1,100 Miles in Support of Bronson Children's Hospital

Your contribution, no matter the size, will directly support Bronson's efforts to provide exceptional healthcare services. From improving patient care to advancing medical research and upgrading facilities, every dollar raised plays a crucial role in creating a healthier and stronger community.

By supporting this campaign, you're not just giving to a cause; you're investing in the well-being of our community. Together, let's ensure that Bronson continues to thrive and positively impact the lives of those who depend on its services. Your generosity will make a lasting difference, and I am grateful for your support.

Thank you for being a part of this meaningful journey toward a healthier future for us all.

More About the Hike

Dr. Davies began this journey the summer of 2014 and he will hike the entire Michigan section of the North Country Trail (NCT).

To give some perspective, Appalachian Trail  stretches 2180 miles from Maine to Georgia. The Pacific Crest Trail runs 2650 miles along the Sierra Nevada from Canada to Mexico. At 4600 miles, the North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest of the National Scenic Trails.

The NCT spans the upper eastern and midwestern United States passing through New York (beginning at the Vermont border), Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and North Dakota. The Michigan section includes approximately 1,100 miles of trail (600 in the lower peninsula and 500 in the upper).

Each section of Dr. Davies hike consists of approximately 100-200 mile segments lasting 4-7 days.

SUMMER 2014 - 224.2 miles

Segment 1 - 95.2 miles - COMPLETED

Michigan/Ohio Border to Battle Creek 

• May 29, 2014 — Territorial Road at Michigan/Ohio Border to Hillsdale. 25.2 miles.
• May 30, 2014 — Hillsdale to Homer. 23.8 miles.
• May 31, 2014 — Homer to Marshall. 24.7 miles.
• June 1, 2014 — Marshall to Battle Creek. 21.5 miles.

Segment 2 - 41.9 miles - COMPLETED

Battle Creek through Yankee Springs Recreation Area

• August 16, 2014 — Battle Creek to Kelly Road (north of Gull Lake). 17.4 miles.
• August 17, 2014 — Kelly Road to Peets Road Trailhead. 24.5 miles.

Segment 3 - 64.9 miles - COMPLETED

Yankee Springs Recreation Area to Rockford

• September 19, 2014 — Peets Road Trailhead to Lowell (NCT headquarters)— 24 miles.
• September 20, 2014 — Lowell to Seidman Park/Honey Creek Avenue— 22.5 miles.
• September 21, 2014 — Seidman Park/Honey Creek Avenue to Rockford— 18.4 miles.

Segment 4 - 22.2 miles - COMPLETED

Rockford to 22 Mile Road

• October 18, 2014 — Rockford to 22 Mile Road — 22.2 miles.

SUMMER 2015 - 235.4 miles -

Segment 5 - 110.4 miles - COMPLETED

22 Mile Road to Freesoil Trailhead

• May 27, 2015 — 22 Mile Road to M-37/Twinwood Lake Campground— 30.5 miles.
• May 28, 2015 — M-37/Twinwood Lake Campground to NCT Schoolhouse— 19.5 + miles.
• May 29, 2015 — NCTA Schoolhouse to Highbank Lake Campground— 17 miles
• May 30, 2015 — Highbank Lake Campground to Timber Creek Campground — 24 miles.
• May 31, 2015 — Timber Creek Campground to Freesoil Trailhead— 19.4 miles.

Segment 6 - 40.7 miles - COMPLETED

Freesoil Trailhead to Hodenpyl Dam

• September 9, 2015 — Freesoil Trailhead to Blacksmith Bayou Campground — 19.4 miles.
• September 10, 2015 — Blacksmith Bayou Campground to Hodenpyl Dam— 21.3 miles.

Segment 7 - 84.3 miles - COMPLETED

Hodenpyl Dam to Hagni Road 

• October 1, 2015 — Hodenpyl Dam to Highbanks Rollway— 22.6 miles.
• October 2, 2015 — Highbanks Rollway to Fife Lake— 21.2 miles.
• October 3, 2015 — Fife Lake to Guernsey Lake— 24 miles.
• October 4, 2015 — Guernsey Lake to Hagni Road— 16.5 miles.

SUMMER 2016

Segment 8 - 82.5 miles - COMPLETED

Hagni Road (near Kalkaska) to Petosky

• June 2, 2016 - Hagni Road to Sand Lake, 19 miles
• June 3, 2016 - Scholl Road to Giem Road, 29 Miles
• June 4, 2016 - Giem Road to Grace Grange Lodge, 22 miles
• June 5, 2016 - Grace Grange Lodge to Bayfront Park in Petosky, 13 miles

Segment 9 - 56 miles

Petosky to Mackinaw Bridge - Completed

• July 23, 2016 - Petoskey to Van Road, 23.7 miles.
• July 24, 2016 - Van Road to Wilderness State Park, 19.1 miles.
• July 25, 2016 - Wilderness State Park to the Mackinaw Bridge, 13.4 miles.

Segment 10 - 80 miles

St. Ignace to Whitefish Bay - COMPLETED

• September 29, 2016 - St. Ignace to Brevoort Lake National Forest Campground, 19 miles
• September 30, 2016 - Brevoort Lake National Forest Campground to Trout Lake Road, 24 miles
• October 1, 2016 - Trout Lake Road to Soldier Lake, 22 miles
• October 2, 2016 - Soldier Lake to Tahquamenon Bay, 17miles

SUMMER 2017

Segment 11 - 138 miles 

Whitefish Bay to Munising - Completed

• May 25, 2017 - Shallows Trailhead to River mouth Pines Campground, 10 miles.
• May 26, 2017 - River mouth Pines Campground to Upper Tahquamenon Falls, 21 miles.
• May 27, 2017 - Upper Tahquamenon Falls to Two-Hearted River Campground, 20 miles.
• May 28, 2017 - Two-Hearted River Campground to Lake Superior Campground, 20 miles.
• May 29, 2017 - Lake Superior Campground to Grand Marais, 18 miles.
• May 30, 2017 - Grand Marais to Little Beaver Lake Campground, 27 miles.
• May 31, 2017 - Little Beaver Lake Campground to Munising, 22 miles.

Summer 2018

Segment 12 - 76 miles 

Munising to Marquette - Completed

• September 13, 2018 - Munising to Rock River, 20 miles.
• September 14, 2018 - Rock River to Sand River/Sand Lake, 21 Miles.
• September 15, 2018 - Sand River/Sand Lake to Marquette, 20 miles.
• September 16, 2018 - Marquette to Little Presque Isle, 15 miles.

SUMMER 2019

Segment 13 - 97 miles 

Little Presque Isle to Baraga Plains - Completed

• September 27, 2019 – Little Presque Isle to Clark Creek Bridge, 20 miles.
• September 28, 2019 – Clark Creek Bridge to Dead River Waterfall, 17 miles.
• September 29, 2019 – Dead River Waterfall to Craig Lake State Park, 20 miles.
• September 30, 2019 –Craig Lake State Park to Canyon Falls, 19 miles.
• October 1, 2019 – Canyon Falls to Gorge Cutoff Road, 21 miles.

SUMMER 2024 - COMPLETED!

Segment 14 – 162 Miles to Wisconsin Border- Final Stretch

Baraga Plains to the Wisconsin border

• Gorge Cutoff Road to NF-16, 17 miles.
• County Road 1100 to US 45- N, 21.5 miles.
• US 45-N to Norwich Road, 22 miles.
• Norwich Road to M-64, 20 miles.
• M-64 to 107^th Engineers Memorial Highway, 15.5 miles.
• 107^th Engineers Memorial Highway to Big Carp 4, 12.5 miles.
• Big Carp 4 Rustic Cabin to Black River Road, 19.5 miles.
• Black River Road, to Maple Lane 17.5 miles.
• Maple Lane to Wisconsin Border, 17 miles.
• Trail Complete!