Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Part 3)

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/

Here's the final photo essay of my October hike 

along Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

(Thanks to April for sharing her stunning photos.)

Me, Julie, and Zan

One of the many rivers along the lakeshore

Wonderful rocky beach

Chain coral

One of the best things about hiking in a group is that everyone brings their own experience and knowledge to the hike. This group of women have collectively hiked thousands of miles and bring so much to the experience of hiking together.

On this hike, Julie introduced us to the wintergreen plant and berry.

If you've had wintergreen gum, you've tasted this distinctive flavor. It's much better to munch the little berries fresh off the plant!

The leaves can also be used to brew tea. 

Here are a few more stunning shots of this National Lakeshore:

Chapel Rock

Miners Castle 

Happy on the trail

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Part 2)

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/

With nights in the low 30s and high 20s, we gathered around a fire some nights. April even brought along some popcorn to pop over the fire. 

YUM!

The scenery was breathtaking at times, even for those in the group who had hiked here before.

The most stunning formation in this National Lakeshore is Chapel Rock (below and in video). 

This sandstone pedestal has been separated from the shoreline by erosion, but the lone pine tree on the formation still lives there, attached to the shoreline by long roots. 

This tree is over 200 years old.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Part 1)

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 met up with my hiking friends and headed to America's first designated National Lakeshore,

Pictured Rocks,

along the northern edge of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

Yes, it was snowy and chilly and exhilarating. 

Me, Zan, Julie and April

The Au Sable Lighthouse

Snowy campsite at Benchmark campground

There is a 12-mile stretch of beach along the lakeshore. We hiked several miles here at the edge of Lake Superior.

Lake Superior Rocks

Can you find me in this photo? 

Massive sandstone formations dominate the western portion of the lakeshore. It's difficult to get the scale of these formations until you find the person in the shot.

We hiked five days...more to come.

Grand Island Exploration

Grand Island is located in the bay near the city of Munising, MI. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is to the east.

(L>R) Julian, Alison, & Me

I had time to explore this island by bike and hiking with my niece and nephew after we kayaked the Apostle Islands.

My nephew, Julian, and niece, Alison 

Thunder cove!

Grand Island has the same sandstone base as the nearby Pictured Rocks, so there are caves and carvings done by the waves of Lake superior on its edges.

On my bike

There is much to explore here: old growth trees, caves (both coastal and interior), historic sites, waterfalls, and much more.

Camping is permitted in the national forest portion of the island with permit.

On the edge of Grand Island

This island is one of many that I am exploring for my upcoming book,

A 1000-Mile Great Lakes ISLAND Adventure

which will be released next year (2015).

Handfuls of Lake Superior

Rough sand along Agate Beach in Grand Marais

The geology of Lake Superior fascinates me. This lake was formed by forces beginning long before the ice sheets scraped away at the Great Lakes Basin.  

Mix of colorful stones on Agate Beach

Hundreds of millions of years ago, a continental rift opened where the middle of Lake Superior is today. Lava (lava!) spewed from this rift for eons, and the weight of that lava depressed the crust of the earth into a deep bowl that existed before the last ice age. 

It is due to this ancient lava flow that you will find (if you are observant and lucky) agates along the shoreline of Lake Superior. 

Powder-fine sand along river in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Mix of stones in river in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

I enjoyed researching the geology of the Great Lakes for my upcoming book, A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK. I learned so much about these vast inland seas and I put the best, most interesting things into the book.

Clay mixed with sand at the Log Slide in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

{*That's the trick about writing: put in the good stuff and leave the boring stuff out.*}

Rust-colored stones near Copper Harbor

The same stones as above after Lake Superior tosses them around for a few decades.

My new book, A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK, will have an early Pre-Release to select indie bookstores in April. This is my way of thanking them for what they give to their communities and for being so supportive of my first book.

The book will have wide release and will be available wherever books are sold in June.

Keep an eye out for the new book, or "LIKE" my Facebook Fan Page for updates.

Beech Bark Disease

From the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore website:

Beech Bark Disease has spread throughout the National Lakeshore, resulting in many dead and dying beech trees. Be aware of these trees and the potential for falling branches and trees.

This disease is initiated by a non-native insect accidentally introduced into the United States. Secondary attack by both native and non-native fungi further stresses American beech trees and causes an unusually large number of weakened and dead beech trees. The insect and fungus pose no direct threat to humans. There is no practical control method in large natural forests.

Ben and I saw the devastation caused by this tiny,

invasive insect throughout our hike.  

It is amazing how destructive invasive species can be.  

In this case it just weakens the tree's defenses so it falls prey to secondary attacks from fungi that would normally 

not harm the trees. 

Ben and a beech tree under attack

Beautiful, yet deadly

This last tree isn't a beech, but it had a large fungus on it

Critters in the Upper Peninsula

The Upper Peninsula is a wild place and many creatures make their home in this 

often harsh wilderness.

Here are a few I captured with my camera.

Large toad freezes, thinking: "You can't see me when I hold still."

The setting sun lit up this bunny's ears

These stable flies were a nuisance, biting any exposed flesh 

A great blue heron flies along the lakeshore

Bald eagle takes flight

Very large beetle

This beetle had special grippers on its front legs and it emitted a strong-smelling secretion in protest of being held

Common mergansers take flight

Track of a small cat...bobcat?

Slugs were plentiful and often raced down the trees

Up close slug

Chipmunks ruled the lakeshore, scurrying everywhere

I also saw scat from larger predators (coyote and bear) and heard deer crashing around at night.