More Than A Walk In The Woods: Graham Lakes Trail

February 17, 2017February 1, 2021Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Bald Mountain State Recreation Area is a 4,637-acre multi-use wildland managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR describes the landscape accurately with their frequently used sentence of, “The Park contains some of the steepest hills and most rugged terrain in southeast Michigan and features fifteen miles of marked hiking trails.” I knew that. I thought I knew all of the Bald Mountain State Recreation Area trails very well. I did not. Somehow, in all my many adventures at Bald Mountain, I missed four miles of forested trail that circles West Graham Lake, East Graham Lake, and hidden vernal ponds. As John Muir wrote, and I have shared before, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” Once again his words were accurate, and they will be for you as well, if you walk slowly, stop often, look and listen. Continue reading →

Northern Border: A Year’s End Salute to Hiking

December 30, 2016February 1, 2021Oakland County, MI Government 3 Comments

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Sixty-five! That’s how many times I set out on a trail within the boundaries of Oakland County this year. Most were short meanders of three or four miles that followed designated trails in our Oakland County Parks, the Huron Clinton Metroparks or wildlands managed by local units of government. Some hikes were adventuresome treks of ten or more miles in our State Recreation Areas and State Parks managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. All were pleasurable, even when mosquitos swarmed, thunder rumbled, the mercury plunged, or humidity glued my shirt to my chest. Song birds sang, snakes slithered, owls hooted, turkeys trotted, Sandhill cranes trumpeted, turtles sun bathed, and once at dusk a coyote yipped. On a snowy day, both a cardinal and a deer froze for photos as I meandered close by both of them. It was a good year and I met people who shared the passion of the wilder side of nature’s way. Continue reading →

Winter Fitness & Fun

January 29, 2014November 4, 2021Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

Like rowing or swimming, cross-country skiing is a workout that uses every major muscle group in your body. It will help you keep of some of the pounds you’ve gained during the holiday feeding fest while giving your lungs a breath of fresh air.

But lets not kid ourselves, going up a small hill is tough to start with, so staying on flatter ground will be of great benefit to the inexperience skier. But other than not being properly dressed for winter, the risk of injury is far less than many other winter activities. It is still advised that you take a couple of lessons, to get you moving in the right direction.

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