Our Stories

Merri Carol Wozniak: NCNST Long Distance Hiker

Merri Carol Wozniak

Previously completed Wisconsin, Mackinac Bridge, and 1000 Miles; now adds Michigan

It all began, my journey hiking the NCT, when I met the NCTA Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter at Tahqua Trail for their annual hike on January 1, 2016. I was in the best place to learn about hiking – Michigan’s UP – and I was hooked. It took me from that January day until my birthday in October to finish my first Hike 100 Challenge.

In 2017, I decided to hike all of my Chapter’s 138 miles of trail, from the south end of the Mackinac Bridge to the mouth of the Two Hearted River on Lake Superior. My Chapter even rallied to help me by scheduling monthly hikes to cover the sections I had not traveled.

I attended my first NCTA Celebration in Marquette, expanding my territory as well as meeting new friends. Linda McReynolds from Wisconsin and I decided to meet and hike sections near Marquette, home of the first chartered Chapter of the NCTA.

Not thinking about it, I began to have gaps on my maps. That became to goal: filling in the gaps.

When I retired in 2018, my sister Jill asked me what I wanted to do to celebrate. My answer, without any hesitation, was to go hiking on the NCT. We started at the Ohio/Michigan border. Our average was 10 miles a day. My sister moved to San Diego in November. Who was going to hike with me now?

I was introduced to Avenza maps. I met many new trail friends who wanted to hike the same places I needed. I learned how to car camp. I almost stepped on a snake.
What great memories this mother has stored in her heart of hiking the Trap Hills with my two oldest sons, Kyle and Kevin, in 2019. I had heard that the hills were vertical, but my word! It took me an hour to climb each hill.

The Lower Peninsula was finished on my birthday when the Harbor Springs Chapter hosted a pop-up hike to fill in my final gap. As we went out to lunch to celebrate, a gentleman noticed our NCT logos. He ended up paying for our lunch, and the restaurant gave me a free dessert for my birthday.

Tammy Krembs called me in the fall of 2021 and asked if I wanted to help her fill in some gaps in the Western UP. They turned out to be exactly what I needed as well. When there were only 35 miles to go – I was so close I could taste it! The first week in November, I completed sections near Rock River Falls, Au Train Forest, and the Valley Spur area to Munising Falls. Lorana Jinkerson took me out to lunch that day. It was a wonderful way to celebrate hiking the Mitten State.

There were many along my path who helped me accomplish this. First and foremost, I must give thanks and praise to Abba God for inspiring me to have this big dream. Right after I received the thought, the desire, the dream, I gave my hiking to Abba God and prayed that if this is your will, Lord, open and close doors. “If you make a way, I will go.” And He did.

And of course, the Hiawatha Shore-to-Shore Chapter. They are a family of trail angels to me, to be certain. They exhibit patience, kindness, and encouragement, teaching me all kinds of skills for hiking and maintaining the trail. Thank you, each and every one of you.

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