Michigan Cross Country Cycle Trail (MCCCT)

[tommo2]

Originally Posted by Cannonshot

Did you carry a small bow saw w/ you or something?

[CeeBee]

Thanks for the bump, It was a great read. I'll make plans for the six day.

[YZman]

Originally Posted by tommo2

Did you carry a small bow saw w/ you or something?

You usualy can go around most things like that..or over them like I prefer. Even though it looks really dense forrest next to the trail Im betting you can get around it.

[tommo2]

I know you can go around most of the time in some form or fashion, even if you have to all the way around and just ride in from the other side. I was sort of joking around in the sense that this type of tree (white oak) is very tough and hard to cut up, it's also very heavy. An inside Michigan kind of joking observation. Early in the year with the ice and wind of winter season there's tons of downed timber all over the woods here and a chainsaw would really be required. I have a rack on back my KLR big enough to strap on my Jonsereds and that's how I do it.

[Janet from Joisey]

ProMoto Billet has a chainsaw carrier for their racks:
http://www.promotobillet.com/catalog...roducts_id/206

[YZman]

Originally Posted by Janet from Joisey

ProMoto Billet has a chainsaw carrier for their racks:
http://www.promotobillet.com/catalog...roducts_id/206

Ive got one of those on the back of my CRF250x. Works killer. Definately cant blitz the woops with it though.

[BentAero]

Cannonshot,

If you're still around here, thanks for the great story.

I lived my 1st 43 years in Michigan and believe that I've rode nearly every one of the CCC/marked trails in the lower peninsula. I would LOVE to get back up to MI and do some hard-core off-roading once again. We don't have any of that wonderful, loveable, soft sand here. Oh how I miss sand!

Not sure if I would recommend doing the MCCCT in early May as you did, the weather can be pretty iffy that early in the year. I remember being caught in a snowstorm near Grayling on Mothers day weekend while some 40 miles from camp...

With any luck, I'll be able to do the SDofM in '09.

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by BentAero

Cannonshot,

If you're still around here, thanks for the great story.

I lived my 1st 43 years in Michigan and believe that I've rode nearly every one of the CCC/marked trails in the lower peninsula. I would LOVE to get back up to MI and do some hard-core off-roading once again. We don't have any of that wonderful, loveable, soft sand here. Oh how I miss sand!

Not sure if I would recommend doing the MCCCT in early May as you did, the weather can be pretty iffy that early in the year. I remember being caught in a snowstorm near Grayling on Mothers day weekend while some 40 miles from camp...

With any luck, I'll be able to do the SDofM in '09.

Surprised to see this ride pop up. It has been a while since I did it. Glad you enjoyed the report.

Since then some new riding has appeared. The Great Lakes Dual Sporters published 3500 miles of great dual sport stuff (GPS tracks and maps) in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas of Michigan. These rides are a lot more fun than the grueling marathon that the MCCCT can be. In the LP segment, there is a bunch of single track worked into the routes as well - some of it from the MCCCT. I skipped the Six Days this year to ride the 1100 mile LP loop.

Here is the overview:


Here is a report about the LP loop:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=364415

Here is a report that gives some info about the UP loop:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=352617

Here is where you download the tracks and maps:
http://www.gldsmc.org/GLDSEXmi.html

I don't think I'll ever ride the MCCCT again - at least not in one burst, but I would ride these DS routes again as they are that entertaining.

For anyone thinking about the MCCCT, I'd give serious consideration to these other dual sport routes. They are a great time!

[ChopSuey]

Hi Cannonshot! My husband and I are doing the MCCCT starting September 6 - picking it up near Indian River and seeing how far we get in five days. Not camping to save weight and space. I'm the weak link in the equation, so not sure how many miles I can do in a day. Have also read this ride report a couple of times now and it's a good one.

Any chance you're going to do the GLDS Chandler Hill Challenge this year? It's a great ride. The food isn't quite as good as Wabeno, but it's not too shabby.

Stacey

[Cannonshot]

Originally Posted by ChopSuey

Hi Cannonshot! My husband and I are doing the MCCCT starting September 6 - picking it up near Indian River and seeing how far we get in five days. Not camping to save weight and space. I'm the weak link in the equation, so not sure how many miles I can do in a day. Have also read this ride report a couple of times now and it's a good one.

Any chance you're going to do the GLDS Chandler Hill Challenge this year? It's a great ride. The food isn't quite as good as Wabeno, but it's not too shabby.

Stacey

Hi Stacey!

The Chandler Hill area has some great riding. I'm sure it will be a fabulous event. I've got some other irons in the fire though soI won't be there.

Hope you have a great time on the MCCCT. If I was leaving from Indian River I would first go south toward White Cloud as there is some great riding on the west side.

You might want to take along the downloads from Expedition Michigan in case you decide you want to ride that route back to Indian River.

Have a good time!

(Watch out for ATVs!)

[gasit4fun]

Thanks for the writeup. I'm originally from MI, now I'm in New York. I miss the trails - there is nothing in NY like the awesome trail system in MI. Really, sometimes I miss the sand whoopers! Great pics.

[NJDRT-RDR]

Originally Posted by ChopSuey

Hi Cannonshot! My husband and I are doing the MCCCT starting September 6 - picking it up near Indian River and seeing how far we get in five days. Not camping to save weight and space. I'm the weak link in the equation, so not sure how many miles I can do in a day. Have also read this ride report a couple of times now and it's a good one.

Any chance you're going to do the GLDS Chandler Hill Challenge this year? It's a great ride. The food isn't quite as good as Wabeno, but it's not too shabby.

Stacey

Have a great time. I loved it when I did it. You can get in quite a bit in 5 days.
Nick

[gixracer]

gotta love this trail
last week went from gladwin up to luzern and back man is it tough
tommorow morning i am in for luzern to as far north as i can get.
the singletrack is killer

enjoy this ride folks, fyi it is real tough and grueling in certain sections but hey wtf go ride it and ride your heart out
next year lowduck and i are making a week out of it

[JerseyBlues]

Nice ride!

[suppresst]

Originally Posted by Cannonshot

This is the kind of riding I really enjoy - more dual sport stuff. The problem with the MCCCT is that you ride it because that is the route and you ride what is offered you. Some sections are in poor shape (whoops) or have branches that beat you to death. You would not normally ride 10 miles of loose sand in a ATV width trough for fun. But on the other hand, there are so many great stretches of single track that you really wouldn't want to miss. Maybe some day they will put together a "Lower Peninsula Greatest Hits" ride that combines the best dual sport with the best trail sections. THAT would be the ride!!!!

Hey Cannonshot, I'm a middle-aged rider (Michigan resident) new to the sport (trail riding) and wonder if you could at least steer me towards the top two or three streches of the MCCCT trail (ORV sticker only/long enough to be worth driving a couple/three hours each way to get to) that would be agreeable to my aching back. The picture above is very inviting and is the kind of riding I'm longing to discover. Call it a request for an extreme thumbnail version of your "greatest hit's" of the lower peninsula.