Saturday NCT hike

This past Saturday, we loaded up into the dog truck and headed to South Laird Rd to hike from there to FH 16, and back, on the NCT.

Wally! We camped here last year.
Maybe we'll come back and camp again.

Some select cut logging has really let the light in here.

The weeds and grass sure like it!

The old corduroy is still in this little gully.

We took a little break in a fairly bug-free zone.

Maybe Arly should come back with his saw?

We were glad for the shade.

We stopped to admire the board walk crossing the
West Branch of the Sturgeon.

This was built last fall. Lookin' good!

"The Blue Diamond Trail" on the ground?

This marshy crossing wasn't as bad this year, as last.

You could even kind of see where to go.

Hmm, the grass is taller than the marking stick.

Kelpies like tall grass ya know!

Us trail mutts had to show them the way, as usual.

This way!  Ya, this needs a good whacking of the weeds.

See, here's a plank to walk on.

Told you!

Not too many mushrooms up yet but we spied some interesting
fungus on some trees.

A little trimming will clear the view to this blaze and corridor.

Hey! We can have a cooling dip here!

More trees down across the trail.
Many more were found than seen in these photos.
We better check ours soon!

Of course, this is no match for a trail mutt.

Some hunter left his pad on this log. It was cushy!

Made it to FH 16! Looks like the ditch needs to be mowed.

A weed whacker would make quick work of this and make
the trail tread visible.

Ready...

...jump!

Hey, we've seen this car before.
Maybe we'll see the hikers who drive it?

This old dead tree had an impressive number of wood pecker holes.

Such a nice stretch of the NCT.

Ooh, these hung up ones are a bugger.

We stop for snacks.

Me and Wally never turn down the chance for a cooling dip.

More interesting fungus found among us.

Oh hey! Our hikers. 
We seem them on the Baraga plains, just a few weeks ago

 

More trees fallen across the trail.

We recommend Wiggle Creek.

We took many cooling breaks today. It was 90 when we got done!

This little creek was flowing hard not too long ago.

The old RR grade.

Almost back - see the thin canopy?

Made it! We had such a nice 13 mile outing today.