Magicpaddler wrote on Apr 25^th, 2012 at 5:22pm:


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That'd be 5-stars if it were closer to the lakeshore...  

One thing I might add as encouragement to those who may be trying Bushwacking for the first time is to stay with it. Your body has yet to be "trained" to off trail travel. You will get better and better as time progresses. Here is a story that might illustrate......

Back in the day when I spent at least 10 hours a day in the woods it was rare that I would take a fall. It is still unusual but not quite so rare  .

One winter night we went to see a concert in Detroit......Bookies or Bookys was the place, an establishment with a reputation of ill repute, and I think the band was Iggy Pop and the Stooges. Anyway, we walked in and there was a motley assortment of bouncer type dudes at the door. Kind of surly looking, unkept, bearded, inked up biker types. We paid our money and walked in.

As I passed one heavy set fellow I felt something just barely brush up against the inside of my thigh of my trailing leg. Instinctively without breaking my stride and without any thought my leg lifted itself up and over the offending object. I looked back to see what I had brushed up against and will never forget the look on the guys face. He had sought to trip me by inserting his leg between mine as I walked by. His dropped jaw and look of being totally dumbfounded has never left me. It was priceless.

Step lightly without committing fully. Short steps are better than wide striding type steps as it is easier to keep your center of gravity should you step into a pothole. Again, pay special attention to beaver workings as they like channels and holes which tend to grass over. You never, ever want to fall.