MARQUETTE — Before he goes out in the “real world” with a job and the responsibility that comes with it, new Northern Michigan University graduate Jacob Golab is setting out on an ambitious hiking experience: traveling the Upper Peninsula segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail.

The U.P. represents only a portion of the entire trail, which is the longest in the National Trails System. The trail stretches 4,800 miles across eight states, from Vermont to North Dakota.

Golab, who graduated with a degree in construction management, started his trip on May 9 by the Copper Peak ski jump near Ironwood, and hopes to complete his trip on June 9 on Drummond Island.

“I figure I wouldn’t have the time to do it after I started working,” Golab said.

Golab spoke with The Mining Journal on Tuesday, which is when he made a stop by Lakenenland Sculpture Park in Chocolay Township.

You don’t travel on the North Country Trail without seeing a few natural settings.

One of the most beautiful so far, he said, were the “crazy views” of the Trap Hills by Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park.

“They make you feel like you’re not in Michigan anymore,” Golab said.

Wildlife-wise, he hasn’t seen any moose or bear, just mostly deer and chipmunks.

“I’d prefer that, honestly,” he said.

Golab said his trip basically has been a solo one, although he sees more people around the tourist-heavy spots such as waterfalls.

He carries most of his food with him, and will pick up more when he travels through towns such as Munising and Grand Marais.

Bathing, though, will have to wait.

“As gross and as sad as it is to stay, I don’t bathe until I get done,” Golab said.

Does a hiker need to be in great physical condition to undertake this part of the North Country National Scenic Trail?

Golab acknowledged that he’s not in the best shape of his life, but estimated his entire trip will entail about 530 miles of travel.

“I’m not a very good runner or endurance athlete, but I’m aiming for about 20 miles a day,” he said.

However, Golab said he wants to be physically fitter.

“On the mental aspects of things, it’s just kind of showing myself I don’t give up, saying I can go out and accomplish something great,” Golab said.

Golab has no inclination of setting a speed record on his trip, but that couldn’t be said for his former NMU roommate, Clay Barker, now a senior studying outdoor recreation, leadership and management. Barker and his hiking partner, Ian Nostrant, set the record — or as its known, the fastest known time — for the U.P. segment of the trail in October with a time of 11 days, 7 hours, 34 minutes and 51 seconds.

Barker and Nostrant started their trip on Oct. 18 and finished on Oct. 29, which Barker said followed a hike of 2,700 miles on the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail in the summer.

They decided to kick off the finale of the hiking season by hiking across the U.P. on the North Country National Scenic Trail, but in the style they like, which Barker called “intense and fast.”

The hikers trekked from the Wisconsin border to the parking lot at the Mackinac Bridge, which Barker said involved hiking 16 to 18 hours a day at an average of 48 miles, with few breaks.

“It was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” Barker said.

Barker hiked with Golab for four days on his current trip, but had to get back to Marquette.

“I just wanted him to kind of get me started, and make sure I didn’t do anything bad or detrimental to myself,” Golab said.

Barker indicated that he might have had some influence on Golab when they were roommates.

“I think I just rubbed off on him because I’ve been backpacking for quite a while,” Barker said. “He got this idea. He’s like, ‘Wow, maybe after college, after I graduate, I’ll walk across the U.P.’ I said, ‘Shoot, dude, you should do that, and I can kind of guide you through the process, tell you what you need to know.'”

Even though the two went their separate ways on the current trip, Barker still is lending aid.

“I’ve been keeping up with him the whole time, helping him where I can,” Barker said.

For example, he’s been caching food for Golab in secret spots in the woods — hanging the food high in a tree so animals can’t get to it before Golab does.

Barker, though, has no immediate goal of undertaking a long journey.

“Just do college things, and see where that gets me,” he said.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.