First woman to hike the entire North Country Trail is doing it again

Joan Young of Scottsville was the first woman to hike every step of the North Country Trail (NCT) and now she’s doing it again. The first time she did it in sections over the better part of two decades. Now, she’s aiming to do it all in a year. Young, 73, started at US-10 and started walking on December 1. If all goes to plan, she’ll head east until she reaches the farthest reaches of the tail in Vermont. Then, she’ll travel to North Dakota where she’ll pick up the trail again heading towards home. Her goal is to finish on December 1, 2022, exactly a year from when she started. At a steady clip of 15 miles per day that gives her some wiggle room for rest days during the next year on the trail. (Neil Blake/MLive.com)

[@katpatterson8827]

What an incredible woman and inspirational story!! Blessed Be!!🍀

[@Feb2love]

Thank you Neil for taking the time to tell the rest of the world about this wonderful woman and the NCT!

[@dyslstudio8889]

Wow!!! Thank you for inspiring me and other woman!!

[@Chops20019]

hope she has a great time, and is safe along the way -

[@leannburger9424]

Joan is such an inspiration to NCT fellow hikers in our area (Mason and Manistee Counties). If anyone can do this...it is most definitely her. Safe travels!

[@dustyc324]

I'm slowly doing the Huron Manistee area and it is a big challenge. This is awesome

[@douglashudson4706]

It's sixth months later, about half of the scheduled time. Wonder how she is doing...

[@myleftthumb2294]

You are certainly an inspiration!! The NCT is definitely on my bucket list, though I am not sure how I feel about hiking along all of the roads. Definitely not one I would want to thru-hike. Definitely want to do the Ohio and Michigan sections since that's where I grew up and I've never been to the UP.

[@jeraldmccarthy785]

That so awesome.

[@OutdoorUp]

Awesome! 💙

[@gabriellemarella9127]

Go girl! 💪🏻🥾🥾

[@diligentsun1154]

A very Resolute Woman.

[@phillipsmom6252]

Wow, you go girl. 👍😀💜

[@elisabethpaymal3349]

You're an inspiration!!🥾🥾❤

[@stickasockinit]

You are an inspiration, Way to go

[@tomfunkestravelogue]

Go Joan!

[@boxchevydame]

Wow this is impressive 👍🏿

[@woodslore4672]

I thought "Magpie" (Hiking America) was the first woman to do the entire NCT???

[@fireupyourheartchildrenofgod]

Wow, Thats amazing!!! Wish i was with you:)

[@amberfrommichigan4444]

Did she complete it?

[@dublbee3080]

Bill!

[@davidguthrie5941]

I'd like to know how many of those miles are just walking down a road.

[@feliciad4493]

Walk it and let me know.

[@EmbraceTheSuck82]

I think it’s roughly 30 percent of the trail

[@davidguthrie5941]

@@feliciad4493 I'm on my way.