Thank You
We had an amazing second season at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore! We are so thankful for all of the amazing people we met this year. Our guests came from all over the United States, some avid hikers, some who had never been hiking before. Each hike was unique and we enjoyed meeting about 100 people who shared their stories, made us laugh, and spent part of their journey with us. Getting people outside is our passion and we are thrilled we got to share our beautiful area with so many others! There is a lot of uncertainty when starting a business, but seeing the looks of awe, gratitude, and joy on our guests’ faces makes it all worth it.
Year in Review
Overnight Trips
Our two overnight trips were a blast! Most of our guests had zero backpacking experience and we were so excited to share tips and tricks as they ventured on their first overnight experience in the backcountry. We led our first ever overnight Fall Color Tour. The colors were a smidge past peak, offering even better views and cool, crisp temperatures. Group campfires, lunch breaks, beach time, and wonderful group dynamics make these trips especially memorable.
Domonick discussing local geology
Our group crossing Chapel Creek on the Fall Color Tour
Grand Portal
S’mores!
Beach time
Sunset Hikes
We led sunset hikes throughout the summer as well. Each sunset tour was different. Some were cloudier than others, some were humid, windy, others were buggy. Lake Superior even surprised us on several occasions with her mighty waves! When we’re out in nature, we are reminded that the only constant is change. From song birds in spring, to frogs hopping along the trail in the summer, to fall leaves crunching under our feet in cool autumn air, we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know so many amazing people, and look forward to continuing running this tour next season.
Extra Credit
Aside from our business ventures, Domonick and I were able to explore other parts of the Upper Peninsula this year and enjoy some time off the clock including:
- winter yurt camping in the Porcupine Mountains
- winter backpacking at Pictured Rocks
- skiing in the Keweenaw Peninsula
- visiting many new waterfalls (including Rock River Falls, Canyon Falls, Yellow Dog Falls)
- canoeing new lakes (Kingston Lake, Beaver Lake, Deer Lake, Big Island Lake Wilderness)
- swimming and sun bathing at Au Train Beach, Sand Point, and Deer Lake
- backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains and another six day trip on the North Country Trail
- bike riding around Marquette and to Mama Cow’s Ice Cream in Chatham =)
Rock River Falls
Fun and sun
Starting our adventure in the Porcupine Mountains
Next Season’s Offerings
We are pumped for the 2021 season! Safety has always been our number one priority when recreating outside and we are taking extra precautions to continue our safety record during the COVID-19 pandemic. If the pandemic continues through 2021, we will continue providing a safe and fun experience for our guests, facilitated in part by providing an outdoor service and a small group size. We take cleaning rental gear seriously and your guides monitor themselves for symptoms, including temperature checks. Feel free to peruse this page for more information.
We anticipate offering four overnight backpacking tours at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in 2021 – including another Fall Color Tour which has been our most popular trip! Three of the overnight trips will be our beginner backpacking trip (2-nights, 27 miles). New for 2021, we plan to offer a 3-night tour (closer to 35 miles) at Pictured Rocks for intermediate backpackers to hone their skills at navigation and backcountry food preparation.
Our sunset hike will be offered at least once a week for those looking for amazing views of the Pictured Rocks on a shorter jaunt.
Our finalized offerings will be announced in January and you can begin booking at that time.
Looking Forward
In the near future, Domonick and I are gearing up for winter, swapping out our hiking shoes for snowshoes. We also have a 2-night yurt reservation for ourselves in the Porcupine Mountains in March (trying to make this a yearly tradition!). We are limbering ourselves up from all the summer’s hiking with yoga and also catching up on some reading. Regardless of what this winter brings we are forever thankful and will always make time for getting outside and exploring our surroundings. We love to be outside and summer 2021 will be here before you know it! We hope everyone stays safe and we can’t wait to hike with you!
Happy Trails,
Carolyn (Co-owner/Guide)
