Winter Hiking

I went out to the lakeshore today to hike my trail for the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes. This volunteer organization does important work to help maintain and improve the gorgeous National Lakeshore. Volunteers do a variety of tasks, including:

• Adopt-An-Access Point (Accessibility)
• Adopt-A-Beach
• Adopt-A-River
• Adopt-A-Trail 
• BARK Rangers
• PSAR Log
• Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail – Trail Ambassadors
• Track Chair Report
• Administrative Projects

I have been a volunteer trail hiker for a couple of years now. I periodically hike the Bay View/Farms Loop trail and report on any down trees or other conditions on the trail.

Chilly, but gorgeous hike

Panoramic of the overlook

I'm not sure what made this tiny little trail in the snow

Lake Michigan from the trail

I love getting out on the snowy trails. 

Empire Bluff Trail in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

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 took a hike up the Empire Bluff Trail today. This is the most used trail in 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

 There was a thick fog clinging to the surface of the cold lake. It obscured the view at times, then the fog would roll up the dunes and open up the view for a moment. It was lovely, and I had it all to myself.

 The view from the top!

First Hike of 2021

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/

Happy New Year!

My first hike of the New Year was out at the Dune Climb in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

The first dune off the parking lot was dotted with kids on sleds. It's a great ride, even when there's just a dusting of snow.

I love to watch the interplay of sand and snow on these dunes:

And the sand and snow reveal which creatures are on the move in the landscape.

I love this landscape in any season. It's an extra-challenging workout when the snow begins to drift amongst the dunes.

A late season freighter moved through the Manitou Passage today (below).

Happy 2021 everyone. 

We made it through 2020. Yay!

Most Popular Post of 2020

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 most popular post from 2020:

I hiked part of Sleeping Bear Dunes lakeshore today at Glen Haven.

The beaches of Lake Michigan usually appear tan or even whitish in color, but if you pick up a handful of sand and look closely, there is a mixture of colors. Silica and quartz give the sand its light color, but there are specks of black from the mineral magnetite. 

This mineral is heavier than the other grains, so it often gathers in bands or patches on the shoreline, sorted by wind and waves.

Today, I came across the largest deposit of magnetite I've ever seen along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. A long section of black sand on the beach.

Wave action has been strong along the lakeshore this winter, and the lake level set an all-time high earlier this year. This has led to increased amounts of magnetite deposited on the shoreline.

Watch the video below to see how deep the deposit was:

Yes, this mineral has been on the beaches for a long time. Here's a post I did about these black sands over a decade ago:

https://laketrek.blogspot.com/2009/06/black-sand.html

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Adopt-A-Trail

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 live near the gorgeous Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. I often hike the beaches and trails in the park.

So, I decided to volunteer as an Adopt-A-Trail hiker with the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes.

This all-volunteer group coordinates with the national lakeshore to keep this park safe and wonderful for all visitors.

Last year, over 13,000 volunteer hours were logged in the park.

There are many ways to volunteer with this group including:

• Adopt-An-Access Point (Accessibility)
• Adopt-A-Beach
• Adopt-A-River
• Adopt-A-Trail (For Rustic Trails Only)
• BARK Rangers
• Invasive Plant Brigade
• PSAR Log
• Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail – Trail Ambassadors
• Track Chair Report

Since I'm a devoted hiker, I chose to 

Adopt-A-Trail. My Farms Trail is part of the Bay View Trail. This looping trail also has a cut-through trail (Ridge Trail) with a gorgeous overlook out on Sleeping Bear Bay and the Manitou Islands. The trail winds through forest and farm lands. 

Check out these photos:

The sandy trail goes through mixed forest

Peaking through the trees out onto the lake

Massive white pine along the ridge

The trail skirts historic farmland

Massive tree along the trail

View from the lookout on the Ridge Trail

Volunteers wear orange vests while in the park

There's even a bench at the overlook

Strawberries in bloom along the trail

Adopt-A-Trail volunteers are asked to hike their trail once a month from May-September and report on trail conditions.

Black Sands

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 hiked part of Sleeping Bear Dunes lakeshore today at Glen Haven.

The beaches of Lake Michigan usually appear tan or even whitish in color, but if you pick up a handful of sand and look closely, there is a mixture of colors. Silica and quartz give the sand its light color, but there are specks of black from the mineral magnetite. 

This mineral is heavier than the other grains, so it often gathers in bands or patches on the shoreline, sorted by wind and waves.

Today, I came across the largest deposit of magnetite I've ever seen along the shoreline of Lake Michigan. A long section of black sand on the beach.

Wave action has been strong along the lakeshore this winter, and the lake level set an all-time high earlier this year. This has led to increased amounts of magnetite deposited on the shoreline.

Watch the video below to see how deep the deposit was:

Yes, this mineral has been on the beaches for a long time. Here's a post I did about these black sands over a decade ago:

https://laketrek.blogspot.com/2009/06/black-sand.html

Wintery Hike

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 took a wintery training hike today, passing through the Tweddle/Treet farm in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and out to 

Lake Michigan.

Wind-sculpted snow

Snow angels along the way

 Near the lake, the snow was tinged brown with sand blown by the winter winds.

The lake has very little ice on it.

Just a few chunks along the edge, clinking together in the waves.

 I hoped to hike a loop down the nearby Empire Bluff Trail, but there were deep drifts of snow that often collapsed. I found myself post-holing up to my knees, so I hiked back the way I came.

Year-End 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 was able to fit in a little hike during the holiday festivities. I headed to the lakeshore to hike one of my favorite trails, Empire Bluff.

The trail was a little snowy and icy at the bottom, but cleared off at the top. The day was mild and almost windless.

It was a little foggy, but most of it burned off while I hiked.

It was mild enough to take a break to watch the colors of Lake Michigan.

Merry Holidays to all.