Excited to add a women's time on this FKT route in beautiful Michigan. Lovely trail with peak-a-book views of the Au Sable River. I also took a quick photo stop at the Lumbermen's Monument. Now that is a tough job, and I'm grateful for the hard work of the lumberjacks that created the infrastructure we can enjoy today.
I would like to dedicate this FKT to the Burt family! I came home to Michigan to celebrate my Grandma Burt's 90th birthday, and I'm so appreciative for her love and support. I admire her positivity, strong values and the joy she brings to all. I'm also very appreciative for my dad who dropped me off at the trailhead start and enjoyed his own walk on the beautiful trails. No support was given during the FKT, hence submitted as unsupported.
I took 1 soft flask with a nuun tablet and ate 2 packets of Annie's bunnies gummies. I would recommend running this route early in the day or when it's cooler out as there are some unshaded sections that are sandy and those can get hot. Additionally, the route is well marked, but I would always use / have the gps route as there was a couple of turn offs and two areas said Highbank Trail. I strongly suggest a quick tick check after running this route too. I saw rabbits, a couple deer and heard woodpeckers. I would look ahead on the sunny sections to just double check you aren't sneaking up on any sunbathing snakes on the route.