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A 3.6 mile trek in the Bald Mountain Recreation Area, I quite enjoyed walking the rolling hills the trail offered and the friendly people I found along the way. I have always heard stories about how friendly hikers are, but I’m really starting to love the interactions I am experiencing for myself.
My chilliest trek yet, I am still constantly surprised that winter hiking is pretty popular in Michigan, although I know I shouldn’t be at this point. It was a chill 24 degrees for this journey, and I saw no less than that many hikers, bikers, fishers, and dogs while I was out. The only type of person I didn’t see were the ones the trail was originally made for, cross country skiers. (1) Although, I can understand that, because there wasn’t quite a solid layer of snow on the trail for them.
Due to the varying types of land visible on my outset (it was quite a bit icy but also pretty muddy), I forewent my microspikes, but I was quite grateful for my trekking poles at points. There were a few times where I wish I had brought both of them (as I prefer to only use one when hiking), but I didn’t have too many problems. I am quickly learning that the way you use your gear is really going to determine how you like trails during the winter. But I am welcoming all the experiences I am getting with this.
The coolest part about this hike were the views of the lakes throughout the path. As a non-native Michigander, I witnessed ice fishing for the first time. There were huts and fishers on both West Graham Lake and East Graham Lake and even from a bit away, it was pretty cool to witness.
- Jim DuFresne, 50 Hikes in Michigan (Countrymen Press: New York, 2019): 24.
Raven K 