Mike and Roxanne travel east

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Aug 19, 2007

Aug 19, 2009 46991

We went out to breakfast, emptied the black and gray water tanks and filled the water tank before leaving. It was nearly 10:30 as we pulled out of the park.

We are headed to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on the western side of Michigan. We are taking a scenic tour through Petosky and Traverse Bay.

We do stop in Traverse Bay to pick up cherries and veggies.

2:15 We arrive at the campsite and then head out to explore the area.

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Located on the Eastern edge of Lake Michigan these dunes are the result of several glacial assaults ending over 11,000 years ago. These assaults and retreats resulted in a hilly shoreline with 450' bluffs made of sand and innumerable lakes. The sand is very fine from the constant blowing. The grasses that hold the sand in place are much the same as those on the west coast of Oregon but the trees are different. The forests here are of sugar maple, beech and oak. In some place pine trees were planted to try and stabilize the land but these are gradually being replaced in favor of more native habitation.

The story behind the name "Sleeping Bear" is an Indian legend. A mother bear and her two cubs were trying to escape a forest fire and swam out into Lake Michigan. They swam and swam but the cubs soon tired. The mother bear escaped to mother still watching for her cubs and the cubs are Athe two Manitou Islands.

We take the scenic drive and learn about the formation of the dunes, their plantlife and fragility. At one of the overlooks it is a 450' drop to the lake shore. People are asked not to descent and reclimb the hill because of the danger and because of the damage done to the dunes. There were probable 2-3 dozen people on the hill. I just wonder how many people have to be resuced at night because they can't make it back up the hill. The really amazing thing is that parents were allowing their small children (under 12) to descend the hill and then try and climb back up.

One of the dangers is that the dunes continually erode and in just 1995 a massive landslide 1600' long slid into the lake.

Other things to see are the Maritime Museum and the town of Glen Haven both of which are part of the National Lakeshore. Glen Haven includes a cannery museum, a general store and a restored inn fro 1867.

The Platte River empties into the Lake right by the park so we head down to the shore and watch the tubers come down the river. We have a quiet evening using up some of the items in the fridge before hitting Canada. The rain starts about 9:00 and continues all night.