Last minute preparations

We're now less than 48 hours away from leaving for the Smoky Mountains, meaning we are deep into the preparation phase. So far we've made four separate trips to grocery stores and gear shops for food shopping and last minute needs. I thought I would provide a look at how we go about packing for a trip like this.

As much as I wanted to have everything packed last week, I decided it was better to wait until closer to departure, when I could get a more accurate weather forecast. Let's just say that I"m glad I made this decision! In our previous trips to the south we've been greeted by blooming wildflowers and warm temperatures in the 70's and 80's. In fact, I've grown accustomed to packing shorts, t-shirts and even a swimsuit in the past! Last year I was able to swim in an outdoor hotel pool in Gatlinburg the day after our backpack ended. It''s looking like there won't be any need for shorts this year.

The region was hammered with a rare spring snow storm the past three days. I've been habitually checking the weather for the mountains on my Weather Channel i-phone app. The forecast has included such gems as "winter storm warning," "heavy, blowing and drifting snow," "over a foot of snow in high elevations," and "dangerous and unsafe conditions for travel." Just what everyone imagines for their spring break! The good news is that the storm had ended by last night and the forecast calls for drier and warmer conditions in the next ten days. The bad news, is that the various hiking blogs I follow online have indicated that as much as 18 inches of snow have fallen in the highest elevations, and that heavy winds have created snow drifts of over three feet! This has lead us to make a few gear decisions: zero degree winter bags (instead of our thirty degree rated, two person Big Agnes Bag we prefer), Yack Trax, wool base layers, winter hats and gloves and gaiters to assist us with breaking deep powder on the trail. The Yack Trax are metal wires with barbs that fit onto the bottom of our boots to increase our traction on snow and ice. We've used them on winter hikes before in the White Mountains and in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, but never on a backpacking trip. I'm beginning to think this is going to be one heck of an experience for us.

Knowing that the temperatures are likely to dip below freezing at night, we have decided to pack more and higher calorie foods for this trip. Digestion raises body temperature, meaning eating can be one of the most important things you do in cold weather hiking. Our meal plan looks like something like this:

-Tortilla Wraps with Cruncy Peanut Butter and Honey, Cliff Bars (high in protein), Almonds, Dried Fruit, Trail Mix (assembled from the bulk bins at the organic food store in town), and Babybel Cheese (waxed cheese can last for days not refrigerated) for lunches and snacks along the trail. This needs to be the highest calorie part of our diet,as we burn most of our energy while hiking each day.

-Instant Oatmeal with Walnuts and Dried Cranberries for breakfast, along with Starbucks Coffee. We use a drip filter to make coffee each morning. Neither of us could survive without our coffee. Considering the cold temps, we are packing extra coffee so we can have some with dinner each night if needed.

-Dehydrated Meals for dinner each night. These are very light weight and easy to prepare. They only pack a couple hundred calories, but will give us that full feeling before bed each night, plus hot food is comforting after a long day on the trail. We also packed a couple of 65% cacoa chocolate bars for desert. These bars are great because they don't melt, even in warm temperatures, and you only need a couple of squares to feel satisfied.

Our backpacks are packed (at least for now) and we are eagerly counting down the hours until we leave. We'll likely unpack and repack several times in pursuit of the best arrangement of gear. At the point at which everything is scattered throughout the house it's always hard to believe that it will all fit into two backpacks, but somehow, it always does. There is something so satisfying about being able to put everything needed to survive a week in the wild onto your back and be completely self-reliant. In our plugged-in world we are all interdependent. I often can't make it to my work in the mornings without needing to stop to purchase coffee. I'm quite looking forward to unplugging after too many months of society. It may be cold. It might snow or rain. The wind might blow. Our gear might get wet. But at least we'll be outside, listening to the sound of the wind through the trees. In the words of Bilbo "I think I'm quite ready for another adventure!"

Driving around the UP day 1

I started today with a jog along the Lake Huron waterfront. Last night's storms had moved on and it was a pleasant morning near the water. There was a thin veil of fog hanging over Mackinaw Island. The water was glassy smooth except for the ripples given off by a couple of loons enjoying the last calm days before the mass of tourists begin arriving for the summer. If my daily run could always be along a scene like this I think I could be a great runner!
After checking out of our hotel we headed to Java Joe's Cafe for breakfast. Joe's is a small joint set in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express. The place is built with a hippie theme complete with Jimmy Buffet concerts playing on a loop on a small tv at the entrance. There is indoor and outdoor seating and many of the tables have a view of the water. Most days Joe himself will wait on you. Today's fare included breakfast burritos and nutella crepes (which I highly recommend). Joe worked the room, giving tourists directions to the best attractions in the area.
After filling up at breakfast we hit the road, heading west on US 2. It turned into a gorgeous day with temps climbing into the 80s as we sped past the north shore of lake Michigan. US 2 heading west out of st ignace is one of the most scenic drives in Michigan. There are numerous spots to pull off and swim, and a mix of sand dunes and thick pine forests line the opposite side of the road.
At Blaney Park we headed north on M77 and made a quick visit to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Seney is a true gem, one that most people drive past without visiting. When the area was clearcut by logging in the past it created a strange terrain. Wildlife experts flooded the area and built a series of damns, bridges and weirs to create a manageable system of wetlands. The refuge is part of the flyway that many migratory birds use to reach their summer grounds in the artic. In addition to a wide range of birds, Seney is home to moose, bear, wolves and many other mammals. On one visit we saw an otter swimming in one if the pools. The refuge is huge, and most of it is off limits to visitors to ensure successful nesting seasons for birds. There is, however, a 7 mile loop road that allows visitors to drive through part of the refuge. On our drive through this time we were treated to several loons, an osprey and bald eagle battling in mid air and too many swans to count. Seney is always worth the stop.
Tonight we're headed farther west to check out Van Riper State Park. This will be our first visit to this park. We're excited to see what this part of the UP has to offer. That's all for now. Life is good in the UP!

Rain, rain, and more rain

It's possible we may need an arc if this rain doesn't stop soon. Hopefully mother nature is getting it out of her system before we spend the month of July outside! Today has been the perfect day for two of our favorite activities: driving around in the jeep and eating great food. We started our day with morel omelettes at the 45th Paralell Cafe in Sutton's Bay. This place has only a handful of tables but fantastic breakfast food and great coffee. Next we took a scenic drive up M22 through Northport to check out the Grand Traverse Lighthouse. It's always cool to visit these Great Lakes lighthouses on cold, rainy days as it makes it much easier to imagine their necessity in the past. We drove down the west side of the leelenau peninsula, stopping for a short hike up to pyramid point. This is probably my favorite spot in the lower penninsula of Michigan. I've included some photos of the point below.
We drove back through Traverse City and stopped to warm up with some coffee and the best tomato basil soup ever at The Dish. This place specializes in fresh homemade soups, sandwiches, quesadillas and other cafe foods. Traverse City has no shortage of great places to eat, and this one is worth a trip. Now we are driving to Bell Aire to our hotel for the night and a visit to Short's Brewery. I'll post a report of the brewery later.