Trailwork CITO

Dry Hill Trail in Arcadia Dunes: CS Mott Nature Preserve

For beginner hikers, it is recommended to CITO the portion of the trail by the pickup location.

For advanced hikers, this CITO is along a one mile segment of trail that includes a moderate hill climb.

Please, be aware of your surroundings. This is a very popular biking trail.

CITO:
1) For small natural debris, please move about six feet off of the trail. Do not remove from the park.
2) For large natural debris, please do NOT attempt to move. Take coordinates and report to CITO host.
3) For trash, please remove from park, place in bags and give to CITO host for proper disposal.

The Arcadia Dunes: CS Mott Nature Preserve is administered by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy. Permission is given to place and find geocaches along this trail. Please, remember to CITO (cache in, trash out).

HIKE-orama! NOTE: It is recommended that geocachers form teams consisting of a driver, at least one beginner hiker, and at least one (preferably two) advanced hikers.

Example of Itinery and duties of teammembers:

The driver will collect and transport the team to Bluff Farms for the 4:30AM Kick-off event (GCA5B5H). The beginner hiker will cross the street and hike the .25mi Arboretum loop and find at least one cache. The advanced hiker will walk around the barn and hike the .5mi loop and find at least four caches. Around 5AM, new caches will publish in the Onekama area.

The driver will transport the team to the Woods Preserve, just west of Onekama. The beginner hiker will hike the 1.0mi loop in clockwise direction up to their ability and then return to vehicle. The advanced hiker will hike the complete 1.0mi loop in clockwise direction. Both hikers should find at least seven caches total. Around 8AM, the CITO trail caches in Arcadia Dunes will publish.

The driver will transport the team to the CITO event (GCA7YFN). At 8AM, the driver will drop off the advanced hiker for a 1.0mi hill climb CITO and find at least eight caches. Then, the driver will transport the beginner hiker to the pick up location, where the beginner hiker will do a .25mi round trip along the west spur of the trail and find at least two caches. The driver can CITO the drop off location until all hikers return. Around 11AM, new caches will publish along the Manistee river.

Meanwhile, the driver can opt to drive the team to Buckley, MI for an additional, non-related Flashmob event (GCA8CVE). This event is about thirty miles away; however, it is not necessarily out of the way. There should be plenty of time to enjoy the entire event, since the next trail system is just south of there, a mile off of 37.

The driver will transport the team to the Manistee River trail. Advanced hikers will hike the 4.0mi trail to Red Bridge. Around 2pm, caches will publish in Kaleva/Chief Lake. The driver will proceed with the beginner hiker to the Chief Lake-Kaleva trail. This trail is the opportunity for the driver to find caches for the team and/or the beginner hiker could be the jumper as these will most likely be PNGs. After caching, the driver and beginner hiker will return to Red Bridge and pick up the advanced hiker. Around 5pm, caches will publish along the North Country Trail.

Meanwhile, the driver can opt to drive the team to Irons, MI for an additional, non-related Meet & Greet event (GCA7E8F). This event is about thirty miles away; however, it is not necessarily out of the way. There should be plenty of time to enjoy the entire event, since the next trail system is just three townships away.

The driver will transport the team to the North Country trail. At Pine Creek road, the beginner hiker will start a 2.0mi hike to the Udell Trailhead and find at least four new caches. The driver will transport the advanced hiker to the Udell trailhead, where they will begin a 7.0mi hike and find at least twenty new caches. The driver will wait for the beginner hiker at the Udell Trailhead and then transport them both to the south end of the NCT to pick up the advanced hiker. At 6pm, the final caches will publish at Big M.

The driver will transport the team to Big M for the final hike and new cache finds. This is the steepest 1.0mi hike and is why it is recommended to have two advanced hikers so that the 7.0mi NCT hiker can rest. 

The driver then transports the team to the 9:15pm Finish line event (GCA5B7H).

Total hiking mileage:
    Beginner = 3.5 miles, mostly flat and level with some slight inclines.
    Advanced = 14.0 miles, mostly hilly terrain changes with some steep climbs.

New caches: 80+
Other caches along the trails: 20+

Events: up to 5+

Driving mileage: up to 150 miles.

The next day in Manistee: 
Sunday noon Magic Maker event (GCA843E) 
make 2 cache containers and get a souvenir!