Potawatomi Trail:Pinckney State Recreation Area
Trailhead Elevation: 888 ft.
Dec. 15 Hike In:
Distance: 11.06 mi.
Elevation Gain: 433 ft.
Start Time: 3:01pm
End Time: 7:38pm
Dec. 16 Hike Out:
Distance: 4.30 mi.
Elevation Gain: 206 ft.
Start Time: 8:20am
End Time: 10:19am
Trip Report:
The opportunity once more arose to get a good backpacking adventure in this December. I've grown to love and enjoy these winter excursions as they add a number of logistical challenges not present in the summer. That, and hiking in 20-30 degree weather in Michigan is much to be preferred to hiking in 70-80 degree humid weather in the summer. About two weeks out I started watching the forecast and it appeared I would have low 20's and almost no precip to deal with on my planned dates. That was looking pretty good to me. Two days before my event I was thrown a curveball. Southeast Michigan was hit with a pretty good snow storm. Where I live it was only about 4 inches of snow, but at Pinckney it was more like 8 inches. As the storm was happening I didn't fully reckon how it might impact my hiking plans.
