Recently, we have been getting sporadic bouts of rain on the UP which has given me an opportunity to plan out some cruising routes for work. Planning out these routes is important because it helps to think about the most efficient way to go from one plot to the next before actually getting into the…
Riverman: An American Odyssey
Right now there is a pesky group of plots in the backwoods of Hiawatha National Forest that is waiting to be completed. They amount to about three to fours days worth of work for me. The problem is they are located far behind private property, on the other side of a river, through several miles…
Ecology of Dead Trees
When hiking through your local forest, you’ve no doubt come across a dead tree every now and then. But have you ever thought about the ecology of dead trees and the roles they play in a forest ecosystem? In this article, I want to share some of those roles and by the end you will…
Late June Wildflowers
The forests of Michigan’s UP are alight with colors this time of year. Many unique wildflowers are in bloom and they can easily be found if you know where to look. I’ll share a few of the most showy wildflowers I’ve spotted while work in Hiawatha National Forest in mid to late June so far…
Life and Death by the Roadside: Wildlife and Roads
UPPER PENINSULA, MICHIGAN – Driving out to the forest this morning, I came across a rare sight: a small fox trotting along the roadside. I was driving westward while the fox was coming east on the opposite side of the road. There was no other traffic and I was able to stop and snap a…
Lessons Learned From A Long Road Trip
Apparently road trip snacks can be very important. Let me back up… I’ve just arrived in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for another summer of contract work in Hiawatha National Forest. My wife and I made the long trip from western Arkansas over the course of 5 days, only driving 4-5 hours per day. This way we…
Bumping into Hunters
Over the last 6 years, I have come across many hunters while working in the woods. Usually I see them along forest roads and trails, but sometimes I unknowingly walk up on them far from any access paths. And rarely, I stumble over them while they’re hunkered down waiting for game. Okay, I’ve never actually…
Noise Pollution in National Forests
Most national forests in the US are located in rural parts of the country. Parts of these forests can be difficult to access and therefore far from the noise of the city. For this reason, they offer a kind of sanctuary for the urbanite to temporarily escape the noise pollution of urbanization and development. However,…
A Unique Lichen Species
Arkansas’s Ouachita National Forest is a rocky forest. Ridgelines tend to be made up of large rock outcroppings that stand out from the rest of the forest. Ouachita is also home to many unique lichen species. The other day I was approaching one such outcropping when I noticed some brightly colored rocks near the top…
Trail Wanderings
I was recently working in an area near Ouachita NFs Flatside Wilderness in western Arkansas. There we’re only about 8 plots to complete (maybe 2-3 hours worth of work) in the area. I left the truck and started towards the nearest ridge where the first few plots were to be located. There, through short fits…