Manistee National Forest Challenge Hike #3

 
Today was our third hike in the series to walk the entire North Country Trail in the Manistee National Forest this summer. It was the shortest one of the whole series at 8.1 miles. It's a good thing, too, because this was our first really hot day this year and we were feeling it. We had 11 people and one pup, Sophie.



The crossing of Second Cole Creek has always been a beautiful spot on the trail. For years, there was just a simple log bridge here, but now there's a real structure.



The temperature got to 80 degrees. Hot day for a dog, too!



We walked past this nice marsh... no name that I know of. There were lots of water lilies and bullhead lilies, but too far out to get good pictures.



The wild columbine is starting to bloom, and look! I caught a flying thing too.



Here's an interesting botanical specimen.



If you are a North Country Trail hiker, you will instantly recognize it as the recently-painted-blaze gall.



The group has now covered 30.5 miles of trail this summer.

North Country Trail, Newaygo County. M-20 to 6 Mile Road

	See MNF Challenge Hike #2
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