Revisiting the Lake Trek: Segment 9

This segment spanned the 91 miles between Manitowoc and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It took me 5 days to hike, and was some of the most rugged lakeshore I encountered on the entire trek. This stretch also had the largest algae blooms (clodophera) I had ever seen on the lake.

I walked the first day of this segment alone, but was then joined for the remainder by my college friend Stephanie ('Stew') Lyon. Lois, from Sheboygan, also joined us for the morning of the second day. Stephanie's cousin Dave joined us for most of the last day. It was wonderful to hike with friends at my side.

Note: You may want to press the 'play' button, then pause it and let it completely load before resuming play. This will allow it to play smoothly.

You can find all videos from the Lake Trek on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/lniewenhuis

Supreme Court Will Not Close Locks

Once again the Supreme Court has failed to act decisively to stop the Asian carp from reaching Lake Michigan. It seems contrary that the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will go forward with $475 million in funding to restore the Great Lakes, while an imminent threat to those very lakes is not being met with action. Money has been allocated for yet another electric barrier, but the carp have already evaded the two in the canals.

Read the account of the decision here: Christian Science Monitor

Lake Trek Anniversary

Today (March 16) is the anniversary of the beginning of my 1,000 Mile Walk on the Beach. The weather today is similar to a year ago when I stood on the end of Navy Pier in Chicago. The sky is bright blue and the morning is brisk. The day will warm to almost 60 degrees, just like a year ago.

I will admit to being a little apprehensive about that first segment of the Lake Trek. I had 70 miles mapped out along the southern rim of the lake. I had to walk through the southside of Chicago, past many steel mills, through the BP refinery, through Gary, Indiana. There would be stretches of beach, but longer paths flanked by industry, abandoned factories, and power plants.

It's been a year since the beginning. I still feel pulled back to the lake, and it feels strange to not be out there walking, or at home mapping out the next segment. Instead, I am hard at work on the manuscript of the book about my adventure. I've gotten several e-mails asking when the book will be released. The book proposal is on the desks of several publishing houses at this moment. I will keep you posted as the manuscript has its own adventure in the publishing world.

Revisiting the Lake Trek: Segment 8

This segment spanned the 155 miles Escanaba, Michigan, south to the city of Green Bay, then across the Door Peninsula to Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

This was the seccond longest segment of the Lake Trek in both days (9) and miles (155).

I walked this segment alone, but was shadowed by my friend Vickie around the city of Green Bay.

I camped the first few days of this segment as I made my way south along Green Bay. I had some of the warmest days of the trek along this stretch. After reaching the city of Green Bay I made my way across the base of the Door Peninsula over two days. Part of the time I was on the 'rails to trails' hiking trail called the Devil's River Trail.

After hiking for days along shallow Green Bay then across land for two more days while crossing the lovely Door Peninsula, I was ecstatic to finally get back to the expansive Lake Michigan.

The longest day of the Lake Trek was on the last day of this segment from Denmark, Wisconsin to the lakefront in Manitowoc. It was a hike of 25 miles in one day. Whew!

Note: You may want to press the 'play' button, then pause it and let it completely load before resuming play. This will allow it to play smoothly.

You can find all videos from the Lake Trek on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/lniewenhuis

Saugatuck Nature Preserve

Back in January, I wrote about a tract of lakeshore -- 171 acres of it -- which had been purchased and protected as a nature preserve.

Today, I finally got out to hike this land. It was almost 60 degrees, clear and mild, a wonderful day to explore these rolling dunes just north of Oval Beach in Saugatuck, Michigan. The tract of land stretches up to the mouth of the Kalamazoo River where it empties into Lake Michigan. There were patches of snow still nestled in the dune grass, but the lake was completely clear of the shelf ice that stretched out into the fog the last time I was out to this side of the lake.

The Land Conservancy, the City of Saugatuck, and The Nature Conservancy joined with private donors to protect this land just before 2009 ended.

The Southern Edge of Lake Michigan

When I returned from Chicago last month, I took the train. Here are some of the photos I snapped through the window. I walked this segment in March of 2009.

Revisiting the Lake Trek: Segment 7

This segment spanned the 161 miles between Mackinaw City and Escanaba, Michigan (I walked the bridge later, on the Labor Day Bridge Walk). This was the longest segment of the Lake Trek in both days (10) and miles (161).

I walked this segment alone, but was shadowed by my brother, Phil, who would drop me off at the beginning of the day, then pick me up 15-20 miles further along the lakeshore at the end of each day.

I walked the wide beaches near St. Ignace and Manistique and scaled the natural limestone walls that appeared in between. Much of the lakeshore was studded with limestone boulders or paved with a limestone shelf that seemed to lift from the water. It was rough going for much of the way, wilderness and rugged landscape. By the end of this segment, I had to retire my boots and break in a new pair on the next segment.

Note: You may want to press the 'play' button, then pause it and let it completely load before resuming play. This will allow it to play smoothly.

You can find all videos from the Lake Trek on YouTube at: www.YouTube.com/lniewenhuis

Chicago's Graceland Cemetery

When I was in Chicago last month, I spent some time along the foggy lakeshore. I love to see the lake in all seasons, in all its various moods.

On the north side of the city, I took a stroll through the historical Graceland Cemetery. This is the final resting place for many of the city's mogols, planners, and prominent citizens.


The architects Daniel Burnham and his business partner John W. Root are buried here.

They are largely responsible for reshaping the city of Chicago and maintaining the city's open lakefront.


Since it was February, I had the place to myself. There is something serene about a cemetery in the winter. All color is washed away and the trees and monuments stand in relief against the gun metal sky.