Tag: Hiking

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Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Tahquamenon Falls

Amy Kline

Highlights for today were the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and Tahquamenon Falls. Jeff’s must see stop on our roadtrip was the museum and it did not disappoint. We listened to “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” on the way to give the boys some context. The museum was a lot more than I thought it would be. One main museum-y building with displays and info on some of the main shipwrecks around there. It is known as the Graveyard of the Great Lakes because so many ships sunk around there. Bad storms that come up quickly, busy shipping lanes, and underwater shoals caused a lot of the sinkings.

Other buildings there focused on the lighthouse keepers and their families. The Whitefish Point Light Station was the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes and was so important to saving lives. The building attached to the light station set up in different time periods as if the families were living there. There were 2 light keepers and their families so the house is kind of a duplex with a connected hallway to get to the light station. It sounds like a monotonous and very isolating job.

There was also a very interesting building that housed a life rescue boat. I never knew that there were self bailing boats. Cool! The men who worked the shipwrecks sailed out in some of the worst weather-cold, gale force winds- in order to save people.

Once we finished the museum, we went to Tahquamenon Falls. First we stopped at the Lower Falls. They have a paved path to follow that takes you to great viewing spots of the falls which is split in half by an island. Lots of people were there swimming and climbing around on the rocks. Then we went on to the Upper Falls a few miles down the road. That It was much easier to get a photo without people at this area. The falls has a 50 foot drop and is 200 feet across. The water is a brownish color because of of the tannins in the swampy areas near the source of the river, caused by the trees. All natural, not polluted. Hurray!

Another 1.5 hours in the truck and we got to our campground in Musining. Normally we camp in state parks but this is owned by the town. Lots of highway noise and we are on the driveway to go in and out, but the site is level and gives a good view of the sky and water.

A replacement bell was lowered to the wreck with all the passengers names engraved on it as a grave marker. This bell is the actual bell that was on the ship.
For each wreck, there was a model displayed of the different shops.
A fresnel lense which was used in lighthouses until more modern lighting was available.
A diving suit from the 1930’s. Someone on the surface had to hand pump the air for the diver.
Looks just like the Singer sewing machine Mom gave me!
Rescue boat that has a self-bailer.
They all tried skipping rocks.
They are both such good sports and go along with the crazy adventures of their parents without too much grumbling.
Hordes of people!
Spencer and I hiked a little longer.
When it is done, the North Country Trail will be longer than the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trails.
Selfie by the Upper Falls
View of our campsite from the driveway of the campground.

Sunset. No Northern Lights, but if there were, we would have had a great view!

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Hike in Mount Washington National Forest

Amy Kline
  • The beginning and end of the trail was a covered bridge. The purpose of having a roof on the bridge was to extend the life of the wood floor and support beams.
  • This is the only place where were was wooden steps on the trail. Otherwise, it was rocks and tree roots that you would use as a step.
  • The trail was called Boulder for good reason. Huge boulders were all over and look like they fell down the mountain at some point in the distant past.
  • You can see all the tree roots sticking up, just waiting to trip us up!
  • A bird apparently fought for their life in this spot. Brilliant blue and dark gray feathers in an area where we stopped to catch our breath.
  • Carson and Spencer got way ahead of us, but they would stop and wait for us to catch up sometimes.
  • They loved to mock us for our slowness. My defense is that since I am now the shortest person in the family, I am taking 1.5 steps compared to everyone else’s single step!
  • Trees start growing here with just a little dirt and a little sun. This forest is not primary growth, but it has been managed for a long time, so there seems to be a lot of tree and plant diversity in the area.
  • Isn’t this view amazing?
  • I made it to the top and still had a smile on my face!
  • Zoomed as far in as possible with my phone to a rock wall in the distance.
  • Tree silouette
  • It can get very windy at the tops of the mountains, as you can see from the way the branches grew on this tree.
  • Jeff contemplating life as he looks out over the area we just climbed.
  • On the return part of the trail, stones were strategically placed to make stairs. My knee was very thankful!
  • Lots of tall,very straight trees
  • The covered bridge goes over this river bed. In the spring, the river is rushing and much higher as the snow melts in the higher elevations.
  • This fern had the coolest coloring. The edges were a much lighter green than the rest of the leaves.
  • Carosn and I made smores after we got back. We usually don’t bother with making a fire during our roadtrips, but a neighboring camper gave us their leftovers when they were leaving, so we bought some smore ingredients at the campground store.
  • I am a Master Marshmellow Maker. Perfectly toasted!
  • We were at a campsite which was perfect for people watching as it was right off the main driveway so we could see everyone coming and going.
  • Jeff made delicious omelettes and hashbrowns to fill us up before the hike!
  • Trail selfie!
  • Jeff loved this hike so much. He said it was one of his top favorite hikes we have ever done. I agree!
  • There was an Llbean outlet right at the edge of town. Jeff bought these hiking shoes on a whim and said they were comfy the whole time.
  • This view!
  • This is called a blaze and it is the way that hikers can stay on the trail when hiking on remote trails that are not paved or laid with pea gravel. Carson was great at spotting the blazes.

The day was beautiful so we had a nice breakfast and then went for a hike in Mount Washington National Forest. We had come to this area back during spring break 2005 and vowed to go hiking here some day because it was so beautiful. Well, today was that day!

It was a 3.5 mile loop hike that went 1000 feet up and then 1000 feet back down. It was called Boulder Loop Trail and it truly lived up to it’s name. Our legs were on fire as we hiked over all the boulders and exposed roots along the trail. We definitely used the hiking poles! The boys frequently got way ahead of us with their young legs, talking the whole way. I don’t think they looked around much to appreciate the nature around them, but they didn’t complain about lack of cell phone service even once!

When we got to the half way point (also the highest elevation of the trail), the vista was awe inspiring, breathtaking, amazing and every other wonderful adjective that you can think of. So many layers of tree-covered mountains, huge rock faces, blue skies and big puffy clouds. Words and pictures just can not convey how awesome it was! Jeff said it was his most favorite hike he has ever taken and I completely agree.

The hike had to come to an end at some point, unfortunately, so we headed back to the campsite where Jeff made steak, and then Carson made some smores. The next day we packed up and headed to Kennebunkport, Maine to begin the Kline family vacation leg of our roadtrip, so I won’t be posting quite as much.

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Hiking in the Cascades and Dinner with Tracy

Amy Kline

We secured the camper at the hotel and drove up into the Cascades on Hwy 2 (the same highway that eventually goes through WI) on Stevens Pass. Our goal was to go find the site of the Wellington Avalanche, which knocked 2 trains off the mountain in 1910. We both read

The White Cascade: The Great Northern Railway Disaster and America’s Deadliest Avalanche by Gary Krist. It is a true account of what happened and it was a fascinating read. Well, we found the site and had a great hike at the same time as you can see. Jeff even had to use a rope to go down a steep trail at one point, and found some wreckage still at the crash site.

Next, we went to Leavenworth. Jeff and I passed through there on our first road trip in 2005, and wanted to explore this town more. It is a town that is completely Bavarian themed, in a very cheesy way. After finally finding a parking spot, we stopped at a bookstore and the ice cream shop. We read the history of the town, which voted to do the Bavarian theme in order to bring in tourists (and there were people everywhere so it worked).

And then the highlight of my day. I got to see Tracy!!! Tracy and her son met us for dinner at a yummy Mexican restaurant and then Jeff went back to the hotel, while we took the boys to a cool playground where the boys could play while we had a chance to catch up a bit. It was so wonderful and I wish we could have talked for hours more!

  • Jeff puts a “boot” on the camper, plus locks the hitch down so there is no way someone can drive away with the camper.
  • Screenshot of a webcam in the town of Skynomish (where the survivors of the wreck were taken). And yes, Jeff was pretty proud of himself for finding the webcam and waving to it. Goofy man.
  • A restored caboose at the beginning of the trail system that leads to the snowsheds and original Cascade tunnel and the wreckage. Lots of signs here explaining the whole thing. We didn’t see this until the end of our explorations though.
  • Avalanches are very common here in the winter and spring. This sign talks specifically about Wellington, but we could see evidence of former slides all over the mountains. Once the mountains got logged, there is nothing that is holding the snow back from sliding off the mountain face.
  • This is the first Cascade tunnel, that the steam trains did not use to hide out from the massive snowstorm because the danger of inhaling too much exhaust from the engines was huge. The conductor thought it was safer to keep the trains out on the track since there hadn’t been an avalanche in the spot nearby.
  • On our hike. Pretty steep drop off. Beautiful too!!
  • The trail entered a concrete snowshed that was built to prevent future avalanche catastrophes. Once the railroad built the second Cascade tunnel at a lower elevation, this section of track was no longer used.
  • Huge leaves (18”) on this bush that looks like a maple leaf.
  • We kept the boys in between us and the bear spray handy, just in case.
  • Summary of the disaster. Almost 100 people died.
  • Gorgeous photography opportunity and a great shaded trail to hike. Two trains could use this shed and be protected from avalanches. It is designed so the snow can just slide over the roof of it.
  • Jeff is about 20 feet below me in this photo and the trail is very very steep. While Jeff went down to investigate the crash site, the boys and I hung out in the shade under the snowshed.
  • Down at the actual crash site of the avalanche, there is lots of wreckage still there.
  • The snowshed were expensive to build and to keep up, so the railway built a new tunnel with venting capabilities that was cheaper and faster.
  • Is this a banana slug? The one on the left looks squished but the one on the right is about 3” long.
  • On the way back to our hotel, we stopped at the second Cascade Tunnel which is ventilated and still used today.
  • This is the Second Cascade Tunnel which is still used today.
  • Lots of wildflowers by the tunnel and fuzzy little bees pollinating them. Though if a thistle is found in my garden I call it a weed!
  • Carson saw the No Trespassing sign and “arrested” Jeff for walking past the sign.
  • Levenworth is hilarious and extremely over the top (think along the lines of Disney’s It’s a Small World Bavaria). Even their Banks and McDonald’s had a Bavarian theme.
  • There were huge pots of beautiful blooming flowers everywhere.
  • Real ice cream. Carson got mint chocolate chip, and I got a scoop of coffee and a scoop of salted Carmel in a home made waffle cone (I remember making those myself when I worked at Randall’s Custard which became a Culver’s)
  • The boys were being silly at the restaurant.
  • Carson hamming it up at the playground. How is he going to be 11 already?
  • I have missed Tracy so much. I love that we could have some time to catch up while watching our kids play together. I wished we lived closer so we could do this much more often. ❤️❤️❤️