Midwest Equinox Encampment, Fall 2020

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Midwest Equinox Encampment, Fall 2020, September 19 - 22, 2020
Escanaba River State Forest Boondocking, Michigan
Near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

On the weekend of September 19 - 22, 2020, there will be a non-organized non-event at the Escanaba River State Forest between Munising and Grand Marais, Michigan.

This is a non-organized non-event. There is no leader. Participants are asked to take action to engage and meet other campers by means of a secret password exchange that only participants know.  The secret password question is "Have you seen Bob?"  The secret password answer is "Not Yet!" Of course, if he shows up, just point at his rig.

Now that you know the secret password exchange, you are a valued member of the inner circle of Midwest nomads and CRVL forum members. To participate, join us at Escanaba River State Forest Boondocking on the weekend of September 19 to 22, 2020.

This site is a large gravel parking lot in a remote area. It is in a Michigan State Forest, which permits dispersed camping. The road in from Munising and Grand Marais is a paved road. The location is near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the Grand Sable Dunes. These are national parks and may require fees to enter.

Please come prepared to Leave No Trace, Pack It In, Pack It Out and Leave It Cleaner Than You Found It.  There are no toilets or trash containers in camp, so be prepared to primitive camp with no services, and take your trash with you. It is not recommended to build fires on the gravel parking lot. Charcoal grills and raised steel fire pits may be OK.  There may be areas adjacent to the parking lot which may be used for ground firepits.

There is a no fee at this site. There is a 14 day limit. No reservations are necessary for the dispersed sites.

In this area, average temperatures in March are a high of 66F and a low of 47F. Let's hope for warm weather, but be prepared for chilly nights!

Campground Location and Reviews:
https://freecampsites.net/#!85149&query=sitedetails
https://www.google.com/maps/@46.5270505,-86.2216834,322m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&authuser=0

Route to Nearest Services:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mun...-86.6479361!2d46.4110574!1m0?hl=en&authuser=0

There are no activities planned, but we encourage inviting neighboring campers to potluck dinners. This event relies on YOU to invite other campers to join you by the fire and to share a meal. We highly encourage dutch oven and cast iron cooking experts to attend!

In order to identify yourself as part of the group, consider putting a CRVL sticker on your van: https://teespring.com/stores/cheaprvlivingstore

We look forward to seeing you!
 
Sounds like a cool (pun intended) gathering in an absolutely beautiful area. I won't be able to make it, but have been there before, and loved it. Please make plans of taking a dip in Lake Superior on a sunny day....something you won't soon forget !
 
Please fine tune and repeat this non-event in the fall of 2003, when I will be able to attend, LOL.
 
2003????? do you have a time machine? LOL. yes I do realize that it must be a typo, 2023? highdesertranger
 
Yep, it was a typo...2023 will be the first autumn after I finally retire! If I had a time machine, I would go back to 1803, not 2003.
 
wow 1803, I hope you take your dentist and doctor with you, LOL. just funning with you. highdesertranger
 
Midwest Equinox Encampment, September 19 - 22, 2020
Escanaba River State Forest Boondocking, Michigan
Near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

You are invited to join other members of this forum in an informal camping get together near the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Please see the first post in this thread for location and camp information.

Some of the interesting things to see in the area include 12 Mile Beach, Log Slide Overlook, the small harbor town of Grand Marais, Grand Marais beach, Miner's Castle and Miner's Beach. The city of Munising has most services as well as some tourist attractions. Be sure to try a pasty, which is an Upper Peninsula specialty, a meat and potatoes meal inside of a baked crust.

The campsite is located about 10 miles from 12 Mile Beach, 17 miles to the Log Slide Overlook, 23 miles from Grand Marais, and 26 miles to Munising, Miner's Castle and Miner's Beach. All of these attractions can be reached by paved road, although the entrance drives can be rough gravel roads.

This is a remote area, fill (or dump) your tanks before entering the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area. See the first post in this thread for additional information on the Escanaba River State Forest boondock camp site. Please make sure you are fully stocked up and self-contained, there are no services available at this campsite. It is not recommended to build fires on the gravel parking lot. Charcoal grills and raised steel fire pits may be OK. There may be areas adjacent to the parking lot which may be used for ground firepits.

Link to State of Michigan Motor Vehicle Use Maps: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79119_79148_80679---,00.html

There are no cell phone services at this site.

Please follow the social distancing and mask guidelines which are in effect at the time of the encampment to appropriately prevent spread of Covid-19.

In order to identify yourself as part of the group, consider putting a CRVL sticker on your van: https://teespring.com/stores/cheaprvlivingstore

Please consider making the trek to the UP and joining us!
 
Midwest Equinox Encampment, September 19 - 22, 2020
Escanaba River State Forest Boondocking, Michigan
Near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Just a reminder that on the weekend of September 19 - 22, 2020, there will be a camping get-together at the Escanaba River State Forest near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan.

This is an informal gathering for CheapRVLiving Forum members and their friends. There are no seminars, there is no entertainment, except that which might be provided by fellow campers.  The Midwest Equinox Encampment is a boondock camping spot where interested persons can camp and meet others.  That is the entire purpose of this gathering. It is not an event, it is a group of people camping and having a potluck get together.

If you are interested in getting to know other nomads, please join us at Escanaba River State Forest on the weekend of September 19 - 22. Please make sure you are fully stocked up and self-contained, there are no services available at this campsite. It is not recommended to build fires on the gravel parking lot. Charcoal grills and raised steel fire pits may be OK.  There may be areas adjacent to the parking lot which may be used for ground firepits.

This is a remote area, fill (or dump) your tanks before entering the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore area. See the first post in this thread for additional information on the Escanaba River State Forest boondock camp site.

There are no cell phone services at this site.

Please follow the social distancing and mask guidelines which are in effect at the time of the encampment to appropriately prevent spread of Covid-19.

The fall colors should be peaking during or shortly after the get-together, so it should be a visual experience.

In order to identify yourself as part of the group, consider putting a CRVL sticker on your van: https://teespring.com/stores/cheaprvlivingstore

Leave No Trace. We hope to see you on the weekend of September 19 - 22, 2020.
 
Sounds like fun


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The 2020 Midwest Equinox Encampment had lots of sunshine, beautiful weather, very few  bugs, and was a huge success.  However it was somewhat lonely since there was only one participant.

The snowmobile parking lot had room for at least 50 vans/campers with room to spare.  We spent the evenings there, and during the day visited Miner’s Castle, 12 Mile Beach and the Log Slide Overlook among other places.

This time of year (around September 17) is possibly the best time to visit the Upper Peninsula due to good weather and not many insects.  We spent four nights at the Encampment site and then moved on to casino camping in Munising/Christmas.  The regular campgrounds were packed and it would have been unlikely to get a campsite without a reservation.  It was surprising how busy the tourist attraction areas were.

The pictures don't seem to be coming out right, here is another link:
 
I am probably one of the many who would’ve loved to been there. All my money goes in the building the van not gas to take it places. That’s that is soon going to change,thank God. Don’t give up try it again I’m sure I’m not the only one who wanted to be there.
 
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