GreatStuff: Hiking

GreatStuff: Hiking

GreatStuff, your where-to-go, what-to-do guide for Southeast Michigan, is providing this public space for you to post your comments and add your suggestions for fun places to go and scenic places to hike in Southeast Michigan.   

We've partnered with Robert Golda, from www.HikingMichigan.com to provide the latest information about hiking events and opportunities in the region.

But we also want to hear from you.   Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and recommendations as well.

Not a GreatStuff subscriber?   Sign up today at www.GreatStuffToDo.com.

Springs First Blooms

I always get excited at finding my first Spring Flower. It only means the rest will be following shortly. A couple of the very earliest of the Spring blooms, are small, out of the way plants, that show there beautiful flowers, very early in the Spring season. These miniature, and many times, hidden blooms, are wrapped amongst the dried leaves from the year before, and are no bigger than a dime. But they do spell the beginnings of a plethora of beautiful flowers, budding trees and plants that will soon be upon us.

The yellow flower pictured below is the “Trout Lily or common name, the Dogtooth Violet. The only problem with the common name of this lovely flower, is that it is not a Violet. It is part of the Lily family. Many times, growing almost right along side the Trout Lily, is the “Greek Valerian”. This delicate, and even smaller flower, grows in tight clusters, in the same type of sandy soil as the Trout Lily. Both are very early Spring bloomers. You actually have to get down on the ground to really appreciate these two flowers. Being so small, and growing so close to the ground, they many times go unnoticed. As always, it is worth it, to take your time while out in our Parks. Look around, look closely, linger a bit, that is what you are there for, isn't it?

So there it is, My first 2 Spring flowers for 2008. By the way, it seems appropriate that I discovered these 2 early Spring blooms, at Wetzel State Park, in Macomb county. This Park has quite the wildflower collection in it’s alternating ponds and meadows, with the occasional forested area thrown in for good behavior. I had a number of great photography afternoons there, last summer and fall. I can see that I will be enjoying Springtime there as well, this year. Let the Show begin!

SPRING - Step Two

Since Spring is my personal favorite season, I thought we would follow some of the developments that take place in our local Parks, as this beautiful season grabs hold of S.E. Michigan. We have started to see the various birds returning to the area, as well as the migrating birds passing through our Parks. What is just starting to happen now, is the awakening of the reptiles and amphibians.

I am starting to see Turtles and some Frogs around the ponds and lakes in the area. This is a great time to see many of these critters, because they are moving slower than normal, as they wake from their Winter hibernations. It is not odd to see Turtles out on the trails, making their way from a small pond where they buried themselves deep into the mud shoreline, and then travel over to a nearby lake, where they will spend the summer feeding and possibly raising young. I have seen the largest Turtles and Frogs at this time of year. They are usually the first to emerge from sleep, and will many times be sunning themselves as the temperatures slowly rise, along with their activity levels.

This is also the time of nest building and territory claiming for many birds. Listen closely when you go out into the Parks, at this time of year. It may be the only times you will hear some of the songs that many birds will only sing at this particular time of season. I will be doing a short piece on Birds and their songs, in my next posting.

Sprouts are starting to emerge everywhere. Again, look closely as you travel the trails, and you will see the beginnings of many of the waters edge plants, and the start of many plants in warmer, south facing crevasses and hillsides. Very shortly will begin that very fragrant time, when all the tree, bush and various plants start budding. This is a very colorful and scented time in the forest and meadows. In some of the warmer, more protected spots, this budding has already begun.

So get outdoors and keep your eyes and ears open for the growing sounds and sights of a building Spring season. There are so many diverse habitats here in S.E. Michigan, that searching around the many Parks we enjoy, will only increase your chances of experiencing something you may have never seen or heard before. Be aware of all that is around you when you head out to the Parks. It will make all the difference in the world on just what you will experience there.

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

What really marks the beginning of Spring? Is it the Equinox on March 21st that says the days will be getting longer and Spring will begin? Did that little fury critter in Punxsutawney, seeing his shadow, have anything to do with it? Or is it seeing your first Robin, although most do not even leave for the Winter.

For me, Spring is here and blooming when I see the birds moving. Herons and Sandhill Cranes returning to S. E. Michigan to nest. Geese flying overhead, some returning here, others just making there way through and heading further north. All these various migratory birds, spell Spring to me.

This is the time of year that you may get a rare chance to see different kinds of birds, that you will never see as natives to this part of the state. Migratory birds, that are just passing through the area. Some stay a bit and rest as the seasons are changing. Others stay for only a day or so, until they move on to their Spring and Summer nesting and feeding grounds. This busy time is just a wonderful renewal time. Watching all the hurried life in the sky, and observing all the scurrying critters starting to come to life again, after the cold Winter months, is just plain rejuvenating. I love this time of year, more than any other.

These are the special times. These are the times you will have your best chance of seeing something very unique and wonderful, out in our local Parks. With the various birds passing by, and some returning to nest, many ground critters getting out and staking claims, looking for mates, and investigating their neighborhood more regularly, your chances on witnessing something special increase tremebdously. Even though, some of the trails may be a little “Gushy” still, and in some places, even all the ice hasn't left the lakes, most of the critters are preparing for Summer. Getting ready to take advantage of all the various new plant growths, and the awakening of all the other various wildlife as Spring blossums.

This is a very busy time out in the forests and lakesides. Get outdoors now, and see something you may not have ever seen before. Look closely, stop and observe, and be rejuvenated by all the renewal of life that is taking place all around you, in S.E. Michigan Parks.

The TOP 10 LIST

Recently, while doing a couple of interviews with some of the local Newspapers, I have been asked to put together a Top 10 List of my favorite Parks and places in the Metro area. I have been going over and over all the wonderful Parks and places just in S.E. Michigan, and have come to the conclusion that I cannot do a Top 10 List.

It isn't because I have certain personal favorite places, or I have any particular loyalty to any of the Parks in S.E. Michigan. I have determined that this list for me, is ever-changing. What I mean by this is, one particular day, in a specific season, there may be 20 places that would fulfill my outdoor desires at that time, and they would all make the Top 10 list on that day.

Maybe I feel that a simple rolling meadow, splashed with early Spring wildflowers is the most beautiful place I could visit at that time. 4 weeks later as the flowers have died back, and at a completely different Park, the 100ft cliff, overlooking the river below would fill my nature needs for the day. Is it just the places that make a spot special? Does it have to be a “Grand Canyon” view to be magnificent, or can you be down on your hands and knees, examining the delicate details of a fresh blooming wild flower that puts you in Awe. Thinking about putting this Top 10 List together has made me realize that there are just plain so many different, beautiful, simple, quiet, wondrous places to go, on any given day or season, in S.E. Michigan alone, that making a list is an impossible task for me to do.

Tomorrow I may feel like I want to experience a Pine tree stand, ontop of a hill, overlooking a vast area below. Well, my choices for just that nature experience are almost endless. If that is what I needed to fill myself with outdoor/nature joy, than that too will be on the Top 10 list. If I made up that list today, it would be completely different tomorrow, and 2 weeks from now. We are so lucky to live in a State that has so many outdoor places and natural experiences to choose from, I think we all forget just how lucky we really are. You don’t need a Top 10 list to fill your heart, mind and spirit with the beauties of the outdoors. Sometimes all it takes is that little, out of the way Community Park, where you have seen the rabbits and birds gathering in the far corner of the Park. Sitting at the Picnic table and watching and listening to this activity for a short while, may be the best thing you have experienced in a week. It calmed your mind, brightened your spirit, and changed your attitude. Should we put it on the Top 10 list? Most definately!

Something to NEVER Forget

HIKING MICHIGAN has been helping out the new FRIENDS of Proud Lake Recreation Area, with their Tuesday evening, Candle-Lit, Night-Hikes and Nature Programs. On this last Tuesday night gathering, an eight year old boy and his Grandmother joined the hikers and skiers at the Park. While we where out on the candle-lit trail that surrounds a beautiful marsh area, the group scared up a Deer Mouse, that went scurrying all around the group, and then finally stopped ontop of the boot, of this young man, with his Grandmother. The boy was not afraid, and didn't need to be, and just stood there while everyone gathered around to see the Deer Mouse we had scared out of the snow covered underbrush. The Mouse stayed on the boys boot for about a minute or so, as he stood there with a big smile on his face. Finally the Mouse scampered away and we continued our lovely evening trail walk. Everyone was kindly teasing the boy about his pet Mouse, and how he probably placed that mouse on the trail before we all got there, because no wild mouse would just go over to just anyone, and sit on their boot, for so long.

When we returned to the Nature building, where we started our evening Hike, the playful talk with this young man and his Grandmother continued, to the great enjoyment of the boy. I haven't seen such a continuous big smile on someone, as I did on this youngster from the moment the mouse stopped on his boot, to the time when he and is Grandmother left the Nature building.

I believe that this single, simple moment for the boy, will be something he will always remember. It may be the story he tells his own kids, later in life. These are the things I believe our children really remember. Yes, they will Awe at that visit to the Grand Canyon, and say WOW, at Niagra Falls, but they will most remember the thing they can get their hands and brain around. The little, personal experiences. I really do think this boy will never forget this one evenings unique experience he had with Nature, and the outdoors. Who knows how this will really effect his life as a whole. I don’t think I am blowing this out of proportion either, because I can remember special moments from my own Family outdoor experiences, that have influenced me to this very day.

WINTER - A Beautiful Time

Sorry I haven't been around for a bit, but it was that mid-winter Flu time. What it did was to allow me to examine and browse through some of the many winter pictures I have been accumulating.
Filtering through these pictures, again made me realize why I live in Michigan, and it's four different and unique seasons. Many of the pictures I was looking at where places I may have only Hiked or Snowshoed through. They reminded me I needed to return to these extraordinary places.
With this extra time on my hands, I could sit and stare at some of these images, and remember just how wonderful it was to be there at that moment. The winter silence, the different shapes the snow creates on the landscape, the ability to now see all the various animal highways left in the snow, and how really alive many of these place are.
This all may sound a little simple minded, but while being trapped in the house with the Flu, these beautiful scenes and places surely helped in my recuperation. Good thoughts, great places and good people will always help ones soul, heart, and recuperative abilities.

Take a CHILD OUTDOORS

So, it’s cold outside, there is snow on the ground and there is nothing to do. Right? Well even if you do not feel much like some sort of Winter outdoor activity, maybe your child, or niece & nephew, or grandson would like an afternoon out in the snow.
Try and remember just how much you liked all the seasons as a kid, even Winter. Remember building a snowman? Remember sledding down even a small hill? Remember building a snow fort? Take a child outdoors and return to those moments in time, you may have forgotten. All it will take is to see that gigantic smile on one of the kids faces when they reach the bottom of the sledding hill, to convince you. Pure Joy! No one is immune to such contagious and overwhelming glee.
When was the last time you built a snowman? It doesn't have to be a huge one, just something that you and the children will walk away from, looking back at every few feet, to see your handy work. Your participation level does not have to be great, to bring so much fun into the lives of a child, during the Winter months outdoors.. Just waiting at the bottom of the sledding hill with a smile on your face will do. A little help rolling out one of the snow balls for the snowman is enough.
The fact that you took a child outdoors to enjoy the Winter season will not only give the both of you joy and entertainment, but it will give that child an experience and appreciation of all the seasons and of all of the different types of outdoor settings. It really is that simple. And it really is that worth it.
Many of the local County, Metro and State Parks have all types of outdoor Winter activities on their schedules. Check their web sites, local newspapers and the Great Stuff to Do guide, and see what is taking place in your area. Or just grab the kids, head for the local park, and get to it.

A GIANT Winter Story

A number of years ago, I returned to the old neighborhood I grew up in, with a childhood friend, to visit his Mom. It had snowed like 12 inches the day and night before we went back to our home town. Remember when it used to snow like that, and stay for more than a week? Well, after visiting with my friends Mom, we decided we would go out front and build a snowman. Don’t ask me why we decided to do that, I think all the fresh fallen snow, and the fact we were both back where we had grown up as kids, instigated this child-like idea.

So we started rolling out the first snowball, for the base of the snowman. Of course we got carried away, and it took the both of us to even get this gigantic starter snowball, in place, in front of the house. As we both rested from rolling what ended up being a 4 1/2 foot, round snowball in place, we were joined by two of the local children, asking if they could help build the snowman.

So now the four of us started on the second snowball for our snowman. Since the first ball was so large, of course the next ball had to be at least 3 1/2 feet around. The only problem was, the weight of a 3 1/2 foot round snowball, and getting it ontop of the first ball we had made. As we stood and pondered this, three other neighborhood kids showed up with, believe it or not, wooden planks. So, with our snow army now at 7 strong, we slide the second snowball in place, ontop of our first 4 1/2 foot snowball. Two more snowballs to go, to have the basic snowman complete.

As we rested, two of the fathers of some of the children that had joined us, came over just to get a closer look at what in the world we where doing. We all stood and talked about the giant snowman, and one of the Dads thought that in order to get the next 2 snowballs up off the ground (now almost 8 feet high) we would need a scaffold. So, with a few ladders, and some of the wooden planks the children had brought with them, we erected a mini scaffold to get the two remaining snowballs, ontop of the first two we had created. Our four snowball snowman, now stood 12 1/2 feet tall.

We all stood back in amazement at what we had done. Visions of grandeur soon engulfed all of us. We went and retrieved a tree branch that had been knocked down by the heavy snow fall, and stood it up next to our snowman. This branch was over 14 feet tall, and about 7 inches around. We connected it to the snowman with another fallen tree branch, and covered that branch with packed snow, to resemble an arm from the snowman to his 14 foot staff. We had to use the ladders and scaffolding to finish carving a face on the snowman, and putting on all the traditional snowman extras. A scarf, a home-made giant hat, and buttons for his coat.

If all this doesn't sound wild enough, one of the Dads brought over his water hose attachment that had a container to hold liquid fertilizer, near the nozzle of the hose. We filled this container with diluted blue cake die, and proceeded to spray down the whole snowman with a light coating of blue water. Since it had taken the entire day to build this Giant, temperatures where falling as night was approaching. The blue water quickly turned into a beautiful blue, ice glaze.

Now you may be thinking that I made this whole thing up, or I at least exaggerated some of the story. But I swear on my Fathers grave, that every word of this story is true. Not to mention that since the Giant Blue Snowman had turned to ice, he was still standing, far after the snow had melted around him. and in some places exposing the browned grass once again. Final statistics: 12 1/2 feet tall Giant Blue Snowman, with life-like carved facial features, 14 foot Hiking staff, arms, and the the official snowman extras. We all received a City Beautification award, and the Snowman became a drive-by attraction in town for more than 2 months.

TRACKING....My Favorite Winter Activity

One of my most favorite Winter activities is Tracking. Following various animal and bird tracks around the forests and meadows is not only interesting but can be very informative. The snow leaves a very nice record of what has been going on in a particular area of the woods.
One of my very best Tracking experiences took place just a couple of years ago after a fresh snow fall. A friend and I went for a little Bushwhacking adventure in a forest that bordered a Marsh and small lake. Just a short Hike into the woods, we discovered some fresh Red Fox tracks. We followed these tracks through out the forest, observing the interesting hunting pattern the Fox was performing.
Then for no apparent reason to us, the tracks settled down behind a couple of fallen trees. We could see the imprint left by the Fox actually lying down in the snow, behind these fallen trees. Upon further examination we could see the tracks of what was a Rabbit, that had come from the hidden side of where the Fox was obviously in wait. We followed both tracks a short distance from this ambush point, and found where the Fox had caught the Rabbit.
Here we found some Rabbit fur and minor remains. This is of course, the way nature is. The Rabbit had become the Fox’s meal on this cold and snowy afternoon. We continued to follow the Fox tracks, now carring the Rabbit with him. We could see the occasional times that he had set the Rabbit down and then continued on his way again. The tracks made an almost straight pathway to the Fox’s den, located along the edge of the Marsh and forest.
We could see by the evidence in the snow, that the Fox had left his den before the early morning snow fall, and that this was his first return to the den since his almost all morning and afternoon hunt. There where many signs around the den opening that the Fox had dragged his meal into the den and finally settled in for what wasn't going to be a hungry night.
By this point in our day, the sun was starting to set, and we followed our own tracks back out of the forest. We had spent the entire afternoon tracking this Fox. The snow had left a wonderful picture and story of what had taken place in this small area of the Park. The nature story told to us that afternoon, in the snow, was one of the most interesting times I have spent in the woods.

If You would like to try something like this, you can download a free PDF printable page of some of the more common animal and bird tracks, that you might encounter here in Michigan at: http://www.hikingmichigan.com/SitePDFfiles/MichiganTracks

It's Winter.....Get Outdoors

NO.......................it is not time to hang everything up in the closet until Springtime. It is time to pull out the Winter weather cloths and gear and get outdoors. That’s one of the great things about living in Michigan. With all the different seasons we experience here, there is always something different to do.
A few suggestions at this time of year is Cross country Skiing, Snow Shoeing, Sledding, Birding, Geocaching, a visit to one of the many Nature Centers in the Metro area, or just a simple stroll on a snow covered trail. It doesn't all stop, just because the temperatures have fallen and there is snow on the ground. Quite the contrary, there are even more new outdoor experiences to enjoy at this time of year. Many are unique to our part of the country.
Cross Country Skiing: Most of the Metro and County Parks, and some of the State Parks have groomed trails for the cross country skier. These also work well if all you want to use them for is Hiking. Many of the Parks and official cross country ski areas also rent skies, for those who do not have their own.
Snow Shoeing: This activity is best done off the trails, and when the snow is at least up to the middle of your calf. Exploring areas of the forest that no one can normally get to except at this time of year, and on a pair of snow shoes, is a fantastic experience. If you do not own your own Snow shoes, many of the local outfitters rent them for a minimal charge.
Birding: Ok you say. Walk around looking for birds. But if you have ever seen a ruby-red “Scarlet Tananger”, set against the white of the snow, you will quickly see how interesting and fun Birding can be. At this time of season, with the birds being a little less active, and all the thick foliage gone, spotting perched birds can be much easier than you think. Bring along some bread or fruit, and you may even get some of the curious”Chicadees” to eat right out of your hand.
Geocaching: This activity goes year round. Combine that techno geek in you, with a love of the outdoors and you have a great all season adventure. Many of the Geocachers hide special “Caches” during the Winter months, that work into the fact we have snow on the ground.
Nature Centers: You would be very surprised at just how many local Nature Centers there are in the Metro area. A short walk around one of their guided trails and a visit inside the facility to enjoy the displays, makes for a wonderful Winter afternoon. Many of the Nature Centers also have sponsored activities such as Snow Shoeing, Birding, Plant & tree identification, to indoor projects for the whole family. Many of these activities are free or have a very nominal fee attached.
Sledding: OK, so you may think this is for the kids only. Well, a number of the County Parks have official Tobogan runs that are great fun for all ages. There are also many hills availible for all levels of sledding, in the Metro and State Parks. You do not have to risk death, slidding down dead-mans hill to enjoy a good sledding afternoon. Pick the slope that you feel fits your abilities and get that same feeling you got, when you where 10 years old.
Hiking: This just never stops. Using some of the groomed Ski trails, or just picking an area that the snow hasn't accumulated to deep, right on the trails. A Pine tree forest walk, in the Wintertime is just fantastic. The trees collect much of the fallen snow, leaving the trails clear for Hiking. The snow formations on the trees, and the silence in the woods is marvelous!
Some places to check on Winter activities in your area:
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr
http://www.mi-geocachers.org
http://www.greatstufftodo.com
http://www.metroparks.com
Check your County web site for information on their Nature Centers, County Park activities and many Winter outdoor adventures available to you, right in your own neighborhood.