Overland trip: CK5 wheels the UP 2016 (trip report and pictures going up!)

[Blue85]

What is this? Why should I do it?

It's an overland style trip in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan (aka "the UP"). The point is to enjoy running trails and camping in some of the most scenic areas in the Midwest. In typical overland fashion, we will live out of our vehicles for about 4 days. Unlike a real overland trip, we will pass through a town each day where you can get gas, ice and basic supplies (more details below). This area is rich with natural beauty like cliffs, rock outcroppings, waterfalls, wilderness and mining history that is not found in most of Michigan. It is enchanting and addicting.

If interested please read the information below. For those planning to attend, please PM your name, rig and contact information.

*bear with me as I complete this thread and update the basic information*

Wait....Can I really live for a few days without _________ (fill in the blank: king-size bed, Starbucks, hot shower, high-speed internet, etc.) Yes. And you'll probably enjoy it.

 

[Blue85]

What is it not?

A harcore 4-wheeling weekend. There will be lots of dirt, some mud and some rockcrawling, but for the most part it's about the joy of being out and about in God's country. Your vehicle takes on new value when it's able to take you awesome places where the minivans can't follow.

When and where?

The starting point is Adventure Mine, Greenland MI. sometime on Thursday August 18th. This is also the ending point on Monday, August 22. It's nice because you can just punch it into any GPS and drive right there. It also means you can trailer a rig to the UP and leave the tow rig there for the duration. See the full itinerary below.

Who can come?
This is open invitation to everyone on CK5. Plus any of your friends.

What if I can't make the entire trip?

You can do just part of it! You can meet up with us on the other days, as your schedule allows. We just have to arrange with you to meet at a designated time/place, as we pass through some sort of town each day. However, we can't hold up the group waiting for someone who "might show", so you'll need to be punctual in this situation. If you need to leave early, 2 of the camps are near main roads, so it's not hard to find your way back to civilization. The other 2 camps are fairly remote, but early in the day the group will hit some kind of road that shows up on a regular Michigan road map. So you are welcome to come for whatever period you can get away for - from 1-5 days.

How many miles will I drive? How much of it will be at highway speeds? Can I bring my buggy/tank/Gigahorse?

The total trip is less than 300 miles. You must be street legal, as portions are on public roads. We'll want to hit 55MPH sometimes.

What is the cost?

There is no official cost for the trip or for any of the camping (any good camping is always free!). Your expenses will be gas money (lots of it), food and gear. Please also be prepared to patronize our hosts at Adventure Mine, possibly some other tourist sites on your way up and down and maybe grab a couple of meals at cool local joints.

What kind of vehicle will work?
Pretty much any 4x4 will be OK. The trip is designed with the square-nose Chevy in mind, of course. Do you need giant swampers? Of course you do! But they are not required for this trip. The toughest trail on the itinerary is an up-and-back run. Hopefully somebody has an extra seat if you are scared. Although by some definitions a Chevy, showing up in a stock Tracker may yield some resentment :-)

What kind of gear do I need?
You need to camp, eat, drive and do a little hiking/site-seeing. If you can camp and you can wheel, you're already prepared. This can be as simple as pitching a tent and living off Beef Jerky or you can go all out with roof top tent, full camp kitchen, onboard shower, etc. The sites are the same no matter what. Be prepared for cold nights (think 45 degrees) and hot days (think 90+), even though the weather will probably be more mild than that. Be ready to battle bugs and possibly poison ivy. Please see the following post.

 

[Blue85]

Example gear list:

-Sleeping bag, matress, bedding
-Cooler or mini-fridge
-A few gallons of drinking water, plus ability to refill (or buy more)
-Food. We will be stopping for stuff along the way, but not really major shopping if we don't have to.
-Camp stove. Sure you can cook on a campfire, but some things are easier with a little stove of some kind.
-Tent or provisions to sleep in your vehicle. Do consider privacy for changing clothes if you won't have a tent.
-multiple pairs of shoes in case some get wet
-The strongest DEET bug spray you can find. Although August is normally quite tolerable, there are still more bugs than in the city...
-Sunblock
-Shorts/sandals/sunglasses for daytime
-Jeans/sweatshirt/jacket even warm hat for night-time
-Swimming gear. Lake Superior is mostly frigid, but sometimes tolerable in areas. Even if you don't jump entirely in a lake or river, you can get cleaned up in a bathing suit by wading or using a water jug.
-Tools. I think this goes without saying on CK5.
-Tow straps and recovery points.
-Saws and hatchets - for clearing trails and gathering firewood
-Navigation tools (See below)

Keep in mind that you may be able to share some items with others, take turns cooking or otherwise combine resources, so not everybody has to have everything.

Navigation:

I will have exact routes prepared and we will travel together convoy style, but sometimes things come up and improvisation is required. Also, circumstances can cause a group to split (like going for parts, etc.). So it's recommended to have basic Nav tools on-board. It's nice to have a paper map book because they don't crash, lose signal or run out of batteries. Two good examples:

http://www.amazon.com/Michigan-Coun...7657678&sr=1-8&keywords=michigan+county+atlas

http://www.amazon.com/Northern-Mich...0737/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1457658032&sr=8-8

The cheapest GPS option is Back Country Navigator and it's actually quite a good one. You also have the option of using ANY GPS that will read coordinates and use that in combination with your map to know your location. Don't rely on something like Google Maps unless you have a program to store the map files on your SD card. Many areas have no cell signal. Any device that will store tracks gives you the backup plan to find your way out the way you came in.

Communication:

It's really easiest if everybody has a CB radio. I've tried FRS walkie-talkies and they just don't have much range when used inside a vehicle. An external antenna works MUCH better. A hand-held CB is no better than an FRS for talking, but at least lets you listen in much of the time. At minimum we need a CB in the front and one in the back.

Format:

We will have a drivers meeting each morning (or the evening ahead) to discuss the route, sites and potential stops for lunch, supplies, etc. We can also choose from some options based on interests of the group. Someone will volunteer to bring up the rear. Hopefully the route files can be copied to that person's GPS to make things smoother if we get split up.

As a driver, your job is to keep the rig behind you in your sight. If they fall back, you slow down until you can see them again. As you slow, the rig in front of you will slow and so on. By doing this front to back we keep the speed down to something everyone can handle and we don't lose anybody. If you lose sight of the rig in front of you, don't stop unless you come to a branch in the trail and you can't tell which way they went. You may catch up to them before any forks in the road and it's much harder to find you if you've headed down another trail.

 

[Blue85]

Initial itinerary:
Wed 17-Aug
Drive to midway camp - I will try to be in the UP a day early and if others are able, there will be an intermediate camp site, likely on Lake Superior.

Thurs 18-Aug
Meet at Adventure Mine, take mine tour, camp on-site. The underground tour is not a gimmick and is highly recommended. Also, the property is really cool to explore with trails, bridges, caves, boardwalks and open mine shafts. I've made arrangements with the owner to use their campground and also leave trailers and tow rigs there. This is basically an open field with a large fire pit and some water spigots. They keep porta-potties near the main parking, which is just a short walk from the campground.

Fri 19-Aug
Some all new dirt routes into Porcupine Mountains, where we'll catch some of the best and most famous views in Michigan. Then more trails up the West side of the Keweenaw, ending at a camp site that can't be forgotten.

Sat 20-Aug
Rockcrawling and more must see views in the Keweenaw. If the weather is right you'll be able to see Isle Royale (50 miles away). 4-wheeling on a 150-year old stagecoach road through old mining ruins. Camping at the proverbial "end of the world" - tip of the Keweenaw peninsula. An ultimate site for stargazing, the aurora and wrap-around sunrises.

Sun 21-Aug
Trail runs in the Keweenaw point with a view that's hard to believe (with hiking). 4-wheel on black sands that only exist up there. Possible stop at the highest waterfall in Michigan. Camp out on the ridge of the "Grand Canyon of the UP" and visit the falls hundreds of feet below. This is real wilderness that any forest lover will appreciate.

Mon 22-Aug
Short trail run to Adventure mine, with a stop for the group photo, then everyone heads home.

Pictures:

 

[campfire]

Yoo Becha! This sounds like fun.

And nice write up.

 

[Chevy305]

This sounds pretty awesome and I would love to do this but going to Michigan twice in one summer is too much for me.

 

[76zimmer]

I'm in Luke....
I need to take inventory of my gear since I got rid of most tent camping stuff years back when I bought my travel trailer.

 

[82355]

Sounds like a cool trip.

Martin

 

[ashman]

damn that sounds like a blast!! Wish I wasn't 1600 miles away.

 

[bigjimmy82]

Wow, really have think about it. 11hr drive, but looks like great scenery and would be great to meet some of you guys

 

[76zimmer]

about that long for me too towing! should be a cool trip!

 

[Blue85]

Yeah, just because it's Michigan doesn't mean it's close for us Lower Peninsula guys. I can make Washington DC in the same time as tip of the Keweenaw! It's like 1/3 of the way to Washington state.

 

[campfire]

Yeah, just because it's Michigan doesn't mean it's close for us Lower Peninsula guys. I can make Washington DC in the same time as tip of the Keweenaw! It's like 1/3 of the way to Washington state.

And conversely, I can make it to Fargo or Des Moines for the same amount of driving that it would take to get to Detroit. And I'm not even on the West end of the peninsula.

 

[campfire]

Wow, really have think about it. 11hr drive, but looks like great scenery and would be great to meet some of you guys

If any of you guys wanna see more pictures from the region, check out my picture thread. Not as cool as Luke's pictures, but they'll add to what he has shared.

 

[campfire]

http://previews.123rf.com/images/na...d-Mud-puddle-reflects-buildin-Stock-Photo.jpg
http://previews.123rf.com/images/na...d-Mud-puddle-reflects-buildin-Stock-Photo.jpg

@Blue85, which shaft house is this?

 

[Blue85]

It's Osceola #13. Of the 4 still standing in the Copper Country, two are twins - this and Centennial #6 a few miles to the North.

 

[campfire]

It's Osceola #13. Of the 4 still standing in the Copper Country, two are twins - this and Centennial #6 a few miles to the North.

Ah. It does carry the resemblance.

You say there are only 4 shaft houses left in the region? I know one of them is Quincy, but what is the 4th?

I have been thinking that there are still several others tucked into various corners that I haven't found yet. 'Twill be a sad day when the Copper Country runs out of ruins to explore.

 

[Blue85]

Up until a couple years ago, the Centennial "doghouse" (#3) was still up (pretty much within view of #6 you just posted)

Now we have Quincy #2, Centennial #6, Osceola #13 and Champion #4, although it's uncertain how much longer that one will be in Painesdale.

Although Centennial 6 is the newest and in the best condition, Quincy #2 will probably outlast them all since the QMHA is maintaining it and it's the copper country icon. The twins were actually quadruplets. The same structure was also used at Gratiot and Kingston - it was designed to be moved as different ground was worked.

 

[campfire]

Up until a couple years ago, the Centennial "doghouse" (#3) was still up (pretty much within view of #6 you just posted)

Now we have Quincy #2, Centennial #6, Osceola #13 and Champion #4, although it's uncertain how much longer that one will be in Painesdale.

Although Centennial 6 is the newest and in the best condition, Quincy #2 will probably outlast them all since the QMHA is maintaining it and it's the copper country icon. The twins were actually quadruplets. The same structure was also used at Gratiot and Kingston - it was designed to be moved as different ground was worked.

Ah, the Painesdale one. Still on my list of places to visit. What is the uncertainty with that one? Structural issues? Or someone wants to tear it down? What brought the "doghouse" down?

It is odd that, aside from Quincy (which is really, really hard to miss), I've driven quite close to the 3 other tall landmarks and completely missed each of them multiple times. I drove past the Osceola one yesterday. 400 feet away, and I didn't even notice.

Thought about going to see Champion #4, but I was guiding a tour for someone else and didn't get to pick the stops. Good thing the summer is just starting.

But I'm bummed to find out that there aren't more of the houses still standing. That means I may actually run out of tall things to see.

 

[Blue85]

Here's the website for Adventure, so you can see rates and schedules for tours.

http://www.adventureminetours.com/