Been trying Avenza as my new hiking app. Like it so far. I've used AllTrails up until now, but I think the user interface on Avenza is much better and it seems easier to create a custom route. I'm just finding it more intuitive to use. May not have all the lesser know trails though. #hiking

Even though I didn't post them all, I've been hiking! Today I did 5 miles in 2 hours. Saw a flock of ducks playing and splashing in a kettle pond. Got them on video just as they moved further back on the pond, flapping and quacking. #hiking

Goldenrod along the trail today. Hiked 6 miles in 2 hours 12 minutes. It was hot and humid again. I've hiked 3 of last 4 days, total 16.5 miles, all in the same unwashed hiking clothes. Had to stop at a store on the way home, and people were looking at me funny. Can't imagine why. ;-) #hiking

Saw this bald eagle surveying his kingdom a half mile out of my small city in southeast Wisconsin yesterday. When I was a kid, this was unheard of. There were only a few rare eagles on remote lakes up north. Banning DDT aided their comeback. Government can do good things...if they want to.

Today I hiked 5.5 miles in 2 hours, mostly in the rain. Came across this giant widowmaker. It wasn't there yesterday. No doubt came down in the wild thunderstorms this morning. I have seen and heard trees like this fall in the woods. Loud! If you were close, it would be terrifying. #hiking

Back home from the Upper Peninsula, I hiked 5.1 miles in 1 hour and 49 minutes today. When I was younger I would jog most of this route. Those days are gone. It was hot (85 F, 29 C) and very humid. #hiking

A few days ago I hiked a section of trail not well traveled and, well, its definitely sticktight season here in southeast Wisconsin. Anybody know an easy way to get these things off? :-) #hiking

I want to express my appreciation to the city of Munising, Michigan, which provides two EV chargers at its City Hall parking lot. This made my recent visit to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore with my Chevy Bolt EV possible. BTW, I now have over 95,000 trouble free miles on it. #ev

My last day in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, I walked 5.5 miles from Trappers Lake Campground to my car at the Little Beaver Lake Road Trailhead. I hiked 35 miles over 4 beautiful days. Trails were mostly easy and relaxing. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

My last evening at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I was at Trappers Lake Campground, and it was amazing. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks #lakesuperior

One of the things I like about hammock camping is it gives me a comfy 'porch swing' to sit in and relax. Here was the view as I swung in my hammock after my 11.5 mike hike to Trappers Lake Campground, in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

My 4th and final campsite while backpacking last week was on Trappers Lake, a pretty little inland lake in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It was a great campsite! #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

Wednesday of last week, after walking 11 miles, I went down to the beach to collect water from Lake Superior to filter. Then I just relaxed in a shady spot for a half hour before walking the last half mile inland to my campsite. #picturedrocks #backpacking #hiking

Last week Wednesday I hiked 11.5 miles from Au Sable East Campground to Trappers Lake Campground in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Most of this was on the North Country Trail alongside Lake Superior. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks #lakesuperior

Apologies to indigenous peoples of the Great Lakes region of North America, and to Canadians in general, but especially those who live near Lake Ontario. Our American president has clearly lost his mind.

Almost forgot to mention that before I turned in at Au Sable East Campground at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore last week, I took a bath and did some laundry. My spa room was beneath a bluff overhang on Lake Superior, with Grand Sable Dunes in background. #backpacking #hiking #lakesuperior

Last Wednesday morning I packed up and began walking back west. I stopped and had breakfast at the Au Sable Lighthouse. The bluffs in the background are the Grand Sable Dunes. Huge! I had no idea they existed until I rounded that point the night before. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

After setting up camp at Au Sable East Campground last week, I took the short walk back to Lake Superior to marvel at the Grand Sable Dunes. I had no idea they even existed until I walked around that point the evening before. Amazing! #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks #grandsabledunes

Of my 4 night trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Au Sable East Campground was the most challenging. Sites were small and close. Mine featured the path to the group privy passing directly through it. So I pitched my hammock down the hill a bit to give me some privacy. #backpacking #hiking

After hiking the North Country Trail for 7 miles through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, last Tuesday, I reached the Au Sable Point Lighthouse. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

The North Country Trail crosses the Hurricane River where it enters Lake Superior. I got this look last Tuesday as I hiked from 7 Mile Campground to Au Sable East Campground in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. #backpacking #hiking #lakesuperior #northcountrytrail

Last Tuesday I hiked to Au Sable Point in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I saw this huge Eastern white pine, 3 feet in diameter, 100 to 150 feet high, and maybe 200 years old. Why did it survive the great lumbering era? Did they intentionally leave a few of these as natural beacons for sailors?

After a good hike last Monday I arrived at 7 Mile Creek, right next to my campsite for the night. After dinner I laid down in the creek. Nice cool water after a hot day of hiking. It felt awesome! #picturedrocks #backpacking #hiking

A typical view from the North Country Trail as it passes through Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Last Monday I started with a 2.5 mile day hike. Then I backpacked 7.5 miles from Cove Campground to 7 Mile Creek Campground. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

I found this old car on the North Country Trail alongside Lake Superior, about 5 miles from the nearest road. It was between my 1st campsite and my 2nd, last week in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It's a fixer-upper. ;-) #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

Monarch butterflies loading up on nectar from flowers along a pretty little creek. Seen on my 7.5 mile hike from 1st campsite to 2nd, last Monday in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

Peaceful little cove near Cove Campground in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, on the south shore of Lake Superior. Taken during my hike this past Monday morning. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

My 1st campsite in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sunday evening. It was the Cove Campground, just 1.7 miles from the Beaver Creek Trailhead and a 60 second walk to the beach. I posted a vid of the spectacular sunset earlier. I slept in my hammock with windsock. #backpacking #hiking

My first view of Lake Superior on my hike in to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Sunday evening. My first campsite was just a bit further up the trail. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks

Here is a small cave seen on my hike from the Beaver Creek Trailhead to my first campsite in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sunday evening. #backpacking #hiking #picturedrocks