Hiking continued from page 17

weekend.

The northern peninsula holds a glamorous mountain trail for up to a week's hiking in the Porcupine Mountain Wilderness State Fark. Undeveloped and primitive, it's a totally different experience from the far west.

The newest addition to the national park system in the state is Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakefront along Lake Michigan. This area may be the closest you can get to a desert in Michigan' s cooler, damper climate, and is still being expanded by the federal governinent.

There are trails in most the state parks and forests, as well as parks in the nearby Huron-Clinton Metropolitan system (which includes Delhi, and Hudson Mills). For more information, you can call the county or state departments of parks.

Hiking in Michigan is not the same as the Grand Canyon. Rain and cold are more likely to be problems, and require somewhat different equipment, including a sturdy tent.

This introduction to hiking is far from complete. If you haven't done it before, start by talking to experienced friends and people at local camp stores. Don't be pressured to buy overly expensive equipment or supplies that you may not really need. Many of the salespeople do however have useful knowledge to offer. Try a few overnight trips locally to get in shape.

Hiking doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. It's as close as the city limits, or as far away as the mountains of Tibet. Wherever you go, it's a great opportunity to escape the city for a day or a month, exercise your muscles and clear your mind with the reality of nature.

Probably the most famous wilderness trail in Michigan is along the coast of Isle Royale, the state's only national park located in Lake Superior. Accessible only by boat, reservations are a must for summer hiking on the island.