.
John Muir (1838-1914), The
Yosemite, 1912
In every walk with nature,
one receives far more than he seeks.
Anonymous
As you sit on the hillside,
or lie prone under the trees of the forest,
or sprawl wet-legged by a mountain stream,
the great door, that does not look like a door, opens.
Stephen Graham, The Gentle
Art of Tramping, 1926
It is impossible to overestimate
the value of wild mountains and mountain temples
as places for people to grow in,
recreation grounds for soul and body.
John Muir (1838-1914)
In the school of the woods there
is no graduation day.
Horace Kephart, the Dean of
the Wilderness, Camping & Woodcraft, 1917
If this sounds like your kind of wilderness adventure,
kindly e-mail your first name, last
name, e-mail address, city, and state or province to LandNavMan (Michael
Neiger) of Marquette, Michigan. Thank you.
See you in the bush.
In
God's wilderness lies the hope of the world,
the great, fresh, unblighted, unredeemed wilderness.
John Muir (1838-1914),
Alaska Wilderness, 1890
If
you've been able to read this Web page...
thank a Teacher;
If you've been able to read this Web page in English...
thank a Veteran.
Author
unknown
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