Pure Michigan

[Ben Lamb]

Whoever tells you that driving from Helena MT to Munising MI is a good idea never went to Jamestown ND when it's 90 degrees & 99% humidity. Other than that, our family vacation in the UP and around Traverse City was excellent, as usual. We were able to explore some new county and even got to swim in Lake Superior, which was a first for me. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore was the highlight of the trip, but I'm hoping to get back and explore some of the backcountry of the Hiawatha National Forest.

Miner's Castle at Pictured Rocks:

Munising8 by Ben Lamb, on Flickr

Munising Falls:

Munising6 by Ben Lamb, on Flickr

This kid spent about 10 minutes just staring at the falls. Fun to watch someone fall in love with a place:

Munising9 by Ben Lamb, on Flickr

Lighthouse on Grand Island National Recreation Area (Wife ran the 1/2 marathon there the day before while I nursed a pretty good hangover):

Munising3 by Ben Lamb, on Flickr

Sophomores rule (except when it comes to spelling)

Munising2 by Ben Lamb, on Flickr

Father in Law checking out the wreckage of the Bermuda (Sank in 1860) and wondering where the perch were:

Munising1 by Ben Lamb, on Flickr

Here's a shaky video with bad audio of the glass bottomed boat tour we took featuring the Bermuda:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGRpIVT4y2o&feature=youtu.be

After a few days, we went down-state to the family home in Traverse City. We proceeded to spank a few bass:



All in all, it was a great trip. Wish it could have been longer, but I've come to appreciate the U.P., and the plethora of public lands that belong to us all in this remote, absolutely lovely, piece of the country.

 

[LCH]

Looks like a nice trip. We did a lap around Lake Michigan a few years back, but we never did get up to Superior. I'd like to go back and explore the UP a little more.

 

[duckhunt]

Awsome vacation

 

[JEL]

That looks like a great trip. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kansasdad]

Nice family vacay time. I always had you figured for black nail polish Ben.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Nice family vacay time. I always had you figured for black nail polish Ben.

I'm more of a summer palate kind of gal.

 

[recon6036]

Very familiar scenery Ben. Glad you were able to enjoy some of the U.P. beauty. Sure is a great place to live!

 

[Ben Lamb]

Very familiar scenery Ben. Glad you were able to enjoy some of the U.P. beauty. Sure is a great place to live!

I was duly impressed not only with the scenery, but the amount of backcountry and public land. I could see getting lost up there for a few years, poking through the forest.

 

[huronmtns]

I was duly impressed not only with the scenery, but the amount of backcountry and public land. I could see getting lost up there for a few years, poking through the forest.

Factor in the private Commercial Forest Land that is open for hunting and there is about double what you think there is. Cheap Non-resident tags too. The big problem is visibility. The thick vegetation can make for some challenging hunting.

 

[Ben Lamb]

I could see moving operations to Munising. Even all the way from Montana.

 

[huronmtns]

The quality of salmon fishing in front of that old light house in your pictures can be tough to beat too.

 

[Ben Lamb]

How's the ruffed grouse hunting?

 

[WestT]

Only been to the UP once but would love to go back! Great pictures.

 

[huronmtns]

How's the ruffed grouse hunting?

Where I hunt not real good. Wrong soil type and not good habitat. I do have friends that do very well but hunt East and West of me by about 50 miles. The soil and amount of clear cutting has made for good habitat where they hunt.

 

[recon6036]

I was duly impressed not only with the scenery, but the amount of backcountry and public land. I could see getting lost up there for a few years, poking through the forest.

With the Hiawatha and Ottawa national forests at almost 2 million acres, plus all the state land, you'd have no trouble getting lost for a few years.

 

[Ben Lamb]

Where I hunt not real good. Wrong soil type and not good habitat. I do have friends that do very well but hunt East and West of me by about 50 miles. The soil and amount of clear cutting has made for good habitat where they hunt.

I'm not seeing a downside to living in the UP yet. Even the winters don't seem as bad a week in Rawlins, WY during February.

Recon - that's a good chunk of country!