Trip Report Part 1

Thursday night: I left work at 11 pm with my husband who drove me over an hour into Illinois to my friend Jim's house where I would surf his couch for the night.

Friday Morning: Woke up around 5:30 to get ready for the trip. We hoped to leave at 6 am as it is a long drive up through Wisconsin to the UP of Michigan. "Randall" was the first to arrive this morning, and then the late comer, "Hubcap', arrived 15 minutes after 6. We loaded our gear into the back of Jim's pickup in black bags to keep everything from getting wet. A good thing as it rained the entire drive up to the UP. Jim played Neil Young music on the radio the entire drive, and we had good conversation. We stopped 2 times for food. Randall wanted donuts and we all had a good laugh when we spotted a naughty novelties store that advertised videos, sex toys, and bakery goods. I don't have to mention the cream filled donut jokes the guys were making... We did not shop there, instead we went into a gas station and got some breakfast before hitting the road again. For lunch we stopped for fast food. Though I didn't eat much. I was actually kind of car sick on the ride up the entire time and would have to look strait ahead or close my eyes sometimes when I got too queasy. The fall colors in Wisconsin were amazing. Reds, golds, browns, dazzled us as we drove by despite the doom and gloom of the wet weather. By 4 we had reached the Old Victoria Historic Site that was our start for the trail. Randall, Hubcap and I tumbled out of the truck and pulled on rain gear and packs. I think I got soaked just doing that. Good thing I was especially anal about putting everything in water proof bags inside my backpack! That would prove to be a real lifesaver :). Jim left with the truck to go meet "Dhutch"at the other end of the trail and Randall and Hubcap decided between themselves who would stay and wait for them. I am a slow hiker and wanted to hurry on to camp so I let them volunteer. I could of sworn Randall had decided to stay, so I said I would go on ahead while the 2 of them seemed to be chatting. It was still raining and I didn't like standing still in it getting cold. It was much better to be moving in the rain. The blazes were well spaced and the trail easy to follow up the hill. Though the trail was sodden and wet, I was so far enjoying it. I saw Jim's pick-up zoom by through the trees where the road must of been and waved but he didn't see me.
I made my way to an old building that looked to be some old mining building that was pretty cool. I took my time playing around there taking pictures and trying to locate where the trail went from there, half expecting the guys to have caught up to me by then. Studying the placement of the blaze, I decided the trail went right through the doors of the building, and low and behold I stepped out the other side and it was there, though partially hidden. I walked down a curving hill around some more ruins, little more then part of a stone wall, and really had to start paying attention as the blazes seemed to either be missing or covered by lichen. I came to a gravel road and found the blazes again on the other side and it took me a short distance along a road and Vitoria town which was nothing but what looked like a few homes. I crossed another road and saw a painted blaze just down the road. I followed that not realizing that this was a forester's mark instead of the real blaze which happened to be ten feet away and the same color exactly. I should of known better. I followed these blue marks along the edge of a clear cut, scrambling over downed trees, branches, scrub and rubble. The terrain became steeper and steeper as it went back into the woods. I managed to half slide and climb up several steep hills, then with a wrong step slid down an impossibly steep ravine. Standing in almost knee deep rushing water at the bottom I had a real OH SHIT moment of panic, especially when I realized that steep side was too muddy and steep to climb out, and so was the other side. Almost sheer walls. The fact that I could of easily broken a leg did not escape me either. I considered my options. Calling for help, blowing my whistle. None of those would do me much good as I could see. The only way to get out would have to be by my own means. If I followed the stream down, it would likely take me to the big lake, if I followed up, I could maybe find a less steep way to climb out. This is what I did. I was soaked to the bone, and needed to move or end up freezing, so I scrambled through the water a short distance and began to use small trees to help climb out. At last!!! I climbed up onto a narrow ridge between that ravine and another and brought out my map and compass while I caught my breath to try and figure out where I had gone wrong. I followed that ridge back to the clear cut and cross-contryed over to the other side where I saw power lines, power lines that I knew parallelled Victoria road. Once I got to the road I followed it back down hill to where I had taken the wrong blaze and low and behold, 10 feet past the false blaze was the real blaze! Boy did I feel like a dope! From there I hurried along until I smelled the acrid smoke of a campfire just being lit and saw "Prosecutor" standing at the top of a hill. He waved and I waved back. CAMP!!
I was sure the others were there before me, but to my surprise, my party wasn't there yet. They MUST be lost too, I thought, kinda worried but sure they would find their way out like I did. I met "Cow Patty" and "Mataharihiker" and set up my tent. By then it had finally stopped raining and I could set up without worrying about getting my dry gear wet and the things I was wearing could dry out a bit. I enjoyed the amazing view, warmed by the fire, and had something to eat and drink as we related our day's experiences.
As it grew dark, Prosecutor went out to try to direct the others into camp. Matiharihiker set up a small lantern in a tree to guide people in but after a while still no one came. Prosecutor had gone all the way back to the road but found no one so he'd come back.
After a while, tired of being damp, I changed into dry clothes and snuggled to sleep in my bag. I woke up shortly after when I heard Jim's voice and Dhutche's voice. Boy was I glad to hear them! I left my warm cocoon-y goodness and went to visit them around the fire a moment, making sure they were OK. I was worried about them. Jim said he knew where everyone was camped, and that put me at ease. What a start!