Hiking the Slate River
It is hard to believe how quickly June is flying by! The weather would finally cooperate enough for us to finish scraping the deck immediately behind the house and for me to hand brush the horizontal surface with one coat of sealer. We put in three swims at MTU’s SDC with my average at 2,700 yards per outing.
I made contact with Cassie Abrams at EGLE and we set up a pre-application meeting regarding our Hancock Trails Club bridge project over Swedetown Creek for June 18th. I also learned from Merrie Carlock that the MDNR was about to approve our plans and specifications for the re-build of the waterfront boardwalk at Centennial Park which is our top project to be funded by the Spark Grant. The biggest news of the week would come from Senator Peters office that they would be submitting our sewage lagoon project to the Appropriations Committee. We are expecting to learn if the $1.9 million project will be funded later this summer.
I attended the Township Board meeting on Wednesday where I gained board approval to procure a toddler swing for the playground. I also informed the board that Lowell Miller with Feighner Dock had committed to installing the remaining elements of the kayak launch in the next couple of days as well as receiving notice that we were being awarded the $2,750 grant from Visit Keweenaw for the kayak launch signage that Julie and I will be matching to honor my Dad. I briefed the board on my recent conversations with the environmental firm that is doing the front end work for the demolition of the former Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. I also let them know about the July 2nd site visit meeting the MDNR will be doing regarding our grant proposals to further develop the kayak launch under the Natural Resources Trust Fund and Recreation Passport grant programs.
Thursday morning I spent three hours at the Chassell Heritage Center with our Curator Mat Moore and new Chassell Historical Organization board member Steve Spahn cleaning out the basement. Over the years we have accumulated a number of items that don’t have a value to the organization. A lot of this was scrap metal and building materials or other items better donated to the Re-Store. It was impressive how much space we created!
That afternoon Julie and I headed down to do a hike to waterfalls on the Slate River. With the temperature in the 70s and decent wind to keep down the mosquitoes, it was a great afternoon to be in the woods!
The trail here follows the rim of the Slate River Canyon and passes by many impressive oak and pine trees along the way.
I feel so fortunate to have Julie as my partner in life as we both enjoy the outdoors and she is crazy enough to want to join me on these wild adventures!
While we made a stop at the top of the Ecstasy Falls series, we focused our attention on stops at both Kukuck’s and Slate Slide Falls.
The rim of the canyon provides an impressive overlook above Kukuck’s Falls.
Julie provides some excellent perspective here on the size of the falls.
Spending time in places like these provides you an excellent opportunity to feel at one with nature!
Slate Slide Falls is a really cool place! While it can be a rough slide over the surface, the pool at the bottom is an awesome place for a swim!
On the hike back out, Julie gives you a feel for the size of one of the massive oak trees along the trail.
Check out my GoPro video from this hike at this link to the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel:
Do you embrace winter and have the ability to work remotely? Consider locating in the Keweenaw where you will find ubiquitous natural beauty, no congestion, and lower crime! Not sure? Come UP for a workcation to check it out! Learn how at Visit Keweenaw at https://www.visitkeweenaw.com/plan/trip-ideas-itineraries/workcations/ Visit Remote Workforce Keweenaw at https://www.remoteworkforcekeweenaw.com. Learn about those making the decision to locate here by following the Remote Workforce Keweenaw Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RemoteWorkforceKeweenaw.