_____ 1st Chapter _____

Preface

   Is there an Abominable Snowman, or a Sasquatch or Bigfoot, or what some people call “Yeti” running around the world?  What would it be like to meet one on a hike in a desolate Michigan forest?

   When I grew up, camping was a hugely anticipated event. My father would take my sisters and me fishing. We would drive down mysterious, two-track roads into dense and dark forests looking for wildlife. Our thrill of the day was spotting a raccoon, deer and even a big bear or two.

Later in life, I taught my daughter, Stacey, to love camping. She is used to camping in everything from tents to trailers. There are always great times to be had around the campfire talking and telling jokes. We have experienced many types of campgrounds from the primitive to the more expensive luxury campgrounds. No matter the type of camping, memories are created for kids. Letting them enjoy and explore nature with its many sights, sounds and smells can change lives. Kids learn to enjoy sharing chores, accept responsibility, and gain confidence in decision making; and, ultimately understand the importance of keeping the campsite a clean and safe environment for everyone.

This is where the story starts. Stacey, Kim, and Stacey’s father go on a camping trip looking for adventure. They are heading to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to camp.

Stacey is an average sized girl with long sandy brown hair and bright blue eyes who turned twenty-two-a month ago. She has been camping since she was a young girl, and enjoys fishing, and exploring the sights around her.

   Kim is taller, slender and physically fit, with short brown hair, usually covered with a baseball cap. She is an adventure seeker, who has not done much camping. Kim rooms at Stacey’s house; they are good friends who met at work.

Stacey’s father is single and will grab every chance he can to go camping.

So— off to the Upper Peninsula we go—and the story begins.

   Hold on to your life jackets, they find more “adventure” than they bargained for.

Camping trip planned

   It's a sultry, hot mid-July day, and my daughter Stacey and her good friend Kim have been listening to me talk about a state forest campground in which I love to camp; it's completely rustic and off the beaten path.

 Rustic camping is what I like. Don't get me wrong, the campground is not completely isolated, there is a lot to see and explore in the area. It's quiet and less congested than most state parks. And, the fishing on Kingston Lake is fun. It's small, clear spring-fed lake is peaceful and offers excellent swimming. Nearby access to a nice road takes you through the wilderness to the small town of Munising, where you can hop on a boat and cruise along the Lake Superior shoreline to view the beautiful Pictured Rocks Lakeshore.

Stacey and Kim have listened to my stories over and over and now have agreed to a camping trip in upper Michigan.

I have my tent camper loaded and my canoe on top of my Ford Bronco. Stacey and Kim have bustled back and forth all afternoon loading the back of the Bronco with their belongings. It's a good five to six-hour drive, so I have stowed a small container with a few snacks for the ride. Our plans are to hit the road at around eight tomorrow morning. The only things I have to do are back my Bronco to the camper and hook it up. 

It’s quarter to eight, and I have the Bronco's gas tank full, and I'm on my way to Stacey’s house to pick up the girls. A blast from my horn brings them busting out of the door. Stacey hops into the front seat, and Kim slides into the back seat.

"I didn't sleep much last night, I couldn't stop thinking about heading up north," says Stacey as she puts on her seat belt. 

Kim snaps on her belt and says, "Oh, I slept really well, but now I’m excited. I have never been to the Upper Peninsula."

As the Bronco settles into its steady hum, off we go. It's now time to have a little fun with them, "Oh, did I tell you we will be in the middle of bear country?"

Stacey looks at me, "Bears! Come on, Dad, you never said anything about bears."

I spy Kim in the rear-view mirror, just sitting in the back seat with a smile listening to us.

"Actually, yes, it is bear country. Oh, yeah, I keep my eyes open when I'm in the woods. I have seen bear and wolf tracks. I have never met up with either one on a trail, though." 

Kim speaks up, "I'm not afraid of bears. They are more scared of us than we are of them."

Stacey turns to me again, "What?  Wolf tracks!”

"Yes, you can hear them howl at night," I reply.

Her blue eyes wide and defiant, Stacey says, "Well, I am NOT going out of the camper at night."

Kim chuckles, "Did you pack Depends?"

Stacey raises her voice slightly. "Don't start on me. You won't want to walk to the outhouse at night in the dark either."

"Probably not. I forgot about the outhouses," Kim admits.

Knowing I have them going, "I have a big flashlight that will light up the park.  The only thing you have to worry about is the stinky outhouse."

The meandering drive on I75 North takes us to the small town of Indian River. "I think I will stop in Indian River for gas," I tell them.

A couple minutes later I pull into a gas station, and we are grateful for the chance to get out and stretch.

Stacey walks up to me, "This looks like a tourist town."

"Yes, it is.  Burt Lake State Park is just down the road. We used to camp here when I was a kid." 

"I remember you talked about camping with Grandpa and Grandma when you were a boy. So, this is where you camped," Stacey replies as she looks around.

“Yes, my parents brought my sisters and me here many times.”

I finished filling the Bronco as Kim walked back from the gas station. "Do you want a coke?" she asks.

"Sure, sounds good," I reply.

"A coke does sound good, I'll go with you," Stacey says. 

A couple minutes later they return and hop into the Bronco.

"Here you go, Dad," Kim jokes as she hands me a coke.

“Thanks, daughter,” I joke back. 

 Back on the highway north, I tell Stacey and Kim, "We have one more stop just up the road."

Stacey looks my way, "I bet it’s the shell place.” 

I smile, "You remember me talking about it? Sea Shell City—it's an interesting place to stop."

"How big of a city is it? I never heard of it," says Kim.

Stacey jumps in, "Oh, it's a big city. Dad got lost one time in the town, and he told me it took him all day to find his way out," she says with a big fake smile.

"Yeah, right," Kim sneers.

I jumped into Stacey's joke, "No, really. I had to sleep in my car. In the morning, I went to the first store I saw open to ask how to find my way back to the highway. They told me it would be too hard to describe. I had to pay a guy to show me the way." 

Kim sat quietly in the back seat.  I could feel her brain buzzing around. "Okay, I know what kind of week this is going to be." Kim had spotted a sign on the side of the road advertising Sea Shell City—Two Miles Ahead.

Stacey and I look at each other and smile. It's always fun giving Kim a hard time. She can be a little scattered in her thoughts sometimes, but she’s really smart and such a good sport.

We pull into Sea Shell City, a fun place to visit on the way to the big bridge. It's a nice shop featuring tons of sea shells along with many other tourist items. We spend around a half hour looking at everything; Stacey and Kim both purchase little trinkets.  The Mackinac Bridge loomed ahead.

Crossing the Mighty Mac can be a stomach-churning event.  It is the longest suspension bridge in America and is considered one of the most beautiful in the world.  Stacey and Kim were awed speechless as we joined the line of vehicles on the bridge. The day was sunny and blue skies all the way.

 The water of the Straits was calm and blue, and the crossing was an unanticipated highlight of our adventure to the UP. As we crossed, Stacey was making sure that I took the center lane, as the outer lane was too close to the edge of the bridge. Kim was glued to the windows looking out at the majestic views of the bridge and the water below.

After crossing the bridge, we stopped in the rest area to take a break.

"This is an excellent spot to have a snack. It's another three hours or so drive to the park." I tell Stacey and Kim.

"This is good; I need to use the restroom," Stacey replies.

"Me too," says Kim as they head to the restrooms.

I opened the back of the Bronco and took out the cooler of sandwiches. Stacey and Kim came back. We grabbed our drinks and our sandwiches and enjoyed our lunch on a nearby picnic table. 

Kim looked around, "This is my first time in the Upper Peninsula.  It’s different somehow."

"You will see it is a bit rocky in this area. As we head north, it will get wooded and less populated." I tell her.

Stacey, wanting to have a little fun with Kim, adds, “and maybe more bears,” she teases. 

Kim comes back, ". . . And whatever else is wandering around out in the woods?"

"I don't know. You will have to wander around out in the deep dark woods and see what you can find," Stacey replies.

I got up and stretched. “Around Kingston Lake, there are a few marked paths you can use. One of them, supposedly, will take you to Lake Superior. Let's hit the road, we have a good ride yet."

 Now on Highway 28 toward the little town of Seney, I tell the girls, "When we get close to Seney we need to turn north on 77."

Kim has been looking around as we travel, "There are quite a few homes on this road."

I smile, "Yes there are. I'll show you desolation soon."

We travel a little way down the road, and we see the sign 77 Grand Marais. "This is our turn," I tell them.

"Not long now—we have to look for Adams Trail. It's not marked well, and I have passed it before."

Stacey asks, "On the left or right side of the road?"

"It's a dirt road on the left side,” I tell her.

A few miles up the road I spot Adams Trail. "There it is," I say as I make the turn onto the narrow dirt road.  Other than a few two-track, fenced off drives, there are no houses. It's densely wooded and nothing but wilderness. The road twists and turns through the country representing its name Adams Trail. Eventually, it opens up where you can see many acres of nothing but stumps.

"This is where the pioneers logged years ago. You can see not much has re-grown," I tell them as I slow down. "We have one more turn, just up the road." 

"They just didn't think about what they were doing years ago," Stacey replies.

We came to a crossroad and made our turn.

"This is a better road, it's actually graveled.” Kim says.

"Gravel now, but, it will soon turn into nothing but a bumpy washboard road. It will shake your teeth out; let's hope they graded it lately," I tell Kim as we start hitting the bumps. "This road is a seasonal thing; in the winter, it's just for snowmobiling."  The Bronco shimmies and shakes us over all the bumps, and we are relieved to see the Kingston Lake State Forest Campground sign.