Two Perspectives: Van’s Beach – Leland, Michigan
- At February 15, 2013
- By Kim
- In Places
2
Today’s photos pose two perspectives from two of our contributors (Nate and Kim) of the ice formations along the Lake Michigan shore at Van’s Beach in Leland. We would love to hear which one resonates with you.
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).
Valley of the Giants
- At January 30, 2013
- By Nate
- In Places
- 30
Valley of the Giants: If your inner child is even remotely still with you, a mystical title like that should evoke imagery from the worlds of Harry Potter, Narnia, Lord of the Rings, King Arthur’s Camelot, or perhaps the vacant lot in your childhood neighborhood. The local realm of these mythically-large fellows is a deep dark forest valley with a babbling brook and a secret entrance that only the most intrepid can find and enter. Our giants are massive White Pines who have observed and recorded the passage of time in this area for centuries. Their size, silence, and amazing home cast an air of reverence over most everyone who enters.
The path through the Valley is a piece of The North Country Trail maintained locally by the Grand Traverse Hiking Club. The footway is well maintained and respectfully wanders through sensitive wetland and riparian areas associated with 22 Mile Creek, an amazingly beautiful tributary to the Boardman River.
Is the Valley entrance really secret? Well, the Valley is close to home (located in the Traverse City State Forest Area southeast of Traverse City), but it isn’t super easy to get to using information available on the web. But there is no mistaking the entrance once discovered, it is conspicuously marked by a hand-painted sign which hangs, in what seems to be, the middle of nowhere. It’s remote enough that whoever took the time to make, schlep, and hang the sign is definitely on your mind. Over the holidays I spent three consecutive days attempting to get to the Valley of the Giants: one day I didn’t make it, the next I just barely made it, and the last, made it there in about 15 minutes. So I’m torn. I feel as though maybe the giants are telling me something. I want to share this place and could easily drop a pin on a map and post it so anyone could make it a quick afternoon hike. But should I rob folks of the hours of “backyard” exploration, the conversations had along the way, the euphoria felt upon finding it at long last? Here’s the deal I cut with the giants – if you wish to visit the Valley and care enough to leave a comment I’ll send you the map!
Twigs & Swigs No. 4 – Boardman Lake Trail
- At January 25, 2013
- By Brian
- In Brian's posts, Places
- 0
When wanting some fresh air my instinct is to head as far from town as I can. But I don’t always have time for such an excursion. Fortunately I’ve found a few spots right in town where it feels like I’m miles away from everybody. One of these spots is the Boardman Lake Trail, part of the TART trails network. We actually live a short walk away from the trail, so not needing to pile the kids and dogs into the car is an added bonus. But if you must commute, I recommend parking behind the public library, at Hull Park. Also a suggestion; when it’s below zero out, you can park at The Filling Station and walk 300 yards down the trail to take some pictures then go inside and drink beer. I’ll shamefully admit that’s what we did. Even the kids, who will play outside in a monsoon, participated in this “hike” under protest.
The first few hundred yards heading south from the library do run along Woodmere Avenue, but eventually the trail veers west away from the noisy traffic. From there you’ll be hugging Boardman Lake all the way to Logan’s Landing, where it currently ends (there are future plans to extend it all the way around the lake). The trail is a mix of pavement and crushed gravel and there are a few nice lookout spots, especially to catch the winter sun setting.
And what makes this a great addition to the Twigs & Swigs series is that since you’re in town you have plenty of options for grabbing a beverage. But if heading a few blocks to downtown is too far, right at the north end of the trail is the Filling Station, which we reviewed this summer. So while you can get some good info there, let me just say that their brick-oven pizzas and hand-crafted beer were a perfect end to a cold & blustery day out on the trail.
Scrap TC
- At January 21, 2013
- By Guest Swagributor
- In Places
- 0
Normally you would think that old rubber, plastic jars, and cardboard tubes would be something that you would put in your recycling bin. But at Scrap, those are some supplies that you can make masterpieces with. You might be saying to yourself, “But how? Masterpieces out of old rubber?” Well, it’s possible at Scrap. But that’s not all they have there. They have fabric, beads, multicolored paper, wood scraps, and much more! The scarf I wore in the pictures was inspired by Scrap, and so were the earrings. The scarf was made from dye
and extra large t-shirts. And the earrings were made from safety pins and beads.
If you want to check it out for yourself, pop in on Saturdays from 12-4 to drop off donations or shop for some future swag, and Tuesdays from 7-9pm for craft night. If you’re not so crafty yourself, stop by their upcoming craft show to do a little shopping – Saturday, February 2nd – from 11am – 4pm.
