Dan's UP Trip Details

[jd callow]

See below for details. For some reason we are unable to post and have readable in a normal post

 

[jd callow]

Gentlemen: here is a rough draft of the itinerary for a 2 day guided trip to the Pictured Rocks area. These are my initial thoughts only; I would appreciate feedback, suggestions, and problems that you see when reading it over. I would also approach this much as Bill did on our Iceland trip: set a general outline, but let the group decide to stay longer in an area, skip something, etc....adapt, improvise, and overcome, as the Marines like to say.

I am suggesting that the trip be scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, June 24 and 25. My reasons are as follows: I suspect the only people coming up for the first weekend will be those who are planning to take one of the workshops, which will tie them up anyway. More people will arrive mid-week for the last-weekend events. Those who want to take this trip would be more willing to come a day or two early rather than an entire week. Mid week has the lowest potential of conflicts with other events.

With things begin centered around the Birchwood Inn, it probably makes sense to use that as the rallying point for people taking the trip.

If there are only 3 or 4 people signed up, I can get them in my Tahoe. If more sign up, I would need another driver/guide. If a whole bunch sign up, we might need to consider renting a van.

I don't want to make any money on this, but I would like to cover my gas costs. So a nominal fee seems fair. If we need to rent a van the costs will be higher, but will be spread out among more people.

 

[jd callow]

WEDNESDAY
Leave Birchwood at 8AM, travel to Grand Marais, about 100 miles, 2.5 hours.

Shoot at Sable Falls on the outskirts of Grand Marais.

Lunch in Grand Marais.

Travel west out of Grand Marais into the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; stop to shoot or just sightsee at Grand Sable Lake and The Log Slide Overlooks.

Stop at the Hurricane River campground, hike back east to photograph the shipwreck ruins. The option of hiking from the Log Slide down past Au Sable Point Light Station and meeting up with the group at the shipwreck ruins could be given as an option to hikers.

Head south to photograph the Kingston Plains area in late afternoon light.

I am not sure how to approach the overnight stay. Don suggested the Kingston Lake campground, which appeals to me, but not everyone likes to camp or will bring gear with them. We could program in an option of camping or staying at one of the motels in Grand Marais or Seney. I would like some feedback on this.


THURSDAY
Travel toward Munising. If the group stays at Kingston Lake and/or Grand Marais, and if the H-58 paving project does not foul us up, a stop at either Chapel (1.5 mile hike) or Mosquito (.9 mile hike) could be done.

Hike to Miner's Falls to shoot.

Sightsee/shoot at Miner's Castle.

Shoot at Munising Falls

Lunch in Munising.

Shoot at Wagner Falls.

Travel to Seney NWR, shoot while driving around trails.

Stop for dinner in St. Ignace.

Return to Birchwood mid-evening.

 

[Sean]

test

 

[jd callow]

Yeah it seems to be working, but initially I nor Dan who originally tried to post this message could post the entire message in the opening post and then be able to view the post.

 

[arcman]

Hey Guys...as mentioned the Kingston Lake campground is great as well as centrally located - but I understand that some may be unwilling to camp. My wife and I have been going there for many years...but as we approach our "golden years" we seem to be staying more often at the North Shore Resort (formerly Welker's) in Grand Marais and using that as a base of operations. It's fairly close to any of the mentioned sites, reasonbly priced, right on the beach,decent food although the Dunes Saloon is a must! The bathrooms have small,easily covered windows that allow for (nighttime) film changing for those who hate changing bags...anyway...worth consideration.http://www.exploringthenorth.com/welkers/resort.html
-Don

 

[Marc Akemann]

Not sure what happened but I couldn't get on APUG at all since Friday afternoon. All looks okay now.

Anyway, I like the two day trip idea to the Pictured Rocks area, and, I'm good for camping. I'm also willing to take a passenger but I only have a Jeep Wrangler so the remainder of the Jeep space is left for equipment. I am considering a roof top carrier so my maximum passenger number could go up.

If we utilize a motel for the night of the 24th (Wed), we have to be careful someone isn't paying for two hotel rooms on the same night. For instance, if someone is staying at the Birchwood, and goes on this trip with the intent of staying in a motel in Seney or Grand Marais,...well, you can see where I'm going with this. Just a precautionary thought.

Marc

 

[Dan Henderson]

I was thinking the same thing: people who are already paying for a room at Birchwood aren't going to like paying for another room for the same night in Grand Marais. But I don't really know what to do about that. Unless people want a room of their own we could put 2 people in the same room to save costs. Also, I checked the Pictured Rocks web site, and H-58, the road that goes through the park from Grand Marais to Munising, will probably be closed part of the way, forcing us to go down to M28 and take the Seney Stretch across to Munising.

 

[Andrew Moxom]

I think we are early enough in the calendar that people thinking of going on this excursion up north maybe able to cancel one nights stay at the birchwood and plan for the other hotel... Especially if we can get the details out quickly.

 

[bill schwab]

This is good! I'm on it.