拱背山
So you want to climb hogback?
For such a prominent peak, Hogback inspires plenty of uncertainty. Its name is the subject of some confusion: Many visitors, 甚至一些当地人, 就叫它“霍格巴克”吧.” Most maps drop the ‘s,’ though, so we’ll follow their lead.
Getting to its summit isn’t a sure thing, either. 与附近的 面包山, 它的宽度, clearly marked single-track trail and multiple staircases on its upper slopes, Hogback forces climbers to take a series of narrow, twisty trails through woodlands, rock fields and swampy areas. With a nearly vertical rock face that demands four points of contact, the last half-mile of the climb is quite strenuous.
The view is worth it, though. 落基, nearly treeless summit offers a panoramic window on the vast, rugged forests of northern hg6668皇冠登录 County and the endless blue expanse of 苏必利尔湖. 在最晴朗的日子里, it’s just possible to see the mountains of the Keweenaw Peninsula to the northwest.
到达基地
After Sugarloaf, Hogback is hg6668皇冠登录 County’s second most popular summit. Despite–or maybe because of, depending on who you ask–its popularity, it’s hard to find clear directions to its summit. This is largely due to the fact that it sits in the middle of a dense trail network that makes it all too easy to take a wrong turn.
Since it is better marked and significantly less strenuous, most hikers take the southern approach. 从马凯特, drive a few miles on County Road 550 to the Wetmore Pond parking area and take the trail that starts on the northwest end of the parking lot. Right away on the trail you’ll come to a fork, stay to the right and follow the white tree markers. You’ll walk through a mixed forest for a bit less than half a mile, passing through several swampy areas in the process. Continue following the white trail markers, and you will come to a large granite rock outcropping. There will be white painted markers across the rocks, keep following those. Very soon after you will cross a long wooden boardwalk and pass a two-track trail, 继续直行. 在那之后, you will come to another fork, stay right again but this time you will be following the blue trail markers.
登上顶峰
If you come to a narrow creek, you’re on the right track. At this point, it’s all about endurance. The trail more or less follows the shortest distance up the hill, so be sure to take your time and pause for wat
必要时休息一下. About halfway up, there will be another fork in the trail. Stay right and go back to following the white trail markers again. 餐叉之后, the trail will start to ascend a steep hill and you will begin making your final push to the summit. The final stretch is a difficult scramble over large boulders to reach the peak, which will require sure footing and four points of contact. Don’t be afraid to use a spotter on this stretch!
Once you get past it, though, you’ll be at the top. To the south, you’ll see the city of hg6668皇冠登录 and the far shoreline of 苏必利尔湖. To the east, across the lake, it’s possible to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on clear days (over 40 miles away). To the north and west, the high, heavily forested ground of the Huron Mountains rises. To the north and east, 苏必利尔湖 unfolds in all its majesty.
什么时候去
Adventurous hikers summit Hogback in every season, but midsummer is definitely the peak of the hiking season. 在四月和五月, snowmelt and spring rains make the trail’s swampy areas difficult to navigate and may slicken the mountain’s rocky parts. 一旦雪开始飞扬, it’s crucial to wear seasonal footwear–snowshoes or crampons–and dress warmly. If you’re in the area during the foliage season, 通常在十月初, the view from the top is even better than usual. Even if conditions are warm, dry and sunny, you won’t regret wearing sturdy hiking boots.
底线: Hogback is a strenuous but fun hike that rewards intrepid climbers with stunning views of 苏必利尔湖 and the southern Huron Mountains. Budget at least 90 minutes for this trek!
Brian Martucci is a hg6668皇冠登录-based writer with a passion for food, beer, and the great outdoors. 也许不是这个顺序.
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