Dog days got you down? It may be time for an excursion!
By this time of the season, all of the fun times had during the previous school year are likely a not-so distant memory, you're probably caught up in your routine summertime schedule filled with cheap part-time labor and nightly Netflix binges, and you've probably adapted to the all-too-comfortable constraints of living at home with your parents. At least, this is the schedule to which I have become accustomed. Last week, I was searching for a change of pace that involved getting back to nature. Because I'm not so fortunate to have access to the bounty of freedom Mother Nature has to offer in my backyard, I had to go out of my way to find that.
I blame a combination of fluorescent lighting and excessive use of air conditioning at my job as the cause for my pale and clammy skin in mid-July. The spinning chair at my desk was awesome but made my legs lazy, and the glare of staring at a computer screen all day made my eyes tired. Whenever I let my mind wander, I'd find myself googling images of picaresque American landscapes and researching possible and not-so possible ways to explore them. I really wanted to get out of town somewhere. So, when a fraternity brother of mine asked if any of us would be down for a camping trip to Northern Michigan, I was chomping at the bit.
If you are realizing that you're in my same position, and wanting to go on an adventure of your own, here's how to do it:
1. Get In the Car and Go!
We departed that evening in my friend's Chevy Cavalier, which could comfortably seat a newborn litter of chipmunks. Destination: South Manitou Island, Michigan. After stopping in Ann Arbor for the night, we picked up another crew member and headed another four hours north to the fishing village of Leland to catch the 1:50 p.m. ferry to the island.
2. Find A Campsite.
We arrived on shore slightly sea sick, either from the turbulent surf or from the several $6 IPA's each of us drank on the ride over. We were greeted by a quirky pair of rangers who seemed to have spent more time of their lives around chipmunks than people. Being the rugged individuals we were, we asked the rangers to point us in the direction of the least populated campsite, and they were happy to oblige. Four miles of hiking through sand dunes and cedar forests later, we set up camp under a tree canopy not far above the beach.
3. Get Away From Any Type of Phone Service.
There were lots of cool artifacts that dotted the trail. Abandoned farm equipment, a one-room schoolhouse, the shipwreck of the S.S. Morazan, and an old cemetery were just a few of the landmarks that served as eerie reminders to let us know that we weren't some of the first people to set foot on this uninhabited island.
4. (MOST IMPORTANT) Climb to Highest Point, Contemplate Life, Throw Something Off Edge.
Reaching the peaks of the dunes was the climax of the hike. Probably one of the top four prettiest views I'd ever seen, with Lake Michigan right there in the background, I couldn't tell where the lake ended and the sky began. We stopped in a sand bowl to take off our shoes and toss the 'ole Frisbee around. It was then that my friend Trevor informed us all that he believes
"The Frisbee is the spirit of youth."
Right on, Trevor. Right on. One Frisbee toss led us astray over the 300-foot drop-off over the beach below. As I stumbled my way down the slope, hot rocks, sticks, and sand were an unwelcome presence. I was definitely not digging those vibes. It felt great to jump in the lake after that.
5. Bring A Deck of Cards.
The next day's hike was like a bad episode of Gilligan's Island. Rewarding yet tiring, a game of Texas hold 'em played with stones found on the beach was a great way to unwind. Rehydrated chili mac with beef washed down with Old Crow (Granddad's cough syrup) was on the menu that night. I had the best game of rock poker yet, and actually thought for a brief moment I'd live out the last night on the island with the title of "Rock King".
6. Stars.
After poker, we walked down to the beach to discover one of the top three starriest skies I'd ever seen, accompanied by shimmering pillars of green on the horizon. These were the northern lights, which I'd never seen before.
We awoke the next morning to raindrops falling on our tent, which marked the first sign of inclement weather we had on the trip. It was about time to board the ferry once more and return to our summer jobs in Ohio.
The return trip home is never fun -- the hike out was five times worse than the hike to get there because my legs felt like they were going to fall off -- but it is a good time to reflect upon the trip as a whole. We made it back to Witt eight hours later around 1 a.m. in a severe thunderstorm. The worst part was knowing I had to make the hour drive back to Columbus and wake up for work at 6:00 a.m. the next morning. My Buick also has faulty windshield wipers, which made the drive that much more interesting.
I probably couldn't do something like that every weekend, but one summer adventure is definitely something I recommend pursuing wherever you live. Especially here in America, where we are lucky to have plenty hidden gems of state and national parks. An excuse to go five days without showering is just an added perk.
