Why I can’t leave Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park

Sep/8/2011 10 Malia
Michigan, State Parks

For the second time in two weeks, I’ve decided I’m just not willing to leave Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park until I absolutely have to.  I was supposed to leave here today.  But yesterday as I was going to take my last look at Lake of the Clouds, it hit me in a profound and no-mistake-about-it way that I just wasn’t ready.  I had seen enough of this wild and wondrous land to know that I really had not seen nearly enough.  And I knew I just wasn’t going to be happy leaving here no matter where else I went right now.

My first visit to Lake of the Clouds – can you blame me when I say once is just not enough???  There are several trails I’d like to try for different vantage points.

More pictures of Lake of the Clouds and other scenes

I kept trying to tell myself that I was already planning my summer here next year and that I would definitely come back and plan a longer stay.  But my heart would not be satisfied with promises of next year.  It replied, “You can plan all you want, Malia, but you never know what will happen between now and then.  So seize the day now and if you have to put off something for next year, put off the next stop!”  I couldn’t argue with that logic and honestly didn’t try very hard…

I turned around from Lake of the Clouds, went back to the campground and asked Jimmy, the Park Ranger, to play devil’s advocate and tell me if it made sense to him at all for me to stay here another 11 days and if it were even possible from the park’s standpoint.  I feel like we’re friends by now, and he laughed and said, “I can’t be unbiased about that decision, Malia – I love it here so much I made it my home – how can I tell you that you should leave if your heart demands you stay?”  After assuring me I could keep my spot, I couldn’t argue with that one, either!

I will have to skip a stay at Indian Lake in order to make the schedule to be in Traverse City for my daughter’s arrival on the 23rd.  I’ll have to drive a little further than I usually like between stops, but it’s all reasonably possible and staying here for as long as I possibly can makes it so worth it!

So today it was time to dump and fill water tank anyway, and as soon as I was finished with that and knew I could just go back to my wonderful site instead of hitting the road, the little happy song my heart sang confirmed I had made the right decision.

I’m still behind in writing about where I’ve been and haven’t even started on my wonderful stay at McLain State Park, so for my friends and readers who aren’t on Facebook and have emailed me asking where I am and what I’m doing, I’m including “teaser” pictures and links below to albums I uploaded to Facebook and made public so anyone can see them and the descriptions without having a Facebook account:

McLain State Park:  Honestly, it’s not an easy choice between here and there as my favorites at this point.  And since they’re only 80 miles apart, I say if you can stay at one, you should stay at both!  I’ll be updating website and blog on this park and surrounding attractions just as soon as I can.  Update:  Several pages re: McLain are completed, starting here.

The sunsets where the sun melted right on Lake Superior were incomparable!

The first weekend I was here in the Porkies, the annual Porcupine Mountains Music Fest was going on.

This event definitely set me off to a great start with diverse music, fantastic views and meeting wonderful people from the area!  I even got gifted with some homemade-with-love Thimbleberry jam, a local delicacy that’s not commercially viable to produce due to the delicacy of the berries  – thanks again, Carrie!

But honestly, it hasn’t been easy to motivate myself to even leave my campsite.  Did I luck out or what?

This is my “yard” – the lakeshore right outside my door!

There are several sites right on Lake Superior and one night I met my nice neighbors and while sharing a campfire and swapping travel tales, here’s what we saw:

More pictures of Rainbow and Sunset over Lake Superior

When I have been able to tear myself away from home, there are other things to do like:

Explore Presque Isle, an easy day trip from the campground

At Summit Peak, you’re 1,958 feet above sea level and 1,360 feet above Lake Superior:

This hike was one of the most challenging for me because I wound up doing it the hard way (what’s new about that, Malia?) :) but it was also one of the most beautiful.

See more views from Summit Peak and the hike to Mirror Lake

I sincerely recommend anyone who hasn’t been here to start making your plans right now!  So many people from Michigan told me they couldn’t wait to see my impressions of the Porcupine Mountains because they’ve lived here all their lives and never made it here.  Now that just has to be an official definition of insanity somewhere! 

I understand like Jimmy said, that people who come here have to mean to come here because it’s not “on the way” to anywhere else.  However, it’s way worth it and here in this park that has the appropriate word “wilderness” right in its name, I have experienced that in its natural beauty and settings, but I still have a nice campground home with all the modern conveniences, including electricity, my Verizon aircard provides excellent internet access, my Verizon phone keeps me in touch with the outside world (there’s also free wi-fi at the Visitor’s Center), and my DirecTV rooftop satellite gives me excellent TV reception!

So I’ve used all the words I can find at the moment and even the best pictures I’ve taken don’t begin to truly capture the enormity of the beauty here, but this is my best “excuse” and explanation as to why I’m staying here as long as I possibly can.

I’d love to hear comments from others who have been touched by this magic land – either why you now want to visit, why you loved your stay, what you did here, your favorite sights, hikes, etc.

Thanks!

Malia

PS 9-14-11:  I’m even more glad I stayed now!  While most days have been pretty calm on the lake, today the wind was wild and whipped up the waves at Lake Superior.  What a show!  1 minute video I posted on YouTube.

«
»
  • Viola_cook

    omg, so beautiful, I am ashamed I haven’t been to these places and I have lived in Michigan my whole life, but when we come back here next spring we are going to make it a point to see this awesome wilderness called the U.P.! Thanks for waking us up and showing us how truly beautiful our home state is!

  • http://www.maliasmiles.com MaliasRV

    Vi – I didn’t realize you hadn’t been here, but I”m glad you’re “awake” now – LOL!  Hey, how about let’s plan a group to meet here for the Music Fest next August???  Come on – think about it for about 2 seconds and agree - what fun that would be!!!   Look at this location: http://www.porkiesfestival.org/ .  Seriously, I’m not kidding…  I really do want to organize a group get together here at Union Bay Campground and do the music fest.  Anyone else??? :)

  • Glenda Alexander

    Now, Malia, you know you’re making me “sick” with travel fever!  My DO DO list is nearly long enough to encircle Earth already.  

  • http://www.maliasmiles.com MaliasRV

    Well, Glenda, I’ve already got you pegged to be here next year at the music fest with me - LOL!   I am seriously starting to put together info and hope to get a group together to meet here for the fest and for exploring the Porcupine Mountains next August, so start planning!  :)

  • Nancy

    enjoyed your pictures an comments, were heading there this friday with two other couples so if you see a big black hummer go by thats us..cant wait to see all the waterfalls and spectacular views. we have lived in the up for 40 years and have never been there. so this weekend here we come….

  • http://www.maliasmiles.com MaliasRV

    Hey Nancy – thanks for commenting!  I’ll still be here Friday, so come say hi – I’m in site #30.  I’d love to meet you and hear your perceptions!

  • MsNRG1

    You made the right choice to stay at the Porkies instead of going on to Indian Lake.  Indian Lake can’t begin to compare to where you are.  It’s a small lake and a small campground, but it does offer nice sunsets.  Although nothing like the sunsets you saw at McLain!  And it’s likely still too early for much Fall color.  There is a nice golf course near Indian Lake that has excellent Fall color.  Enjoyed reading about your cruise at Pictured Rocks; I have yet to do that.  Now that I am moving to the U.P., I shall finally make it.  I think you are seeing first hand why I fell in love with the U.P. years ago..I can’t wait til the Fall color show is in full swing!  I’ll be heading for the Keewenaw peninsula and Bete Grise and Lac La Belle for that! BJ

    • http://www.maliasmiles.com MaliasRV

      Hey BJ,

      Most people have understood why I made the choice I did, although I’ve seen some beautiful shots of Indian Lake that people have sent and I really do want to see it, but it will just have to be next year.  I agree, though, that the sunsets at McLain were the best, with Brimley running a close second.  At this time of year, the sun doesn’t set directly into the ocean where I am at Union Bay, but I understand that happens in the spring. However, if you’ve seen some of the albums I’ve posted to Facebook, the colors and sunsets here aren’t shabby, either – LOL!

      I was so hoping I’d get to see more fall color here – especially at Summit Peak – but it looks like I’ll still be leaving a week or two early for peak color here.  But hopefully will see some at Traverse City or other places at some point.

      I can’t believe we haven’t gotten to meet while I’ve been here, but that’s just another thing I look forward to next year – we’ll have to make it happen then!

      Yep, I most definitely get why you (and soooo many others I’ve met) have become positively enchanted by this UP, that’s for sure!

  • Jo Anne

    I can’t believe that you’re going to miss the Fayette State Park “Ghost Town” and the Indian Lake “Big Springs” !!!   They are both fantastic UP destinations!!  Maybe next year?  

  • http://www.maliasmiles.com MaliasRV

    Well Jo Anne, you and another friend convinced me, so I’m now at Indian Lake State Park (arrived yesterday)!  I’m going to do Kitchitikipi and Fayette tomorrow and the next day – then moving on to Traverse City.  See, I can be influenced by readers’ recommendations, so thanks for that!  :)