New Years Cabin Trip '26

Ring in the new year in Northern Michigan on a 2 day hiking or cross country skiing adventure at a cabin on Higgins Lake in Roscommon, MI! This is our 8th year at the cabin, and we always have a blast with new and familiar outdoorsy friends! The total cost is $38 per person for the 2 nights, with space for 34 people.
We'll meet Tuesday, December 30th any time after 3 pm at the cabin. The cabin has a full kitchen (stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishes/silverware, coffee maker). Feel free to do your own hikes each day, I also put together an optional itinerary. We'll have a huge party on New Years Eve (Bring your favorite mask or costume!), a variety of games, a DJ, a large projector screen with the New Years ball drop, night hikes, and time by the fireplace with friends. This is a fun event for newbies to the group and familiar faces. There are many hiking, cross country skiing, downhill skiing, and tubing options within 15-30 mins including Hartwick Pines, the Mason Tract Pathway, the cross country skiing headquarters in Roscommon, Hanson Hills in Grayling, Forbush Corner in Frederick, Wakely Lake foot travel area, and the Marl Lake trail.
Day by Day Itinerary: (Optional)

Tuesday December 30th- 2 pm hike at the Wakely Lake trail, approx. 5.5 miles-optional, head to the cabin any time after 3 pm.
Wednesday December 31th- 9:30 am- Forbush Corner in Frederick- rent cross country skiis (or bring your own). If not enough snow we'll hike the Mason Tract, 11.5 miles. We'll then return to the cabin for our potluck, set up New Years decorations (including a picture room), enjoy a masquerade ball, and ring in the new year!
Thursday January 1st- noon- Hike the Old Growth Forest trail, and Au Sable River trail at Hartwick Pines, approx. 5 miles, then head out.
Items to bring: A board or card game, a potluck item and snacks. (Potluck item should be a min of $25, in order for everyone to chip in evenly.) Popular games include Cards Against Humanity, giant Jenga game, regular cards, Twister, Settlers of Catan. We'll have a google sheet for the games/potluck items to coordinate. Other items to bring: A blanket or a sleeping bag, a pillow and twin sheets. There are a few rooms separated with bunks in each room, expect late nights, (1-2 am for some people to be up), especially on New Year’s Eve. Camping outside is also an option for a few people.

Group items to bring: Paper plates, garbage bags, napkins, plastic cups and plastic silverware. Included in the sign up fee: Champagne for midnight on new years eve, new years horns, beads and hats. There's a large room with plenty of tables and chairs to ring in New Years, 5 bathrooms, and another large room with a fireplace and couches. This is on a 40 acre Higgins Lake property, featuring night hikes down to the lake and surrounding area.
Please Paypal or Venmo $38 to reserve your spot on the trip. (Paypal is cgray081@yahoo.com, Venmo is @Chris-Gray-177- please confirm there is space available before sending payment. The price will be slightly higher if we don't fill the place, but we usually do! I'll refund full payment if you can't make it and I can find a replacement at least 10 days before the trip date. No refunds within 10 days of the trip. (Dec 20 is the last day for a full refund if a replacement can be found.) I'm looking forward to a great holiday and seeing you all there!