The Journey Continues 

Thursday morning after breakfast and filling in for dish duty the time for departure had finally arrived.  Community is something which can be taken for granted.  Of course we know when there is tension with in a community, however, when brothers and sisters are living together in Unity - it can be hard to leave.  The Summer Au Sable experience is rich of community building and the chance to experience the formation of a community for a summer.  All the students and staff return to their homes after a full some experience.  Some not wanting to leave and others wishing they could take the Au Sable community with them.  I would say that marks a successful summer session - the students and researches have been working hard and co-laboring together and there is a sense of loss to leave.

The journey to Geneva provided many hours to consider what I had experienced and learned this summer. Speaking for my self, it is easily to become attached to our home.  Through this summer I have seen the Lord provide a community filled with authentic relationships.  It has encouraged me that where God leads us although there is unknown he is about filling all our needs - include the need from community.  Don't worry friends I'm not moving across the country, however, I am saying this summer has shown me I do not need to fear if He were to lead me onward.

After 8 hours of driving I arrived to Geneva.  It has been five years since I was here last.  My RD,Wendy, from college still lives and runs the City House in Beaver Falls.  This is a house where students can live who are intentional about getting involved in Beaver Falls while also earning credit.  Since Wendy had the chance to go home I am staying once again with wonderful College students - this time at the City house.  Given all the time in the car, it was time for a run.  With some vague memories of the roads I enjoyed a seven mile run from downtown Beaver Falls up College Hill and around some of the older buildings.

Friday morning I had the joy of meeting up with two great new freshmen.  Our plans of having breakfast at Alex's did not work out - as breakfast closed at 7:45 - so down to Beaver Falls we went.  We found a small Cafe run by Tiger Pause, a ministry group that works with youth and those in need.  After catching up about our summers we headed back up to campus and meet there parents. Upon obtaining room codes we found their rooms and unloaded the cars.  What a fun and special experience to share.

We departed ways and off I went to meet up with several past professors.  The conversations were rich and encouraging. Time is a unique reality, when we have experienced and built deep relationships, time does not seem to matter.  What I mean is, you can pick up and interact like no time has past and yet your ability to interact is natural not fake.  This happened for me with two special people yesterday.  One Dr. Meek and the other my roommate Nikki.  I had not seen either since graduation in 2006.  What a joy to share lunch and talk about knowing with Dr. Meek.  I meet Nikki and her two lovely girls (Pepper and Ivy) at Brady's run for an afternoon walk.
     

Paper Writing - Factors Inhibiting Reforestation at Abandoned Oil Pads in Northern Michigan, USA

Friends who have been awaiting a post - sorry for the delay. We have been working hard for the last two weeks on writing a paper about our findings from our summer research project. This has been an activity requiring perseverance, skill, teamwork, countless hours of thinking and writing. Finally the end is in sight. Hopefully by the time you read this post, our paper edits will be complete.  

Last night I was blessed with truly Michigan meal - Perch down at Trout Town in good old Kalkaska. I had never considered eating perch, likely because for many years while teaching biology they were the horrible smelling fish we dissected. However, to my great surprise, it was rather delicious.  

I have just two more days left here before beginning my journey back to the Northeast via Geneva College where I am looking forward to seeing old friends. In the mean time there is a talent show tonight, a students staff softball game Wednesday afternoon, and a final pot luck blessing meal to share with faculty families. 48 more hours of work and fun to top off the wonderful summer here at Au Sable!  

Morning Sky at Site Alpha

Joys of Returning to Sites

Tuesday brought the opportunity to travel back to our study sites to obtain GPS points and collect a few grass specimens for further identification.  After breakfast, Jess and I departed for Kalkaska County.  Along we drove and talked about our initial findings bounced ideas back and forth about what we can and cannot say about these results.

Smooth Brome 

What a gift to look out over a field and know the species present just by the color of the waves of grass and other herbaceous plants.  Here is a taste of what was going through my mind as we looked over out sites:  "red - Sheep sorrel, light tan - Poverty grass, yellow - Saint John Wort, purple - spotted knapweed, red stemmed grass - Smooth brome grass...." and so forth.  Just one month before, many of these plants were brand new.

Poverty Grass 

Enjoying the wild snack - Blueberries 

Jess and I determined several benefits of being an ecologist our top two are: 1) field work 2) knowing where to find wild berries for consumption.  We stopped back at campus for lunch and headed back out to our Antrim County sites.  Fred decided to come along with us to check on the sites and re-learn how to use the Au Sable GPS unit.  We were glad for his company - especially when we found that Shell Oil Road had several really large puddles all along the road.  He calmly guided me in "best" practice for making it through and to our sites. For sure, my dirt road driving skills are much improved after this summer - I have been stretched to drive through areas I would usually have said " nope, we are walking", but that would not have worked all that well with the distance between our sites.  He also provided a historical lesson about how during the Civil War the Generals had a hard time keeping their soldiers in rank when the blueberries and raspberries were ready for picking.  The hungry solders would fall out of rank and eat whatever they could find - personally I can totally understand this, given that we as people blessed with plenty of food are tempted to stop and enjoy the fruit of the land.

Site Hotel - Notice the colors of the field 

Panicgrass 

While on the sites, we gathered five different grass samples and were blessed to identify them with Dave Warners - in the late afternoon.   We learned from him that two of the species we brought back are native to Michigan - Little Blue Stem and a species of Panicgrass.  This species was exceptionally cool in that it makes two different sets of seeds at two different times of the season.  When we were out the first time we saw the seeds and then a second set that form down near the base of the plant.  This characteristic was what actually helped us identify this plant.

It is hard to describe the connection one feels with study sites,  however after analyzing the data each site becomes a unique location. Many of our sites are covered with more non-native species than native ones. For this project, each site is in need of restoration - if one listens carefully you can hear the groaning creation - waiting in eager expectation for restoration. In a few years, maybe this research work will be used by the Lord to help bring restoration to these sites all over Michigan!  

Data Review and the Unknown Caterpillar

Much of the past week has been spent in Literature Research about forest composition of Michigan and considering how we can connect what we have learn about our sites with established information.  For sure this has meant several hours on the computer reading many papers about Jack pine, Red pine, and Northern Hardwood forests communities.

Friday was spent making tables and trying to see trends regarding our data.  There is still much to do this coming week.  Finally our soil data has arrived too - so we can start to consider how that data fits into what we have uncovered.

Late in the afternoon on Friday a group of middle school girls walked into Earth Hall with a Rubbermaid container and a Caterpillar.  They asked the secretary if anyone at the Institute could help them.  Over hearing their question, I jumped into action! They were a bit surprised when I opened the container to see the rather large (3 inch) caterpillar. "Is it poisonous?" asked one of the girls. I immediately responded, "No, it is a Spurge Hawk Moth which eats Leafy Spurge. When the moth emerges it will have a 5-7 cm wing span".

The Spurge Hawk Moth has been used in several states in attempts to slow down the movement of Leafy spurge, an invasive herbaceous plant. This plant loves disturbed areas like roadsides and abandoned fields. They departed for home with a plan to release the Spurge Hawk Moth Caterpillar on some leafy spurge near their home.

Our research team has seen these Caterpillars out in the field on our oil pad sites.  Several of our sites are dominantly covered with Leafy spurge - it is also the only plant that was found on all our sites.  

This moment of sharing with these young girls about the Spurge Hawk Moth and Leafy Spurge reminded me of my love for Teaching.  I am enjoying my time at Au Sable, but am starting to look forward to another great school year.  The facilitation of learning is such a great and wonderful vocation!

Jordan River Valley 

Landslide Overview

The first week of second session flew by!  Numerous hours have been spent playing volleyball and getting to know the new students.

Saturday afternoon a small group of us went for an afternoon hike in the Jordan River Valley, an 18,000 acre State Park located in Antrim County.  

The Jordan River is groundwater fed - keeping the water temperatures quite cool.  We hiked from the Landslide Overview down to the river via the North Country Trail.  From the Landslide Overview all one can see is forest!

The trail meandered through a mature forest of Sugar Maple, Beech, and Yellow Birch.  It was interested to watch the landscape change.  There were several areas where groundwater seepage created small forested wetlands.  Potentially these areas were fens - but we did not take the time to determine if that were true.  A fen is an area that is fed by groundwater and supports a unique vegetative community.

At a small brook the group decided to set up a group photo on a log stretching over the river - we moved a portion of the bark and found three red backed Salamanders - the group carefully positioned themselves around the Salamanders for a photo.

A little farther along there a rather impressive series of Fungi including a large self-fungi.


Upon reaching the Jordan River we spent some time exploring the shore of the river.  Before heading back up the trail we enjoyed a lovely snack: Yellow Raspberries!  

Along the way back to the car we did spot a patch of Maidenhair ferns!  Ah, the joys of a Rich-Mesic-Northern Hardwood Forests!


 A return trip is in order - for there are many more miles of trails to be explored! Stay Tuned for Jordan River Part 2 Next week

Pictured Rocks Weekend Adventure 

View of Miners Castle

To celebrate the ending of a successful first summer session at Au Sable - a small group of us decided to head north to the Upper Peninsula to enjoy Pictured Rocks.  Since, I did not have test to prepare for it was my assignment to plan for the trip.

With Paremila (2004 Subaru Impreza) packed to the max with camping supplies and people we departed at 6:30AM.  Immediately it was evident that the my "kiddos" for the weekend were quite tired, as they quickly fell asleep - until we reached the straights of Mackinaw.  Everyone was awake to experience the crossing of the worlds 5th longest suspension bridge that towers 200 feet above the straights that connect Lake Huron with Lake Michigan.  This bridge provides access to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Miners Castle 

Soon after crossing the bridge the "kiddos" were fast asleep.  The landscape of the Upper Pennisula is rather flat with low areas dominated by coniferous swamps.  To help myself stay awake on the long flat straight roads it was essential to watch for changing trees and plants.  Trembling aspen, Tamarack, Spruce, Balsam Fur, Red Maple, grasses, and the list could go on.  Two hours later we stopped for gas and an ice coffee in Shingleton - the destination was in sight. From this point on we enjoyed fellowship and anticipation of arriving to Pictured Rocks!

At the Munising Falls Visitor Center we gathered information about the park: a hiking trail map, learned about camping options, and saw a public service announcement not to touch wild parsnip - apparently it causes a skin rash much worse than poison ivy.

Off we went to see Miners falls and Castle. A few years back a portion of Miners Castle collapsed into Lake Superior.  The cliffs are made of several kinds of Sandstone, which in time are eroded away by the wave action of the lake and weather conditions inevitable result in dramatic crashing of cliffs into the lake. The contrast of colors from the tan, white, brown of the cliffs to the shades of blue of the lake to the sky blue - all combined to create a feast for eyes and soul.

From there we traveled along Rt 58 through the park to Little Beaver Lake to set up camp.  In the park - camping is a first come first serve.  Fortunately, Merriam noticed that one of the sites was available, since the take at the stations was dated for the 12th.  This meant we did not have to travel 15 more miles to the next camp site.  After setting up camp and having a PB and J Sandwiches with cheese and crackers were were off to hike along the Pictured Rock cliffs.

Chapel Falls

To access the cliffs there is a 3.2 mile trail to Chapel beach that meanders through a rich Northern Hardwood forest and passes Chapel falls.  The vegetation of the forest attests to it richness as we found a very vibrant community of Maidenhair Ferns! These are my favorite of the ferns, because of their unique shape.

Along Path Beyond Chapel Falls - a Patch of Maidenhair Ferns

Chapel Rock 

The key feature at Chapel beach is Chapel Rock.  It was named in 1840 by Douglas Houghton who was charged with exploring the southern shore of Lake Superior.  Today Chapel Rock is attached to the main land by a root from the Jack pine that is growing on top of the Sandstone Structure. Upon reaching the lake shore we explored the sandy beach and skipped rocks along the lake.  Since all the rocks are sandstone based there was a plethora of skipping stones.  Adam was the only one to complete go into the lake, the rest of us settled for touching the lake.

Drift Wood along Chapel Beach

Standing on the Point of Grand Portal 

At this point the team had to decide if we were up for hiking another 6 miles or if we wanted to return the way we had come.  Although it was cloudy and there was a heavy midst on the lake we decided to go for it and we were greatly rewarded for this choice.  From here the trail follows along the North Country Trail.  Our first glimpse of the Pictured Rocks  came from Grand Portal. When we first stepped out very little of the cliffs could be seen, but after a few minutes the midst was rolled back and it revealed this lovely view - we contemplated writing a new verse to How Great Thou Art!

View from Grand Portal 

View back towards Grand Portal 

Rock formation at Mosquito Beach

Along the NCT we traveled - every few minutes the trail would lead to more spectacular view spots.  Eventually, after much enjoyment of the sights we reached Mosquito Beach.  One thing to know before you visit the UP, Mosquitoes are very abundant - fortunately Sam was prepared and we were not eaten alive while hiking. Mosquito Beach has a wonderful sitting rock that allows you to look both to the east and west.  From this spot we headed back into the woods for a four mile trek to the car.  The trail was rather muddy and evidently provided pristine conditions for Mosquitoes.  This just made us keep the pace up - or maybe it was just that we were hungry and ready for dinner.

Upon reaching the car at 7:50 we headed for the general store to pick up some firewood.  Here in Michigan, as with other states, you cannot transport firewood because of the emerald ash borer.  As we pulled up we noticed the sign said open.  Upon jumping out of the car the light went off - "Oh no" said the group - I quickly ran to the door and knocked - the nice store owner opened up and we were able to obtain firewood for the evening!

The Campsite - and faithful Parmelia

Back at the site Merriam built a great fire, while the boys worked on splitting the wood for the evening - after a quick lesson. A light rain fell for most of the evening, but that did not deter us from enjoying the warmth of the fire.  We even had a rabbit visit us for the evening - when it divided to dart through our site!  

Sunday morning we awoke to clearing skies! Instant oatmeal, tea, and toast made for a great breakfast. We broke down camp and headed for Au Sable Light House.

 View of Little Beaver Lake - Just beyond our Campsite 

Au Sable Light House and Outbuildings 

This area is known as Shipwreck beach.  Before there was a light house many ships had their voyage end in disaster when they ran aground on the shallow sandstone lake bottom.  The water is only 6 feet deep.  To help decrease the chance of ship wrecks the Au Sable Light house was built in 1895.  It still functions today - but with a programmed LED light.  

Taking in the beauty of Lake Superior

Just beyond the Light House is an access point to the shore.  Here we explored and enjoyed a view of the Dunes!  Along the shore we found the carnivorous Sundew plants.  These small plants (about the size of a large pencil eraser) catch insects on their sticky hairs - slowly the plant closes in on the insect.      

Looking towards the Dunes from Au Sable Point

It was hard to leave Au Sable beach - the warmth of the sun, the vastness of the lake - it was all so inviting, but we all agreed it was time to head home to the Au Sable Institute!

Our Camping Exploring Team

If possible, you should definitely make the effort to visit Pictured Rocks National Lake Shore!

Kalkaska Field Experience 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7

The swish of rain pants, sound of zipper sliding up my coat, and the pitter-patter of rain drops through the trees - these were the sounds present on the walk to the dining hall for breakfast.  Over breakfast we discussed the rain percentage for the day and consulted the Doppler radar. The verdict was in: it was going to rain, likely for a significant part of the day.

Off we headed in the Toyota 4-Runner for the Kalkaska Oil Pad Sites.  Most of the night had been consumed with dreams about disastrous road and weather conditions.  The Lord knows the concerns of our hearts - when we reached our first dirt road (Boardman River road), it was apparent that a grader had just gone down the road! The road was smooth and solid - unlike the soft sand of Sand Lake Road and the Shell Oil Road of last week.

Our first site and last site of the day were completed without rain.  The three others were all done in some decree of precipitation.  The second site was when the mist started - this was at about 10:30 AM.  By the third sight it was a very steady mist and the fourth was a steady rain.  Fortunately, we had packed one umbrella.  Nikki and Jessica collected the data as a team using the umbrella.  Seeing that I had rain pants and a gor-tex coat, I worked on: laying out the transect, collecting the soil sample, and walking the quadrants for shrubs/trees.  The last site was the most challenging to access - we had to return to the center of Kalkaska and then travel about 2.5 miles down a two-track dirt road.  We were all thankful the vehicle we had for the day had a high clearance -  We completed the fieldwork at 4 PM - each was happy to be on our way back to Au Sable for dinner.

For all my trepidation about the day - it turned out to be a great day of success.  Once again showing that we should not be anxious, especially about factors we cannot control.