Rattlesnake Hill (2.5 miles; d=3.20)
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Rattlesnake Hill Hike Route Map
The approximate track of our hike up Rattlesnake Hill, via the High Country Pathway, depicted a la Google Earth...
Rattlesnake Hill Hike Route Map
The approximate track of our hike up Rattlesnake Hill, via the High Country Pathway...
High Country Pathway Trailhead (Rattlesnake Creek Rd)
Heading out...pretty sure they were both having fun so not sure about the look on Chris' face...
High Country Pathway Trailhead (Rattlesnake Creek Rd)
We'd be using the High Country Pathway to get to the top...the HCP makes an 80+ mile loop around the periphery of the Pigeon River Country State Forest...
This little plant, Wintergreen, was growing all over the place along the first part of the hike...I invited the kids to pick some up and have a sniff...
If you crush the leaves of the Wintergreen between your fingers they give off a pleasant minty aroma...I had the kids sniffing plants for the first 15 minutes of the hike:)
The woods along the trail were quite a mix...just about any tree you can think of that makes its home in Northern Michigan was represented here...
Passing a stately grove of aspens...
There were a handful of what I believe to be apple trees along the trail...a nice bit of early spring color...
I wanna say apple, but I could be wrong...
Right around the halfway point the trail crosses a large open area...
Perhaps the only cool part of the Jack pine is its cones...they are closed up tight to the point that they're all but impossible to pry open. The trees are waiting for the next forest fire which, when it sweeps by, opens the cones which release their seeds. This helps the Jack pine to be one of the earliest trees to recover after a fire...
Spotting a landmine..
The ugly step-brother of the pine tree family, the Jack pine...I can't stand these trees, it's not hard to see why, is it?...
Shhh...don't tell anyone but this is gonna be a GOOD place to find blueberries this summer!
The large fields along the trail were quite strange, there must have been numerous farms in the area at some point...or a lot of clear cutting...
Hey, we cut down all the trees here so please stay on the trail!
The terrain here has just been devastated...a prime example of how forests are preserved not primarily for recreation, but rather for the protection of a resource...
The only nice part of walking through this area was the bright, warm sunshine...
You'd think if the state was regulating the harvesting of this area that they'd make the loggers be a bit more selective...
Before long we started the steep climb to the top...
Climbing out of the river valley the forest abruptly becomes dominated by hardwoods, oak to be precise...
It wasn't long before we could see a bare hilltop through the trees above...
Alex, in the lead as always, nearing the top...
Brian Puls
on June 15, 2020Really nice album and descriptions. Looks like it was a great day. 10 years goes by fast I'm sure. This is very close to a spot we like to camp and fish on the Black River. Last time we looked around the hill we couldn't find the trail. I don't think we went far enough down the road to reach Rattlesnake Creek Rd where your GPS coordinates are. Are there signs at the trailhead at all? Do you take Rattlesnake Creek Rd in then cut east up the hill? I want to take my mountain bike up this thing.
Dan Weemhoff (dwhike)
on December 13, 2019Matthew...thank you so much for taking the time to comment. My deepest condolences in the passing of your dad. I'm honored that in some small way this album has helped with the grief. This hike was taken back in 2010 and I remember there still being two tracks from four wheelers up there at that time. As a matter of fact I vaguely remember passing a couple riders while we were up there on a different visit. I've been away from the area for a number of years now but still have great memories taking my (now not-so) young boys up there, teaching them about the forest. Again, it means a lot what you've shared here and I'm grateful you posted. All the best.
MATTHEW EBEL
on December 13, 2019This is amazing. This is just a mile or so from the cabin I grew up going to when I was little up until early adulthood, until it sold in 2014. This brings back so many memories. I remember being smaller and you could actually take four wheelers up there, until it got blocked off for the conservation. My dad (RIP) spend numerous weekends up here and this just gave me a sense of love. I need to head back for the memories. Thank you so much for posting this (I don't know when it was) but it has done a lot for me in the healing process of my dad passing away.