Appalachian Trail, Anyone?
Member Mike Brown writes:
I would like to team up with anyone wanting to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail–I have hiked many parts of the trail over the years. Thinking from 1 to 3 weeks, April through October. I'm 67 and don't hike at a blistering pace–but I eventually get from A to B. Generally 8 to 12 miles per day. I prefer to be the driver–room for 3 more. Let me know if you're interested and we can work on an itinerary. Email owner@bluebirdmeadows.com.
Flash Hike
Warren Dunes State Park
Bridgman, Mich.
A bit more than 20 Hikers turned up to welcome 2020 with a New Year's Day Flash Hike. Plenty of sunshine and a temperature near 40 made for pleasant hiking, though leftover snow and puddles turned parts of the trail a bit wet and muddy. The remaining snow was nice to look at and the leafless trees allowed for rare, panoramic views of the park's wetlands and huge dunes. What better way to start off the New Year than a walk in one of the region's wonderful parks and preserves? (Photo: Hikers walking a Warren Dunes trail. Flash Hikes are announced only by email a few days beforehand. There is no theme and no leader–just a group walk in the woods with friendly people.)
Christmastide Hike
New Buffalo Area Schools Nature Study Trails
New Buffalo, Mich.
Our first annual Christmas Hike drew more than two dozen hikers, kids included, to the Nature Study Trails behind the New Buffalo Elementary School. We got an amazing, sunny, warm (for late December) day as children and adults walked the trails and looked for pine cones, spider webs, birds and other objects on a nature bingo card for prizes. Afterwards, everyone gathered in the school cafeteria for hot chocolate and prizes and gifts from Santa's helpers. (Photo: Santa's helper and HCH President Pat Fisher points the way.)
Saturday, December 7
Little Calumet River Trail
Porter, Ind.
Two dozen hikers walked the historic Indiana Dunes National Park trails near the Little Calumet River near Porter, Ind. Well before there was a country, the river and trails were important migration routes for local Indians. French-Canadian fur trappers and traders later roamed the area, among them Joseph Bailly, whose family house still stands nearby on park land. Bailly moved to the area in the early 1820s and opened a trading post, which became a gathering place for trappers and Indians. Nearby, the Chellberg farm, owned by Swedish immigrants, is also maintained by the Park Service. The hikers visited the Bailly cemetery, a square structure about eight feet tall, filled with earth and the bones of early Baillys, and topped by a large wood cross. Although one can see US12 from atop the structure, it seems isolated and out-of place in the woods. (Photo: Hikers make their way along the Calumet River Trail.)
Hikes Inspire Art
HCH member and artist Ed Ravine writes: I've so enjoyed these brief journeys through the gems of southwest Michigan. Quick study of our Grand Mere traverse.
Ed's work is on display at the Local Color gallery in Union Pier.
Grand Mere State Park
Stevensville, Mich.
A touch of remaining snow from the previous week contributed to some gorgeous vistas in this little-visited portion of Grand Mere. The Hikers climbed the back side of a foredune for a look at Lake Michigan on one side, and one of the three inland lakes left behind by the glaciers. Originally, there were five such lakes, but two have silted in over the centuries, and the remaining three eventually face the same fate. Other trails led past swampy areas adjacent to the lake, filled with fallen trees. Tracks in the snow showed the presence of deer and other animals. About 15 hikers came out for this chilly, but sunny, outing. (Photo: Hikers climbed a high dune for a look at the Lake Michigan shore and one of Grand Mere's inland lakes.)
Moon Valley, Long Beach, Ind.
Moon Valley is a 200-acre collection of preserves and parks in Long Beach, mostly owned by the town but partly privately owned. A group of local people is looking for ways to prevent the privately owned property from being developed, and to discourage the town from opening the portion it owns to development. The group is inviting individuals and groups in the area to hike the preserves, in order to develop awareness of it and to gather support to keep Moon Valley undeveloped. More than two dozen HCH members and guests showed up for this hike among the dunes, our largest attendance so far at a Flash Hike. (Photo: Hikers work their way up a dune near the entrance to Moon Valley during a November 10 Flash Hike. Flash Hikes are announced only by email a few days beforehand. There is no theme and no leader–just a group walk in the woods.)
Sunday, November 3
Fernwood Botanical Gardens and Nature Preserve
Niles, Michigan
The Hikers got a private look at the trails of Fernwood, led by Fernwood Naturalist Corey Hopwood. Following a warm welcome by Executive Director Carol Line, Hopwood–whose knowledge of local flora and fauna seemed encyclopedic–took the group along the Ridge Trail, to the River Trail, through the Wilderness Trail and finally gave the Hikers a quick look at Fernwood's Prairie (the subject of a future hike, we hope). He pointed out the different species of trees, and how some (oaks, beeches) prefer dry environments while others (sycamore, paw paw) prefer wetter surroundings. Wildlife stayed well-hidden, but Hopwood pointed out evidence of their presence: a tree nearly gnawed through by a beaver, for instance. Along the way, he gave a brief history of Fernwood. The preserve's original 12.5 acres were bought in 1941 by a family called Boydston. Mrs. Boydston was an avid nature lover, and her property became a gathering place for those who shared that love. She planted some species, like ferns, that weren't originally native to the property, and gave the place its name. The property was acquired for a botanical garden in 1964 and grew to its present size of 105 acres. Many of the hikers, even some who visit Fernwood frequently, were surprised at the extent and variety of its trails. (Photo: How do you tell a male spider from a female? Fernwood Naturalist Corey Hopwood explains. Photo by Maggie Galloway.)
Ambler Flatwoods, Michigan Cit
A great morning for a hike. Brisk fall weather, leaves falling like snow and carpeting the trails. Fourteen people, including some newcomers, turned out for our third Flash Hike. Ambler Flatwoods is a Shirley Heinze Land Trust property–more that 500 acres and almost five miles of trails–with some rare species and trees commonly found at more northerly latitudes. Flatwoods are characterized by low, flat topography, poor drainage, and acidic, sandy soil. (Photo: Technicolor leaves paved the trails for our third Flash Hike. Flash Hikes are announced only by email a few days beforehand. There is no theme and no leader–just a group walk in the woods.)
Sarett Nature Center
About 20 Hikers showed up on another gorgeous fall morning for a trek through Sarett Nature Center. The trail was a little treacherous here and there, but everyone made it back from the two-hour, two-mile hike tested but unscathed. Rob Pearce, Sarett Grounds Manager and Naturalist, led the hike through the center's upland and lowland trails. Rated moderate, some of those who hiked the trail said it felt more like moderate-plus. Half the group followed Pearce to the end of the River Trail, which added another 1.6 miles to the hike. (Photo: Rob Pearce, Sarett naturalist, shows off the different shapes of sassafras leaves. The leaves come with one, two or three lobes; the two-lobed leaf is said to resemble the state of Michigan. Photo by Janet Hayes.)
Saturday, October 5
Great Marsh Trail
Indiana Dunes National Park
Twenty hikers turned out on a beautiful fall morning for a walk through the Great Marsh, part of the largest wetland complex in the Lake Michigan watershed. Drained for development in the early 20th century, the Park Service began restoring the marsh in 1998. The Marsh Trail follows old roads created in anticipation of residential building. The Marsh is a resting stop for migrating birds that follow the Lake Michigan shoreline, and it is popular among birders. The hikers saw a hawk, many red-wing blackbirds, woodpeckers and Canada geese, and heard–but did not see–sand cranes. (Photo: Hikers listen as HCH President Pat Fisher talks about the history of the Great Marsh)
Members-Only Social
Galien River County Park
And New Buffalo Township Park
Hikers turned out for our first members-only social. The party started with a hike through Galien River County Park, followed by a bonfire, s'mores and games across the street at the New Buffalo Township Park. To close the evening, Garth Taylor, president of the School of American Music in Three Oaks, led the group in campfire songs. (Photos: Taylor on the pavilion stage and members enjoying the bonfire)
Building Wetlands
Watkins Memorial Park
Hikers heard from Berrien County Drain Commissioner Christopher Quattrin, who spoke about the advantages of creating wetlands as part of a rainwater drainage system. Wetlands, he said, create natural filtration and quickly soak up–and slowly release–water. The also slow the flow of water and prevent erosion and host many plant and animal species. Quattrin noted that the system of drain commissions in Michigan preceded statehood, and was a successful effort to create farmland. After Quattrin's talk, the Hikers–two dozen of them on this trek–viewed the Schwark Drain, a manmade wetland, and hiked the adjacent Hoadley Trail. The trail originally was set up with exercise stations along the way, and the equipment, mostly overgrown lumber and pipes at this point, still exists. Hikers President Pat Fisher pointed out plants, invasive and native, along the way. Hickory nuts were plentiful on the trail. The nuts, by the way, are edible and sometimes tasty. They were a popular forage food for local Indians, who valued them for their high calorie content and either ate them raw or boiled them in water to make a kind of porridge. Pecans are the nut of the southern hickory. (Photo: Hikers have a peek at the Schwark Drain from at overlook. Photo by Janet Hayes.)
Our First Flash Hike
A small but convivial group walked the trails of Jens Jensen Preserve and the adjacent Pepperidge Dunes on the Hikers' first Flash Hike. Flash Hikes are informal walks through local parks and preserves, and are announced just days beforehand by email only. The Wednesday evening hike featured nearly perfect weather and not too many bugs. Along the way, the hikers reviewed how to read the trail markers designed by HCH President Pat Fisher. Those who joined the hike agreed the Flash Hikes should continue and remarked that the format was great for socializing and offered a measure of safety that solo walks in the the woods might not.
Arborist Christian Siewert of C&A Arborists pointed out stressed trees along the trail, and noted that stressors may include lack of water or disease. Symptoms of stress include dried or curled leaves and premature leaf shedding. Overwatering isn't usually a problem, he said, in our locally sandy soil. Siewert advised against pruning unless an overhanging limb threatens a roof, for example. "All pruning wounds the tree," he said. Another threat to trees is compacting soil around their roots. This can happen when vehicles or construction equipment drives over root systems. A recent threat to oaks, Siewert said, is oak wilt, a fungus spread through roots or by beetles that carry the fungus. He recommended severing the roots of infected trees and avoiding pruning in the summer when the beetles are active. The hikers ran into a recently fallen tree that blocked the trail until member Bob Vondale found a way around it. Altogether, more than 50 people showed up for the hike–our biggest attendance ever. (Photos: Top–Christian Siewert points our a stressed tree along the trail. Bottom–A fallen tree blocked the trail, but the hikers found a way around it.)
The Sights and Sounds of Dusk
Chikaming Township Park and Preserve
About 20 hikers, many of them first-timers, came for a dusk hike at the Chikaming Township Park and Preserve. Hikers President Pat Fisher ran through a list of nocturnal animals native to the area, and pointed out the sounds of cicadas and frogs along the way. Most of the critters stayed well clear of the group, but a bat and some water birds put in a showing, and a gibbous moon provided plenty of light after the sun went down.
Far-Flung Hikers Send Greetings
Harbor Country Hikers Joe and Marian Kelly are hiking the foothills of Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) today [August 9]. Cannot wait to share our adventures when we get back.
Hiking for Those with Limited Mobility
Glenwood Dunes Trail
Jim Dolph, an intrepid hiker who lost his legs in an industrial accident, shared his hiking experiences before and after his accident. Kim Swift, from the Park Service, presented a list of existing trails that are ADA friendly and one that is still in the planning stages. She brought along a Freedom Trax, a device that transforms a conventional wheelchair into an off-road vehicle that can traverse sand, snow, gravel and mud. Dolph strapped his wheelchair onto the Freedom Trax and joined us on a one-mile hike that took us up and over hills and through the woods. He remarked that this was the first time he's been in the woods since his accident, and that he will certainly add a Freedom Trax to his Christmas list. (Photo: Jim Dolph talks with the hikers. A Freedom Trax is in the foreground. Photo by Pat Fisher)
Genetically Altered Species
Harbert Road Preserve
Invasive species educator Jared Harmon spoke on genetic species alteration on a hike through the Harbert Road Preserve. About 10 Hikers showed up–warnings of excessive heat may have kept some away, though it never got above the 80s during the hike. Harmon said genetic engineering can, for example, make mosquitoes or rats infertile in a location within a few generations. The danger is that the genetically altered species can spread to other locations, where they may form an important part of the ecosystem. New techniques, he said, are addressing that problem. Along the trail, Harmon showed off a variety of locally invasive species like autumn olive, barberry and some types of thistle. (Photo: Harmon explains the differences between invasive, hybrid and native species of cattail.)
Lake Michigan Water Level
Ties Record for July
Wonder where the beaches went? The water level in Lake Michigan has tied a July record set in 1986, according to a July 5 report from the Army Corps of Engineers. Currently, the lake is three feet above its long-term average for July. The July figure is four inches above the comparable figure for June and 15 inches above last July's level, and the Corps of Engineers is predicting the lake will rise another two inches in August.
Pinhook Bog and the Valparaiso Moraine
The Hikers visited Pinhook Bog, part of the Indiana Dunes National Park, then hiked the surrounding trail up and through the Valparaiso Moraine. Both the bog and the moraine are artifacts of glacial activity thousands of years ago. The bog formed when a chunk of glacial ice fell and made a dent in the area's clay soil. The clay soil formed a lining which was impervious to water, and since the bog has no inlet or outlet, its only sources of water are rain and snow. Over the millenia, the bog filled with moss and other plants that give it the appearance of solid land, even though it is not. Carnivorous plants abound in the bog, as do species of orchid. Seven hikers continued on to the moraine hike, perhaps our toughest trek yet. The moraine marks the edge of the glacier, and is one of the highest points in northern Indiana. But the trip through multiple environments–forests, a pond, grasslands–made the tough walking well worth it. (Photo: Unusually heavy rains caused bog waters to splash over the boardwalk at Pinhook Bog, as this photo of the entrance to the boardwalk demonstrates.)
Hiking Tips (and More)
For Walking the Camino de Santiago
Mary Rooney, a retired hospital worker from South Bend, told the story of her five pilgrimages on the Camino de Santiago, a 500-mile trail that starts in France and ends up at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. Speaking at a program sponsored jointly by the Hikers and the Friends of the New Buffalo Library, Rooney told the audience she packs lightly–a maximum of 12 pounds. She carries one change of clothes, a pair of sandals, a sleeping bag and little else. Even the journal she keeps is made of tracing paper, to keep weight down. On slow days on the trail (depending mostly on geography), she walks eight or nine miles; on her best day ever, she hiked 28 miles. For aspiring pilgrims, Rooney said, some things have gotten easier since she began walking the trail in 2001. The albergos (inns) have gotten better, and there are more places to find meals. Rooney's favorite things about walking the Camino: the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, being in nature and living in the present, without everyday distractions.
How Much Nature Is Enough?
120 Minutes a Week, Doctors Say
(From the New York Times, 6/13/19)
It's a medical fact: Spending time outdoors, especially in green spaces, is good for you.
A wealth of research indicates that escaping to a neighborhood park, hiking through the woods, or spending a weekend by the lake can lower a person's stress levels, decrease blood pressure and reduce the risk of asthma, allergies, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, while boosting mental health and increasing life expectancy. Doctors around the world have been prescribing time in nature as a way of improving their patients' health.
One question has remained: How long, or how frequently, should you experience the great outdoors in order to reap its great benefits?…According to a paper published…in the journal Scientific Reports, the answer is about 120 minutes each week.
The study examined data from nearly 20,000 people in England who took part in [a survey] from 2014 to 2016, which asked them to record their activities within the past week. It found that people who spent two hours a week or more outdoors reported being in better health and having a greater sense of well-being than people who didn't get out at all.
Spending just 60 to 90 minutes in nature did not have as significant an effect. And five hours a week in nature offered no additional health benefits. "…Two hours a week was the threshold for both men and women, older and younger adults, different ethnic groups, people living in richer or poorer areas, and even for those living with long term illnesses," [according to Matthew P. White, an environmental psychologist who led the study].
Beach Appreciation
Beaches of Chikaming Township
Hikers who walked the Chikaming Township beaches on June 1 got a first-hand look at the effects of beach erosion and the unusually high waters of Lake Michigan. Originally set for Townline Beach to Warren Dunes, the route was changed, from Cherry Beach to Warren Dunes and back, because there were spots along the original route where there was no beach. In many places north of Cherry Beach, the sand was only a few feet wide. Before the Hikers set off, David Bunte gave an update on efforts by the Township to acquire additional lakefront adjacent to Cherry Beach. Chikaming Fire Chief Mike Davidson spoke about beach safety and the township's marker system that helps guide emergency teams to beach-goers in trouble. As if to underscore high-water problems, the Hikers passed a tent recently pitched on the beach that had been partly dismantled by the lake's waves. (Photo by Janet Hayes)
Mud Lake Bog, Buchanan, Mich.
Mud Lake Bog began as a kettle lake, glacially formed depression that filled with melt water as the glacier retreated. When kettle lakes have no outlet, their water becomes acidic and plants like sphagnum mosses grow on the lake's surface, intertwine and create the vegetative mats characteristic of bogs. Hike leader Jack Pizzo, an ecologist and landscape architect, pointed out native and invasive plants to the 30-plus hikers who showed up for the outing, and noted some of the species that favor the habitat–carnivorous plants like pitcher plants and sundew, and orchids among them. Pizzo also noted that the boardwalks and other structures in the preserve are in need of repair, and that volunteers and donors are being sought to bring them up to par and to help control invasives. (Photo: Ecologist Jack Pizzo–in the orange cap–explains bog environments to the Hikers)
The Micro World of Vernal Ponds
NBAS Nature Study Trails
Ecologist Brock Struecker led about 18 hikers to a pair of vernal, or ephemeral, ponds along the trails behind the New Buffalo elementary school. Vernal ponds form in depressions in forests and prairies, and last long enough to serve as nurseries for larvae of amphibians and insects, Struecker said. Because the ponds have no inlet or outlet, they have no fish that might prey on the larvae. Strueker showed photos of a variety of frogs, toads and salamanders that reach maturity in vernal ponds, and he spoke about the environments the amphibians prefer. After Struecker's talk, the Hikers continued to turtle pond, through fields of wildflowers and skunk cabbage. (Photo: Struecker shows off a red-backed salamander found near a vernal pond)
May 2, New Buffalo Township Library
Harbor Country Hikers members re-elected incumbent officers (President Pat Fisher, VP Stacey LaRocco, Secretary Evie Rowley and Treasurer Bob Mueller) at a general membership meeting on May 2. Fisher gave a report on hikes and other events the Hikers have sponsored since the group's inception in 2017, and presented a list of planned hikes for the next several months. He also said the club's trail marker program should include most of the trails in New Buffalo, Three Oaks and Chikaming townships by the end of the year, thanks in part to widespread buy-in by parks and preserves authorities and donations from civic groups and individuals. Mueller reported that the Hikers is in good financial shape, with most of its income coming from member dues and donations. He added that the club currently has 126 members, many from well outside the boundaries of Harbor Country. Member input included suggestions for a social event, so members could get to know one another better, and hikes at more distant locations. Fisher said the board would consider carefully both suggestions.
Spring Wildflower Walk and Talk
Warren Woods State Park
Arch Hopkins, HCH member and PhD botanist, led 23 hikers for a look at the many wildflowers in bloom at Warren Woods. Hopkins noted that the flowers bloom only briefly–once the overhead canopy fills in, they can't get enough sunlight to flower. Among the species he pointed out: wild ginger, purple violet, wild geranium, white and red trillium, Jack-in-the-pulpit, May apple, Dutchman's britches, spring beauty, bloodroot and round-lobed hepatica. Hopkins said some wildflowers were considered medicinal because some feature of those plants resembled parts of the human body. Bloodroot, for example, has red sap, from which early pharmacists concuded it was good for the blood. An unusual late snowstorm the day before the hike left patches of white in the woodlands, but most had melted by the time hikers headed back to the parking lot. (Photo: Arch Hopkins, on the right, points out a wildflower species)
Prairie Management
Two dozen hikers came on a glorious spring Saturday to learn more about how controlled, or prescribed, fires help preserve native prairie plants. Chikaming Township Parks Board member Deborah Hall-Kayler described how her board tries to do a prescribed burn of the prairie lands in the Park and Preserve every three years. She described a recent burn, and told how the experts controlled the fire, taking into account winds and types of vegetation. Hike leader Buffy Dunham, an experienced monitor of prescribed fires results, noted that some native plants are fire-dependent–that is, they depend on fires–deliberately set or natural–to clear the landscape of invasive species. She counseled balancing the effects of prescribed burns to take into account not only plants, but animal and insect species living in the burn area. After Dunham's talk, the hikers walked around some of the burnt prairie, then worked their way into the wooded portion of the property. (Photo: Buffy Dunham stands in front of a portion of burnt prairie)
Forgotten Skills–How the Indians Survived Michigan Winters
Ever wonder how Michigan's Indians survived winter without central heating and trips south? Turns out some actually did head south–to southern Michigan, that is–to better winter hunting and fishing grounds. Snow made tracking game easier, and kept meat fresh longer. Some lived on fish caught through holes in the ice. Local Indians lived in wigwams or long houses, which kept the wind out, and they kept fires going. They dressed in layers and avoided sitting on cold ground. And some–the old, the infirm, the careless–didn't survive winter. Some tribes developed good weather forecasting abilities that enabled them to predict snow and blizzards and stay indoors when they came.
Despite rain just before the hike, about 20 hikers showed up on the 30th. A few tried their hands (and their knees) climbing dunes like the one pictured. (Photo by Pat Fisher)
HCH/BASE Program
Enters Second Year
The signs of spring were subtle, but definitely there as volunteers from the Harbor Country Hikers led a dozen youngsters from the New Buffalo BASE (Bison After School Enrichment) program through the educational trails behind the elementary school. The ravines were full of burbling water and the crows were busy alerting the animal kingdom to our invasion. We even heard a chipmunk rustle through the leaves, and deer tracks and scat were also in evidence. After checking out the budding beech trees–still holding onto last year's leaves–we ventured into a ravine to find the skunk cabbages that were everybody's favorite last year. The partnership between the Hikers and the BASE program is meant to provide children with exposure to nature and to promote trail safety and etiquette.
Sugar Maple Hike
Bendix Woods County Park
About 14 hikers made the trip down to Bendix Woods County Park in New Carlisle for a look at how maple syrup is made and at the trees that ultimately produce it. The group traveled over some fairly rough terrain and climbed the steep Carlisle Hill, the second-highest point in St. Joseph County, Ind. The hikers passed through a "sugar bush"–a stand of maples used for making syrup–and visited the park's sugar shack to see how maple sap is turned into maple syrup. They also walked through the Studebaker pine forest, a group of pines that spells "Studebaker" when viewed from above. (Photo by Janet Hayes)
Bendix Woods will be making maple syrup next weekend, if the weather cooperates. see http://www.sjcparks.org/1185/Sugar-Camp-Days for more information.
Ice Formations in Lake Michigan
New Buffalo Beach
Unfortunately, no sunset for this evening hike and presentation, but plenty of ice in the lake. Twenty-eight people showed up for the presentation on ice formations and most walked to the ice shelf afterwards. A few walked to the end of the beach, up the dune stairs, across the walkway and back down the parking lot stairs. It wasn't an especially long hike–we rated it "easy"–but it was a nippy evening. (Photo by Phil Eichas)
Mild Weather (for February) Brings Out
Hikers for Animal Tracking Lesson
More than 30 hikers, including some first-timers, turned out on February 17 at the Jens Jensen Preserve in Sawyer to learn about animal signs from Chikaming Open Lands' Casey Struecker. The weather was balmy by mid-February standards–just above freezing with light snow. Despite the fresh covering, the hikers were able to find some tracks and everyone learned a little about tracks and scat.
Changes Last Name to 'Park'
From the South Bend Tribune
The Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has changed the last word of its name to "Park." President Donald Trump on Friday signed the name change into reality, tucked into the broader bill from Congress that provides $1.4 billion for Mexican border fencing.
For two years, regional leaders in Congress had been pushing for the word "Park" as a way to gain greater recognition for these 15,000 acres along Lake Michigan, which already are a national park.
The change, which is immediate, won't affect how the park operates or its funding, apart from signs and literature, but leaders are hoping that it will boost tourism, drawings more people who seek out national parks. It is now the 61st such "National Park" in the U.S., and the first in Indiana.
"This action provides our shoreline with the recognition it deserves," said U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville, "and I hope further builds momentum to improve open and public access to all of our region's environmental wonders."
The park contains some of the most diverse flora of the national parks, ranging from dune grass to forests, oak savannas, prairies, a bog and wetlands, some of which are considered globally rare.
Websites about Helping Birds in Winter
http://www.thespruce.com/winter-bird-feeding-tips-386586
http://www.lifegate.com/people/lifestyle/bird-feeders-recycled-materials
Helping Birds Survive Winter
Nearly 30 hikers turned out on a sunny, late fall Saturday to learn about helping birds through the winter and walk the trails of the Harbert Road Preserve. HCH President Pat Fisher talked about how to create backyard habitats from brushwood. The habitats can provide shelter in bad weather and hide birds from predators. During winter, Fisher said, birds need food that's high in fats and proteins–definitely not bits of stale bread and crackers. He also showed some pictures of bird feeders made from discarded materials like plastic milk and soda bottles and even worn-out shoes. The trails were muddy and sometimes covered in water. Trails in the Preserve, Fisher explained, cross a moraine, where to the soil drains well, and a lower-lying area where the soil contains a lot of clay, which does not drain well. HCH Member and Chikaming Township Parks Board member Deborah Hall-Kayler pointed out "bluebird boxes" along the trail. The boxes, and others like them in local parks and preserves, provide shelter and food for the bluebirds, which otherwise might have died off in our area.
Tuesday, December 4
Wild Lake Michigan
The Hikers and their guests learned about the recreational opportunities our own Lake Michigan offers, and also about the environmental threats to it and the dangers it poses. HCH Director and owner of Sand Pirate Janet Schrader spoke about the environmental threats to the lake, from plastics and agricultural chemicals to invasive species and sewage brought by unusually heavy rainfall. Stacey LaRocco, HCH vice president and project coordinator for Chikaming Open Lands, listed some of the dangers the lake poses and how to avoid or escape them. She discussed different types of currents that can threaten swimmers, dangerous weather and infectious bacteria, among other potential dangers. HCH President Pat Fisher spoke about hiking the Lake Michigan beaches safely and with respect for lakeside landowners. He also discussed winter hiking and some of the equipment he uses for his cold-weather hikes. Eve Moore won the door prize–a collection of photos of the lake by Phil Eichas. Eichas's photos appear in the Harbor Country News and he is official photographer for Friendship Gardens.
National Take-A-Hike Day
Hoadley Trail, Three Oaks
Despite a light drizzle and a soggy trail, 15 hikers–including some newcomers–showed up at Hoadley Trail in Three Oaks to hike in honor of national Take-A-Hike Day. President Pat Fisher gave a brief talk on trail safety, and showed off the new trail markers installed the previous Saturday. Our youngest hiker so far, Sean Nicka, age 2, came along to check out the scenery, along with parents Emily and John.
Hiking the Appalachian Trail with Fred Jolly
Nearly 70 people, both HCH members and non-members, showed up to hear New Buffalo resident Fred Jolly talk about his experiences through-hiking the Appalachian Trail. Jolly started his hike last March 25, his 62nd birthday, and hiked 2,190 miles through 14 states to become one of fewer than 500 people over the age of 60 to complete the trek since the trail was created in 1937. One of the biggest surprises, Jolly said, was the number of hills the trail runs over. Although there were bears and snakes along the way, a larger annoyance were bugs–ticks and mosquitoes–and mice chewing through gear in search of food. One of Jolly's goals was to raise $25,000 in donations for the National Park Foundation. Although he's exceeded that goal, he still encourages giving to the Foundation. Check out his website, http://www.athike.jollyoutthere.com, to read the full story of his hike and to make a donation. (Photo by Pat Fisher)
Hoadley Trail, Watkins Park
A hardy band of Hikers and members of the Harbor Country Rotary Club braved cold weather and mud to install trail markers along Hoadley Trail in Three Oaks. The markers, designed by Hikers President Pat Fisher, are meant to give uniform guidance throughout parks and preserves in Berrien Country, with directions forward and back to the trailhead and a unique number that can pinpoint the location of hikers in trouble for emergency services. The Hoadley Trail markers, contributed by the Rotary Club, are the second set installed so far. Photo: HCH Secretary Evie Rowley drives home a trail marker while Fisher and Treasurer Bob Mueller look on. (Photo by Janet Schrader)
Dune Ridge Trail
Indiana Dunes/Beverly Shores
Thirty-three hikers turned out on a partly sunny day to hike the Dune Ridge Trail and enjoy the beautiful fall colors. Along the way, they discussed the glacial history of Northwest Indiana and the more recent history of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. After the hike, President Pat Fisher led a caravan of five cars that stopped to view the Century of Progress houses in Beverly Shores, the National Lakeshore Lakeview Picnic Area and the Great Marsh. (Photo by Janet Schrader)
Amazing Fall Migrations
A dozen-and-a-half hikers turned out on a glorious Saturday morning to spot birds along a Warren Dunes trail. Lisa Doyle-Schaller (that's her in the red coat) gave a brief talk on fall bird migrations and called out birds–visually or by their calls–along the way. Areas like Warren Dunes provide refuge for migrating birds as they head south.
Fall Ravine View Hiking
Love Creek County Park
Kip Miller, chief naturalist for Berrien County Parks and property manager at Love Creek Park (in the black shirt at the center of the photo), led 27 hikers through about 2-3/4 miles of Love Creek's six miles of hiking trails. Along the way, hikers got spectacular views of beech-maple climax forests, saw some late-blooming wildflowers, peered into deep ravines from atop trails that followed them, and learned a little about Love Creek Park. Miller noted that the park offers off-road bicycling and cross-country skiing in season, as well as hiking.
Shifting Sands: The Film and the Hike
(New Buffalo Township Library and Cowles Bog)
In this two-part event, the Hikers watched an excellent film called Shifting Sands, about efforts to preserve Northern Indiana dunelands from industrial encroachment–efforts that eventually led to state and national parks. The film did a fine job of presenting both sides of the story, and of tying together the stories of many small groups that, together, saved this diverse region. Rumor is the New Buffalo Township Library is getting a copy. Following the film, the Hikers walked the 3-1/2 mile trail at Cowles Bog, one of the areas mentioned, and saw an egret, sand cranes, lots of monarchs and some unfamiliar plants and flowers.
New Buffalo Resident Nearing
End of Appalachian Trail Hike
New Buffalo resident Fred Jolly reported on August 22 that he had covered 1700 miles of the Appalacian Trail, and had another 490-odd miles left in New Hampshire and Maine to complete the 2190-mile trek. Jolly, 62, will be one of fewer than 500 people over age 60 to have hiked the length of the trail when he completes it. He set out in May from Georgia, partly with a goal to raise money for the National Parks. See Jolly's website, http://www.athike.jollyoutther.com, to learn how to contribute. We hope to persuade Jolly to talk to the hikers about his experiences when he returns.
More than two dozen hikers turned out for a Saturday morning hike through the Chikaming Township Park and Preserve. Before the hikers set out, HCH VP Stacey LaRocco spoke about how wetlands improve water quality. Wetlands filter out nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticides from agricultural runoff. They slow the flow of water and prevent downstream erosion and flooding. They also provide habitats for birds and mammals. Afterward, hikers had a look at some of the many ecosystems the park and preserve contains–a planted bluestem tallgrass prairie, a pond, wetlands, the Galien River floodplain and more.
Saturday, August 4
New Buffalo Elementary School Trails
On a hike co-sponsored by the New Buffalo Township Library, hikers learned a little about how trees survive Michigan winters–and how trees may communicate and what they say to one another.
Hike leader and HCH President Pat Fisher explained that different trees have developed different strategies to deal with cold weather. Some develop bulb-like underground structures that store nutrients for the winter. Others create sugars that dissolve in water carried by the tree's vascular system. These act as a sort of antifreeze that lowers the water's freezing point.
Some fairly new research suggests trees can communicate with one another. Trees are connected by microscopic networks of mycorrhizal fungi that attach to their roots. These symbiotic networks, the researchers say, allow the trees to share water and nutrients and send each other distress signals about disease, insect attacks and drought. Some trees also release pheramones when they're attacked by insects or even leaf-eating animals. The pheramones inform other trees of the attack and, in some cases, cause them to release chemicals that make their leaves bitter and unappetizing to predators.
The Hikers got a preview of a new trail marking system developed by HCH President Pat Fisher. The system is being tested at Chikaming Open Lands' Robinson Woods Preserve, and the plan is to roll it out into other COL properties, as well as township and county parks. The goal, according to Fisher, is to have common, easy-to-understand signage throughout Harbor Country parks and preserves.
Each marker carries a unique location number that will eventually help emergency services locate lost or injured hikers. It also gives directions to the next marker, identifies the trail and carries other information when appropriate. Separate trailhead signs show a trail map, list rules and identify the type of trail–hiking, cross-county skiing, biking and so on.
Spicer Lake Nature Preserve
The Hikers journeyed to Spicer Lake Nature Preserve in New Carlisle, Ind., home to two kettle lakes, swamps, and numerous plants and animals. Michaele Klingerman, a naturalist with the St. Joseph County (Indiana) Parks, explained that kettle lakes formed when large chunks of ice fell off retreating glaciers during the last Ice Age, and left a water-filled dent in the ground. The three-dozen Hikers who made the trip also saw evidence of beavers and several different bird species–Spicer Lake is known as a good birding destination. Klingerman told the story of how an Audubon Society member raised money to buy the original 70 acres of preserve. Some came in nickels and dimes raised by children. Today, additional land purchases have expanded the preserve to 300 acres.
Kesling Nature Preserve
About 20 hikers explored the unusual geology and thick forest of the Kesling Nature Preserve last Saturday. Kesling is regarded as a prime bird-watching location.
A Thank-You Note from
Andrea Brown and the BASE Kids
Mt. Baldy Sunset Hike
The Hikers–along with scores of others–scaled Mt. Baldy for a nice view of the sunset the Friday before the Labor Day weekend. Along the way, a Park Service Ranger explained some of the geology behind the dune's formation. Mt. Baldy, he said, is actually two dunes–an ancient dune that goes back 8,000 years and a newer dune–less than a thousand years old–that sits on top of it. Mt. Baldy is a "living dune;" that is, it continues to move southward. Plants, especially marram grass, bind the dune together with their roots. Buried trees, according to the ranger, were responsible for creating the hole that swallowed and nearly killed an Illinois boy in 2013. The tree trunks decompose, leaving a hard crust around their circumference that keeps the hole from filling in with sand. Park officials are still looking for other holes, and parts of Mt. Baldy are still off-limits. From the top of the dune, the ranger pointed out the Valparaiso Moraine to the south, a ridge that marks the edge of an Ice Age glacier. (Photos by Andrea Brown)
Turtle Pond with the BASE kids
Turtle Pond, a small patch of preserve connected by trails to the New Buffalo Elementary School and Turtle Creek Preserve trails, was the destination for the school's after-hours hiking program, sponsored by HCH. The trails were wet and muddy, and the hikers got a good look at animal tracks along the way. The pond itself was home to noisy frogs, but the turtles kept well-hidden–and quiet. That's BASE director Andrea Brown in the sun glasses and HCH President Pat Fisher lurking in the background.
New Buffalo Elementary School
Christian Siewert, certified arborist and founder of C&A Arborists (in the yellow teeshirt), donated a tulip tree to the New Buffalo Elementary School, and he and the after-school BASE kids–along with local boy and girl scouts–helped plant it on the school grounds for Arbor Day. The children decided the tree needed a name, and called it Bob. After the planting, Siewert led the group on a walk through the trails behind the school and pointed out different tree species and facts about them. (Photo by Janet Hayes)
Spring Wildflower Hike, Warren Woods
Two dozen hikers made it to our Wildflowers Hike April 21. Member and botanist Arch Hopkins led the group through Warren Woods, Michigan's last surviving beech-maple climax forest. At one time, Hopkins said, beech-maple forests extended all the way from the East Coast to the Great Lakes. But the climax forests thrive on exactly the same sort of soil that makes ideal farmland, and most were cleared for agriculture. Wildflowers in the forests are around only briefly, according to Hopkins. Once the overhead canopy fills in, there isn't enough sunlight for them to bloom. Along the way, hikers discovered cut-leaved toothwort, wild leek, Dutchman's britches, bloodroot, round-lobed hepatica and trout lily. Hopkins suggested hikers return in about two weeks—around May 5—when additional spring wildflowers will be in bloom.
Harbor Country Hikers Partners
With New Buffalo Elementary School
On 'Connecting with Nature' Program
Harbor Country Hikers and the New Buffalo Elementary School BASE program have joined forces to get students onto local trails. We will be presenting the program from a naturalist's perspective during the third trimester at BASE. The nature hikes will take place on Thursdays from 4:45 to 5:45pm for 10 weeks, starting March 12. Since this time period spans the spring months and American National Wetlands Month (May), we will concentrate on observing the re-leafing of trees, awakening of the wildflowers and hibernators, and exploring the surrounding wetlands. This program will provide casual exposure to nature and promote trail safety and etiquette.
New Buffalo Resident Plans to Hike
Entire 2200-Mile Appalachian Trail
Fred Jolly, who recently moved to New Buffalo, is planning to spend this summer hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine. The 62-year-old former Chicagoan recently visited all 59 national parks during a 2-1/2-year road trip. Though no stranger to hiking–among others, Jolly has been on several HCH hikes–he admits to very little experience camping out on trails. He points out that the average age of those who walk the entire 2200-mile length of the Appalachian Trail is 29, and that fewer than 500 individuals 60 or older have completed the trail in its 81-year history. Jolly is hiking the trail in part to raise funds for the National Park Foundation, and is asking HCH members and others for their support. Donors can find out more at crowdrise.com/freds-athike or on his Facebook page, Fred R Jolly. If you're interested in following Jolly's progress, you can do so at his Facebook page, on his website, athike.jollyoutthere.com, or on Instagram @jollyoutthere. Jolly has agreed to give a talk to the Hikers about his experiences when he returns in the fall.
In Like a Lion: Ice Formations of Lake Michigan
This evening's hike had some good news and some bad news. The bad news: a streak of unusually warm weather has melted most of the ice on the lakeshore. A collection of photos, most taken locally by President Pat Fisher, showed the most common ice formations, the hazards some represent and the protection they provide for our beaches. The good news: another terrific sunset with views of Chicago and the sun reflecting off the glass in the Willis Tower. (Photo by Pat Fisher)
An Introduction to Off-Trail Hiking
At least 15 hikers showed up for a cross-country, off-trail hike on the New Buffalo Elementary School and Turtle Creek preserves. No snow for snowshoeing, but the hikers were able to traverse the frozen wetlands without getting their feet wet. Hike leader and HCH President Pat Fisher pointed out natural features and winter plants. The pileated woodpeckers have been busy pecking at the trees. Hot Chocolate and wafer cookies were delivered at the end of the hike. (Photo by Janet Hayes)
Clean Your Boots, Other Gear
To Prevent Spread of Invasives
Jared Harmon of SW X SW Corner Invasive Species Management Area writes: The New Year is a time where individuals make an effort to address their personal flaws or change their behavior to better themselves or the world around them. Many will attempt to make these changes but unfortunately most will falter and slip back into their former habits after a short time period. One change I encourage everyone to make this year is to be mindful of spreading invasive species into the natural areas they visit by decontaminating their gear and equipment when entering and leaving natural areas. When we think of the principle of "Leave No Trace" we often think that applies only to human recreational impact to the environment but we should also include the introduction of invasive species from human activity. Decontamination not only applies to hikers but includes cleaning off tires, gear, equipment, clothing, pets, and anything that comes into contact with soil that could contain seeds and pathogens. An easy way to decontaminate boots is to keep a hoof brush/pick or a simple boot brush in a hiking pack to use before and after a hike. The recent detection last summer of Japanese Stiltgrass on a trail in Niles demonstrates how important it is to decontaminate in order to protect our local ecosystems. The only other introduction of Japanese Stiltgrass in Michigan was in Ann Arbor with the closest populations being found in parts of Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.
New Year resolutions can be difficult to keep but decontamination takes only a couple minutes and is an important measure to protect the natural world that we enjoy so much. Sadly many gyms will soon be empty as resolutions are broken but fortunately keeping our gear and clothing clean is easy and requires little effort on our part.
For more information, contact Harmon at jared.harmon@macd.org.
January 6, 2018–Cross-Country Skiing
At Love Creek County Park
The Hikers' first activity of the year was a cross-country ski trip to Love Creek County Park. Turnout was good, considering the weather–some experienced skiers, some first-timers. The trails were well-groomed with plenty of snow, though there was no wind and no falling snow while the group was there.
Love Creek County Park a 'Huge Destination'
For Cross-Country Skiers
About our January 6 cross-country ski trip to Love Creek Park (see Events page), Mrs. Daniels of Porter Country, IN writes, "You say 'this place is in the middle of nowhere' but Love Creek County Park is a HUGE destination for us X-C skiers. Anyone who X-C skis knows that Love Creek is the only x-c ski facility, within a huge area, that grooms their trails for classic style and skating technique. We drive for hours in the winter to get to Love Creek. No place in NW Indiana grooms nor other trails in Berrien County nor SE Chicagoland. The next x-c area that grooms is Madeline Bertrand Park in Niles and the adjoining park directly south on the Indiana state line and in Indiana–St. Patrick's Park. A further drive for many of us. Love Creek rents X-C ski equipment, fat tire bicycles and snowshoes. We x-c skiers who wait in anticipation for Love Creek to open their winter trails have our own equipment. Enjoy the trails of Love Creek County Park; you should have plenty of snow."
New Cross Country Ski Trails in New Buffalo
New Buffalo has some brand new cross-country ski trails on several blocks of undeveloped city right-of-ways, a portion of the New Buffalo Area Schools' Nature Study Trails and Turtle Creek Preserve. Bring your own skis and be patient: this is a voluntary effort by local residents and friends. You can access these trails from the corners of Washington and Chicago or Eagle and Clay. Limited parking is available at New Buffalo's Turtle Pond Nature Preserve. The trails are also accessible from the Elementary School, where more parking is available. The photo above was taken after our Christmas Eve snowfall. Imagine how nice they are with all the snow we've had since!
Follow this link for maps and driving directions. (Scroll down for second map.)
December 13, Night Hike at the
New Buffalo Area Schools Nature Trails
Despite chilly winds, 14 hikers showed up for our first night hike. HCH President Pat Fisher led the group past a network of ravines created when the prehistoric Lake Baroda broke through its banks and created rivers and streams headed ultimately for Lake Michigan. Fisher also spoke about ecological succession, how grasslands gave way to oak/hickory forests and, eventually, beech/maple climax forests. He also noted that many tree species native to climates further north could be found in Southwest Michigan. Cloudy skies prevented a look at the Geminid meteor shower, but after the hike, participants paused for a cup of hot chocolate and a talk by VP Stacey LaRocco on where to look for the meteors in coming days. When and if the clouds dissipate over the next day or two, look to the northeast sky, near the constellation Orion.
In case you didn't finish the grip on your hiking stick at the library last weekend
(or if you'd like to try on your own), check out this video.
November 19, The Great Marsh Trail
The Hikers showed up for this trek to the Great Marsh in Beverly Shores, Indiana, but the birds…not so much. Hike leader Stacey LaRocco, HCH VP and Chikaming Open Lands Project Coordinator, explained how migratory birds use the Lake Michigan shoreline to help navigate on their way south, and how this helps funnel them into the marshes of Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana. After a cold front comes through, birds hitchhike on northerly winds, and this can lead to a large concentration of them on the lake's southern shore. LaRocco also gave a brief history of the marsh. Early in the 20th century a real estate developer drained the marsh with a view to building high-end houses near the lake. Environmentalists blocked development, but only recently were the drainage channels blocked and the marsh restored.
Exotic Fungus Threatens Local Oak Trees
Oak wilt fungal spore mat courtesy of MSU Extension
Oak wilt is an exotic fungal disease that impacts both red and white oaks but is particularly deadly to the red oak family. Oak wilt kills trees by clogging sapwood vessels by inhibiting the transport of water and can kill red oaks as quickly as one to two months. Oak wilt has two methods of spreading and this is done by grafting through tree roots or transportation by beetles visiting wound sites on infected trees. The DNR recommends to not prune or damage oak trees from April through July when the beetles are most active. However, these beetles are known to be active when temperatures are above 40 degrees and will visit oaks as quickly as a few seconds after being damaged. If trees are to be pruned it is recommended to immediately cover the wound with latex paint or wound dressing. Symptoms of oak wilt include premature leaf drop in the summer, cracks in bark, and the presence of fungal pads. There are a number of pests and diseases that resemble oak wilt and it is recommended to consult a professional for identification and diagnoses. The best way to prevent this disease from further impacting our forests and landscapes is continual education of the public and proper tree management. For more information about oak wilt please contact me at jared.harmon@macd.org or DNR-FRD-Forest-Health@michigan.gov or by phone at (517) 284-5895.
Oak Wilt in Michigan's Forest Resource
How To Identify, Prevent, and Control Oak Wilt
October 21, Galien River County Park
Thirty-five hikers. some from as far away as Utah, took advantage of a beautiful fall Saturday to walk the trails and boardwalks, and of course visit the canopy overlook, of the Galien River County Park in New Buffalo Township. Hike leader Kip Miller, naturalist with Berrien County Parks, pointed out ash trees that had fallen to the emerald ash borer and muskrat lodges built of cattails in park's marsh. He also explained how the marsh waters rise and fall with the water levels of Lake Michigan.
Saturday's hike attracted our youngest hiker yet, Sean Nicka of Bridgman, pictured above with parents Emily and John.
October 15, Chikaming Park and Preserve
A small but hardy group of hikers braved a drizzly, windy day for a look at the flooded Galien River, swollen by heavy rains the day before. They discussed some future stewardship projects (more on this later) and took in the changing leaves at this outstanding park and preserve.
What gives fall leaves their color? Turns out that despite all the hues we see on trees during this season, only three pigments color leaves: chlorophyll, carotenoid and anthocyan. Chlorophyll, of course, is the green chemical in plants that enables the conversion of sunlight and carbon dioxide into the energy that supports plant growth, stored as carbohydrates. An important byproduct of the process is most of the oxygen we breathe.
Carotenoids are yellow and orange pigments, the same chemicals that color corn, carrots and bananas. Carotinoids are always present in leaves, but are masked by chlorophyll during the growing season. When trees stop producing chlorophyll in the fall, the carotenoids show through, and leaves turn yellow, orange and brown.
Anthocyan is present in only some species, and is produced as a form of protection. It allows the plant to recover nutrients in the leaves before they fall off, and helps prepare the tree for the next growing season. Anthocyan is responsible for the bright shades of red, purple and crimson in maples, sassafras and sumac.
September 30, Grand Mere
Two dozen hikers hit the trails of Grand Mere State Park last Saturday, and got beautiful, early-fall weather for exploring this little-visited collection of landscapes found nowhere else in the world. Grand Mere contains three ancient lakes formed by glaciers 10,000 years ago. Originally, there were five, but two have filled in over the centuries and the remaining lakes will, too, eventually. The park includes a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, backed by high dunes, and spectacular views. Its wetlands and dunes are significant for migrating waterfowl and songbirds. Grand Mere was made a National Natural Landmark in 1976. (Photo by Phil Eichas)
September 17, Cherry Beach
Janet Schrader, Harbor Country Hikers and Chikaming Parks Board Member, led hikers in a beach trash cleanup at Cherry Beach in Harbert. The stewardship project was part of a Great-Lakes-wide cleanup day sponsored by the Great Lakes Adopt-a-Beach program. After filling buckets with bottles, a few stranded beach toys and lots and lots of styrofoam, the hikers were treated to a typically spectacular Lake Michigan sunset.
September 16, Hoadley Trail/Watkins Park
Jared Harmon, Berrien Conservation District Invasive Species Specialist, led hikers through this Three Oaks trail, pointing out invasive plant and insect species along the way. The biggest threat invasive plant species like phragmites (a reed) and Japanese knotweed pose is that they crowd out native species that provide food and shelter for insects, small animals and birds. Insect invaders like the emerald ash borer already nearly have destroyed the native ash population, and the Asian longhorn beetle threatens maple trees, Harmon said. Oak wilt, an invasive fungus, could decimate the area's oak trees.
Chikaming Open Lands Executive Director Ryan Postema walked about 20 hikers through the process of trail construction. Postema said he tries to keep trails away from areas likely to get wet or muddy, and makes sure they lead hikers past interesting plant and geological features. His trails avoid endangered species and, when obstacles like streams get in the way, he looks for simple ways around or over them. The most important trail-making tools: pruning shears, loppers and rakes. Trail blazing, he told the group, refers to marking new trails, not constructing them.
August 19, Warren Woods
Warren Woods is the last remaining climax beech maple forest in Michigan. When early European settlers arrived in the area, this type of forest, now rare, was common. The climax beech maple forest is the final stage in an ecological succession that might start with weeds, progress to conifers, then oak hickory and finally beech maple–all over a period of centuries.
The Harbor Country Hikers walked part of the 3-1/2 miles of trail in the 311-acre forest, and discussed plant and insect pests, deforestation, wetland draining and extinction of wildlife in Southwest Michigan. The conversation ended on a hopeful note, with an update on the successful reintroduction of wildlife and conservation practices that have kept it in our area.
August 12, Jens Jensen Preserve & Pepperidge Dunes Nature Sanctuary
Hikers got a beautiful Saturday afternoon for walking the trails at Jens Jensen Preserve (administered by Chikaming Open Lands) and the adjoining Pepperidge Dunes Nature Sanctuary (a property of the Michigan Nature Association). These two properties, connected by common trails, now densely forested, once lay at the bottom of Lake Chicago, a precursor of Lake Michigan.
Lake Chicago, formed by a retreating glacier 11,000 to 13,000 years ago, once stretched 10 to 15 miles inland from the present-day Lake Michigan shore in Michigan, and covered all of Northwest Indiana and stretched as far west as La Grange, Illinois.
Before the hike got underway, Dave Johnson, news editor of Harbor Country News, gave a brief talk on digital photography for nature photographers.
August 5, Three Oaks Conservation Area
Two dozen hikers followed trails through a prairie and woodlands at the Three Oaks Conservation Area last Saturday. The Conservation Area is part of an ancient lakebed. The lake, Lake Baroda, eventually drained into Lake Michigan, substantially raising its water level and creating several rivers in the process, including the Galien.
Note that kids and teens are always welcome and encouraged to join HCH's hikes, as long as they're accompanied by an adult. So, bring the kids or grandkids for a few hours in nature.
July 29, Grand Beach Marsh
Chikaming Open Lands' Grand Beach Marsh Preserve was a hit. More than 30 people walked the trail, and COL's Casey Strueker and Stacey LaRocco helped set the scene with a talk about rare coastal plain marshes and the environments they create. Along the way, hikers sampled wintergreen leaves and wild blueberries, spotted ghostly Indian pipe and watched baby toads hop off the trail. Thanks to member Ellen Frankle for letting visitors park on her property near the Marsh.