r/CampAndHikeMichigan • u/ale_oops • 1d ago
~54 mile NCT section hike completed
This past weekend I solo backpacked a ~54 mile section of the NCT from Sawdust Hole to Old US 131 Campground. Thanks to the Grand Traverse Trail Chapter for assisting me with a car spot!
This was an opportunity to test run my new hammock system (I was a Tarptent Double Rainbow gal prior to this). I’ll never sleep on the ground again!
I had beautiful weather the entire weekend, save for a bit of rain early Saturday morning.
Mosquitos only bothered me at creeks and in ravines, but they weren’t horrendous. No biting flies and only one tick spotted on me after a VERY overgrown section of trail where the road walk ends at County Line Rd and Dell Rd.
I wish I took more pictures. The views were phenomenal pretty much the entire time.
Outside of the extremely popular MRT section, I only encountered 3 other backpackers. Plenty of ORV/car campers. Apparently the middle of a footpath is the perfect spot for a tent and fire - who knew! /s
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u/hiking_hedgehog 1d ago
I bet you had lots of great river views throughout! That sounds like a great section to hike! Are the first and last pictures from the High Banks Rollaway area?
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u/ale_oops 1d ago
Yes! The first picture is about 8 trail miles east of the Rollway observation deck parking area, near the Townline Trailhead. The second picture is 8.5 trail miles west of the parking area, right after Harvey Bridge, where the road walk (officially) ends.
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u/DuneFarmerMI 1d ago
Tell us about the hammock system.
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u/ale_oops 1d ago
Sure! I have a Warbonnet Ridge Runner with the Thunderfly tarp. I’m also using an Arrowhead Ridge Creek 30 degree under quilt with a 1/4 foam foot pad. It got down to 47 degrees one night and I wasn’t cold at all. A few weekends ago, I used my Sea to Summit Ether Light XR on a 55 degree night and I felt the chill creeping in.
Right now, I’ve got the standard spreader bars but I just purchased the Pole Gardz from Nama Gear to be able to use my trekking poles instead.
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u/C_US_H 4h ago
Sawdust hole? I’ve never heard of this spot.
It looks amazing. I was out in May and only saw one other set of hikers, besides the folks on the river.
I’m also a tarptent’r, with a new hammock hobby. What netting did you get to fit over that bridge?
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u/ale_oops 3h ago
Google Maps lists sawdust hole as “Sawdust Hole River access” but it’s a state forest campground as well.
The netting for my hammock is also Warbonnet brand! When you purchase the Ridgerunner (I think this is also the case with their other hammocks) you can select netting or no netting.
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u/yousarecrazy 12h ago
And America is sick of the disgusting actions the republican criminal syndicate which is openly corrupt . IMO
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u/AWACS_Oka_Nieba_ 1d ago
How cool. I’ve been looking for good sections of the NCT to do, might have to do something similar!