Proposed Timbers Recreation Area
- At February 12, 2013
- By Nate
- In Local Happenings, Places
2
One common thread for us here in northern Michigan is our love of the outdoors. Folks who live in and care about this area have chosen to protect and preserve natural lands for their awe-inspiring beauty, ecological value, and amazing recreation opportunities. We walk our dogs, watch birds, exercise, rejuvenate & breath in these places and they are woven tightly into the fabric of our northern lives. Less than ten miles west of Traverse City there is a place that promises to be another gorgeous thread in our public land tapestry.
The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) is actively working on behalf of Long Lake Township to protect the +/- 250-acre former Timbers Girl Scout Camp. The property is situated on the north end of Long Lake and includes 2,000 feet of undeveloped shoreline on Long Lake, an entire 20-acre lake within its boundary called Fern Lake, and roughly 2,400 feet on Page Lake. The rest of the property is a combination of forest, fields and wetlands. The diverse landscape has a network of two-tracks and trails throughout, with great potential for further trail development. More information is available in a GTRLC press release and project description.
If you’d like to take this place for a test drive and learn more about the project, consider attending a Conservancy-hosted event this Saturday at 1pm that will include skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, a warm fire, beautiful scenery, probably a laugh or two, and of course hot chocolate. It promises to be a good time and you will likely come away understanding what a wonderful opportunity protecting this place is for all of us.
Disclaimer: If you do choose to head out be warned the place is crawling with Snoa Constrictors! (see photo).
Ice Fishing – Little Glen Lake
- At January 28, 2013
- By Kim
- In Kim's posts, Local Happenings
- 0
A week of frigid temperatures creating ten inches of ice on Little Glen Lake, a shanty that had been discarded on the side of the road last fall, a borrowed auger, 3 dozen wax worms, and three excited fishermen = an awesome surreal day on the ice. Only thing missing? The fish.
Backyard Activity on a Snow Day
- At January 23, 2013
- By Kim
- In Kim's posts, Local Happenings
- 5
Yesterday school had been cancelled, temperatures were hovering around zero, and there were flurries of snow and critters alike outside our windows. We spotted cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, blue jays, downy and red-bellied woodpeckers (apparently named by someone who confuses bellies and heads), and of course our friend squirrel, who as usual was up to mischief on our angel statues. On a day requiring a lot of bravado to venture out in the elements, we were grateful for nature coming to us.
Notes regarding photos:
So you want to try photographing your backyard birdies? This is what I learned. Unless you have a good zoom lens, it is hard to get the little guys in focus from very far away. So lure the birds close. We have a suet holder on our deck (seems suet is akin to bacon for woodpeckers) and a little feeder suction cupped right to our window (it may drive your kitty even closer to insanity, but is awesomely fun if you are a backyard bird nerd like myself). I also sprinkled seed on the ground to attract ground feeders like the junco (we use thistle and safflower seed to thwart the squirrels from chowing it all down). Switch your camera to burst-shot mode if it has it and crank up the shutter speed (I used ISO 800). Make a big pot of coffee, perhaps put on your footed pajamas (if you own some, to which I will not admit here), settle in by a window with camera in hand, and be patient.
