Hiking the NCT in Clarion and Venango counties in Pennsylvania is a fun and exciting adventure. As a child I grew up playing in the woods and now through NCT hikes, I still can explore my playground from years ago. I never realized the work that is done by many to keep the trails blazed. The forests around us are so beautiful and hiking in them reminds us just how precious they truly are. The photos attached are near the Clarion River close to Gravel Lick Road, Clarion County, PA.

A summer project of hiking the NCT from the East boundary of the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota, heading West to Itasca State Park, and the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River started with spring (in May) and finished with fall (in early November). The NCT was in excellent condition and ran through an outstandingly beautiful section of northern Minnesota.

Kodak Ektar 100 shot on Canon AE-1

via Instagram ift.tt/2tA1hUW

The late summer 2015 a girlfriend and I discovered the NCT in Calhoun county. At that point we decided to walk the entire trail that goes through Calhoun County by the end of the year. We made it!! On New Years Eve we walked the last of the trail from the Hillsdale County line back up to Homer. In January when my girlfriend said that she signed us up to complete 100 miles of the NCT in 2016. We did it! Although it wasn't what we had planned to do in the beginning, we ended up walking the same stretches of the trail in Calhoun County up until October. We walked an average of 12 miles a week for at least 20 weeks for a total of at 240 miles. We did this in the rain, the snow, in heat and in the most beautiful weather we could have asked for. The trail we discovered was and will continue to be one of the best kept secret around Battle Creek. From the dew laced spider webs to the beautiful flowers to the wildlife we spotted, we will never forget our time on the trail together.

Initially began my quest with all good intent of completing the 100 mile challenge by late April. A broken ankle and slow recovery made my goal harder to reach. I managed to complete the task while wearing an orthopedic boot. I'm also working on completing the Buckeye trail...for the second time.

Watson Falls- 293 feet of falling water in Southern Oregon

The late summer 2015 a girlfriend and I discovered the NCT in Calhoun county. At that point we decided to walk the entire trail that goes through Calhoun County by the end of the year. We made it!! On New Years Eve we walked the last of the trail from the Hillsdale County line back up to Homer. In January when my girlfriend said that she signed us up to complete 100 miles of the NCT in 2016. We did it! Although it wasn't what we had planned to do in the beginning, we ended up walking the same stretches of the trail in Calhoun County up until October. We walked an average of 12 miles a week for at least 20 weeks for a total of at 240 miles. We did this in the rain, the snow, in heat and in the most beautiful weather we could have asked for. The trail we discovered was and will continue to be one of the best kept secret around Battle Creek. From the dew laced spider webs to the beautiful flowers to the wildlife we spotted, we will never forget our time on the trail together.

by dangerdoe ift.tt/1vT7AcJ

I started hiking my 100 miles on Memorial Day weekend after making the pledge just after New Year’s. I grabbed family and friends to hike with me every other weekend for 5 months. My sister hiked almost half of the miles on various trails in MI from Lowell, Newaygo, Petoskey, and also Cuyahoga Valley National Park in OH! My daughter attends college in Marquette so we put in many UP miles when I visited her, in addition to a few hikes with my 78 year old mother! Last but not least, I hiked 5 miles of the NCT on the mighty Mac Bridge on Labor Day along with our governor and 45,000 other walkers...it was amazing! I thoroughly enjoyed this challenge rain and shine, sleet and wind...it was a stupendous year on the trail and I don't know what I'll do to top that next year! Thanks for the encouragement!

My husband and I hiked together. Great experience and we discovered some new areas to hike in Marquette county. - Cindy

Found new places to hike near Marquette, MI.Had great times with my wife. - Paul

The United Nations Headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. New York City! We've seen foreign diplomats.

The NYPD, Secret Service and FBI have enhanced security measures in place for the 73rd session of the United Nations.

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