THE U.P.! – PART II

July, 2018

There are so many wonderful sights to see and visit in the UP.  It’s just a matter of where you set up your home base and how long you’re willing to travel.  Being in St. Ignace we decided that traveling 1 1/2 hours one-way was just about right for a day trip.

One of the wonders of nature in the UP is Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.  Close by the town of Munising, Michigan and along the south shore of Lake Superior, the National Lakeshore features 9 miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, lighthouses, spectacular cliffs, sand dunes, beaches and magnificent views of Lake Superior. Cool in its own right, right?

However, Pictured Rocks is the bomb!  We stopped at the National Park Service Ranger Station in Munising, and asked the Rangers to direct us for a hike to the best viewing area.  Without hesitation we were told that the “only way” to see Pictured Rocks is from the water, and that it was our choice as to whether to rent kayaks or take a cruise out on the “Big Lake.”  There was a cruise leaving from the docks in Munising in the next hour or so, and we made our reservations.

Pictured Rocks is a 15-mile stretch of sandstone cliffs reaching up to 200 feet above the shoreline of Lake Superior.  They are mineral-stained (and vegetation stained) sandstone cliffs that have been shaped by wind, ice and pounding waves over centuries to form beautiful mosaics.  The cliffs are colored in shades of brown, tan, and green by the iron, manganese, limonite and copper from the water run-off from the land above.  As the water trickles down the rocks, waves slam into the cliffs with a vicious suddenness, forcing the minerals into the sandstone and coloring the cliffs.  The pounding of the waves has also created shallow caves, arches and formations of fortresses and castles, battleships, and an “Indian’s Head.”  Other portions of the cliffs have been named lover’s leap, color caves, rainbow cave, and chapel rock.

Barbara wants all of you so kind in following us on this journey to know that Brian did not modify or enhance any of what you’re about to see.  Brian simply wants you to know that this is one case where a picture is worth a thousand words!

Pretty spectacular, no?

As we made our way off of the boat and headed back into town we were excitedly talking about what we had seen.  A gentleman about our age asked if we had visited the Big Spring?  If not, it was a site not to be missed.  The Big Spring had been named by the Ojibwa (more on the Ojibwa in another post) Kitch-iti-kipi.  Off we went.

Kitch-iti-kipi is located just west of Manistique at Palms Book State Park.  The Big Spring is two hundred feet across and forty feet deep.  Over 10,000 gallons a minute gush from the many fissures in the underlying limestone, the flow continuing throughout the year at a constant 45 degree temperature so the spring never freezes and can be enjoyed any season of the year.

As a State Park there is an admission fee.  When we arrived and stopped to pay our fee, the Ranger just casually and with a smirk told us that we had a dead bird wedged in the front grill of our Jeep.  I thought a bird had flown into our path earlier in the day, but thinking it had been a glancing or disintegrative blow honestly never looked.  We had traveled miles and miles since, and any remnants should have been removed right?  But once we had parked the evidence of our winged friend had to be properly removed and laid to rest.  Kaddish was said.

From the parking lot it is a short 50-yard paved path walk through pines and cedar trees to the shoreline where you can see an emerald green pool.  A self-operated observation raft transports visitors to vantage points overlooking fascinating underwater features and fantasies.  The raft is on a cable, and visitors can pull the raft over and back.  The beautiful crystal clear waters teeming with fish (guessing trout, and no, Neil, fishing is not allowed!) can be seen through glass viewing windows in the middle of the raft or you can take a look over the side.  What a treat!

Barbara and Brian