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Huron-Manistee National Forest, Feb 10-11-2011


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Home Forums Campfire Member Trip Reports Huron-Manistee National Forest, Feb 10-11-2011

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  • #1269086
    Ike Jutkowitz
    BPL Member

    @ike

    Locale: Central Michigan

    This was my most recent "36" (cause 24 is just too short) at the Hoist Lakes in the Huron-Manistee National Forest in the northeast corner of Michigan. I'm a little embarrassed to post this given the amazing scenery others have displayed recently, but it is one of my favorite places for a quick getaway in lower Michigan. What Michigan lacks in scenic vistas, it makes up for with rivers and forests, and the north woods are deep, quiet, and snowy this time of year.

    I woke up at 3 am (funny how I never need an alarm clock on nights like this), grabbed my pack, and headed out, stopping to tank up on water and breakfast sandwiches en-route. I arrived at the trailhead at 7:30, noting on my car thermometer that it was a little colder than I would have liked.

    thermo

    I geared up and hit the trail. My pack was a little above UL standards due to the addition of a 7 lb ice auger, rod, and strainer strapped to the sides.

    hoist

    The wind was biting so I quickly covered exposed skin. I was wearing 2 baselayers, with a "spare tire" of water bottle, batteries, stove alcohol, and camera. Not a flattering look.

    spare tire

    There was about a foot and a half of powdery snow blanketing the forest, but the trail was well trod and easy going.

    log

    woods

    I made the 2 miles to South Hoist Lake in an hour and poised to check out the familiar campsite there. It contains a log bench and forest service fire pit on a small hill overlooking the lake. In winter, the unmarred snow blowing across the lake surface conjures feelings of solitude.

    South Hoist
    Looking out over South Hoist Lake

    The sun had come out by this time and the air began to feel warmer. Stashing my fishing gear behind some trees, I prepared to make tracks to see some of the other lakes in the area. With the auger tucked away, my pack was a comfortable 12 lb now. I carried all of my backpacking gear with me, as I was not sure I would be returning to the South Hoist campsite by nightfall. The well blazed trail petered out past the lake, leaving just the tracks of a lone cross country skier. I idly wondered who the skier was, wishing I could have seen the unbroken snow stretching in front of me as they had.

    breaking tracks

    I was kept company during my trek by some well-fed black squirrels.
    squirrel hole

    The mystery skier turned off at an unmarked two-track and I continued on, spotting some coyote tracks in the snow.

    tracks

    The going was slower now and I decided to shorten my loop to 5 miles to allow time for setting up camp and fishing. I passed a number of smaller lakes (No-name, Penoyer, and North Hoist before finally making my way back to my chosen campsite.

    no name

    penoyer lake
    Penoyer Lake

    rushes
    Rushes by South Hoist

    I'll spare you the pictures of the other lakes as they all look pretty similar on film.

    Getting back to South Hoist, I set up my tarp broadside to the wind, putting up small snow walls to keep out the draft.

    tarp

    I then put on all of my layers (2 base layers, windshirt, nano puff, and light down pullover) and went down to the lake to fish.

    pullover
    Dressed to fish

    s hoist
    The view from the lake

    hole
    Drilling a hole

    rod
    Cheap plastic rod and strainer complete the gear

    The fishing was relatively slow, but I did catch (and release) a pretty rainbow.
    fish

    As the sun started to go down, the clouds closed in again. This was my favorite picture from the trip.

    clouds

    I built a small fire and cooked up a pot of linguini with mushrooms and white beans.

    fire

    After dinner, I relaxed by the fire for a short while, briefly wishing I had brought a little whiskey. I headed for my sleeping bag before the sun fully set.
    bed

    I slept warmly as the snow began to fall again, waking several times to tap the walls of the tarp. I rose at 5 am and packed up in the dark. It was cold again, and hard to leave the warmth of my downy nest. Other duties called though and I would answer. But not before a giant diner breakfast (the North Forest Cafe in Standish).

    snow on tarp

    walking in dark

    #1695939
    Andy Berner
    BPL Member

    @berner9

    Locale: Michigan

    Looks like you had a great time. Ive always wanted to check that area out. I always seem to just do the manistee. Thats awesome that you caught a rainbow. Ive never really put ice fishing and backpacking together but I might have to do that sometime.

    Thanks for sharing your trip

    #1695948
    Eugene Smith
    BPL Member

    @eugeneius

    Locale: Nuevo Mexico

    Awesome Ike!

    Ice fishing!? I don't know how you Midwesterners get out there and do it in those temps. I'm a lightweight, I think 40F is chilly. Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed it.

    #1695953
    BlackHatGuy
    Spectator

    @sleeping

    Locale: The Cascades

    What a fun trip Ike! Great pics too. Thanks for sharing.

    #1695983
    Tim Zen
    Spectator

    @asdzxc57

    Locale: MI

    Ike — thank you for the photos. My daughter and I were up there last fall, but I think it looks better in the winter.

    #1695991
    todd
    BPL Member

    @funnymo

    Locale: SE USA

    Ike,

    That's a healthy trout! Looks like a great time. I've never camped in that kind of snow but you seem to have mastered it!

    Thanks for sharing.

    Todd

    #1703165
    Rick
    Spectator

    @rharjes

    Ike, What pack are you using?

    Rick

    #1703240
    Ike Jutkowitz
    BPL Member

    @ike

    Locale: Central Michigan

    Hi Rick,
    It's a Granite Gear Virga.

    #1710897
    Matt Mitchell
    Member

    @mjmitchell

    I enjoyed reading about your Hoist Lakes trek. I've lived in Alpena my whole life, but only visited Hoist Lakes for the first time this Sunday. It's a very solitude place and not only did I feel like I was the only one out there (which I'm sure I was because I broke the trail), but it even felt like no one had been there all winter (I guess I was wrong about that). I didn't even know Hoist Lakes existed until last summer when I happened to be on Aspen Valley Road and discovered the west entrance. I may not have even thought about returning for a hike, but when I pulled in the parking lot last summer there was a man and his kids putting on their packs — just starting their adventure and in talking to them a minute it sounded like a neat trail system. Honestly, I didn't even know we had any backpacking trails in my neck of the woods. I'm more of a cross country skier than a backpacker, but Sunday I put on my dad's snowshoes and really enjoyed exploring Hoist Lakes. We received about 6-8 inches of heavy wet snow Saturday night which covered all of the trees with a beautiful blanket. Apparently I covered only what you left off, Ike, because I only did Carp Lake and Byron Lake. Thanks again…good to know more people are enjoying Hoist.Looking back towards the west trail head.  6-8 inches of fresh wet snow.

    #1719669
    Zachary Zrull
    Member

    @zackcentury

    Locale: Great Lakes

    Interesting, I took a 36er to Hoist Lake last summer to test some of my new gear. I didn't like it very much, but this may have been because I didn't pack a fishing rod. I did see deer at sunset and hear coyotes as I went to bed… But my favorite places in MI so far have been N Manitou Island and around Nordhouse Dunes.

    Maybe I'll give Hoist another try in the snow next year.

    #1963856
    Stephen M
    BPL Member

    @stephen-m

    Locale: Way up North

    Hi Ike,

    We should have a Bpl meet here soon.

    Cheers

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