Plan B: the UP...The Report...

[Haggis]

It was all set. Plans were made. Meet ups with some local friends where arranged. Passports were in hand. We were heading towards Newfoundland, an island I fell in love with and one I wanted to share with my family as they did not get a chance to experience it yet. Then my wife's workplace took back some of her requested vacation days, thus leaving us to little time to merit the long drive north. Not ones to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves, action was called for. We decide to make a trip that's been bubbling in our future travels cauldron for some time. We laid plans to head up to Michigan's UP and see some of those places our ExPo brethen have been taunting us with. With the help (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25389) of some of those fine folks we made ready to see new terriory for us and have a great time in the backwoods of Michigan's northern territory.

We set out early last Friday morning heading our Tundra towards I-80. In tow was our Fleetwood Evolution pop-up trailer. Loaded with gear and supplies we were rearing to go! With good weather and some fine navigating by my wife Michelle we pulled up towards the Mackinaw bridge in under 10 hours. Taking a cue from 86cj, we decide to spend the night at the southern side of the bridge at the Wilderness State Forest campground. We were in no particular hurry and it was getting close to supper time anyways. After getting the trailer set-up and making some potato soup and biscuits for supper we settled down for the night.

The next morning we were rolling across the bridge early intent on making our way to our first stop, Drummond Island.

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We found ourselves rolling down highway 134 taking in the lakeshore sights as we rolled east. We stopped at a little bakery in Cedarville and bought some kick butt pastries and peanutbutter cookies. The folks who ran the shop were really great as we spent some time shooting the breeze with them. Later we pulled off the side of 134 to check out a stretch of dunes and beach. While we we're messing around on the shoreline a group of lifted Jeeps and one Land Cruiser drove by, honking their horns and waving. We later caught up with that group at the gas station in Detour and found out they were from the Great Lakes 4WD Club. My Jeep liscense plate on the front off my Tundra got some laughs as it's not something you see every day. I spent some time BSing with a couple of those folks and we found out they were heading to Drummond also. The driver of the LC, Dave, seemed to check out the Expo from time to time and asked if we had been here before. After we replied it was our first time here, he was kind enough to give us one of his island trail maps. That came in handy for the next couple of days, so if your checking in Dave, thanks man that was sure decent of you! Here's a shot of us stuck in the middle of the Great Lakes crew.

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We loaded up on the ferry where my Toyota was surround by Jeeps. A couple minutes later we were on Drummond Island soil and heading towards the backwoods.

[Haggis]

Here we were on an island with no idea where we were going. Perfect! Just the way we like it. Thanks to Dave and his map we had a good idea of what was private land and what was state forest (and as we had dispersed camping permits in hand) it helped us narrow down an area to search for a campsite in. We decide it would probably be best to find a place to set up camp first before we went explorin'. While the E1 is great for forest roads it's not made for trails. Checking out the map we decide to head north and see what we could find. Heading up Maxton Road we came to the Maxton Plains. It reminded me of New Brunswick with its cedars, hemlocks and white birch trees bordering stone filled meadows. Next it was on to Colton Bay road...

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..where we found a great campsite. Now I've spent a good amount of time in the bush in northern territories so I know what to expect this time of the year, skeeters and flies. And so I try to find a campsite that's more open and has some good wind to help keep the flies down to abit. This site was good.

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About 200 hundred yards off the road with a well built firering, it was sheltered from passing cars by a crescent of cedars and white birches. There,s enough room here for a half a dozen rigs and trailers here, more if it's mostly ground tents. Bear in mind though that the ground is rocky so driving stakes is difficult to say the least. A steady wind blew from the NW and the skeeters were few in number. Camp was set. Fafhrd the Tundra was freed from his burden and ready to go explorin'....

[Northern Explorer]

:lurk:

[OverlandZJ]

:coffee:

This is gonna be gooood...

[Haggis]

With the Tundra freed up we spent the next couple of days putzing around the island. We poked into every corner we could find and down any road that looked interesting. One of the promises I made to Michelle was that we would keep trail riding to a moderate level as we were on our own with no winch and limited cell phone service. Sure I had two straps, a chain and a highlift, but I'd rather spend our vacation having fun then yanking on a highlift handle and listening to my wife scold me.

One of our first runs was up to the Fossil Ledges. Since it sat on the north shore of Drummond, we headed east from our campsite on Colton Bay RD and then turned north on Poe Bay RD. Where Colton was a sandy gravel road with a few whoopdedos and just a couple shallow waterholes, Poe was much more marked with waterholes and deep pockets.

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With each turn the waterholes got abit deeper and deeper until Michelle was getting abit anxious, the kids on the other hand were having a good time. We had to pull off the road once to let some bikers and atvers pass. They were wet and mud splattered but had huge smiles on the faces and passsed us by with freindly waves. At one point we rounded a turn and faced a beaver marsh on the left and a deep waterhole on the road. Towards the marsh there was a berm of black muck and towards the right was a rock ledge. We eased through, the water up close to the rockers. But the bottom was solid and the Tundra push water with no drama to break back on dry dirt once again. Finally we found the sign to the Fossil ledges, pulled the truck off the road and hiked the couple hundered yards to the shoreline.

Here sandstone and limestone ledges ease out into the lake...

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Underfoot fossil remains of aquatic plantlife are everywhere underfoot. We started hiking up the shoreline and with each step found cooler and cooler fossils...

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The water was clear and cold, with a green blue cast to it. You could see a long way into the depths of the lake.

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We spent a good bit of time wandering down the coast, checking out the fossils before heading back to the truck. The rest of the day was spent trooping in the the north part of the island and then back to camp. I grilled up some chicken, rubbed in olive oil and spiced with a rosemary rub, over the coals of our fire while Michelle took slivers of parmesean cheese and made parmesean noodles to accompany the chicken. Bellys happy, we spent the evening tossing Cam's football around, reading and exploring the woods around camp. Other than the riders, we only saw two vehicles all day. Other than an occasionial plane droning on by, it was just woodland noises that we heard. Speaking of noises, as evening set, I was putting a stalk on some deer when I heard something big flying just out of my sight in the woods. It let out a weird whooping cry, and I could tell it was a big bird but had no idea what it was. I didn't find out till the next day that it was a sandhill crane. We spotted one the next day at the Plains and it let the same call out that I had heard the night before. First one I've ever saw.

[upcruiser]

Ah, good stuff! Keep it coming. I'm assuming the guy with the cruiser you met was Timbercruiser.

[Haggis]

We spent two more days on Drummond, mucking about, talking to some of the locals and walking the shoreline. We hit some of the "lighter" trails of the OHV network, trying to aviod those ones where we were told that a fullsize might be in for abit of a squeeze or ones where we might find ourselves in a mud tank trap. We headed up Glen Cove Road the second day, making our way towards Marblehead. The plan was to park the truck and hike the rest of the way in, but half way through the hike the skies turned black and the leaves inverted. A storm system was on it's way in and we didn't want to be caught in it while hiking. So we marched back towards the Tundra, getting there just in time for the skies to open up with a deluge of rain. Hail the size of marbles began pelting the truck and the winds ripped. By the time we got back to camp, it had passed through and the sun was shining again. This is when I realized that deploying the awning on the trailer wasn't such a good idea. A huge swarm of skeeters was holing up under the awning, seeking shelter from the rains, and it sounded like a dozen circular saws cutting hardwood. With a sooty torch and some deet spray we cleared the awning enough so you could get in the trailer and not be stripped of flesh and blood. That night we cooked up some venison burgers and some homemade Mac and Cheese, and spent the night playing games with the kids. Apple to Apples, Uno and Spit if I remember right.

Here's another puddle shot...

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And one of the many deer on the island...

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Critters abound here on Drummond. We saw an untold number of deer, good sized examples to boot. I'd like to see some of the bucks in antler some time. They've got to be bruisers. Also we spotted cranes, grouse, bald eagles (about a dozen or so),snowshow hares and a couple of ospreys. While we saw no bears here, on the old skid road leading away from our camp, a bear had recently walked that road turning over logs and rocks looking for ants. Oh, that reminds me. Red ants are everywhere, and they're mean angry little suckers. Put your tent in the wrong place and you could have an interesting night. Taking the trailer was one of our best decisions. Not only did it give us a refuge from the flying insects, it kept us off the ground away from the ants.

[Haggis]

Our last day on Drummond found us exploring the south eastern end of the island. We drove down several different county roads eventually ending up on West Canoe Lake Rd down at Canoe Bay. There's a fair campsite here next to the bay and the inlet stream. A couple of hundred yards down from the bridge there's an access road with a few more private, though smaller sites. After eating lunch at a beach on Bay Rd we found ourselves on East Canoe Bay Rd. What started out as a typicial dirt road for the area slowly turned into a shallow rock shelf, waterhole truck trail. On one beaver pond we found the remains of an old lease log cabin rotting back into the enviroment...

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While the roads are really well marked we did make a wrong turn and ended up in a logging job landing. Being raised in a lumber and logging family it was cool to see the type of harvesting they were doing and the smell of the harvested cedars was awesome. Michelle said it was the nicest smelling log job she's ever been on.

Back on Canoe Bay Rd the track was getting narrower until we broke into an open plain. Michelle dubbed it the Seregenti for the solitary boulders and trees scattered around it.

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As we were passing through this area, keeping between the orange road markers, we turned a blind corner and found ourselves in a goopy marsh. As it was to late to stop and the truck was in 2WD I gave the Tundra some juice and gunned through deep thick mud. Hoping the LSD in the Toy was a tight one I ripped on through and cleared the marshy section. But up ahead was a two hundred long pit of water with a steep climb out. We got out and checked the pit and there was around three feet of water with a gumbo bottom. The marshy area we blasted through was up to my knees when I went back to check it out. Deciding discretion was the order of the day, with Michelle spotting, I made a 27 point turn and Turned the truck back the way we had come. Then the Tundra was locked into 4 Low. Michelle grabbed the camera and said she was going to video my burying the truck in the marsh so she could blackmail me at a later date. With the kids holding on tight we powered through the marsh and back to more solid ground. If your ever around Michelle's got a great video of the Tundra flinging mud. Just like the old days in the Ram. Those Dean tires churned mud good I tell you, and Fafhrd proved himself that day as a dependable member of our Clan. After that we headed back to camp, cooked some campfire pizzas and made ready to leave in the morning.

The next morning found us on the Ferry and then North bound towards Whitefish Point...

[timbercruiser]

Glad the map helped!
Can't wait to hear the rest of the story

[mtnbike28]

great to hear from you, as expected, looks like a great trip!

[Haggis]

Glad the map helped!
Can't wait to hear the rest of the story

Thanks again Dave! It was nice meeting you and the rest of the crew. We kept bumping into scattered pockets of that bunch all over the island.


great to hear from you, as expected, looks like a great trip!

You'd like it alot Jay. It's perfect territory for the Taj Mahal.

[Haggis]

The day found us rolling back down highway 134. We really enjoyed our time on Drummond and we laying plans for our next move. All of the Clan agreed that today would be a tourist day. It was decide we'd make our way towards Whitefish Point and check out the Shipwreck Museum then we'd move on over to the Tahquamenon Falls. Michelle can't resist a waterfall. The trip up to Whitefish Point was a black top day though we did stop at a few spots along the road from time to time. Here's a shot along one beach where the waves were converging...

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We stopped in the village of Paradise and gassed up the truck before heading up the the Point. Once there we checked out the Museum. While not a large one, the Shipwreck Museum was pretty cool. Well worth the time to check it out. Here's a couple of random shots of the Museum grounds...

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This is the beach at the Museum. As you can see on the horizon there is a land mass over there. Supposedly its some fabled land called "Kanada" or some such place. It is said to be a land of milk and honey where the people are freindly and say "eh" and "hoser" alot, plus they drink a lot of beer. I think it's a wives tale myself, much like Bigfoot.

[Haggis]

A short time later we were down at the Tahquamenon Falls area, walking the boardwalks down towards the falls. There were tons of people here, it felt kind of strange after seeing so few peolpe on the island. Anyway heres a couple shots of the falls.

Lower falls

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Upper falls

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg105/haggis65/100_1508a.jpg

[Haggis]

I know what your thinking..."Man, doesn't this guy ever give it a rest!". But once started you've got to finish so bear with me till we get to the end of this thing.

After the Falls we headed up Rd 500 and we were back on dirt with the woods around us. The road were well graded, covered in a sugary sand of intermittent depth (just a couple inches really) and passed through jackpine barrens and an occassionial marsh. We spotted lots of deer heading north, and had a few grouse run across the road in a game of "chicken". Or "grouse" if you happen to be ..........a grouse.

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Taking Rd 414 of from 500 we worked our way west. Then it was onto 412, then 423 until we found ourselves up at the Two Hearted River Area. It was getting late, around 7:30, when we reached the area so we decide to use the State Forest campground instead of taking the time to find a dispersed sight. The campground is divided into two sections. Area #1 is more open hardwoods next to the river, while Area #2 is nestled back in a hemlock grove. We choose a site in Area #1 next to the river. There was less bugs with the wind off the lake than back in the hemlocks. In both sections there were only three other campers. Two in the hemlocks and one on the other side of the hardwoods from us. Once we got the trailer set up we headed over the swinging bridge to the beach. It was awesome! A mix of sand and smooth rock beach stretch both to the east and the west. The sun was warm, the waves of the lake and the flow of the river mingled in our ears perfectly. Michelle took one look and said, "We're spending all day here tomorrow just doing nothing."

I went back, started a fire and when the coals were ready I fixed a supper of venison steaks and parsley red potatos. After supper we headed down to the beach and watched the sunset.

Here's a couple of pics..,

The Beach towards the east and then the Two Hearted River....

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[pskhaat]

So I've got to know, how is that Evolution (e1|e2)? Worth it? How is it to tow?

[upcruiser]

Ah, the Two Hearted is one of the best canoeing rivers in the UP. The mouth of it is gorgeous and you get the feeling that you really are at an outpost of civlization huh? Great pics!

[Haggis]

We spent that night and the next day loafing about the Two Hearted River shoreline. We hiked a couple of miles both to the east and the west, waded in the cold water and check out cool rocks, sat on the beach and read, skipped rocks (there are some wicked skipping stones here), tossed Cam's football around again, and napped in the trailer when the sun got to hot. Basically we enjoyed just spending time together with nothing to do; it's something we don't get to do enough in our regular lives.

Here's the sunset we enjoyed the first night...

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And a couple of random shots....

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And then it was onward and westward again...

[Haggis]

So I've got to know, how is that Evolution (e1|e2)? Worth it? How is it to tow?

So far we are very happy with our E1. We bought ours used (it's an '05) two years ago. We talked about getting a RTT, but Michelle was dead set against it. She wanted something to escape the weather in if the trip turned bad. A place for all of us to sit, eat, play games comfortably, change clothes, cook and all that. We got a trailer that was basically new for a fourth of the price of a new one. I don't know if I'd buy a new one at retail price, but I'm a frugal son of a gun, so take that as you wish. We've hauled it down may a forest road through whoopdedoos and potholes with no ill affect, but don't take it with us on rougher sections or trails. Basically it's our basecamp while we untether the truck for more serious explorations. The one thing I'd change is to do away with the cargo rack up front. It hauls everything we need inside the trailer for a week long trip with ease and we find ourselves hardly ever using the deck. Without that deck it would shorten up the turn radius abit. It's served us well so far, even though sometimes I feel restrained with it attached to the truck. But that's just a case of Advanced Adventure ADD.

[Haggis]

Ah, the Two Hearted is one of the best canoeing rivers in the UP. The mouth of it is gorgeous and you get the feeling that you really are at an outpost of civlization huh? Great pics!

Well thank you very much for showing us that this place existed! This is one spot we'll be back to again and again. The family loved it there.:elkgrin:

[cajun65]

Great report and pics. We've been going through all the camping gear these past few days, looking at these pics in between to see what we're in for. We'll be up there in about 3 weeks.

[pskhaat]

Very seriously considering an E1. Thank you for your response. It just has to keep a Family of Five better suited. I've also thought about that large storage area up-front and if removed how that would affect tongue:gross weight ratios adversely?

Anyway, back to your trip as I await more :)

[taco2go]

Great trip report, and nice pictures-what a great read!
Weather permitting, my family will be camping near Crisp Point this weekend. Did you happen to see the bird observatory at Whitefish point? Nice little place, and they usually have a couple of staffers counting shore birds.

[Northern Explorer]

Haggis,

Great trip write-up!!!




Great trip report, and nice pictures-what a great read!
Weather permitting, my family will be camping near Crisp Point this weekend. Did you happen to see the bird observatory at Whitefish point? Nice little place, and they usually have a couple of staffers counting shore birds.

We might cross paths:smiley_drive:

[Haggis]

Loaded up and rollin', we pulled out of Two Hearted as the sun was just raising. Fafhrd pulled back down 423, his grill and bumper covered with the grisly remains of the UP's six legged blood ninjas. You guys ever consider investing in some bats...say about 6 million of them or so. How about a $0.01 bounty for each skeeter and fly killed? Anyway...

...we headed west on 412 then took 410 through the Reed and Green area. At Perch Lake we turned north on 407 bound for the lakeshore. Finally the dirt ended as we pulled through Grand Marais. We stopped long enough to get some supplies, then we were trucking on down H58 towards the Grand Sable Dunes Area.

Our first stop was at Sable Falls. Did I mention Michelle really loves waterfalls? A short hike and 165 stair steps later we had a great view of the falls...

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Then we headed down the other trail to the west and visited the Grand Sable Dunes. The sand is like a vast pile of sugar and my backwoods PA legs don't like walking in it. Cam, though, had a blast running up and down the dune trails.

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Here's the Clan...Cam, Michelle, and Allison. A more barbarous, gang of mercenary raiders you'll never find.

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And a shot of the dunes looking west up the coast.

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[timbercruiser]

Now you all know why I live here!!

[Rattler]

Excellent trip report Mark!! I thought that might have been Timbercruiser as soon as I saw the pic. I should have offered to meet you at I-75 and give you some Off when you went by Bay City.

I can't wait to get back up there again in August (if we don't end up on a weekender before that!).

I am going to have to find that old cabin on Drummond next time we go there.

[biglos454]

great report i enjoyed the read:) i have some coworkers that moved to texas from michigan and they always tell me stories of the UP. ive been wanting to make a trip up there and after seeing your pics i just might have to make it sooner than later :victory:

[Haggis]

Great trip report, and nice pictures-what a great read!
Weather permitting, my family will be camping near Crisp Point this weekend. Did you happen to see the bird observatory at Whitefish point? Nice little place, and they usually have a couple of staffers counting shore birds.

We were going to go to the observatory, but two bus loads of serious birders were unloading at the time so we passed it on up. It's on the list for our next time up.


Excellent trip report Mark!! I thought that might have been Timbercruiser as soon as I saw the pic. I should have offered to meet you at I-75 and give you some Off when you went by Bay City.

"Please sir, can you spare some Deet?" The bugs were spotty, some times hardly noticeable and other times annoying. Really though they weren't any worse than any of the northern places we've been. Andirondaks, NW Maine or even our hemlock hollows here with the deer flies and skeeters. And it's no where as bad as Northern Ontario. I think that if you go prepared for bugs, knowing that getting a few bites is just a part of the "adventure", it's no real problem. Of course a headnet, long pants and socks and a light long sleeved shirt or bugshirt helps too.:sombrero:


I am going to have to find that old cabin on Drummond next time we go there.

It's easy to drive by as the woods is trying it's best to reclaim it. But with my Jedi like Log Home Restorer mind powers I felt a disturbance in the force and sensed it's presence. Unfortunately for it, it is well beyond saving and will have to succumb to the will of the universe.

[Haggis]

Soon we were back at the Sable Falls parking lot, marveling at a building that had running water and these things called "tiolets". You tend to appreciate modern conviences a little more after a couple of days in the woods.

Next we drove abit down the road and checked out the Log Slide Viewing Area. Back in the day there was a log flume built to slide the harvested timber down a natural cut in the dunes, logs whizzed on down to end splashing in the lake.

Here's a shot of the the cut were the slide was. This photo does not do justice as to how steep and how long the slide would have been...

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You can't see the undercut even steeper section which makes up 4/5ths of the rest of the slide. The steep part starts where that kid is resting.

Now my boy was all gung ho to run down this dune. After explaining to him that it was far steeper and longer than he was realizing, and flat out telling him it wasn't going to happen, two young bucks came into view coming up the slide. They said they'ed spent the last hour and a half trooping back to the top and they were both whipped. At the first flat spot they plopped their hides down to catch a breath. The sad part is when the mother of the two asked the youngest where his shoes had gone, he realized he had left them at the bottom of the slide. D'ohhh!

This is the best part of The Log Slide Area, the view looking back at the dunes was spectacular...

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I've been alot of places but have never seen a shoreline quite like that.

[Haggis]

From the Log Side Overlook we headed back on H58 and pointed the Tundra towards the Hurricane River area. Michelle was wanting to camp at Twelvemile Beach, but just as 58 went from wide blacktop to more interesting twisting dirt the road was closed ahead for constructuion. So while Hurricane was open, Twelvemile was closed. Seems the powers that be are widening the section of 58 from Hurricane River to Little Beaver Lake. I guess that the mega RVers need smooth surface and easy turns to enjoy the "wilds".

We checked out our maps and Gazetter and decide that we would head down the Rhody Creek Truck Trail and follow it down to Highway 77. At the intersection of Highway 28 we went just a short way west and jumped onto Road 450 and we were back on dirt again. We finally got our bear sighting here on 450. A nice sized boar, around 300 lbs or so, ampled out of the bush right in front of the truck. he was in no particular hurry as he sauntered across the road. Of course none of us thought to grab a camera, expecting someone else to get a shot. So no bear picture here. But he was a pretty bugger. This area of the UP remind us alot of home, the resemblance to the dirt roads around our neck of the woods was surprising...

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Our new plan was to try and find a camp site at Little Beaver Lake campground, so we followed 450 to 454 and then unto H58 once again. The road into Little Beaver is pretty nice but the campground was full and there really wasn't much room in the sites for both truck and trailer. Plus the sites are really close together. So we headed back the way we came and made camp back in the State Forest campground at South Gemini Lake on Twin Lake RD. We picked a spot next to the pond down in the hemlocks. There was nobody here and it looked like it had been unused for some time. Trailer set up we realized that the kids were running low on clothes. We ran into Munising, found a laundramat, hunted down a pizza shop and watch a local girls softball game, chowing down on pizza as our clothes got washed. Then it was back to the campsite where we listened to the bullfrogs and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

[Haggis]

The next day we headed up to Pictured Rocks and spent the day roaming about. First it was Mosquito Beach...

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And then Miners Castle.....for some reason the Miner Castle pics didn't upload from the camera....but Upcruisers posted up some great photos in the UP Overland '09 (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4127438&postcount=124) thread. Just pretend we took them. :peepwall:

Then we decided to hike on back to Chapel Rock and walk some of the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore trail. Of course the main reason was because there was another waterfall back there. I have mentioned that Michelle loves waterfalls didn't I? The trail is really easy as it follows an old logging/mining road. 1.5 miles later we arrived at Chapel falls and it was my personal favorite of the trip.

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Then we slogged on back to the lakeshore another 1.5 miles or so and found ourselves at Chapel Rock...

http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg105/haggis65/100_1595a.jpg

We walked the Lakeshore trail for abit but came to the conclusion that Upcruiser has the right idea. To see the Pictured Rocks the best you need to be on the water. Add that to the list of things to do the next time we come up.

Then we headed back to camp, fixed up some homemade chicken noodle soup and called it a night.

[Haggis]

So the next morning we packed up the trailer and made ready to roll home. The ride back to our wooded glen was uneventful and we made good time.

Our time in the UP was just what this family needed and we really enjoyed the sights, the critters and the people we had met. There so much more to see and spots to visit again I know that this is just the beginning of our time spent wandering around da UP. Heck we never made it to the western sections like the Keweenaw and the Porcupines, areas we want to check out. Plus I think a September trip would be sweet. Sure we didn't get to Newfoundland this year, but the UP has all of the same appeal with a third of the driving distance.

I want to thank all the folks that contributed to helping us plan this trip and to all the fine people we met along the way. Your input added so much to our experiences up here. I hope to repay some of that in the future.






It was nice to get back home though.:elkgrin:

[Rattler]

We ran into Munising, found a laundramat, hunted down a pizza shop and watch a local girls softball game, chowing down on pizza as our clothes got washed. Then it was back to the campsite where we listened to the bullfrogs and spent the rest of the evening relaxing.

Did you go to Main Street Pizza? That place rocks!

Excellent report Haggis. There are a bunch more falls on the western side too! Some good ones just west of the Porkies. The wife and I hit quite a few of them across the UP a couple years back. A couple were dried up in Aug. Just a good excuse for an earlier spring trip there I guess.

[upcruiser]

Mark, I enjoyed reading that full account. Though I think you got off a bit easy with the bugs, the lack of rain lately has made them a bit light for June. haha Late July, August, and September are usually alot nicer though in respects to less bugs. Yeah, they are slowly paving over that whole stretch from Grand Marais to Munising. HUGE bummer in my mind as it felt like an outback adventure crossing that region before they started paving it all. There were long stretches of deep sand, and whoop-dee-doos and obviously alot LESS people. Now it will become a major corridor of traffic for the National Park. Bummer really. South Gemeni Lake is the Campground that we will be using for the UP Overalnd trip. Its a good location to explore from or just chill out on the lake. Looks like you left off at a great place to pick up again on the next trip. From Marquette to the west it is a much different feel due to it being the edge of the Canadian Shield and the wild geology. Its much different then the eastern portion and is cool in its own way. Anyway, glad you got to get up this way, maybe we'll cross paths the next time you come through.

[Haggis]

Did you go to Main Street Pizza? That place roccks!

Yep that was the place. We got a 16" loaded with cheese and meats and one of of the "cheese stixs" pizzas. Both were awesome!


Looks like you left off at a great place to pick up again on the next trip. From Marquette to the west it is a much different feel due to it being the edge of the Canadian Shield and the wild geology. Its much different then the eastern portion and is cool in its own way. Anyway, glad you got to get up this way, maybe we'll cross paths the next time you come through.

Next time we're up that way we'll start where we left off and explore west. Probably won't be 'til next year as the following months are alreay full of trips, but who knows. It'd be great to meet up with you guys sometime, maybe we'll be able to swing the UP Overland '10 next year. Start the plans early though, Michelle's vaction schedule need's to be in by the end of February.

[Co-opski]

Haggis,
Wonderful TR! The beauty in the Great Lakes country is world class. Once again well done report.


Ski

[kcowyo]

And that's how a trip report is done. I give it 5 stars - :clapsmile


Rarely will one read a report that blends quality local information, laugh out loud humor, blatant love of family, a sense of appreciation for the area and an adventurous spirit so seamlessly and effortlessly. A classic all around adventure with family, bugs, mud, waterfalls, an enviable outfit, sunsets and good food... Excellent presentation.


All hail the leader of the Clan - :bowdown:

.

[computeruser]

Great write-up. I'm glad you guys enjoyed the trip. I really think our state is underrated as a destination. Which is good, in a way.

[Co-opski]

Great write-up. I'm glad you guys enjoyed the trip. I really think our state is underrated as a destination. Which is good, in a way.

I'm happy to send a Princess Cruise Ship and the 30+ tour busses your way. :)

[scarysharkface]

Beautiful. When we were there in '04 the bugs were large and plentiful enough to steal our luggage if they wanted. Lucky for us they were only interested in our blood.. :Wow1:

John

[timbercruiser]

That really is a well written story.
It's amazing that as often as I have been in that area, I haven't seen all of the sites you mention.

If you really want a fun adventure up there, do it on a snowmobile!!

[Haggis]

All hail the leader of the Clan - :bowdown:

Michelle appreciates the sentiment. :sombrero:

[Haggis]

I though I'd take just a moment and post a few things we learned on our trip to help other's plan.

*The ferry over to Drummond Island, located in Detour, is very casual. Just line up on the right side of the road and when the ferry's ramp drops and the passenger vehicles unload, head on up and into the ferry. They'll collect the fare while in transit (ours was $25 with truck and 12' trailer). No need to hold onto your reciept as there's no other way off the island, so just pull back onto the ferry when it's time to head back. The schedule is fluid as they come and go as traffic demands. It starts after 6:00am to 10:00pm, though later times can be arranged for a price.

*The trails are really well marked with orange diamonds with the County Road Numbers written within them. Stay between the orange markers and your good to go.

*The local Merchants Association has a good trail map of the island with an accurate representation of what is state lands and what is private. This is the map that Dave (timbercruiser) gave to us. The website for the Drummond Island Tourism Association is http://www.drummondislandchamber.com.

*I'd gas up in Detour before crossing over. I don't recollect any gas stations anywhere on the island, though I might just not have noticed. Surely there's at least one. I drove all over the island and used just a quarter tank.

*Head north were there's lots of inland water and your going to find bugs. If you go just prepare you're mind, and those of your family, to simply accept the fact that you're going to get chewed on. A headnet, light weight long sleeve shirt or bugshirt, long pants and socks will go along ways to making the worst way more bearable. Deet only seems to last until you sweat it off and at times seems to attract them. If I was tenting, I'd take along a easy up bug shelter to cook and hang out in. That's assuming you don't have the Super-Mega Family Tent.

*The State Forest campgrounds are self service and cost $15 a night. Fill out a form, deposit the envelope with your cash and camp away. From what I understand the state sites are self supporting, monetary wise, so be sure to do the honorable thing so these places stay around for all of us to use.

*Supplies are limited to the scattered villages (Paradise,Grand Marias and such) and are often family owned general stores. Selection is usually just the basics. Minising is more of a town and has more in the way of selection.As these folks are on the outskirts prices are higher for everything. Gas was pushing over the $3.00 mark while it was $2.59 here at home. I make a point of stopping and spreading some wealth in these types of areas. Not only does it help the local economies it also gives you a chance to BS with the locals, make some new freinds and find out about the cool "local secret spots".

*If anyone needs/wants the GPS coordinates for our Drummond Island campsite or the one we found on the southern bay send me a PM and I'll get it for you.

*We found the folks of the UP to be some damn fine folks. Their cheerfulness and eagerness to spend time shooting the breeze with a total stranger made a lasting impression on our travels there. They reminded me of the people I grew up around and it felt like an extension of home. Of course we come from a heavy timber and mining area too, so I guess attitudes would be similar. Take the time and shoot the breeze.

[Rattler]

We just participated in a trailmarking with Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Assoc. on Drummond Island at the begining of May. The trails were just deemed ORV Routes by the DNR and it took some good folks a lot of effort to make it happen so we were more than happy to help out. There had been some controversial fining/ticketing by the DNR in the past on the island. There was even an incident with one of the groups from a Jeep Jamboree a few years ago. Needless to say, that stuff should all be of the past as long as everyone stays on the trails.

I can recommend the island to anyone that wants to get away from it all. I love it there and hope we can make it there again this summer for even a day at the end of our UP Overland Adventure.

Oh yea, there is one gas station at the 4-corners. Chuck's Place has a great burger. The Bear Track has an awesome breakfast and the shop in the Port-Of-Call has excellent fudge (the other more famous island south of there isn't too bad either)!!

Now I might have to bug you for some good spots in PA to go. The wife and I are big fans of exploring ghost towns.

[Haggis]

We just participated in a trailmarking with Great Lakes Four Wheel Drive Assoc. on Drummond Island at the begining of May. The trails were just deemed ORV Routes by the DNR and it took some good folks a lot of effort to make it happen so we were more than happy to help out.

You guys did a great job on the trails. The signage and markers were real well placed and easy to follow.


Now I might have to bug you for some good spots in PA to go. The wife and I are big fans of exploring ghost towns.


I'd happy to help out. We have quite a few lost and abandoned towns and villages from the oil and timber haydays. As a matter of fact our house is built on the site of an old village that dissappeared early in the 1900s. In our backyard is the old millrace and foundation from the gristmill.

[hikingff77]

You have got to have the coolest Tundra I have ever seen. It's the exact way I want mine to be when my truck bites the dust. I should have bought one when I bought my current rig, oh well. I'm in PA too, hope to run into you out on the roads sometime.

[jim65wagon]

Awesome report, Mark! Awesome photos of an amazing looking place. We'll have to get up that way someday, (just like a lot of others on the places-to-do-list). SorryI missed the report last week; you returned as we were leaving for the lake. No internet there, so I had no chance of getting my fix!