Overview of Badlands National Park

Located in southwestern South Dakota, Badlands National Park covers more than 244,000 acres of breathtaking landscapes. The park is renowned for its colorful rock formations and diverse wildlife. Established as a national park in 1978, it has since become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and nature lovers. It was established as a national park in 1978 and has since become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and nature lovers.

History of Badlands National Park

Before European settlers arrived on the Dakota prairies, this area’s Native American culture recognized the importance of this geological formation. The Lakota people called it “Mako Sica,” meaning “bad land.” The Badlands’ rugged terrain and unforgiving weather were considered unfit for human habitation. Nevertheless, many Native American tribes, including the Sioux, have lived in this mystical land for thousands of years.

Later, when French fur traders encountered the area, they called it “les mauvaises terres à traverse, ” which translates to “bad lands to cross.” During the 1800s, European settlers began moving west in search of new opportunities. To the pioneers, the Badlands were an insurmountable barrier on their journey. The harsh weather and rough terrain made it impossible to settle or navigate.

Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was a passionate conservationist who visited Badlands National Park several times. He was deeply moved by the rugged beauty of this land and worked towards preserving it for future generations.

In 1978, Badlands National Monument became Badlands National Park under President Jimmy Carter’s administration. Since then, it has become a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and photographers alike. The park’s creation was a joint effort between the National Park Service, the South Dakota State Historical Society, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe. The park’s territory includes the largest undisturbed mixed grass prairie in the United States.

The Unique Geology of Badlands National Park

The fascinating geology of Badlands National Park left me in awe. The park’s unique landscape tells a story of millions of years of erosion, deposition, and transformation of sediments and rocks. The makeup of the stone bands in the cliffs is remarkable and truly one-of-a-kind. The colors of the Badlands’ sedimentary rock formations change throughout the day as the light shifts. The canyon faces, ranging from rich browns and yellows to bright red, have a surreal appearance found in few places on Earth.

The Badlands have numerous geological formations such as canyons, ravines, gullies, and hoodoos. My favorites were the Hoodoos because it’s fun to say.

Hoodoos are tall and thin spires of rock that rise from the bottom of the arid drainage basins. Wind and water erosion form these stunning geological features over time, creating unique shapes and patterns.

Badlands National Park boasts towering cliff walls that rise up to 250 feet, creating a dramatic and awe-inspiring landscape. These rocks offer a tangible connection to the park’s geological history, with colorful striations in layered sedimentary formations.

The road winds through cliffs and hoodoos, offering easy access to geological formations and breathtaking views.

Bighorn Sheep

One of the most exciting things to see while visiting Badlands National Park is the Bighorn sheep that call it home. These magnificent creatures are named for their massive, curved horns, which can weigh up to 30 pounds.

These robust animals are typically found on the park’s rolling hills, grazing on hardy mountain grasses and brushing against the rocky slopes. The Bighorn sheep are a symbol of the park’s wilderness and a testament to the park’s conservation efforts.

Once threatened by diseases introduced through contact with domestic sheep, their numbers dwindled to dangerously low levels. The park’s management team initiated restoration programs that helped their population recover. Making the sighting of these magnificent creatures a testament to successful conservation efforts.

The Badlands National Park offers an ideal habitat for the Bighorn sheep. The park’s undulating topography and rocky slopes give the sheep excellent vantage points for detecting predators. The sparse vegetation offers a rich diet of grasses, sedges, and forbs that these animals prefer. The park’s semi-arid climate suits the Bighorn sheep’s rugged nature. They are built to withstand the park’s variable weather conditions, ranging from freezing winters to scorching summer heat.

In the face of adverse conditions, these magnificent creatures have adapted to their harsh environment, turning the “badlands” into a thriving ecosystem. Whether navigating cliffs or grazing in the valleys, the Bighorn is a quintessential part of the landscape and continues to enchant visitors.

Keep your eyes peeled while driving through the park, and you may spot a herd or two.

Image Gallery of Badlands National Park

More Information on Badlands National Park

For more information on planning your visit to Badlands National Park, including maps, camping sites, and fees, check out the official website of the National Park Service.

For information on the Geology of The Badlands – See Geologic Formations: How Badlands Buttes Came to Be

Conclusion

If you’re like me and are a photographer looking to capture the beauty of the United States, then a stop at Badlands National Park must be on your list. And when you drive the winding road through the park, wonder what the native people must have thought of this unique place.

In conclusion, you must make time to detour off the main road and visit Badlands National Park to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Where is Badlands National Park

The park is located in South Dakota, just south of the town of Wall (the home of the infamous “Wall Drugs” sign. Follow highway 240 south from I-90 to reach the eastern park entrance.

The post Badlands National Park – Exploring Its Unparalleled Beauty appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

What is the Lonaconing Silk Mill

The Lonaconing Silk Mill, located in Allegany County, in western Maryland, was founded in 1907 by the Klotz Throwing Company. During the early 20th century, silk production was a booming industry in America, and the Lonaconing Silk Mill was among the largest silk manufacturers in the United States.

Though the mill was always productive, textile manufacturing was always on the edge of viability in the US. The mill had to cease operations in 1929 during the Depression and then again during World War II due to the lack of raw silk from Asia. But before closing in 1945, the mill produced many of the parachutes used by the US armed forces during that war.

In the end, the mill was forced to shut down on July 7, 1957, following a strike by the labor union. The company couldn’t meet the workers’ demands, which resulted in the mill’s closure. As a result, the workers left, and the mill’s doors were permanently closed that day. Inside the walls, time essentially stopped and preserved a time capsule of early 20th-century manufacturing.

The silk mill that once symbolized America’s manufacturing heritage is now a haunting reminder of the past. The massive building spans over 48,000 square feet and is still filled with machinery and tools, waiting for the workers who will never return. Unfortunately, the structure is now in disrepair, with peeling paint and dusty hallways.

Why Visit the Lonaconing Silk Mill

Despite its haunting appearance, it is a photographer’s paradise. The machinery is still intact, offering endless opportunities to capture the industrial beauty of a bygone era.

Visiting the abandoned Lonaconing Silk Mill will leave you in awe of the immense machinery that was once used for silk production. Although the machines are now deteriorating, they stand as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the mill workers.

Walking through the mill provides a glimpse of what life was like for workers in the early 20th century. The sizes of the machinery and the scale of work that was involved would have been mind-blowing. It is a story of hard work, dedication, and tools that once created the manufacturing boom in America’s industrial era.

The Caretaker

Herb Crawford, the then-caretaker, led us through the abandoned building during my visit. His passion for the place had kept it from falling into complete disrepair. Crawford provided a comprehensive explanation of the mill’s operation, the significance of the remaining equipment, and the daily routine of the mill workers.

The mill’s interior is amazing due to Herb’s tremendous labor of love. Despite some dust and crumbling paint, the facility has remained unchanged since the day the doors closed.

Herb has overseen the dozens of spinning machines turned off when the mill closed, and thousands of wooden spools remained stacked and ready for use. To preserve the mill, Herb has regularly guided paid tours through the facility, ensuring that the calendars hanging on the walls still show the date as July 1957.

The Mill’s Future

Herb passed away at the age of 84 in 2019. Sadly, his dream of restoring the Lonaconing Silk Mill was left unfinished. And, as of now, the building has been vacant longer than it was operational.

Nevertheless, in 2020, Lonaconing resident Brandon Sloan purchased the structures and land from Herb’s heirs. Brandon’s top priority is to preserve the mill. He aims to make it a place of historical pride for the local Lonaconing community, carrying on Herb’s legacy.

I’m uncertain if tours of the Lonaconing Silk Mill are currently available. Contact the mill through their Facebook or website’s Contact page for more information.

More on the Lonaconing Silk Mill

If you want to see more information about the Silk Mill, please check out these other stories.

• The Baltimore Sun – Spinning it forward: Renovation plans set for a former silk mill in Western Maryland
• The Explorographer – The Beginning of The End @ The Lonaconing Silk Mill
• Allegany Magazine – Save Our Silk
• The Klotz Company Store: Official website for Lonaconing Silk Mill events and items.
• The Silk Mill: Lonaconing Silk Mill’s Facebook page

Image Gallery

Conclusion

The Lonaconing Silk Mill stands today as a tribute to the rise and fall of America’s manufacturing heritage. The beauty of the mill is seen not only in the hauntingly beautiful industrial architecture and machinery but also in its ability to stir the imagination and inspire photographers to capture the essence of America’s industrial past. The mill also serves as a unique and important window into the economic and social history of the nation. A visit to this abandoned mill will inspire and remind us of the hard work and the determination of the generations before us who built America.

Where is the Lonaconing Silk Mill

The mill is located southwest of Cumberland, MD, in Lonaconing. The property is not publicly available and is monitored by cameras 24/7. If you want to visit this historic location, please get in touch with the folks at the Klotz Company Store through their Facebook or website’s Contact page for more information.

The post Exploring the Abandoned Lonaconing Silk Mill: Our Manufacturing Heritage appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

The beauty of still life photography lies in the intentional arrangement of objects and the interplay of light and shadow that brings out the unique character and personality of each item. It’s fascinating to see how even the simplest of objects, when captured in a still life photo, can evoke emotions and tell stories that are both captivating and thought-provoking. Whether it’s a vase of flowers, a bowl of fruit, or a pile of books, each object has its own tale to tell, waiting to be discovered by the observant eye of the photographer. And that’s what draws me to this art form – the ability to create something beautiful and meaningful out of everyday objects and to have those items convey their own stories.

The post Still Life Photography Gallery appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

A Day of Visiting Lighthouses

My plan for the day was to visit five of Lake Michigan’s iconic lighthouses in northwest lower Michigan – Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort Light, Manistee Pierhead Light, Luddington Breakwater Light, and Big Sable Light. It was an aggressive schedule, and I wanted to time it so I could be at Big Sable at Sunset. My round trip from Ann Arbor was about 9 hours, so I knew it would be a very full day of driving and shooting.

The trip was all going to plan, and I got some very good images of the first four lighthouses with moody skies and waves. Going well, that is until I pulled into the Luddington State Park parking lot about 20 minutes before sunset. Most of the lighthouses are adjacent to their parking areas, for Big Sable, I had not planned for the two-mile walk! I thought I was going to miss the sunset!

About Big Sable Lighthouse

The Big Sable Point Light is one of the most popular lighthouses on the Great Lakes. The lighthouse is located in Ludington State Park on Lake Michigan’s shore, marking the entrance to Hamlin Lake. The iconic lighthouse and how beautifully it sits on the shore makes it one of the most photographed lighthouses in the state.

Built in 1867, Big Sable is the fourth tallest lighthouse on Lake Michigan. With a 112-foot (34 m) tall, conical brick tower with an attached keeper’s quarters. The black and white striping really makes this lighthouse’s tower a striking sight along the lake.

Big Sable Lighthouse is one of five lighthouses in Michigan listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The light is currently operated by Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association. The SPLKA keeps the site in operation and provides for building maintenance. The building is open for tours daily 10 am-5 pm from the end of May to the end of October. You can climb to the top or visit the gift shop in the original Keeper’s Quarters. 

Arriving at the Light

As I said, it was a long day of driving and visiting gorgeous lighthouses on the lake. Since most of the lighthouses are a short walk from the parking area, I planned to get to Big Sable about 30 minutes before sunset. But when I got to the parking lot at Luddington State Park, I could not see the lighthouse anywhere. Checking the park map was the first time I realized I was in for a hike.

So half an hour to sunset and golden hour light in full swing, I strapped on my camera bag and began a steady jog out to the lighthouse. I was so annoyed at myself for not planning this out. The dread of missing the sunset helped keep my pace up even as the sun started to touch the horizon out on the lake.

Even though I arrived at the lighthouse shaky and sweaty (I wasn’t in that good of shape then), I did make it in time to catch the glorious sunset light on the tower. One of the things that really was to my advantage was that even with the sun on the horizon, the light reflecting off of the lake extended the golden hour for at least 30 more minutes.

If I had planned properly, I would have known the site better. I would have known about the walk and had the time to get better photos.

But this episode taught me an important lesson, you need to plan for photo locations. I’m really glad on this trip, I was alone and did not have to hustle other photographers down the trail.

Landscape Planning Tools

Since this time I’ve learned to use a tool like PhotoPills or PlanIt. To use them not only to find where the sun, moon, or astronomical features are. But to see the location, plan the trip, and pre-visualize the shots I want.

All-in-all, even with my hurried state, I think my visit to Big Sable turned out OK. Once my panic had subsided, was able to get some really great images of the lighthouse and the surrounding site. I know that I will go back there again. Next time, with better planning, I’ll try for the Milky Way or some Auroras in the sky.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you’ve learned from my mistake (I know I have). So when you get the chance to visit Big Sable Lighthouse, if you take the time to do the planning, you will arrive in a calm state of mind that will allow you to truly enjoy this grand historical site.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Also, if you want to see some of my other trips around the state, check out these posts on Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse and The High Rollways.

And as always, keep on clicking!

Where is Big Sable Lighthouse?

Big Sable Lighthouse is located in Luddington State Park on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Luddington State Park Trail Map – So you don’t get lost.

The post Big Sable Lighthouse – Almost Lost Out At An Amazing Sunset appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

Well, the year 2020 rolled to a close, and as we all seem to agree, it wasn’t a great year. There were a lot of losses for me – several old friends died, plans for a “travel year” dissolved, the kids have all moved out, and the passion for software development has faded. But still, the opportunity for growth and change is always there.

My photography has changed a bit too. While I won’t use the trope of saying I had to do more with less, I did have to strive a bit more to discover scenes that drew me in and made me want to find an image I wanted to share.

This year I spent more time learning and admiring the real experts at macro and floral photography. I’ve always been one to stop and admire how nature surrounds us with beauty, so why not get close up? I read and watched the work of Janice Sullivan and Harold Ross, two masters at the game. In the end, I did come up with a few macros in my top images.

I also love to play around with filters. My father was an excellent artist. Watching him make sketches and designs always fascinated me as a kid. Unfortunately, that gene skipped me, and I can hardly draw a box. But I still can see the potential. So, getting out my Topaz filters and adding some impressionistic vibe or just breaking an image down to a sketch can elevate a passing image into something more.

And finally, I threw in a multiple exposure of myself in the walking labyrinth at Mathai Botanical Gardens because I didn’t need to social distance myself from myself

So I’ve dug through Lightroom looking for images I’ve starred and the ones I forgot to star, to find the 20 memories that made the trip through 2020 worthwhile.

Let’s get out there and make 2021 stellar!

The post Best of 2020 appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

February in the mid-west, and it’s finally gotten really cold here in the last week or two. When winter temperatures take a deep dive like this, we Great Lakes photographers know to head out looking for beautiful ice.

Out along the big lakes, the lighthouses become caked in beautiful dripping ice, and the shorelines have buildups of blue ice shards that make the light sparkle and dance. But if you want to stay closer to home, there are other good options to see winter at play.

Here, closer to home, I like to head to the Huron River and look for icy sculptures. Barton Dam along Huron River Drive northeast of Ann Arbor, MI, is one place.

Taking advantage of a sunny morning, I drove over to the dam to see how the ice was building up. I wasn’t disappointed, the ice on the spillways was building nicely, and the trees around the lower dam had taken on the look of a winter wonderland.

Background on the Dam

Barton Dam was built in 1912-13 for The Edison Illuminating Company as part of an early plan for hydroelectric power from the Huron River. The dam has been well maintained and still supplies electrical power and drinking water for the surrounding area today.

Barton Dam was designed by architect Emil Lorch . Professor Lorch was a well-known architect and the first Dean of Architecture at the University of Michigan (1906-1937). Now the classically designed powerhouse and dam are a designated Michigan civil engineering landmark.

The dam’s spillway stands 34′ tall and creates beautiful icy sculptures as the wind and spray move the water around the dam’s face with the right winter conditions.

On every visit, the shapes change and morph into unpredictable figures, coating any surface the ice settles on.

There is no end to the variety of shapes and textures that the ice can take on as it wraps around the dam’s features, from dancers to cauliflower to feathers; I love to see how nature builds its art.

Where is this?

The post Winter’s Unexpected Art – Beautiful Ice appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

History of Crosswinds Marsh

It was a common practice in the previous century, to create suitable farmland by putting pipes in the ground and cutting channels to drain wetlands. This practice dried out the rich soils and allowed farm machinery to work the land. The farms created on this farmland made the Detroit area once known as the breadbasket of the east.
Little of the original forests and wetlands remain in southeast Michigan. Flying over this part of the state, all you see are flat fields stretched out to the horizon. However, as this park shows, when you remove the drain tiles, contour the land a little, and add native plants — nature comes roaring back. And with Crosswinds Marsh, it creates an oasis of natural beauty.

Creating Crosswinds Marsh

In the early 1990s, Detroit Metropolitan/Wayne County Airport (DTW) needed to expand to meet the needs of the metropolitan area. Because the expansion would eliminate existing state-protected wetlands, the project required replacing (or mitigating) the lost wetlands on another property.

To fulfill this requirement, the county created Crosswinds Marsh just 6 miles south of the airport. This park is now known as one of the largest man-made wetlands in the country. The project restored over 150 acres of historical wetland habitat by recovering farm fields that had themselves once been natural wetlands.

Once the drain tiles were removed and the water restored, the area was planted with native wetland plants and trees. Endangered wetland species were transplanted from the airport development area to the preserve to take root.

The final steps in creating the park were to build a series of boardwalks, fishing platforms, and a raised picnic pavilion to give the visitors an intimate view of life in the wetland.
Many “man-made” wetlands fall far short of their goals. Usually, this is due to the limited size of the mitigated land. When just 5-10 acres of wetland is created in the corner of a field, it’s not able to sustain the species needed to create a full habitat. At Crosswinds, because this project was done on a much larger scale, covering over 1000 acres with almost 200 acres of wetland, the site is a great success and has created a sustainable habitat.

As a measure of its success, projects monitoring the site have counted over 200 species of birds, 170 species of plants, 20 fish, 30 mammals, 21 reptiles and amphibians, and 70 species of butterflies and dragonflies living in or visiting the preserve. And the preserve now provides recreational and educational opportunities for more than 15,000 visitors each year.
(see https://landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/crosswinds-marsh-preserve)

The Visit at Crosswinds Marsh

At a local photography meet up I had spoken to some other photographers about local parks and Crosswinds came up. They told me how great this park was, so it topped my list of places to visit. At the time did I not know its history or how diverse the area was.  Also, I did not get the reference/light pun of the park’s name, but the care that has been given to the park shows the dedication that those that created this natural area gave to this project.

I stopped at the park on a gorgeous mid-fall morning to have a look around. There were only a few other people in the park that day, so it seemed as though I had the park to myself. Walking past the main entrance I was greeted with the first of many raised boardwalks across the wetland. Frogs, turtles, and a host of swans cruised around the pond and creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

The photographers told me that there were Bald Eagles living in the preserve.  Arriving in the late morning I knew that I was too late to see the eagles. However, there was enough diversity at mid-day in the late mid-fall animals that id made up for missing out on them.

The preserve has a well-kept trail system that stretches over 5 miles. There are plenty of maps and trail makers spread throughout the area that it’s easy to see where you are and what the natural features are around you. A mixture of boardwalks, wood chip paths, and grassy areas make for a pleasant walk and the trails were laid out so that there are new discoveries around every corner. (see the bottom of this post for a copy of the trail map)

While crossing one of the bridges in the middle of the park, a huge Mute Swan flew right overhead. It made me think of the passenger jets taking off just a few miles to the north.

I spent about 90 minutes exploring Crosswinds Marsh that day and as a photographer, there were plenty of great scenes to capture, and as a naturalist, it was great just to enjoy the expertly restored natural setting. This is a place I’m glad I found and will be eager to see how it matures over the coming seasons.

As the trail returned to the parking area, it took me past the sculpture & wildflower garden. With autumn well underway, there were only a few flowers left to show the garden. I could tell that it was a well-designed area and I’ll be back in the spring to see what comes into bloom next year.

Conclusion

Crosswinds is a stunningly beautiful park and I’m looking forward to visiting it many times throughout the seasons. It’s great to see what can be done when people really put the proper effort into reestablishing a natural habitat.

Crosswinds Marsh Park Map

Here’s a copy of the park map from Wayne County parks.

Where is Crosswinds Marsh?

Crosswinds Marsh is located in a rural farming area SouthWest of Detroit, MI.
The main entrance is off Haggerty Rd, between Willow and Oakville Rd.
If you’re heading there from I-275, head south of Detroit Metro airport and take the Huron Rd exit, and head south on Bell Rd to Willow Rd. Head west to Haggerty Rd and then south to the park entrance.

References

For more information on the park, visit –
Wayne County Parks
To learn more about the park and how it was created see the case study at –
landscapeperformance.org

The post A Visit to Crosswinds Marsh Nature Preserve appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

A Trip to the High Rollways

I live in southeast Michigan, and face it, most of lower Michigan is flat. It’s not the billiard table flat of Kansas; there’s the occasional roll to the scene, but there are no mountains, and gorgeous overlooks are few and far between. This is why we travel “Up North.”  The north is wilder, filled with high hills, dense forests, and rolling rivers.

I had seen photos of a horseshoe bend river vista in northern Michigan that seemed like a fantastic place to go and get some fall images.  To me, it captured the grandeur of the north.  A little research and I found it was called “The High Rollways Overlook” or the “Buckley High Roll-Away”, or “Highbanks Overlook” – lots of names for the same awesome spot.  In any case, I started up Google Maps and made it ready to head out.

The Manistee River provides a great example of rustic, northern Michigan terrain. The river’s winding path cuts through one of the richest timber areas in Michigan. Lumbermen saw the high slopes along the river as nearly perfect for launching the cut logs into the water for transport to the mills downstream.

In the heyday of the state’s lumber era, 1.2 billion board feet of timber was harvested and floated down the river. The logs were sawn into lumber and shipped across Lake Michigan to help build the growing city of Chicago.

What is the “Rollway”

A logging rollway was a structure used in the timber industry to transport logs downhill to the sawmill. It was a cleared path covered with logs, typically situated on a steep slope. Workers would release the logs at the top and use tools to steer them down the path. Despite being a dangerous job, the rollway was a significant innovation that made it easier to move large quantities of timber.

But the logging days are part of history now, and the forests have been regrown. The banks of the river are now enjoyed by the bikers, hikers, and travelers that flock here. And with the regrown hardwood forests, one of the best seasons to explore these lands is autumn, with bright orange and gold highlights. It’s truly magical.

Planning and Timing

The High Rollways Overlook is one of those “secret spots” that few have discovered. Tucked off the main road and up a dirt lane, the overlook offers a gorgeous view of the river and valley. I hoped to be lucky enough to get there before the autumn colors dissipated.

One of the difficulties in visiting any autumnal vista is in the timing. With the vagary of nature’s swings in temperature and winds and the work-a-day world to contend with, finding just the right day to make a photography run up north is tricky. But you watch the weather reports and look at social media to monitor the conditions and make your plans. Then you pull the trigger, but you’ll often get there just one day too late.

This was my plan for this visit, but alas, a moderate storm had blown through the day before, knocking some of the best leaves off and leaving some branches bare. Still, I set out, hoping for enough color in the trees to capture lovely landscapes.

High Rollways Arrival

Upon arriving at the Rollways after a 3 1/2 hour drive, I found myself a little confused, most likely due to the fact that I hadn’t had my coffee yet. In fact, I missed the final turn that would lead me to the parking lot, and instead parked in a work crew’s lot. After grabbing my camera gear, I set out to find the trail that would take me to the overlook. At first, I followed an obvious trail, but it ended up leading to a logging operation. I had to backtrack a bit to find the actual trailhead. Finally, after a short and pleasant walk through the woods, I arrived at the overlook.

To reach the observation area of the overlook, you need to take a short hike up a gravel path from the parking area. The path leads to a well-maintained boardwalk along the cliff’s edge. Although it is relatively easy for most travelers to access, it may be difficult for wheelchairs.

I stood at the overlook and gazed down at the breathtaking view before me. A steep, sandy bank sloped down to the sparkling river below. The valley was filled with rich hues of green, gold, and rust that extended into the distance. The river curved and looped through the area below, forming the classic horseshoe shape. The scenery was simply amazing.

Window of Opportunity

So far the sun had not been very cooperative. It was playing hide and seek, mostly hiding. When I reached the overlook, the sun was hidden behind a dense cloud bank. This made the scene in front of me look very dull. There were no highlights or shadows, just good colors. I felt a little disappointed, but at least it wasn’t raining. I was standing on the observation deck, with my camera in hand, when I heard a gust of wind rushing through the trees behind me. It was quite loud, and I was sure that rain was going to follow.

As the gust blew by, it brought a flurry of leaves over my head, and the sun chose just that moment to come out from behind the clouds, beautifully lighting the valley below. Fortunately, my camera was out and ready to go. I captured the fantastic scenery as the leaves blew over my head and down into the valley.

I took a few more shots from the observation deck and then moved on along the clifftop to see what other views the High Rollways offered. The path followed the cliff edge with a fence to show where you should not go – and I almost always stayed behind the fence. There was one place where the fence took a zig, and, unknowingly, I took a zag and ended out beyond the safe zone. On a sandy ledge, 100+ feet above the river, it was not the best place to be, so I moved back over the fence to safety.

Departure

The scenes captured, and with more clouds moving in, I decided to wrap up my stop at the High Rollways and move on. After all, there’s a whole coastline of lighthouses nearby and the possibility of a storm moving in. With a few hours until sunset, it was time to head out.

On the way out, I stopped at a few more locations highlighting the area. The Manistee River valley is home to many beautiful rural vistas and is well worth the visit.  So I leave you with these images showing you that you should also stop and look at the pandas while you come for the trees.

Where is The High Rollaways?

The High Rollways is located south of Traverse City, MI, near the town of Buckley.  Head east from town for about 5 miles on W 4th Rd to get to the observation deck.  There is a sign to a well-worn dirt road that leads about 2 miles out to the parking area. At the final fork, turn right instead of left to get to the parking lot (unless you want to meet some nice loggers).

The post The High Rollways on the Manistee River appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

After a wet and dreary morning of exploring the outback of Michigan’s Thumb area (see the previous post), we moved north towards the tip of the peninsula for some historic lighthouse architecture. We soon arrived at Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse, one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes, and were greeted with bright sunshine and blue skies.

Origin of Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse

Located southeast of Port Austin, Michigan, Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse marks the point between lower Lake Huron to the east and Saginaw Bay to the west.  The desired location for the building was on the point that bears its name at the tip of the Thumb. But practicality prevailed; instead, it was eventually sited 4.5 miles to the east overlooking Lake Huron.

Before the lighthouse’s construction, ships had to navigate unaided from Fort Gratiot at the lake’s southern end to Thunder Bay, 150 miles north. The lakes can be very dangerous, with hurricane-force winds sweeping across them in the winter months and unpredictable thunderstorms in the summer.

The lighthouse was built to warn ships of a dangerous rocky reef, covered by a mere two feet of water, that juts out from the point almost two miles into the lake. This makes the name of the point, which translates to “Point of Little Boats”, make a little more sense because larger ships would be smashed on the rocks. In addition to marking the reef, the lighthouse also acts as a turning point for ships heading into Saginaw Bay, an important mid-Michigan agricultural port.

The original light was built in 1848 with low-quality materials and only lasted for about ten years before it had to be replaced with a new structure. Rebuilt with better materials in 1857, the current Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse lighthouse is a conical white brick tower. It measures 89 feet tall and stands rock-solid to this day.

Beyond its importance to shipping on the Great Lake, the light station also has historical significance in that it was the first lighthouse in Michigan to be run by a woman. Catharine Shook was in charge of keeping the light from 1849 to 1851 after her husband, the original lighthouse keeper, drown while traveling for supplies.

On the grounds, you can see the lightkeeper’s house, the oil house, and other support buildings that kept the lighthouse in operation far from civilization.

Climbing Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse

If you’re up for a climb, you can ascend the 103 steps to the top of the 89-foot (27 m) tower and look out on the waters of Lake Huron. From the top of Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse, it’s easy to imagine the storms that rolled through here and the ferocity of the weather. For someone who’s never seen them, the Great Lakes are huge, and from the top of the tower, there’s no land to be seen from the northwest to the southeast.

The original oil light was installed with a 1,400-pound fresnel lens, producing a then-impressive 16,000 candlepower light that could be seen 16 miles offshore. The light was upgraded many times over the years until the current light was installed in the 1950s. That light produces an awesome 1,000,000 candlepower that extended the light’s range to 26 miles.

For those who don’t want to climb all those steps, you can see the original lens on display in the lighthouse museum at the tower’s base.

The Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse is one of the few lighthouses that are still in operation today on the Great Lakes. Even though the lighthouse is operated by the Coast Guard, the surrounding buildings are open to the public, and tours are available from May to September.

It’s a very cool place, and we had a great time wandering and photographing the grounds.  If you’re out exploring the Thumb, it’s a place you should not miss.
If you want to see some more images from the lighthouse trip or get one for your wall, you can take a look at my SmugMug Gallery.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Also, if you want to see some of my other trips around the state, check out these posts on Big Sable Lighthouse and The High Rollways.

And as always, keep on clicking!

Where is Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse?

The post Pointe aux Barques Lighthouse – Exploring the Thumb part 2 appeared first on Croasdill Photography.

If you live in Michigan, then you are familiar with the state’s depiction as a “Mitten”.  When you ask a Michigander where they’re heading on vacation, often they’ll raise their right hand and point to some location on one of the fingers. When you do this, the location of the Thumb is quite obvious.

Kara and I joined with one of our Meetup groups, Michigan Photo Adventures, to explore the Michigan “Thumb” area looking for abandoned and historic places.  Our group organizer, Thomas Nighswander, did a great job as the trip leader and guide.  He had scouted out the area and discovered a number of great locations to lead our little group on this cross-country adventure.
The day started out as a grey, rainy fall day. The inclement weather was a little hard on the photographers, but it added to the dismal setting for the abandoned places we explored

A History of Change in the Thumb area

Some things are constant here in the Thumb – change and wind.  Once known as the nation’s powerhouse in wheat production, prosperous farms dotted the countryside. With easy access to transportation, wheat grown here was transported over the lakes and down the Erie canal to the cities of the east.
Now those days are past and the Thumb is transforming itself into a powerhouse of energy production.  With the constant winds off of Lake Huron, windmills are able to generate enough energy for 1000’s of homes.

The scene above shows the traditional farms that made up the bulk of this area’s economy early last century have given over to more modern usage.
Further down the road, we came across an abandoned, classic, one-room, schoolhouse.

Schools like this dotted the countryside here serving the farms and rural population until the mid 20th century. This particular one, by evidence of the readers we found, remained in use until the ’70s. In recent years, the school districts have consolidated almost all of these students into their larger districts.  Amazingly enough, there are some hold-outs, and seeking out some of those will be a story for another day.

Thomas also lead us to a number of other abandoned farmsteads and buildings.

The final leg of the trip took us up to the Pointe Aux Barques lighthouse at the “Tip of the Thumb”. I’ll follow up on that location in Part II of this post.
For more information on images in this post, visit my Backroads Michigan Smug Mug gallery.

Where is this?

We drove all around the northeast Thumb to get these – Ubly, Bad Axe, Kinde, and Point Hope. Get your drive on and check out the backroads for interesting places.

The post Exploring the Thumb – Part 1 appeared first on Croasdill Photography.