Trees

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 get out to hike at least twice a week no matter the weather. I love being out there in the elements, pushing against the wind, balancing on ice, pushing to get up the next hill.

There's always something to see.

Wildlife, plants, fungi, tracks, clouds.

This week, I hiked the trails at the The Village at Grand Traverse Commons. There are a few miles of trails looping through and up some tall, wooded dunes.

I came across a tree being dismantled by pileated woodpeckers. This bird was the inspiration for 'Woody Woodpecker,' and its call is similar to the laughter of the cartoon character.

Check out these photos and one video:

The woodpecker is at the top of the above photo.

There is a massive hemlock (~12 feet in diameter) on these trails. It's quite a specimen!

November Surprise

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/

This November has been surprising so far (on many levels). The weather has been amazingly warm this first 10 days. Yesterday, Traverse City broke a high temp record from 1896! And not just by a degree or two, but by 5 degrees!

So, of course, I went kayaking on that warmest day and hiked several other days.

I kayaked my favorite small lake nearby, Cedar Lake. I noticed there are more than one 'Cedar Lakes' around Traverse City. This one is just west of Long Lake, west of Traverse City.

Today, I headed to the big lake to walk the lakeshore. Since the temps were starting to dip and some rain fell, I had the entire beach to myself.

Lovely.

With the lake levels rising this year, the shoreline showed evidence of erosion.

The lake was turquoise and white-capped. Bands of rain clouds hovered over the lake in the distance. 

Still my favorite place.

 

Paddling Pearl Lake

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 continue to paddle the inland lakes in the Traverse City area. These lakes funnel water to nearby Lake Michigan and the health of these lakes impacts the health of our Great Lake.

Today, I kayaked Pearl Lake west of Traverse City. This lake has land protected by the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, so it is not completely ringed by cottages. 

[*Note: If you try to find the boat launch on Wagner Road, it is NOT well marked, so drive slowly to find it.]

Here are some photos and videos from this lovely paddle:

An eagle's nest (below):

A dragonfly emerges...

Kayaking Lime Lake

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've been exploring more of the many inland lakes that connect to Lake Michigan. This week, I paddled Lime Lake in Maple City just west of Traverse City.

This lake is about a mile across and has a shallow shelf along the edge that extends inward from the edge for a long way. This made for a calm paddle.

Here are some photos:

Freshwater shellfish live in these shallow areas.

Looking north across the lake.

Some old cedars blown down by mighty winds.

Evidence of an old sawmill gathered at the southern end.

Kid's Creek

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 am continuing to explore the hiking trails in and around Traverse City. Grand Traverse Conservation District works to preserve wild areas tucked amongst developed land. I've hiked several of these preserves, and this week I made it to Kids Creek Park. 


It's just a little loop, but the paved TART Trail connects to it. I ended up hiking onto the TART Trail and emerging behind Panera Bread before looping back to Kids Creek. There is signage along the trail pointing out the importance of healthy creeks and streams. 

It was a snowy day, brisk and pretty. 

The snow revealed the travels of small animals.

A small creek runs through the preserve. The ducks were enjoying the open water.

The trail is well marked. It is situated between the Great Wolf Lodge and Kohl's. 

There used to be a water mill here. It generated power for the farm that used to be here. The ruins of the mill are still on the property.

Ruins of the Old Franke Mill (the structure in foreground)

Most Popular Post from 2019

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 is the most-viewed post from 2019. Wintery photos from along Grand Traverse Bay:

Winter changes the Great Lakes.

Many people think that ice just forms on the top of the lakes, sealing the lower liquid for a time. It can do that, but it is also infinitely more creative. 

Water transforms, coats, blows, and freezes.

Below are a few photos taken on a single day along the shoreline of Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City.

Just look at what nature created:

Frozen spray locked these milkweed seeds in place

Ice balls form around grasses and reeds along the shoreline...

...then the weight of the ice snaps off the reed and the ice ball floats away

Buddy ice mounds hanging out along the bayshore

Ice volcano

Melded ice balls locked in sheet ice

Restoring Our Rivers

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/

There are so many rivers that feed our magnificent Great Lakes. The health of these rivers and wetlands determine the health of our lakes.

 The Grand Traverse Conservation District has been restoring the Boardman River by removing three dams. This allows the river to return to flowing within the banks where it once flowed.

I helped plant trees along one section of restored river earlier this year, 

https://laketrek.blogspot.com/2019/04/arbor-dayearth-day.html

and today I hiked a section of the river flowing through the Brown Bridge Quiet area.

Enjoy these images from the hike: