Point Patterson is located along a stretch of UP shoreline that I rarely, if ever, visit. In fact, it sits smack in the middle of what may very well be the longest stretch of uninhabited shoreline on the entire lake. One solitary paved road leads south from US-2 at the tiny crossroads of Gould City about 15-miles to the shore. At this point there is a tiny park from which point one can wander the empty shore in either direction. On this hike I'd be heading a couple miles west out to Point Patterson. There would be no marked trails but with a wide beach to walk I didn't figure it would take any serious navigational skills to find my way.
The only unknown was what toll the huge windstorm of the previous couple days had taken on the shore. 70+ mile per hour winds had raked this area for the previous 48 hours and I expected to find quite a bit of debris. As it turned out there was very little and the clouds even broke within minutes of stepping out. It's nice when a plan comes together!!
Also, in this journal, I'm trying something different. I have decided to include a series of videos in the album to help share a bit better what it is actually like out on the trail in these unique places. It's a work in progress and I'm not sure I like it yet, but hope you enjoy the added bonus!
Mileage Hiked: 4.0 miles
Trailhead Temp: 45'F
Min. Elevation: 575'
Max Elevation: 600'
The only unknown was what toll the huge windstorm of the previous couple days had taken on the shore. 70+ mile per hour winds had raked this area for the previous 48 hours and I expected to find quite a bit of debris. As it turned out there was very little and the clouds even broke within minutes of stepping out. It's nice when a plan comes together!!
Also, in this journal, I'm trying something different. I have decided to include a series of videos in the album to help share a bit better what it is actually like out on the trail in these unique places. It's a work in progress and I'm not sure I like it yet, but hope you enjoy the added bonus!
Mileage Hiked: 4.0 miles
Trailhead Temp: 45'F
Min. Elevation: 575'
Max Elevation: 600'
Pulling into the parking area...a violent wind storm had blown through the previous couple days so I expected a few trees down, just thought I wouldn't have to deal with them until I got out of the car...
My first minor obstacle...Newton Creek empties into Lake Michigan immediately next to the parking lot...luckily it was low enough to jump over (barely!)...
Vid #1 - Starting the hike...
About a quarter mile in I passed this area of low dunes...I wasn't expecting this as the Lake Michigan shore in this area is typically quite rocky, which I'd discover in a bit...
Vid #2 - Dune talk...
Not just pretty, the wet shore here displays how wild the lake had been the previous couple days...the smooth-worn beach extended a good 30' above the present water line displaying just how high the waves were recently...
Vid #3 - Life's a beach...
Tiny channels in the sand from run-off...
It wasn't long before the sand gave way to rock...the dunes I had just passed are visible to the right...
For much of the remainder of the hike the terrain looked like this...a jumble of rocks that kept my attention keenly focused on avoiding a twisted ankle rather than the scenery...
A number of these shallow pools sat just inland from the lake shore, no doubt filled over the last few days by the higher lake levels and waves...
Vid #4 - Looking around near the midpoint...
Point Patterson from the rocky shore quite close to the halfway point from the parking area...
Another small beach provided a welcome respite from the rock-hopping...I was surprised to find a boat along this remote shore and surmised that it likely belonged to the DNR-E folks I saw parked along the shore back at the main road...
What a difference a day makes...the 70+ mile per hour winds of the last days have quickly given way to a more serene day along the lake...
My short, pleasant beach walk comes to an abrupt end...
It doesn't take long for this kind of terrain to begin to wear on your lower extremities...only a bit over a mile in and I coupld tell my ankles and knees were not enjoying this (even though I was!!)...
Finding these old ship parts along the lake shore always gets my mind wandering...it would be interesting to know the story behind this debris...
Marking my progress as I begin to near the point...my starting point is near the middle of the photo along the far point of land...
Not far to go...from this angle Point Patterson doesn't look like much of a "point," does it?
Another storm-filled pond along the shore...I found these to be very peaceful spots...
Apparently not all species weathered the storm as well as others...I counted at least a dozen of this species of bird (which my best guess is a Northern Pintail, though my son disagrees) along the beach. I wonder why this one type was so affected?
Waves and rocks, always a nice combination...
To catch a break from the rocks I attempted to head up to see if things were any better against the wood line...less rocks but the soft sand wasn't much of an improvement...
My brief visit up to the forest dod reveal an ATV trail that paralleled the shore just beyond the trees...this might be a nice, though less scenic, alternative to the rocky beach for my walk back...
Lansing Shoal Lighthouse is out there, trust me...unfortunately it was no more than a tiny speck on the horizon so trying to zoom in on it was as frustrating as it was futile...
Vid #5 - Walk with me...
Another shot of the rock-strewn shore...
Rounding the final turn...
Vid #6 - Close, but yet so far...
Point Patterson Creek was a pretty little obstacle to my last few hundred yards of walking to the point...
The cedar-choked Point Patterson Creek...this is the view just upstream from where I made my crossing...
I must admit it was a bit of a puzzle trying to figure out how I was going to cross, but I managed to make it (dry, no less!) by leaping between those little grassy mounds...
Sea shell, anyone?
Point Patterson...looking back west from whence I came...
Point Patterson...this shot looks south and you can just make out a freighter on the left and what I believe to be either Hog or Garden Island, of the Beaver Island archipelago in the center distance...
Vid #7 - Point Patterson look-around...
The far side of the point...looking north and east from Point Patterson I expected to be treated to a distant view of the tiny village of Naubinway. Instead, I discovered the shoreline isn't as smooth as my state map implied and besides it likely would have been to far away anyhow...
A small lagoon at the point...
Photo-op at the afore-pictured lagoon...
Can't put my finger on why, but I just think this looks kinda cool...
One last look to the north-east before turning my back for the return hike...
In a sea of white limestone, this solitary green rock was quite striking (more-so than the picture conveys)...
I decided to follow the previously mentioned inland ATV trail back and while it did stay in the woods for much of the time it nicely broke out onto the shore once in a while...
Natures tenacity always amazes me...though I wouldn't give this little cedar good odds at a long life...
Into the woods...
Though the forest tail lacked the maddening rocks the storm of the previous days had knocked numerous trees across the path, creating a different kind of obstacle...
A familiar beach, though the boat that was here earlier had quietly slipped away since I had passed through before...
Notice a lean? Much of the lake-side forest in Michigan has that look to it due to the almost unrelenting breezes along the shore...
Vid #8 - Wet feet in the woods...
The final stretch of shore...
I always seem to find one tough little out-of-season-never-say-die wildflower in late October or November...this year it's this solitary harebell. My first pics of this flower are usually in late June!!
Back to Norman Creek...
Closing the loop...what an amazing day!
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