kindone
Active Member
Well, the trip to N manitou is complete and successfull. After the 4 hour drive to Leland we had plenty of time for breakfast at the restaurant right near the dock. The ferry office got real busy just as they opened and there were lots of backpackers around, it looked like the island was going to be crowded. Smooth seas got us to the island at 11 just as planned and we were directed to the rangers orientation. We were told their were 54 of us on the island, all the rules and recomendations were covered and we were on our way.
The weather was 75 and sunny and we headed north just as planned. The trail quickly headed into the forest and lake michigan out of site. We stopped at all the marked sites along the way but didn't stay too long, past the davenport camp we took the side trail to the north until the trail came to a T a a large wooded bluff. After poking down each trail a little ways we decided to take the trail on the right and were glad we did. The trail got real thin and kind of dissapeared on us a couple of times but when we found it again it it led us to a beautiful campsite along the northern bluffs with a priceless view. We had to work a little to get 3 tents on the site and the walk to the beach was a little steep but well worth it. I spent the next few hours swimming in lake michigan and playing on the beach while thee two guys I came with slept. We had dinner on the bluff and watched a perfect sunset until the stars came out into the crystal clear sky.
The next morning I broke camp by myself at about 8 to circumfrence the island while my amigos headed to manitou lake to fish. We planned on meeting at the village campground sometime that evening. I headed west on the beach and hiked without a trace from man for a few miles until I hit crescent city. I couldn't seem to find a good way to the main trail from the dock ruins until I ran into the first group of people I had seen since we left the village. They kindly pointed me in the right direction of the trail and off I was. I moved pretty fast, stopped at both johnson place and fredrickson place to swim in lake michigan and smoke a joint and be on my way. This hike would have been a lot harder without the frequent refreshing dips in that great lake.I made my way to the cemetary where I ate,napped and read a book for a couple of hours. After leaving the cemetary I went down to the beach to swim and relax.I passed a couple of people on the trail but saw nobody on any of the beaches. I decided I should make the final trek to the village campground to meet up with my party. The campground didn't do it for me at all but I stayed anyway for the fire and conversation.
In the morning we went to the village and checked out all the buildings until the boat arrived. Our boat had to go to S manitou after they got us and made for a long 3 hour ferry ride on the way back. After picking up some smoked lake trout at the dock in leland we were headed home.
All and all the trip was great and the island is nice ,I will bring my kids back to this place someday soon.
The weather was 75 and sunny and we headed north just as planned. The trail quickly headed into the forest and lake michigan out of site. We stopped at all the marked sites along the way but didn't stay too long, past the davenport camp we took the side trail to the north until the trail came to a T a a large wooded bluff. After poking down each trail a little ways we decided to take the trail on the right and were glad we did. The trail got real thin and kind of dissapeared on us a couple of times but when we found it again it it led us to a beautiful campsite along the northern bluffs with a priceless view. We had to work a little to get 3 tents on the site and the walk to the beach was a little steep but well worth it. I spent the next few hours swimming in lake michigan and playing on the beach while thee two guys I came with slept. We had dinner on the bluff and watched a perfect sunset until the stars came out into the crystal clear sky.
The next morning I broke camp by myself at about 8 to circumfrence the island while my amigos headed to manitou lake to fish. We planned on meeting at the village campground sometime that evening. I headed west on the beach and hiked without a trace from man for a few miles until I hit crescent city. I couldn't seem to find a good way to the main trail from the dock ruins until I ran into the first group of people I had seen since we left the village. They kindly pointed me in the right direction of the trail and off I was. I moved pretty fast, stopped at both johnson place and fredrickson place to swim in lake michigan and smoke a joint and be on my way. This hike would have been a lot harder without the frequent refreshing dips in that great lake.I made my way to the cemetary where I ate,napped and read a book for a couple of hours. After leaving the cemetary I went down to the beach to swim and relax.I passed a couple of people on the trail but saw nobody on any of the beaches. I decided I should make the final trek to the village campground to meet up with my party. The campground didn't do it for me at all but I stayed anyway for the fire and conversation.
In the morning we went to the village and checked out all the buildings until the boat arrived. Our boat had to go to S manitou after they got us and made for a long 3 hour ferry ride on the way back. After picking up some smoked lake trout at the dock in leland we were headed home.
All and all the trip was great and the island is nice ,I will bring my kids back to this place someday soon.
