Wood Grain Dunes

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile journeys exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I love hiking the dunes along 

Lake Michigan in the winter.

Wind and snow and ice conspire 

to change the face of the dunes in ways you only see in this season. 

Some sand may freeze, while the wind blows free sand around, sculpting the frozen sections.

Recently, I came across part of a dune that resembled wood grain. 

This was at The Dune Climb in

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Check out these photos 

(click on photo to see expanded view):

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

It was a mild and sunny day today. Rare for mid-December, so I headed to some of my favorite places along the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

My first stop was the DH Day Farm to photograph the iconic barns there.

DH Day Farm

Then, I drove to Pyramid Point to hike the trail there: 

There are people standing on that far-off dune

On the way home, I stopped to photograph this wild turkey. She was unflappable.

And a little video of the lake today:

Wintery Empire Bluff

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I hiked one of my favorite trails today, the 

Empire Bluff trail. 

The overlook from the top of the trail is iconic "Pure Michigan." Check it out:

This dune is THE 'sleeping bear dune'

The woodpeckers are feasting in these woods. 

The pileated is especially good at gouging out the wood in search of a buggy meal.

Rainy Day Hike

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I joined up with a hiking group (Northern Michigan Hiking, Backpacking, and Kayaking Meetup) for a post-Thanksgiving hike along Lake Michigan.

Hiking along Lake Michigan

We began at the Dune Climb and hiked two miles over tall dunes to the lake.

Hiking the Dune Climb

Dune Climb

Along Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan

We then took a short drive over to Pyramid Point.

Pyramid Point

Misty day at Pyramid Point

It was a drizzly, cool day.

A perfect day to hike with new friends.

Nice group!