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CK5
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The Great Smaug
- Thread starter campfire
- Start date
You're not fooling anyone with your claims of an underwater forest. We can see it's the reflection of the trees on the shore.
I've heard that the minerals in the water help preserve the fallen timber, but I'm sure the cold water also helps. Some of the trees have clearly been claimed by the sides of the pond sinking in, but the pond has hardly grown over the decades. I think a lot of them are just trees that have fallen in. This spring has been like this for as long as anybody knows. You would think if the main outlet of Indian Lake was dammed (into the Manistique River) that 10,000 gallons a minute would bring the water levels up pretty quickly, but I don't know much about watershed and if that's even a large portion of what the river is dumping into Lake Michigan. Apparently it was used as a dump back in the lumber days, so I've always wondered how they got it cleaned out. Maybe it was mostly biodegradable stuff, not all the plastic trash like we have today?
https://upsupply.co/places/kitch-iti-kipi
https://schs.cityofmanistique.org/the-history-of-kitchi-tiki-pi-big-spring/
I saw the shameless Roam promotion embedded into that first article...
You're not fooling anyone with your claims of an underwater forest. We can see it's the reflection of the trees on the shore.
I've heard that the minerals in the water help preserve the fallen timber, but I'm sure the cold water also helps. Some of the trees have clearly been claimed by the sides of the pond sinking in, but the pond has hardly grown over the decades. I think a lot of them are just trees that have fallen in. This spring has been like this for as long as anybody knows. You would think if the main outlet of Indian Lake was dammed (into the Manistique River) that 10,000 gallons a minute would bring the water levels up pretty quickly, but I don't know much about watershed and if that's even a large portion of what the river is dumping into Lake Michigan. Apparently it was used as a dump back in the lumber days, so I've always wondered how they got it cleaned out. Maybe it was mostly biodegradable stuff, not all the plastic trash like we have today?
https://upsupply.co/places/kitch-iti-kipi
https://schs.cityofmanistique.org/the-history-of-kitchi-tiki-pi-big-spring/
I don't think the spring contributes much. At a casual glance I see six or seven creeks feeding Indian Lake. If this were the primary one, I'd expect it to contribute significantly to the color of the lake, and that obviously isn't happening.
Second POI this time was Kitch-iti-kipi. The Big Spring, with some pretty cool water.
View attachment 319446
And a raft full of tourists.
View attachment 319447
And a hole placed strategically in the middle, so you can look down into the water and watch the fish and the submerged forest float by.
View attachment 319449
If you look past the glare, there's a whole forest preserved down there. @Blue85, these trees must not have always been submerged...did the trees fall in, or is the water line higher than it used to be?
View attachment 319448
And then, as the convoy rolled out, I turned the key and was rewarded with a dead solenoid click.I clicked it a few more times and it roared to life.
As a test, I shut the engine off at highway speed and tried to start it. Again, no dice (but I could pop the clutch easily thanks to my speed). So it's not just a freak occurrence.
Hmm...heading into the woods, with a failing starter motor. With 500 more miles to go. Zero parts stores along the route, and we're heading further away from the ones behind us. 6.2 diesel engines are hard to start on a good day, they do not tolerate weak starters.
View attachment 319450
Tune in next time to find out!
First campsite. We had too many Jeeps this year. 
We switched to a taller tent this year, and the kids like the folding table.
Luke added a canopy this year.
We hiked down to the beach and across the river, but didn't grab any pictures. The rest of the group piled up around the campfire for food and gabbing.
@Monty5150 joined us the next morning. The M725 makes for a cool platform. It wouldn't carry passengers as well as the burb, so I won't be getting one in the near future. But it has plenty of space, and enough height to push all the branches out of the way.
Morning driver's meeting. This is where the day's plans started falling apart. Just like last year, we were the slowest folks to pack up in the morning. As such, I missed a very important bit of the driver's meeting. I knew the afternoon route that we'd take from Seney to Grand Marais, but the evening campfire discussions had converged on a morning route that I wasn't familiar with.
I spent some of that time fiddling with my starter motor (now confirmed to be dead). Solenoid clicks, but no cranking, just like the solenoid contactor had arced up again. I crawled down to verify that the battery cable was still tight, and tapped the starter with a stick. No dice, so I grabbed the tow strap and we started it that way. By that point, the group had already left, and were outside of CB range. Our 4 rigs were now alone at the campsite.
None of them knew the route, either. I knew what direction the group was heading, so I grabbed my map and we followed their tracks toward the Seney Swamp.
We switched to a taller tent this year, and the kids like the folding table.
Luke added a canopy this year.
We hiked down to the beach and across the river, but didn't grab any pictures. The rest of the group piled up around the campfire for food and gabbing.
@Monty5150 joined us the next morning. The M725 makes for a cool platform. It wouldn't carry passengers as well as the burb, so I won't be getting one in the near future. But it has plenty of space, and enough height to push all the branches out of the way.
Morning driver's meeting. This is where the day's plans started falling apart. Just like last year, we were the slowest folks to pack up in the morning. As such, I missed a very important bit of the driver's meeting. I knew the afternoon route that we'd take from Seney to Grand Marais, but the evening campfire discussions had converged on a morning route that I wasn't familiar with.
I spent some of that time fiddling with my starter motor (now confirmed to be dead). Solenoid clicks, but no cranking, just like the solenoid contactor had arced up again. I crawled down to verify that the battery cable was still tight, and tapped the starter with a stick. No dice, so I grabbed the tow strap and we started it that way. By that point, the group had already left, and were outside of CB range. Our 4 rigs were now alone at the campsite.
None of them knew the route, either. I knew what direction the group was heading, so I grabbed my map and we followed their tracks toward the Seney Swamp.
Looking back, I'm pretty irritated about the communication breakdown. I'm a ham radio operator. I own equipment that bounces radio signals around the world, beaming information across the Seney Swamp is trivial. But, assuming nobody else would bring such, I left my gear at home. CB is nearly useless, particularly in swampy forests. And, thus, a 1/2-mile of separation broke our convoy in half. 
And then, adding insult, one of the other guys brought a pair of 70cm handhelds. These worked just fine, but, again, I didn't have mine with me. So that limited an otherwise good system.
And then, adding insult, one of the other guys brought a pair of 70cm handhelds. These worked just fine, but, again, I didn't have mine with me. So that limited an otherwise good system.
But back in the woods, I was not about to let a little situation hamper a good trail day. So we set out on a route approximately resembling what the group was doing. But we wound up going around the swamp in the opposite direction, on a much shorter trail. We reached the Seney Stretch and struck out on another trail to pass some time while waiting for the group.
One guy broke off on a different trail, so we stopped to let him catch up. Of course, more blueberries were involved.
While there we had another communication breakdown and wound up turning around and backtracking to Seney rather than completing the loop that I had picked out.
We wound up in Seney an hour ahead of the other group. When they got back within cell range we coordinated a meeting point at the CCC monument.
It's a pretty cool piece of history. The CCC boys cleared the swamp to create large open ponds for waterfowl to enjoy. Lots of work for some very blessed ducks.
The ponds fill an area that's about 12 miles on each side, and it's generally impassible (which is why we couldn't simply rejoin the main group once we started heading around the opposite side of the preserve).
Luke took his turn starting the 'MogTruck.
And then, more miscommunication, as we all hit the road to...Seney. Again.
We spent another 45ish minutes waiting while everyone from the first group bought their last gasoline. Our group had already filled up, so this turned into more talking time. One rig had dropped out with cooling issues, and they rejoined us here.
One guy broke off on a different trail, so we stopped to let him catch up. Of course, more blueberries were involved.
While there we had another communication breakdown and wound up turning around and backtracking to Seney rather than completing the loop that I had picked out.
We wound up in Seney an hour ahead of the other group. When they got back within cell range we coordinated a meeting point at the CCC monument.
It's a pretty cool piece of history. The CCC boys cleared the swamp to create large open ponds for waterfowl to enjoy. Lots of work for some very blessed ducks.
The ponds fill an area that's about 12 miles on each side, and it's generally impassible (which is why we couldn't simply rejoin the main group once we started heading around the opposite side of the preserve).
Luke took his turn starting the 'MogTruck.
And then, more miscommunication, as we all hit the road to...Seney. Again.
We spent another 45ish minutes waiting while everyone from the first group bought their last gasoline. Our group had already filled up, so this turned into more talking time. One rig had dropped out with cooling issues, and they rejoined us here.
Once we finally, finally got rolling for the day, we headed North from Seney towards Grand Marais.
It was a whimsical route, with several U-turns, but I enjoy that style of traveling. It is always interesting getting a burb turned around on skinny trails. I hafta pick my spots carefully.
A few miles of pavement were involved once we got close to town. But otherwise we stuck to dirt.
We set up camp next to the lake. I parked at the top of a berm to make for easier starting.
That tow strap fastened to the core support was intended for use when the truck got stuck. But it was very handy for pull-starting, too.
Trees, Trees, and more Trees.
And the big lake. Gitche Gumee. Never gets old.
Being Superior, the rain came in with the evening. We set up canopies and played card games and woke up to a world still damp.
Being up on a berm, we decided to push-start the Suburban.
However, 'MogTruck is a cold-blooded beast, and that hill was not big enough to coax it to life. So we broke out the strap again.
View media item 37573
With that sorted out, we all lined up for the day's adventuring.
What will happen? Which rig will break down next? Who will get lost? What cool things will we see?
You'll hafta tune in again next time.
It was a whimsical route, with several U-turns, but I enjoy that style of traveling. It is always interesting getting a burb turned around on skinny trails. I hafta pick my spots carefully.
A few miles of pavement were involved once we got close to town. But otherwise we stuck to dirt.
We set up camp next to the lake. I parked at the top of a berm to make for easier starting.
That tow strap fastened to the core support was intended for use when the truck got stuck. But it was very handy for pull-starting, too.
Trees, Trees, and more Trees.
And the big lake. Gitche Gumee. Never gets old.
Being Superior, the rain came in with the evening. We set up canopies and played card games and woke up to a world still damp.
Being up on a berm, we decided to push-start the Suburban.
However, 'MogTruck is a cold-blooded beast, and that hill was not big enough to coax it to life. So we broke out the strap again.
View media item 37573
With that sorted out, we all lined up for the day's adventuring.
What will happen? Which rig will break down next? Who will get lost? What cool things will we see?
You'll hafta tune in again next time.
Being a Ham with a group of people who think CBs are good coms is the worst...
Looks like a fun time!
Looks like a fun time!
Looks like it was an awesome trip, minus the communication issue.
Groups getting broken up are why my friends and I started going in small groups of usually 6 rigs or less. Way to easy to loose someone in a large group.
Groups getting broken up are why my friends and I started going in small groups of usually 6 rigs or less. Way to easy to loose someone in a large group.
Fun stuff Ethan!!!
Digging the trip. Sucks you all got split up but it looks like you made the best of it though. Keep it coming!
Yes. I'm just not able to explain good coms to normal people. No, I don't need a cell tower or a CB radio. Yes, 10 miles range from a handheld is realistic. Yes, radio waves really can bounce around the world. No, CBs aren't useful in the woods. Sigh.
Yes, this is true. The 2-day scouting run generated more smiles than the 4-day camping trip. Not just because of group logistics and the inevitable lost time. We were exploring new routes, rather than just following a preset plan. Finding the route is more fun than leading others along it. I also ran mostly in the back of the group (because it took me 2 minutes to get my engine started each time we stopped). Not a problem with 2 rigs, but I wound up getting a dusty back seat to my own route segment. I had planned to make one additional stop, but was not able to lead from the rear. So it got skipped.
Thanks! It was.
Yes. Adventure is the goal, and so far this trip has been a win. After 2 years of coming home on a flatbed, this year I'm actually riding on my own tires. At least, so far...
After 2 years of coming home on a flatbed, this year I'm actually riding on my own tires. At least, so far...
Wow, ominous foreshadowing. Nice touch.
Some context on the Seney Swamp. The Eastern U.P. is largely sand/rock forest terrain, with lakes and swampy bits mixed in. The Western U.P. is similar, with more rock and less sand. Hills (Michigan tries to call them mountains), bluffs, and waterfalls roll throughout the region.
That's what makes Seney different. It's flat. Pancake flat. This former lake bed forms a continuous swamp that's about 30 miles squared, and the wildlife refuge ponds built by the CCC have made the region soggier yet.
In the East-West direction, the only route through there is the main grade carrying M-28 and the railroad (Between Seney and Shingleton). Being a rail grade, it's perfectly straight and flat:
Travelers crossing the peninsula on the main highways drive through hours of curvy forest roads, which makes this 26 mile section of flat, straight road stand out.
The "town" of Seney (seen earlier) sits at the East end of this stretch, and makes a bit of a fuss about this dangerously boring section of road. Postcards say "I survived the Seney Stretch." This one promotes the stretch as a guaranteed cure for insomnia.
In reality, the 26-mile stretch is overhyped. As I've said several times, if you ignore the one turn at Perkins corner, M-35 between Esky and Gwinn offers a longer stretch of straight, flat, boring rail grade.
(that squiggle towards the North end is a realignment, the original straight grade is still there, if you want the full experience).
@Monty5150, this is a segment we drove last year. Though you were probably too busy checking your engine to notice the scenery.
Anyways, that's why this section of U.P. geography is difficult to cross. There are only a few roads and trails through the Seney region, so we hafta either take what's available or avoid the region entirely.
That's what makes Seney different. It's flat. Pancake flat. This former lake bed forms a continuous swamp that's about 30 miles squared, and the wildlife refuge ponds built by the CCC have made the region soggier yet.
In the East-West direction, the only route through there is the main grade carrying M-28 and the railroad (Between Seney and Shingleton). Being a rail grade, it's perfectly straight and flat:
Travelers crossing the peninsula on the main highways drive through hours of curvy forest roads, which makes this 26 mile section of flat, straight road stand out.
The "town" of Seney (seen earlier) sits at the East end of this stretch, and makes a bit of a fuss about this dangerously boring section of road. Postcards say "I survived the Seney Stretch." This one promotes the stretch as a guaranteed cure for insomnia.
In reality, the 26-mile stretch is overhyped. As I've said several times, if you ignore the one turn at Perkins corner, M-35 between Esky and Gwinn offers a longer stretch of straight, flat, boring rail grade.
(that squiggle towards the North end is a realignment, the original straight grade is still there, if you want the full experience
).@Monty5150, this is a segment we drove last year. Though you were probably too busy checking your engine to notice the scenery.
Anyways, that's why this section of U.P. geography is difficult to cross. There are only a few roads and trails through the Seney region, so we hafta either take what's available or avoid the region entirely.
Some context on the Seney Swamp. The Eastern U.P. is largely sand/rock forest terrain, with lakes and swampy bits mixed in. The Western U.P. is similar, with more rock and less sand. Hills (Michigan tries to call them mountains), bluffs, and waterfalls roll throughout the region.
That's what makes Seney different. It's flat. Pancake flat. This former lake bed forms a continuous swamp that's about 30 miles squared, and the wildlife refuge ponds built by the CCC have made the region soggier yet.
In the East-West direction, the only route through there is the main grade carrying M-28 and the railroad (Between Seney and Shingleton). Being a rail grade, it's perfectly straight and flat:
View attachment 321247
Travelers crossing the peninsula on the main highways drive through hours of curvy forest roads, which makes this 26 mile section of flat, straight road stand out.
The "town" of Seney (seen earlier) sits at the East end of this stretch, and makes a bit of a fuss about this dangerously boring section of road. Postcards say "I survived the Seney Stretch." This one promotes the stretch as a guaranteed cure for insomnia.
In reality, the 26-mile stretch is overhyped. As I've said several times, if you ignore the one turn at Perkins corner, M-35 between Esky and Gwinn offers a longer stretch of straight, flat, boring rail grade.
View attachment 321246
(that squiggle towards the North end is a realignment, the original straight grade is still there, if you want the full experience
@Monty5150, this is a segment we drove last year. Though you were probably too busy checking your engine to notice the scenery.
Anyways, that's why this section of U.P. geography is difficult to cross. There are only a few roads and trails through the Seney region, so we hafta either take what's available or avoid the region entirely.
Yeah, that was true, but the beauty of the UP is there's awesome scenery everywhere.
Great write up on the trip. I finally made my first trip, and it was awesome. Yea I was stuck in the back most of the time by choice but I was able to take my time and enjoy the scenery.
I didn't know you had a ham license. I'm thinking about getting mine, it could provide useful in the future for other trips where distance or tree's are an issue for CB's.
I didn't know you had a ham license. I'm thinking about getting mine, it could provide useful in the future for other trips where distance or tree's are an issue for CB's.
Thank you for the trip report Ethan, I don’t comment much anymore but it’s always fun to read through good trip reports!
