Manistee Hike, 2019 ... June

Once again, we left the day after school got out to head up north for three nights of backpacking in the Manistee National Forest, along the Manistee River Trail (MRT) and the North Country Trail (NCT) (The NCT acutally stretches 4,600 miles from New York to North Dakota! But we really only walk about 12 miles of it!) This year, we got a bit skunked ... Although the first day and a half were good, it rained like crazy after that, and we ended up leaving a day early after sitting in the rain for 18 hours. We still had fun telling ghost stories (the Grinning Man and the New Neighbors were crowd pleasers, as well as the traditional "golden arm") ... but we surely do hope for better weather next year! This spring has been a WET one!

Just 2 pack mules in love... ❤️

All hands in for prayer and a cheer ... "Go Team Harrmann! Ow ow ow!!!"

Pumpin’ water!!!! It was so crisp, clean and delicious!

We reached Eddington Creek on Saturday after hiking 8 miles (4 hours). This was our first chance to use the new water pump. It worked great!

We always take a shot of Rhylah at the Marilla trailhead. It’s an Anne of Green Gables connection that only die-hard fans would understand.

yellow bellied sap sucker! I also saw an Indigo Bunting!

Roubi and Lucca were TIRED OUT!

The kids call this “Dizzy Valley” because of these little ferns that look hypnotic and fuzzy.

Tired, sore and wet...but we finished all 22 miles!