Maple Hill

We slept in Monday morning, enjoying the quiet of St. Ignace in the off-season.  There is always something alluring and peaceful about being in a tourist town when the tourists are all gone.  The waterfront seemed quieter than usual and the water shimmered in the morning light.  We paid a visit to Java Joe's for some Nutella Crepes and a few leisurely cups of coffee. 

After our late breakfast we headed north on I-75 for the final hike on our trip.  Near the town of Moran there is a dolomite reef set in a maple forest that is called Maple Hill.  I have been meaning to check this strange geological formation out for a while, but by the time we reach St. Ignace we are usually returning from the far north woods and eager for the comforts of civilization.  Monday seemed like the perfect day. 

The drive out of Moran followed a wide, dusty dirt road for about 9 miles.  By the time we reached the trailhead it was hard to imagine anyone had ever been here before us.  The air was a solid twenty degrees warmer inland than it was near the water.  Loading up my daypack on the side of a hot, dusty road in the mid-day heat really made it feel like summer.  A yellow-rumped warbler hopped from branch to branch of a nearby tree while we put on sunscreen and prepared for our hike. 

The trail from the forest road to Maple Hill follows a stretch of the North Country Trail.  The NCT is a nationally-recognized scenic trail, like the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail and Continental Divide Trail, among others.  However, the NCT is a more recent idea, and as such it is still under development.  It runs from Lake Champlain in eastern New York, through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota.  Many stretches of it still require road walking, and only a few hardy souls have undertaken a thru-hike on this trail. 

The word "trail" was really an exaggeration for this section.  The only evidence of a route through the forest were the occasional blue blazes painted onto the maple trees.  The blazes were frequent enough that as long as we were vigilant in looking for the next blaze before proceeding, we weren't really in any danger of getting lost.  The surface of the trail, however, was the forest floor, with no visible path.  Trillium covered the forest in all directions, although not in bloom yet.  In another week this looked to be a fabulous wildflower hike!  The forest was completely deciduous.  Most of the trees had a colorful splash of buds growing, but no leaves yet.  This created an open, airy feeling, and made the sun feel as it if was beating down directly on us. Occasionally, the forest floor would be flooded, making it necessary to pick our way over downed trees and other obstacles to stay dry. 

The trail crossed a few forest roads as it ambled north-east.  We heard the load hammering of a pileated woodpecker several times during our hike.  A little over four miles into our hike the trail climbed gradually, reaching the escarpment of Maple Hill.  This formation was more impressive in person that pictures can convey.  It ran for about a half-mile, climbing 15-20 feet over the trail.  The air up against the rock formation was noticeably cooler.  This dolomite reef is part of the Niagara Escarpment, a formation that runs from Niagara Falls in the East, all the way to the edge of the plains in the West.  This section really was reminiscent of the parts of the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore that move inland, away from the water.  Similar low cliffs set in a deciduous forest predominate that area as well. 

We took a few picture before beginning the return hike.  The dolomite reef was worth the excursion, but the rest of the hike was a bit monotonous.  The scenery seldom changed, and the forest was hot without the shade from leave cover.  We returned to the Jeep a little less than four hours after we had left, not bad for an 8.6 mile hike.  We decided to take a scenic route back to St. Ignace, driving along Brevort Lake and and Lake Michigan along US-2.  The skies were bright blue and the sun hot overhead.  It really felt like summer had arrived. 

After a stop for dinner at the Mackinaw Grille we made the crossing over the bridge.  The sun was still high in the sky to the west, and Lake Michigan shimmered in a golden light, the water calm and inviting.  It is always hard to drive south across the bridge, but at least in the spring we know that we won't have to wait long to return!  For the moment, it was time to head home and finish our summer planning.  The end of the school year is right around the corner, and we have a bunch of plans to finish.     

Driving around the UP day 1

I started today with a jog along the Lake Huron waterfront. Last night's storms had moved on and it was a pleasant morning near the water. There was a thin veil of fog hanging over Mackinaw Island. The water was glassy smooth except for the ripples given off by a couple of loons enjoying the last calm days before the mass of tourists begin arriving for the summer. If my daily run could always be along a scene like this I think I could be a great runner!
After checking out of our hotel we headed to Java Joe's Cafe for breakfast. Joe's is a small joint set in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express. The place is built with a hippie theme complete with Jimmy Buffet concerts playing on a loop on a small tv at the entrance. There is indoor and outdoor seating and many of the tables have a view of the water. Most days Joe himself will wait on you. Today's fare included breakfast burritos and nutella crepes (which I highly recommend). Joe worked the room, giving tourists directions to the best attractions in the area.
After filling up at breakfast we hit the road, heading west on US 2. It turned into a gorgeous day with temps climbing into the 80s as we sped past the north shore of lake Michigan. US 2 heading west out of st ignace is one of the most scenic drives in Michigan. There are numerous spots to pull off and swim, and a mix of sand dunes and thick pine forests line the opposite side of the road.
At Blaney Park we headed north on M77 and made a quick visit to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. Seney is a true gem, one that most people drive past without visiting. When the area was clearcut by logging in the past it created a strange terrain. Wildlife experts flooded the area and built a series of damns, bridges and weirs to create a manageable system of wetlands. The refuge is part of the flyway that many migratory birds use to reach their summer grounds in the artic. In addition to a wide range of birds, Seney is home to moose, bear, wolves and many other mammals. On one visit we saw an otter swimming in one if the pools. The refuge is huge, and most of it is off limits to visitors to ensure successful nesting seasons for birds. There is, however, a 7 mile loop road that allows visitors to drive through part of the refuge. On our drive through this time we were treated to several loons, an osprey and bald eagle battling in mid air and too many swans to count. Seney is always worth the stop.
Tonight we're headed farther west to check out Van Riper State Park. This will be our first visit to this park. We're excited to see what this part of the UP has to offer. That's all for now. Life is good in the UP!

Going up north

Today is a holiday in the Moose household (and probably in the homes of many teachers). Today was the last day of school. Sure, there will be work obligations, but in the next 88 days I will not be responsible for teaching children, will not have to put on a tie, and will be free to pursue my outdoors pursuits wholeheartedly.
We celebrated our liberation by packing the jeep and heading north. This time to Michigan's upper peninsula. We'll stay tonight at the Driftwood Inn and Bar and then head further north and west for some camping and hiking.
Driving north on 127 and I 75 is a part of the Michigan culture. These highways are our escape route from the monotony of civilized life to the town, lakes, rivers and forests that blanket most of our state. The mass of people are trapped in and near the major cities comprising a small land area. The rest of the state is sparsely populated and home to what my wife affectionately refers to as "the pretty."
Close to 7 pm we made the trip across the Mackinac Bridge. Crossing the bridge is another Michigan tradition. I'm always amazed at the number of people that live in Michigan or visit our state that never see the Mackinac Bridge and make the crossing to the the wilds of the UP (upper peninsula). We drove across the bridge as we usually do, mouth agape, speechless, staring at the endless water to the west and the island shrouded in mist to the east. The water on the Lake Michigan side is a brilliant shade of blue. The water to the east an enchanting emerald green. Looking to the west it is possible to imagine the water reaching the sky itself. We couldn't be happier to be back up north.