Bikepack to the U. P. Day 4

I awoke on day four to a steady drizzle.  I hung out in the tent for about an hour before I decided that the rain wasn't going to let up the system was pretty well socked in for the day.  I had a cold oatmeal breakfast and did my best job at packing up a soaking wet camp.  It was the last day and I only had 60 miles to go.

The days route would be mostly gravel and forest doubletrack and it went from Henry Lake to Marinesco where I planned to make a quick stop before heading into a long stretch of unknown road.  After Marinesco I would get on Forest road 523, make a quick side trip to see Yondota Falls, then catch the Ethelwood Grade that would hopefully connect me to M-28 near Bergland.

Fancy breakfast in the tent

2nd breakfast, day old donuts cold coffee

The rain was set in for the day and by the time I reached Yondota Falls I could not get any wetter.  Embracing the rain situation I figured I may as well hike out and see the falls.  It was a neat little cascade that you'd never know was there. 

After the falls I made my way to the Ethelwood grade.  This road turned out to be about 12 miles of completely awesome doubletrack in the middle of nowhere.

It's all you really need.

The Ethlewood narrowed to a mudfest but I was happy to find that it actually did come out the the highway.  About 5 miles down the road, in Bergland, I pulled into the gas station an utter mess and had to have the attendant lady open all my food and drink packages that I bought because I was too damp and slimey to get a grip on anything.  Warmed and refueled, it was time for the final 25 miles up and over the Gogebic range and the long gradual downhill to the Superior shoreline and then a road ride into Ontonagon.

I was greeted at my in-laws with a well deserved beer and a warm shower, all topped off with a hot meal!

The aftermath and bike setup: