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Sierra Club Wilderness
trips and expeditions
Chapter: Michigan (Mackinac)
Group: Central Upper Peninsula (CUPG)
Leader: Michael Neiger, Marquette,
Michigan (Web site; e-mail;
bio)
Review journal
no. 1, journal
no. 2, and photo
album from this completed trip
November 4-7,
2005
Backpacking
This early-winter backpacking trip will
involve a cross-country trek through a portion of the Hiawatha National
Forest located south of M-28, between Hulbert and Raco, in the eastern
Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This area is traversed by a north-south portion
of the North Country Trail. Depending on conditions and available time,
we may explore two interesting attractions located in this general area:
the abandoned Raco Airfield as well as the Delirium Wilderness Tract (two
lakes, a dam, and large swamp).
Raco Army Airfield
To learn more about the abandoned Raco
Army Airfield as well as view photographs and aerial photos, point your
Internet browser to http://www.airfields-freeman.com/MI/Airfields_MI_N.htm.
In the winter the old runways are used for vehicle testing by Smithers
Scientific Services, Inc., http://www.wintertesting.com/1e-raco.htm.
The Raco Army Airfield area was also reportedly the site of the Fort
Brady/Camp Lucas Target Range (1895 - 1945, 1951 - 1960).
The long-abandoned Raco Army Airfield
is also the subject of some interesting Internet rumors about it being
a "New World Order Concentration Camp," so make sure you bring
your camo face paint and wear subdued gear :)
"*RACO Field* Raco field
is an interesting facility. The above ground runways form a perfect
triangle. Few buildings appear on the surface, but ventilators can
be seen. Civilian workers report that a subsurface facility exists.
Patriot intelligence gathering patrols have been stopped and turned
back from the area. No publicity exists indicating what the role of
Raco Field is, although something IS there. To observers, it is an
"inactive WWII base." Location: 15 miles NW of Kincheloe
Correctional Facility on hwy 28."
Source: http://www.patriotvocals.info
The Delirium Wilderness Tract
The Delirium
Wilderness is located in Chippewa County, Michigan. It lies 22 air miles
southwest of Sault Ste. Marie. The village of Rudyard lies 3 miles to
the southeast. Delirium is bounded on the north by FR-3130 and 3352
and on the south by FR-3131. The Lake Superior State Forest borders
the area on the east. Three miles to the north is State Highway M-28
at Raco.
Human influence
is apparent in the area. Past strip cutting of cedar trees is evident
in some areas of swamps. Old stumps and former roadways from early 1900's
logging are also apparent. The Sylvester Dam and its access are situated
within the heart of the wilderness, geographically, yet are excluded
from it by the designated boundary. The earthen dam was installed about
18 years ago and is natural appearing, as is the 80-acre pond.
The landscape,
which was formed from old glacial lakes, is flat to rolling, with elevations
ranging from 590 to 890 feet. Two water bodies are found in the area;
80-acre Sylvester Pond and the six-acre Delirium Pond. Overall character
of the land can be described as swamp.
As the headwaters
for the Pine and Waiska Rivers, these wetlands serve to help recharge
the aquifer, filter and retain nutrients and sediment (purify the headwaters),
and provide habitat for waterfowl and furbearing wildlife species. Tree
species within the area include swamp conifers, aspen, and white cedar
in the wetlands, and red pine and jack pine in drier areas.
Wildlife predominant
in the area includes; beaver, bobcat, otter, ducks, loons, great blue
heron and some sandhill cranes. Whitetail deer, black bear and rabbits
are also common species found in the area. To protect nesting areas
of waterfowl species, visitors are discouraged from using Delirium in
the spring and early summer.
Current recreation
use is primarily hunting and trapping. The thickly forested swamps,
surface water and biting insects limit other forms of recreation. For
those willing to face these challenges, the area's vast acreage enhances
the potential for experiencing a feeling of solitude. In wintertime,
visitors may discover a greater ease of travel, freedom from insects,
and quiet.
The Delirium
area may also appeal to the person who appreciates and wishes to study
plants and animals associated with wetland types.
There are no
marked pathways in the Delirium Wilderness. Expert orientation skills
are needed to find one's way into and out of the area. To fully experience
the wilderness value of the area, a visitor should have a genuine interest
in the study of wetlands and ability to endure some physical discomfort.
The Delirium
area is administered as a part of the Sault Ste. Marie Ranger District
of the Hiawatha National Forest.
Source: USFS
Destination:
Hiawatha
National Forest
Chippewa County
Eastern Upper Michigan, near Strongs, Michigan
Experience level:
Intermediate-level,
0-degree winter backpacking
Difficulty:
Strenuous
Off-trail/on-trail rating:
80 percent off-trail
map & compass recon
Participant requirements:
-- Notice:
please review the homepage on this Web site
for general wilderness tripping requirements
-- 18 years old or older
-- non-smoker and non-drinker
-- very physically fit (good aerobic endurance)
-- adventurous spirit
-- proficient swimmer
-- prior wilderness tripping experience
-- fully equipped with lightweight backpacking gear
including rucksack, bivouac gear,
survival gear,
foul-weather gear, rations, stove,
etc.
Bivouac
advisory:
This
is not a basecamp trip.
We will move each day
and bivouac in a different location each night,
often deep in the bush and far from roads,
dry & level campsites, potable water, toilets, and
fire rings.
Trip info:
-- 8 a.m. Friday
to late afternoon Monday
-- Club fee: $10
-- Sign up
by October 20 appreciated
-- Contact trip
leader to sign up, or for application form if new
-- Review journals
and photos from similar wilderness trips
Specialized equipment required:
-- In-pocket survival
kit (knife, matches, firestarters,
compass, whistle); Sierra Club survival
kits can be
borrowed free of charge
-- River-fording footwear
Rations required:
-- Breakfasts--3
-- Snacks--4
-- Lunches--4
-- Dinners--3
-- Backup rations--1 full day
-- Rations and stoves info
Additional destination info:
Read "The
North Country Trail in Upper Michigan" by Byron and Margaret Hutchins
(Hutchins Guidebooks [815-633-1952], 1997)
Read USFS North Country Trail brochures entitled "St.
Ignace Segment" (906-635-5311) and "Sault Ste. Marie Segment"
(906-643-7900)
Read "Following the North Country National Scenic
Trail," by Wes Boyd (North Country Trail Association http://www.northcountrytrail.org)
Exploring Superior Country--The Nature Guide to Lake Superior
by Craig Charles (1992, NorthWood Press, Inc.)
Search destination in http://www.google.com
search engine
Travel
info:
-- Driving maps
-- Road conditions and weather
reports
-- Tourism info
-- Road trip gear
Wilderness skills and resources info:
-- Backpacking
skills
-- Land nav skills
-- River fording skills
-- Water purification
skills
-- Lightning safety
-- Low-impact skills
-- Backpacking links,
books, & vendors
-- Ultralight backpacking
links, books, & vendors
--
Dressing warm skills
-- Sleeping warm skills
-- Winter-camping skills
-- Ice-crossing skills
-- Snowshoe links,
books, & vendors
-- Winter-camping
links, books, & vendors
Emergency contacts:
County Sheriff:
Chippewa Co, 906-635-6355
County Sheriff: Mackinac Co, 1-800-892-6156
State Police: Sault Ste. Marie, 906-632-2216
State Police: St. Ignace, 906-643-8383
Hospital: Sault Ste. Marie, 906-635-4460
Hospital: Newberry Hospital, 906-293-5181
Hospital: St. Ignace, 906-643-8585
Sierra Club Outings Department 24-hour help line: 1-888-outings
Land Nav Team Info:
Topographic maps:
1:24,000
Hulbert, Michigan
1:24,000 Strongs, Michigan
1:24,000 Eckerman, Michigan
1:24,000 Sullivan Creek, Michigan
1:24,000 Raco, Michigan
Note:
UTM grid lines may need to be drawn on these maps
--Topo map ordering
information
--Topo map waterproofing
& GPS prep
Forest Service maps:
--Delirium
Wilderness Tract Handout/Map
--Hiawatha National Forest Service
Map, Michigan 2001
Order from:
St. Ignace Ranger District
1798 US Highway 2
St. Ignace, Michigan 49781
1-906-643-7900
County maps:
Chippewa
County
--County map ordering
information
2005
Magnetic declination specs:
Magnetic declination
for Lat 46° 19'N, Lon 84° 57'W:
06° 38' west
UTM easting grid line to meridian
line deviation:
01° 29' east
UTM easting grid line magnetic declination:
08° 07' west
GPS
configuration specs:
Grid coordinate
system
1000-meter Universal
Transverse Mercator Grid (UTM)
UTM grid horizontal map datum:
1927 North American
Datum (NAD 27 CONUS)
UTM grid zone:
Zone 16
UTM grid hemisphere:
Northern hemisphere
Unit of measure:
Metric
Battery type:
Lithium, for deep
cold, or long-range use
Alkaline, for 3-season
use
Battery type setting:
Select type of battery
(lithium, alkaline, or Ni-Cad);
battery discharge-rate
differences affect meter accuracy
Misc nav setup:
Roamer
UTM plotter scale(s):
1:24,000
Ranger pacing
beads:
Metric--9 100-meter
beads; 4 1-kilometer beads
Magnetic declination setting on compass:
0° of offset
More land
nav team info
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