VIDEO: Manistee River, Michigan

**Shewie** · 08-23-2010, 15:08

Nice vid Arson, thanks for sharing

**Arson** · 08-23-2010, 15:09

...Thanks.

**Hawk-eye** · 08-23-2010, 15:15

Nice video Arson .. enjoyed watching the trip ... ending graphic is slick (ha no head pun intended).

**carolinasbackpacker** · 08-23-2010, 15:32

Nice video. Looks like you guys had fun and it was a pleasure to watch

**Redoleary** · 08-23-2010, 15:58

Nice video, I enjoyed that.

**Poppabear** · 08-23-2010, 16:58

Very nice video thanks for taking the time to share with us.

**Peg-Leg** · 08-23-2010, 17:59

Arson,

Great video, thanks for sharing. Just curious, where the boats come from? You said you hiked 10 miles then paddled back to your cars.

Thanks.

**Arson** · 08-23-2010, 20:18

We stashed the boats in the morning, then drove down to a boat ramp down river. That's where we start our hike. We then camp at the boats and float back to the car the next morning.

**jeepcachr** · 08-24-2010, 10:53

Originally Posted by Arson

As far as that being an "illegal campsite", I don't have much to say. The campsite is already there, and I don't see the benefit of creating a new campsite 200' farther back. Sometimes I'm a rule breaker I guess. I can tell you one thing for sure: I have contributed more to the Manistee River Trail than I have taken away.

Sorry I didn't mean to come off as judgmental. I should have worded my post better. I was interested in hearing what you and others thought of using an established site over creating a new one. My brother and I were debating that on the way there that day. I had described that very spot to him as an example. I only discovered the MRT this year. I've been there 4 times this summer. I'm usually not about telling others what to do. When I got there and saw the partially chopped into healthy tree it made me sad. There is lots of down wood in that area, why chop into an otherwise healthy tree? Stuff like that is what gets land managers mad at backpackers and a few ruin it for the majority.

I agree with you, I'd rather take an established campsite than create a new one. I'm on the fence though about using an established site that breaks the rules. Especially since someone was there and told these 2 hikers to move on. Could have been someone with authority or it could have been just a busy body. I know it's a popular spot because I've talked to other people that have stayed right there. What doesn't make sense to me is the designated sites along the trail are just as close to the water and the trail runs right thru them. If your going to designate sites shouldn't they follow the rules to set the example?

I found an interesting semi related article (rant) the other day- http://www.purcelltrench.com/leaveatrace.htm

**Arson** · 08-28-2010, 13:06

Originally Posted by jeepcachr

Also there was a lot of recent damage done there. I hope it wasn't you guys. There were trees cut/knocked down and there was a beautiful healthy pine, maybe 8" diameter, that someone chopped into a couple inches about 4' off the ground. Why oh why do people do that? There is plenty of down trees in that area for burning.

No, we didn't do any of that damage. I just finished a knife modification where I used a piece of the cedar from the campsite we visited that someone else chopped down, then just left. It felt great to be able to make something good from someone else's greed and destruction. We had such a good time on the trip. Now I get to have something tangible to remember it with. Here's the video of the Modifications: