Villi Maki clean up!

Our buddy Jason said we should help him clean up the Villi Maki trail, off of High Point Rd. in Churning Rapids.

So we're heading out there!

Looks like old debris has been left right on the edge!

Ya, we can get if picked up and moved into the woods.

Lots of overhead branches got trimmed,
so they don't lean in farther to block the trail,
and we've much improve the sight lines.

Dead ones everywhere.

Couldn't accomplish this without the trusty pole saw.

Why didn't we get a photo of Jason??

Ya, this will get hauled way off the trail.

Now the young shoots get knocked down.

Looking better!

Sandy takes the maple shoots right off with her heavy string whacker.

Interesting lopping technique here.

Oh ya.

More to be taken out.

We bumped into Wes and his mutts!

Oh good, we can wrestle some!

Back to work, its looking much better.

We just about got the whole gorge top cleared now.

So far the three of us have around 60 hours into this project.

OK Josh, that's enough for today.
Let's head for home.

Another NCT clearing adventure!

I thought another North Country Trail clearing adventure was in the works when I seen tools and camp supplies were being loaded.

They didn't take the ski box this time.
There wasn't much room left for me!

What a glorious evening to be camping on Gardner RD.

 

NOAA says our low will be in the 40's.
Can I snuggle with you guys?

The next morning it was quite cool.

We went for a little hike on this newly made logging RD.

We also hiked a snippet of the NCT, east of Gardner Rd.
The trail skips over this creek.

See the blue slash marks?
This area will be thinned  by loggers this fall.

Now let's cook up our favorite camp breakfast!

First grapefruit to get things started...

Then, I smelled bacon! 
Seems they're having pancakes too.

Now we gotta get ready to get to work.

OK, now we're hiking in to the section
we need to clear dead-falls from.

It rained Friday night so
plenty of water is flowing here.

Finally on the trail, we head west clearing brush.

What trail are we on??  I can't read.

Oh oh, this is a big one across the trail.

No problem for the trusty pole saw!

Making the 2nd cut.

All better!!

And more

and more yet.

Cleared!

Oh gee another one.
We might have removed a dozen today

The rotten ones seen in the background,
lying in the dirt, got left,  to avoid damaging the chain.

But anything off the ground was made hike-able again.

I inspected the blazes too.
This one is OK but I found lots that need refreshing.
 Should be another chance to camp at Gardner Rd!

This little stream is normally just a trickle at this time of the year.

Darling Creek is up, really up, hard to cross,
and about 4ft deep.  I think they need a bridge here.
I of course swam across. It was refreshing!

We finally reached the end of our section!
This is on top of the decent to the
Middle Branch of the Ontonagon river

We are so happy to have cleared this section.
We spent over 8 hours on it today. 
We've done around 200 hours on our section this year.

Back at camp, I fell right to sleep.
Ya 10yo dogs do that after a busy, busy day like we had.

Oh how I love friendly people!

Oh ya, I've had some excitement here and frankly, I've not had much of that lately.

Rory and Cameron called me over. Here I am!

They were in their jammies!

We all had fun together.
They are tumbling down the slope in my yard. Why do they do that?

Violet joined in too! They threw the ball for me.

Later, Marilyn and Don stopped in, just to see me!

They have been cycle touring since May.
They are the first tourist to stay with us this summer!

They told me about some of their adventures. Can I come along?

In the morning, they had to pack up to get to their next adventure location. 
Hey, don't leave without me!!

Oh ya Marilyn, no one ever scratches me good like that.

Can't I come along? I do love an adventure!

Don't forget anything.

Especially that! I'm ready...

See the Colorado license? They are all the way from Denver.

Bye-bye! I'm so glad you stayed here and seen me.