This week's stop on the Virtual Fall Trail Tour is the
North Country Trail, or more specifically a section of it just north of Manton, MI along the Manistee River. My run today covered approximately 11 miles. Weather was sunny and 61. Just about perfect trail running weather.
The trail is about as technical as anything gets in Michigan's Lower Peninsula. It's narrow, not defined really well, some of the blazes are obscured, and lots of tree roots. On the section I ran today there were some steep climbs and descents as the trail made it's way over some creeks that feed into the Manistee River. Between those creeks the trail rolls gently. The biggest challenge today was way-finding. At times the trail would just completely disappear. I'd be standing there in a grove of maples or red pines looking for another blue blaze so I knew which way to go.
 |
| Had to take a spur trail from the trail head to the main trail. Of the entire run, that was the most difficult portion just because it was the hardest to navigate. |
 |
| This is fairly representative of the trail. |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| One of the gentler sections of the trail. |
 |
| Ran across this little guy sunning himself. He didn't seem too worried about my presence. |
 |
| Much of the trail overlooks the Manistee River. It was really one vista like this after another. |
 |
| Overlooking the Manistee River |
 |
| I just really liked the color in this tree. My camera didn't capture the depth the yellows very well. |
1 comment:
Beautiful trails. Makes me wish I wasnt too paranoid to run on one.
That little guy sunning himself would have scared the poop out of me!
The picture of the river is gorgeous! I need to come visit you one day so I can run there (with you of course cos Id be too chicken on my own) ;)
Post a Comment