Viewing posts about Skanee.

Lightfoot Bay near Skanee

Shaded cabin on the bay

A cold breeze drifted up from the small bay and through the trees. Finally. All day I had been hiking through stifling heat of the forest near Mount Benison, unseasonal heat that had sapped the energy out of me, and even the narrow waterway of Huron Bay offered some relief. With a grateful sigh I…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted June 27, 2014
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Slate Quarries of Arvon

Footings of an old bridge

The Huron Bay Quarry (better known as Arvon Quarry) and town of Arvon didn't have a very long lifespan. Around 300 people lived out here once, halfway between the entrance of Silver River into Huron Bay and Mount Arvon, and pulled slate from the pits for around thirty years. The entire operation was…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted November 22, 2013
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Dakota Farm

Old foundation from the abandoned bridg

Soft, cold rain drizzled down around me. I was attempting to cross Lower Silver River Falls, a waterfall near Skanee, MI that I've visited at least a dozen times (and even proposed to Katie at). The river was higher than normal and the rocks were wet-slick, making a crossing tricky and dangerous.…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted August 30, 2012
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Return to Bald Mountain

First view of Bald Mountain

Three years had passed since I last climbed Bald Mountain, the last significant outcropping of the Western Huron Mountains. My first visit was a significant milestone for me, as it was the first non-waterfall hike I attempted in the Upper Peninsula. This initial climb triggered a long and lasting…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted March 10, 2012
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Winter Visit to Cliff Lake

Ice Covered Cliff Lake

Cliff Lake is a small body of water nestled against the southern flanks of Mt. Benison, located halfway between Big Bay and Skanee. There are two main routes to Cliff Lake: follow Cliff River north from the Northwestern Road past Forty Foot Falls or break off of Erick's Road where it meets Little…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted March 14, 2011
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Mount Arvon

Mount Arvon peak

Mount Arvon is the highest point in the state of Michigan. At 1979' above sea level (1380' above Lake Superior), it slowly rises out of the Baraga County forest on the northern end of the Peshekee Highlands. I had avoided visiting this mountain, more interested in the rocky outcroppings of the Huron…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted December 14, 2010
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Superior Mountain Hike

Foggy view from Superior Mountain

Superior Mountain is a lumpy set of peaks located west of the Mouth of Huron river. Rising from the edge of Lake Superior and sandwiched between Little Huron River and Mount Benison, the mountain has many rocky outcroppings with excellent views of the surrounding area, some over 1400 feet of…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted August 4, 2009
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Tick Mountain Hike

One of the peaks near Tick Mountain

Called Tick Mountain by Geocachers, there was a rocky peak on the outskirts of the Huron Mountains that had steadily become a thorn in my side. I first tried to climb the peak with a friend during the winter and was forced to turn around within site of the final climb because of time constraints. My…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted June 16, 2009
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A Few River Gorges

Looking across Sturgeon River gorge

The Western Upper Peninsula has a unique geology compared to the rest of Michigan. Ancient bedrock creates surprisingly tall mountains and highlands that trap lakes, swamps, and wetlands hundreds of feet above Lake Superior. Throughout the geologic history of the area, glacial and volcanic events…

  • Category Hiking
  • Posted May 21, 2009
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Activity Stream

  • Read 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King.
  • Read Elantris (Elantris, #1) by Brandon Sanderson.
  • Read It by Stephen King.
  • Read Mistborn Trilogy (Mistborn, #1-3) by Brandon Sanderson.
  • Read Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson.
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