I had an unforgettable day summiting Hogback Mountain with my son Oliver. He is growing up fast, and it was special for us to do something together in the rugged Huron Mountains of Marquette County overlooking Lake Superior. The Huron Mountains are old; the granite and metamorphic gneisses and schists are part of the Canadian Shield and are an estimated 3.5 billion years old in places. They have resisted erosion, including the glaciers. The pristine old-growth boreal forest of hemlock, yellow birch, sugar maple, and basswood are so cool and peaceful to walk through on a hot summer day.
We took about 3 and 1/2 to 4 hours round-trip hiking to the 1,220 feet / 375 meters summit. Thanks to the private Huron Mountain Club, the area was preserved and shielded from the widespread logging early in the 20th century. Combined with the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness further west, the area could easily be a National Park.
I had an optometrist appointment in the morning at Shopko Optical. I got a stronger prescription as my vision is deteriorating. The doctor said this is normal and I should plateau over the next couple of years. It had been three years since my last appointment.
We drove back in the afternoon and watched the end of the England versus Norway game. It was exciting but players flopping to get a foul or penalty drives me crazy! Can’t the referee see these guys are falling on purpose? I also dislike the offsides rule. I would set the rule based on the feet, not the entire body. Now, a finger, hand, shoulder, etc., nullifies an exciting play.
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