Great Lakes - Michigan Night Temp Opinions

Hi--

I am going to tour around Michigan for about 10 days beginning next week. I will be in the upper half of the lower peninsula and on the east side of the upper. I am trying to decide if I can get away with my silk liner, only, or if I should bring my sleeping bag. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

I assume you've been checking the long range forcast temps/lows? Unless there is a cold front coming through I'd not be concerned about the bag but just in case....and this is just me (backpacker) I'd bring a set of sweats.

Hope you have a great trip!

Thanks, OldsCOOL. I have checked the average temps, which is why I am on the fence. It may come down to the weight of the sleeping bag compared to the weight of my silk bag and a warm set of clothes.

Just out of curiosity, where in Northern Michigan are you?

Thanks, OldsCOOL. I have checked the average temps, which is why I am on the fence. It may come down to the weight of the sleeping bag compared to the weight of my silk bag and a warm set of clothes.

Just out of curiosity, where in Northern Michigan are you?

I live in Boyne City, just south of Petoskey on Lake Charlevoix.....it's the biking mecca of the north area :mrgreen:

And you are from North Carolina? Have you been to this area?

Not on bicycle, but I toured via motorcycle through that area two years ago in July. Woke up in the tent one morning and I'm not sure what the temp was, but it was cold. I'm glad I was in a sleeping bag. Didn't want to get out.

On a side note, on the south side of the upper peninsula you'll see roadside stands advertising "pasties." (Pronounced past-eez, not paste-eez.) I saw people purchasing them by the droves and places even selling frozen cases of them to take home. I decided to try one. It was like a pot pie without the flavor. In my opinion, there wasn't enough ketchup in the world to make that thing taste good. Not sure what the fascination is with them.

I'll probably get flamed by the locals for that last paragraph. :)

Do you have your route mapped out? We're looking to do the upper have of the LP in a couple weeks and I'm trying to find routes people recommend.

Best of luck on your journey. I bet you'll be dealing with comfortable nighttime temps.

I lived in Michigan as a kid, but have not been there in many years and just barely remember a trip to the Porcupine Mountains.

I am doing a giant loop from St. Helen (family has a cabin there) to Traverse City, up the coast to Charlevoix and Petosky, then to Mackinaw. From there, I have not made up my mind, but know I want to go to Whitefish Bay and Tahquamenon Falls. I'm not sure if I will go over toward Sault Ste. Marie -- I kind of want to but others have said that it's pretty touristy and not very interesting. Once I am done in the UP, I will head straight down from Mackinaw back to St. Helen.

I will stay away from the pasties....and in my opinion, nothing is made better with Ketchup!

Pasties....yuck....eh

I assume you've been checking the long range forcast temps/lows? Unless there is a cold front coming through I'd not be concerned about the bag but just in case....and this is just me (backpacker) I'd bring a set of sweats.

Hope you have a great trip!
+1

I'm leaving in a couple hours for the Michigander ride, which is most in SW Michigan this year. I looked at the forecast and saved a bunch of packing space by ditching the bag and just taking a set of sheets to cover the air mattress. Two years ago on this ride we had morning temps in the high 30s a couple of times; this year we'll be lucky if it gets down to 70!

I'm leaving in a couple hours for the Michigander ride, which is most in SW Michigan this year. I looked at the forecast and saved a bunch of packing space by ditching the bag and just taking a set of sheets to cover the air mattress. Two years ago on this ride we had morning temps in the high 30s a couple of times; this year we'll be lucky if it gets down to 70!All this week we'll be hot and humid....with a blazing sun most days. Warm nights ahead....even up here in Boyne City.

In my opinion, there wasn't enough ketchup in the world to make that thing taste good. :)
Ya gotta cut dat chup wit cheap beer eh. Rutabagas Rule!