Our Stories

Tammy Krembs: NCNST Long Distance Hiker

Tammy Krembs

Central patch + Michigan, Mackinac Bridge, and 1000 Miles

I first heard about the North Country National Scenic Trail when I was planning for a thru-hike on the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in 2008. I first logged miles in 2009 when we last walked the Mackinac Bridge as a family (husband and two boys). The Pictured Rocks trip was delayed until 2012 and that is when Tom Funke was telling us about his trek across the UP as he transported us to Grand Marais. For a few years after that I would plan a family backpacking trip somewhere along the North Country Trail.

The boys grew up and left for college and my husband and I continued to day hike the trail because he could no longer backpack with me. As his health declined, he started walking with a cane, then a walker with wheels, and eventually a motorized wheelchair. I continued to take him to the sections of trail that would accommodate.

The trail became a place of solace for me and I would get away for long weekends with friends. After his death, I started joining in on Chapter hikes more often with the Jordan Valley 45° and Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapters. I suppose this is when I really became focused on finishing the state of Michigan. I think I logged over 400 unique miles in 2018. I attended my first NCTA Celebration in Bellaire, Michigan in 2019. Later that year, I completed hiking the trail in Lower Michigan, finishing at the NCTA headquarters in Lowell. My hiking buddy that day brought a bottle of champagne and we celebrated with the staff.

We all know what happened in 2020, and that is when I rescued my dog, Jack. He has been my hiking companion ever since and we did seven backpacking trips that year. We both suffered injuries in 2022 that set us back from finishing until now.

I have met many wonderful people and had many amazing trail angels assist me. Countless hiking buddies have helped, and I even did two solo backpacking trips before adopting Jack. I have learned that I do not like to solo hike. I like the socialization and camaraderie that hiking provides, even if we don’t talk a whole lot. I do not get a chance to do trail maintenance. Maybe that will change now that I’m not focused on completing the trail in Michigan and getting unique miles. I would like to join in on work weekend camping trips.

Completing other states is not a goal of mine, but I would like to hike a few miles in each one. I have hiked the Oak Openings Metropark area and Wabash Cannonball Trail in Ohio, and I hope to make a trip to Hocking Hills [State Park]. In Minnesota, I have “kicked the Kek” with Tom Funke, and Mike and Keith Otis. The Border Route and Superior Hiking Trail are also on my radar, although I don’t intend to thru-hike them. I think it would be cool to visit the Eastern Terminus in Vermont and the Western one in North Dakota.

Learn more about long distance hiker recognition at explorenct.info/NoCoLo/index.htm.