Summer?
Seriously. Of course work had something to do with it, but it’s the opening day of bird season already!
Since I’m short on time sitting in a hotel room in the Florida Keys and avoiding much more important web related activities; here is a short photo summary of the 3.5 weeks I had of a U.P. summer. Short as it was, I enjoyed every last breath of fresh air and each opportunity to sleep in a tent, play my guitar and spend priceless time with friends.
Returning back to the U.P. in August, I was hard pressed to think I could swing in UPO2011, let alone find time to camp with friends. I got lucky and was able to stay home for a couple extra weeks. Didn’t waste a tick of time either- getting outside and on the water, fishing on the mind and good weather to boot.
Dana Lake Morning
We spent a good weekend at one of my favorite spots, and the weather couldn’t have been better. Catching craw-dads (err.. crayfish…) for the sole purpose of frightening 3 little girls was the call of the day. They weren’t, however, too darn scared. Mornings here must be what perfect was planned after. Fog rolling around, up and across the water, sunshine and it’s warm early. TJ had a bright idea to treat us to a night cap with some Jim in it. Still, without fail and striking a new term to define being a badass (I’ll explain that some other time), George visited my screen door too damned early, eager to fish. George was having a moment, and in short order was making waves.. or was he??
George debating whether to fish or return to the tent!
Of course what sharing of photos would be complete without a sunset? While trying not to cause a ruckus during one of Alyssa Summers’ Yoga classes (hey, I was there to take pics), I snagged this shot looking west just as the class was ending.
Sunset during a Munising Yoga Session
I think the month I was home set the record for ‘random invites’. TJ was called up for a maintenance trip out to the North Light on Grand Island, and while there I didn’t mind taking photos of the 1974 FJ40 they use. Bought new in Marquette (in 1974 for anyone who missed the obvious), the 40K miles on the rig are 99% island made. The story of the family and their time on the island isn’t even blog material, it’s full-on book material. Maybe one day I’ll get to talk with them more. I was a bit overwhelmed by the background and history, and was only there for 2 hours.
Grand Island North Light FJ40
Adding to random invites, my crazy ass cousin invited me along to fish for salmon that were (oh, how did he put it).. “leaping from the lake, eating everything in sight, practically jumping in boats!!!”… Ok, not quite the quote, but that’s how he sold me on the trip. Had nothing to do with the idea of an epic sunrise, flat Lake Michigan waters and being on a boat with good friends 😉 I’ll admit to having the closest fish pole next to me receive the only bite of the day, but it was too damn early to catch fish and it simply got away. (end of story, Brad). The sunrise and the lighthouse made for the perfect summer morning photo (in my opinion, or course)
Manistique Lighthouse @ Sunrise
I’m tellin’ ya.. there’s something about watching the sun come up and watching the sun set in the same day that invites optimism into your day and allows it to run on 93 octane. (even if you’re a mouth-breather). I’m not a morning guy but each and every time I am up early I enjoy the hell out of it. Reckon I’ll do that a bit more & more.
High Rock Bay Sunrise during UPO2011
The UPO2011 trip was fantastic (oh come on, you know you liked it too…) and went by way too fast. I know we have some changes coming down the line, red tape has found us and our resolve will likely need some support for 2012. I hope the good times of the last 4 years can continue to be shared with old and new friends. I met some new friends this year, talented friends, and am looking forward to.. well, whatever we end up doing together. Time will tell.
Joe in the CJ on Gay Beach during UPO2011
Often, one image will remind me of so many things. This is that image. My good friend Steve and his son Kevin were gracious enough to invite me to tag along with life-long friends for a pontoon waddle along the PRNL. This picture captured that day for me, and makes me appreciate meeting a mentor and photographic optimist, the type of friend that you don’t get to meet but few in a lifetime.
A Cliff & A Cove
I can’t think of any other way to put it other than the best time I’ve had on Lake Superior since the days fishing with my Grandfather. Making memories and bringing good ones back… something about that that words can’t cover.
Doesn’t seem like much of a summer to look at but a half a dozen images. I tell you what, it was good. I appreciate my friends. There was thought about including many of the good times with friends in this blog, but I’m not going to do that. We had a lot of good fun, and you know who you are. I think of the time spent on Facebook or idle on my butt and imagine that even more good fun could be had if I got back to the basics. There’s a plan.
Not even 4 weeks of summer… but it was freaking awesome. I gotta get back to work.
Take a picture,
Tom
Pure Michigan, Pure Adventure: Grand Island
A few weeks ago I was contacted by Northern Initiatives to help with a Pure Michigan visit. Travel writers from across the U.S. were coming to the Upper Peninsula to experience winter. Real winter.
The interest and their requested destination peaked my interest immediately. They wanted to visit Grand Island.
If you’ve been to or through Munising in the summer months you’ve likely looked out over Grand Island possibly unaware that a 13,000 acre adventure playground is at your fingertips.
Winter presents a handful of challenges. Challenge #1: Let’s make sure that ice is stable, eh!?! Challenge #2: Let’s not run into issues on our sleds out on Grand Island. Challenge #3: Let’s not run into issues on our sleds trying to figure out if the ice is stable… eh!?!?
You get the idea.
Two weeks prior to their visit I shot over to the Island with Kristian, Co-Founder of U.P. Overland. We made a counter-clockwise loop of the island, scouting the best ice and snow drift formations for the Travel Writers to see. The Grand Island cliffs offer ridiculous Ice Curtain experiences. 100+ feet of ice, often more with shelf ice. The Michigan Ice Fest was in town the first weekend of February and I was happy that some of the more adventurous climbers were able to bury their axes in Grand Island ice.
The island was phenomenal on our first scouting run. Kristian, whether he’ll admit it or not, loves to snowmobile.
Kristian at Trout Bay
Last week, my brother came into town and I twisted his arm convincing him to play a support role for me to scout the island again. Running the outer rim of the island is actually a pretty quick task, I can knock it out in about an hour. My mileage the first scout was right at 26 miles, but that including some dinking around. When we set out last week my goal was to survey the drifts along the West Rim Trail, as well as figure out if we could get close to the shelf ice in Trout Bay.
The crossing from Grand Island Landing has been perfect for a few weeks. The trails were lightly traveled and powder filled two tracks from long forgotten logging jobs are all over the island. We made quick work of getting to the West Rim of Trout Bay.
Joe looking out over Trout Bay
I knew if we had a great day of weather, the Pure Michigan guys would love the overlook over Trout Bay. Leaving it up to Mother Nature, we shot north, toward the North Light.
The North Light on Grand Island is an interesting conundrum. It’s posted private. I respect the property, but it’s ridiculously awesome and impossible to avoid. To that end, I can only hope that the owner understands this. Truthfully, I check the North Light each time to see if it’s been messed with. I wouldn’t hesitate to report anything fishy to the USFS. Unfortunately, year after year, more people head out to the North Light on their sleds. I’m concerned that eventually access will be physically blocked.
The North Shore is rugged. Battered, sand blown drifts, bare ground shy of snow due to unrelenting wind. The landscape never fails to remind me that I don’t ever want to be out there unprepared.
A battered North Shore cove
At the furthest Northern shoreline, ice curtains often go the season untouched. I can imagine that many an ice climber would love the opportunity to rope in and climb back up this ice. I’d shuttle service out, just for the chance to photograph the fun.
Ice Climbing Dreams
From the North Shore, we make our way to the West Rim Trail. The North and West shore trails are awesome fun on sleds. The winds delivers impressive snow drifts, not to be taken lightly considering the proximity to an average 200 foot drop to Lake Superior!
West Rim View West
There are no words to describe the West Rim Trail. You just have to get out there and see it for yourself.
Joe enjoying the view
The trip winds down the further south on the West Rim Trail you go. There are so many other areas of Grand Island to explore it is impossible to mention everything in this blog post. Echo Lake, in the center of Grand Island, is missing from many early maps of the island. Echo Lake offers some of the most remote and amazing fishing in the U.P. Touted as the ‘largest beaver created lake’, it is a must see.
Echo Lake iPhone Pano February 2011
Let’s not forget about the Pure Michigan guys. Dave Lorenz and Steve Cook met up with Kevin Cotey and myself at the Grand Island Landing at 9am on the 10th of February. Bill Ramsey, owner of Munising Snowmobile Rentals, had donated two sleds for the day for Dave and Steve to use. Kevin and I used our own personal sleds.
Steve hadn’t snowmobiled much. I offered simple advice; the sleds are engineered for this terrain, you’re just there for throttle control.
The Pure Michigan tour was awesome. We had a cold morning, but amazing weather, clear skies, bright sun and smooth trails. We stopped at Mather Beach to let Dave and Steve truly experience the rugged winter shoreline of Grand Island.
Pure Michigan on Mather Beach
At Trout Bay, we stopped to enjoy the silence, the sun rising and the glass flat waters of Lake Superior. Typically, the bay freezes thick enough for a couple weeks worth of ice fishing. That isn’t likely this year.
Trout Bay on Grand Island
I really enjoyed meeting Dave and Steve and showing them Grand Island by snowmobile. After our ride we met some of the other travel writers at the Falling Rock Cafe and Bookstore, where a great lunch was sponsored by the owners Jeff and Nancy Dwyer. We had good discussion with Dick Anderson of the USFS and Gregg Bruff of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
The feedback from the Pure Michigan experience in the U.P. was remarkable and we feel lucky to have been a part of it.
We’ll be sure to share links to articles and blogs as they become available.
Be sure to check out Interactive Discussion Forums to learn more about other adventure opportunities in the U.P.
You can learn more about Pure Michigan on the Pure Michigan Website, and Pure Michigan Blog.
If you live here, you’re lucky. Now Get Out!!
Upper Peninsula Overland 