Our Stories
April Willbur: NCNST Long-Distance Hiker
April “Caboose” Willbur, Michigan
Central patch + Michigan, Mackinac Bridge, and 1000 miles
In January 2020, I was recovering from surgery when a simple Facebook post changed the course of my next five years. Ann Riley-Gawura, a woman I’d never met, shared that she planned to hike the North Country Trail across Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and was looking for women to join her for a “Border to Bridge” hike. My doctor had recommended walking as part of my recovery, so I signed up — but only for local hikes within the three counties of the Chief Noonday Chapter. I had no intention of doing anything wild, like walking all the way to the Mackinac Bridge.
The first few hikes were invigorating: new scenery, new friendships, and a sense of purpose. But after just three outings, the pandemic brought everything to a sudden halt. Fortunately, we left off on a section of trail only four miles from my home, and I decided to keep going solo. Each weekend, I walked out-and-back from that last point. At first, I repeated the same road section, but monotony gave way to creativity. I began leapfrogging parking spots: hiking from one to the next, then retracing my steps, slowly moving north. By the end of 2020, I had reached Lowell — and a quiet realization settled in: I had caught “blue blaze fever,” and maybe hiking to the Bridge wasn’t so crazy after all.
The trail became more than a path beneath my feet. It was a teacher. I learned to read the land and Avenza maps to navigate confidently, began to hone my photography skills, and discovered corners of Michigan I’d never seen before. I thrive on physical challenges, and the thought of doing something few others attempt fueled my resolve.
In 2021, our group of women reunited and continued northward. We hiked through sun and snow, on long muddy day hikes and multi-day backpacking trips, sometimes snowshoeing through quiet winter woods. We celebrated milestones, shared stories, studied animal tracks & scat, and learned about trees and plants. We also pushed through some brutal weather – following a hailstorm in the Jordan River Valley on May 21, 2022, and saw the tail of the tornado lifting that went on to hit Gaylord. In October 2022, I reached the Mackinac Bridge — completing the Lower Peninsula. But none of us were ready to stop.
Together, we decided to continue through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Over the next three years, we forded rivers, admired waterfalls, cursed biting insects, found peace in quiet forests among massive old-growth trees, and walked rugged shorelines. We frequently exclaimed, “You can’t see that sitting on the couch!” On September 4, 2025, I completed the last miles to the Wisconsin border.
One section stands out as especially meaningful: the Mackinac Bridge. It’s only open to pedestrians on Labor Day, and it was the only part of the trail my husband joined me for. Crossing that iconic span together, with the wind whipping off the Great Lakes, felt like a celebration of everything the journey had given me — strength, resilience, and a deeper connection to my home state.
What began as a few gentle recovery walks became a 1,200-mile+ odyssey across Michigan. I didn’t set out to hike the entire North Country Trail in the state. But step by step, week by week, the trail changed me. What began as a recovery became a story of perseverance, camaraderie, and personal growth. Along the way, I found strength I didn’t know I had, and a community that lifted me higher. If you’re seeking adventure or healing, let the North Country Trail lead you—step by step, mile by mile.
Learn more about this volunteer-led long-distance hiker recognition program at explorenct.info/NoCoLo/index.htm.
