Sage Enjoys NCT near Yankee Springs

south of Chief Noonday Road (photo by Sage)

from the blog Sage Covered Hills , used with permission

Jeff, aka, Sage, likes to hike in Yankee Springs Recreation Area, Michigan. Here's what he had to say about this day, April 5. "The dog and I took a hike yesterday afternoon along the blue-blazed North Country Trail. It was a pleasant day to see what signs of spring may be lurking under the dead leaves. The trail wove in and out between hardwood stands and pine plantations. A stiff breeze was blowing, bringing in cooler and wetter weather. Tonight they’re calling for snow, but yesterday the wind rustled through the pines, creating the lonely sound that gives a rise to my desire to roam."

south of Chief Noonday Road (photo by Sage)

This section is handy for Sage in any season. He also visited it in February, and wrote: "I’m getting tired of this weather. We get a good base of snow, then it warms up for a day or two and rains and we have to start all over. But for this weekend, I’ve been able to enjoy cross-country skiing. Friday afternoon I skied with my daughter. The first picture is of her and the Triscuit (the dog). The dog loves to go with us, but he constantly has to stop and clean the snow out of his paws... The trees are beautiful when snow hugs the trees."

Hearing of people who use the trail on a regular basis confirms the value of trail work for many volunteers. Enjoy the trail, Sage!

See the April post A Walk in the Woods
See the February post Weekend Photos

Grand Rapids Writer Enjoys Bowman Lake & NC Trail Loop

the Bowman Lake Trail offers skiers a variety of deep snow terrain, including remote-feeling bowls in the forest. (photo by Howard Meyerson)

The following is an excerpt from a story which we believe is worthy of reading, but would lose too much of its charm if it were re-written for presentation on this blog. Please link through for the rest of the story, but hurry back! ... Editor

by Howard Meyerson

Two hours along the deep, snowy trail, we were still debating the merit of having set off on cross-country skis and leaving the snowshoes in the car. But that would soon change.

Fritz Seegers, of Kalamazoo, and I were shuffling through deep snow, watching big deer bound through the woods ahead. It was 11 degrees with a wind-chill close to zero. The ice had built up on Seegers' beard.

We hadn't seen another soul all day, but that's how we like it: remote, quiet and wild feeling, with a bit of a challenge thrown in.

The Bowman Lake Trail in the Manistee National Forest was proving to be all of that...

finish the story at the Grand Rapids Press

These links are checked on the date of the article. As the article ages, some links may become invalid
See Get Off The Couch
See New Trail at Bowman Lake is Complete

NCT Volunteer to be Inducted in Ski Hall of Fame

Cary Adgate at the Kircher Cup at Boyne Mountain (photo by Boyne Mountain)

from a news release of Michigan Ski News
and the Boyne Mountain web site

Cary Adgate is an NCT volunteer who maintains a section of trail in Northern Michigan near Mancelona. Ed.

The U.S. Ski Team's Liz McIntyre, Nelson Carmichael, and Cary Adgate, along with a man who set the precedent in American ski mountaineering, Bill Briggs, will be inducted to the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in April according to Tom West, president. Both Olympic medalists, McIntyre and Carmichael will be recognized alongside Adgate, an Olympian who was named 2005 Masters Racer of the Year, and Briggs, who has a collection of famous first descents to his name.

Cary Adgate is a Midwesterner who made his first race turns on Boyne Mountain in Michigan. In 1971 he won the U.S. Junior National Championship at age 17. He joined the U.S. Ski Team in 1973 and won the Can-Am Overall Championship, the Can-Am GS championship and the Roch Cup downhill/overall championship. He earned the U.S. Alpine Championship title in slalom or combined six times, and was a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1976 and '80. Adgate turned to professional skiing in 1981, competing in Bob Beattie's World Pro Skiing Tour. He became the only skier to win back-to-back races in his pro debut, going on to win 25 professional victories and the 1984 U.S. Pro Championships. In 2005 he won three U.S. Masters Championship events and was named Ski Racing Magazine's 2005 Master Racer of the Year. He currently is Boyne USA Resorts' Snowsports Ambassador and mentors several racing programs.

Cary Adgate now promotes public awareness of the great recreational and competitive programs that Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands offer. Additionally, he serves in an advisory capacity to several departments of the Boyne operation and is involved as a guest coach with Boyne's various race training and competition programs.

Skiing at Bowman Lake

Bowman Lake is a small kettle hole in the Manistee National Forest

by Joan H. Young

The Spirit of the Woods (SPW) North Country Trail Chapter enjoyed a ski/snowshoe outing at Bowman Lake today. Four people enjoyed the deep snow on a combination of the North Country Trail and Forest Service ski trails.

Bowman Lake trailhead parking lot is one of the few kept plowed in the winter by the Forest Service. The area is popular with local skiers, although the trails are not groomed. Bowman Lake is a small glacial kettle hole lake just a few yards off of the North Country Trail. Since the lake is not vehicle accessible it is a quiet spot, popular with backpackers and anglers.

There are four campsites with tent pads around the lake. The pads were installed in 2004 by the SPW Chapter and the Heckman family. The project was funded by a memorial in honor of Randall Heckman, a young man who loved hiking the trail.

crossing a small dry kettle

On this day, the snow was deep and unbroken except for an occasional deer that had passed ahead of us. We took turns breaking trail, and were considering taking a 2 mile loop. After an hour we were about half way around, and decided to take the easy way out and retrace our steps rather than continue to break new trail.

Some days everything just seems perfect. This was one of those days. The air was mild, light flakes of snow swirled through the woods. We walked just far enough to feel well-exercised, but not dead tired.

You should have been there! Of course you can make your own perfect North Country Trail adventure.