Rainbow Gathering could affect NCT in Wisconsin

[alifeoutdoors]

Received this email from our chapter president yesterday, just an FYI for anyone in the area planning a hike on the NCT in Wisconsin over the next month. This is all happening just a couple trail miles from my house so if you need any eyes on the ground info please feel free to PM. The Cant Hook Lake section of the trail does not intersect with the lake and it is in the middle of a seven mile stretch between Cty A and the Rainbow Wilderness with no campsites so impact on the trail should be minimal, but you never know when this many people descend upon one spot.

Bill, Board Members, Trail Adopters:

I just received a phone call from Hillary Markum (Sp?) of the USFS. The Rainbow Family of Living Light will be holding its annual tribal conference in the Cant Hook Lake area. This has already started and will continue into July. At its peak, around July 4th, there could be thousands of people in the area and they might spill over onto or near the NCT. The USFS plans to close roads, including part of FR 228, so parked vehicles do not interfere with scheduled road repairs.

The USFS considered closing the trail. I told Hillary that I oppose closure. I would prefer to make information available to hikers, including a suggested route around the festivities, and let the hikers decide what to do. The USFS will be posting information on this subject and road closures at their website. We will want to make sure that we have links to that information in our social media.

We might also want to monitor the compliance with dispersed camping regulations near the trail.

If you have questions, you can call Hillary at (715) 482-0115. Let me know if you have any other thoughts on this subject.

Never a dull moment.

[Watertooner]

hmmm...given their moniker, I'd say they are the originators of the UL philosophy.

[alifeoutdoors]

hmmm...given their moniker, I'd say they are the originators of the UL philosophy.

lol. Given that, they may regret their chosen location. The mosquito hatch has been vicious this year.

[Karla "with a k"]

My uncle has told me fantastic stories about these gatherings!

[OneClick]

The mosquito hatch has been vicious this year.

I was just wondering about this for northern MI. Whole state has been very wet, so I assumed the same. Bummer compared to last year.

[alifeoutdoors]

I was just wondering about this for northern MI. Whole state has been very wet, so I assumed the same. Bummer compared to last year.

I can strike out west from my house through the pine barrens and it's not too bad. Hiking east down into lake country? Getting out alive is questionable.

[canoebie]

The story in northern Michigan this year, up near the Manistee from a friend of mine is that he saw a mosquito so big it had a tick attached to its leg. Headed up in a couple of weeks for a five day canoe trip. I anticipate heading to the hammy about dusk to escape.