3 Nights 38 Miles on the Waterloo Pinckney Trail

When I planned this 4 day thru-hike on the WPT, I did NOT think it would be SO hot and humid less than a week from September. The first day hiking into the rustic Pines campground was absolutely miserable, and if you know me, it takes a lot for me to be miserable. 11 miles.. 91 degrees, felt like 110 with humidity, the air WAS mosquitoes. It felt like every half mile I was crawling under, over, or bushwhacking around downed trees with my 35lb pack. The sky opened up to thunderstorms as soon as I made it to camp and set up my tent.
I got my rain fly on and put everything in the tent, headed out to find water to filter but learned the creek was the opposite direction after walking half a mile in the dark, rain, mud and mosquito filled air, so I just went back to my tent and had snacks for dinner.
Woke up, packed most of my camp back up once rain let up and headed to the creek to filter 4 liters of water JUST enough to refill my 2.5 liter bladder, makes oats, coffee and the dinner I missed out on from the day before.
My nephew joined up with me at the horse stable near Pines. Our hike to Green Lake was long, hot, and just as the day before, absolutely relentless with mosquitoes. I underestimated the west end of the Waterloo-Pinckney Trail, not just the elevation, but the distance between the first two campgrounds! I was so proud of my nephew for persevering and without complaint.
Green Lake to Blind Lake was a much better hike on familiar trail, and the spot I picked for camp was amazing! We had our own little private beach, a bonfire, cooler air.. it was a major reprieve from the past two days. We spent some time submerging in the water and getting nibbled by the curious bluegill. I spent a lot of time staring at the stars over the lake, and the flickering of firefly larvae covering the forest floor. Morning came, we made breakfast and started packing but not before the sky opened up on us. Fortunately I was fully prepared for that, and we made our final trek back to the Silver Lake parking lot.
It tested our limits both physically and mentally, and at times was unbearably miserable.. yet I'm glad we did it, and still laughed, made the best of each situation and pushed through.

[@jeremysart]

02:29 - Downed trees
05:19 - Talking about the trip
09:45 - Old growth area
10:41 - More downed trees
11:52 - Even more downed trees. and mushrooms!
15:19 - Green bog and red mushroom
16:00 - Vole on the trail!
16:26 - First creek crossing, head net goes on!
19:39 - Viewing platform at 5.75 miles.. would have made a great tent spot
20:40 - Open meadow
22:15 - 8 Mile
23:39 - Bridle crossing post & modern bridge
25:30 - Oops, wrong turn.. Equine picnic area
27:14 - Important post marker, keep right here!
28:03 - Baldwin Flooding area
28:38 - Mile 10 marker and sign post for campground
30:30 - Pines Backpacker Campground Site 2
31:47 - Aaand it's storming...
32:49 - Frogs
33:30 - Lightning strikes
34:54 - Heading out to filter water from the creek
37:00 - Ready to make breakfast
38:12 - Chow time
39:18 - Horse stables
39:42 - My nephew Corey joins the hike!
40:40 - Top of the switchback
42:01 - First lake East of Pines
43:13 - Second camp, Green Lake Rustic Campground Site GL11
44:27 - Morning at Green Lake
45:52 - Switchback climb before Lyndon Park
47:00 - Lyndon Park (shelter & decent privy)
48:28 - Boardwalks
51:08 - Meadow, Corey finds a Mantis!
52:39 - More old growth & signage for Potawatomi Trail
53:11 - Trail vandalism :-/
53:42 - Blind Lake, awesome camp spot!!
54:10 - Water pump
54:23 - Grub time!
54:38 - Home made fire starter & bonfire
55:52 - Morning at Blind Lake
56:16 - Rain starts as we were packing up
56:56 - Boardwalk on Poto, then post marker 4 intersection on Poto
58:00 - Chimney & root cellar on Poto, rock gardens, and back at the car!

[@Koolik-art]

this is great, thanks for sharing - I am about to do this whole hike starting on Saturday - def going to be wearing long sleeve pants and shorts that breathe to protect against them mosquitos

[@jeremysart]

Good luck & have fun! Keep an eye on the forecast, looks like we're getting some rain Saturday. I definitely also recommend a head net, if the skeeters end up being bad they'll drive you to madness without one 🦟

[@tridudyonthetrail]

Thanks for sharing this adventure! I think this is the best hiking trail around for backpacking in SE Michigan… looks like a great time! (Btw, I hate the mosquitoes out there too!)

[@jeremysart]

No problem! I've been having fun recording and sharing my recent trips. I'll definitely only do this trip in the fall or winter from now on haha.