Comments on: Fall Travel: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

By: Susie Marchand

Susie Marchand — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:12:10 +0000

Bonjour, Homies! I (and my family) left Lake Linden on June 8, 1968. The copper mines were closing so my Dad moved us to Sheboygan, WI. I have never forgotten that day. My Dad made a wise move, but at 13 I didn’t realize that. I lived in the woods and I absolutely loved it there! To this day, the first snow fall or the first scent of lilacs in the air almost brings tears to my eyes. Although Wisconsin has truly beautiful places of its own, there is still “no place like home.” I haven’t been able to visit in a few years but I plan on making it up there this coming summer. :)
These pictures help to ease the loss and they make me want to run to the closest suitcase, even in the winter! I still love snow. People say you can never go home again. I’ve got that one clinched. You can if the love goes bone-deep. You certainly can if you never really left. Comments from any folks up there would be welcomed. See you asap! Susie

By: dorothy

dorothy — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 13:50:54 +0000

part-time yooper by choice, part-time troll by necessity:(

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:11:48 +0000

Hello to all of my Yooper friends. The Ohio crew is jealous. We want to be in the UP where the air is clear and the friends are forever.

By: Anihan

Anihan — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 20:32:31 +0000

Lisa,

Thanks for your reply regarding the State and Federal Forests and land in Michigan. It still does’t make sense to me. Were people so poor up there that they or other investors or even land speculators could not or would not buy property? If
Timber companies owned huge tracks of land and ore or oil were discovered who then owned those rights? It has always been my belief that a property owner owned a mear inches deep of his land and then the Mining companies owned the right to mine the precious find. Am I wrong on this?

The UP is beautiful and I miss it a lot but have not been that way in years. ( I mean the Keewanau, Copper Harbor etc.) I was born and raised in Ontonagon Co. and have great memories of Lake Superior beaches, Porcupine Mts. and the wonderful litttle side roads leading to nestled farms.

Anita

By: Arda Blevins

Arda Blevins — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 03:20:33 +0000

Okay — Now I’m homesick! Living in Washington State now but “home” is Menominee County, MI. Thank you for the lovely trip down memory lane.

By: Arlene Motto

Arlene Motto — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:35:35 +0000

We have spent a whole day driving in the UP looking at the beautiful display of color God has given us this Autumn. I think it was awsome. I am another yooper.

By: Norma Bugno

Norma Bugno — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 15:02:17 +0000

Awesome pictures and articles. Live in SC now but will always be a Yooper no matter where I live.

By: Lisa DenBoer

Lisa DenBoer — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:40:39 +0000

Anihan,
Great questions. I can answer some of them for you. WAY back the US Bureau of Land Management began issuing tracks/parcels of land after they were surveyed. In the UP, the state assigned a the Upper Peninsula Land Co. (this is 1800′s) to survey the land. From there land sales and designations were made. What lands did not sell remained as either Federal or State lands. Much of the upper peninsula timber land was owned by private companies that logged it. One of historical note is Cleveland Cliffs. I life in Luce Co. and 29% of the land base is owned by timber companies and enrolled in the State of Michigan Commerical Forest Act program. This gives them a property tax break. As such they must be made available for public use for walking access to hunt, fish, collect berries, hike etc. We also have Nature Conservancy lands, State Parks, Forest Campgrounds and the like. The State Forest Lands (not including State Parks such as Tahquamenon and Muskellonge) are managed for timber unless more suitable for other purposes. So, that is kind of how this came about. Just a brief… Thanks for your interest!!!!

By: Rachel Moyon

Rachel Moyon — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:14:50 +0000

As a Yooper now living in France I’m so happy to see this article with it’s amazing pictures. Made me miss home even more! I feel lucky to come from such a beautiful area…

By: John & Ann Peterso

John & Ann Peterso — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:38:21 +0000

We are fortunate to live in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and just returned from a trip to the Copper Country which entails the Keweenaw Peninsula, where U.S. 41 ends after starting in Miami, Fl. (1,980 miles) The colors were magnificent and lunch at the Harbor Haus delicious. Everyone should visit there at least once. Then stop at the Jampot in Eagle River, where a Religious Order of men make the finest jams, jellies cakes, cookies, and more. We consider ourselves very lucky to only have to travel 150 miles.

By: Jack Richards

Jack Richards — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 17:16:21 +0000

Now retired, I remember our family car rides to the Keweenaw Peninsula and Copper Harbor on my parent’s October 2nd wedding anniversary. Even youngsters were fascinated with the colorful fall foliage. and prompted me to take my own family back to enjoy the same scene..Thank you for the trip down memory lane. .

By: Lisa Den Boer

Lisa Den Boer — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:06:27 +0000

As the County Planning director and Luce West Mackinac Conservation District Administrator, I am so pleased to see this. I am hopeful that people can appreciate the unique place in which I live and work. As a native who went away at 17yrs and returned here after many years to work and live, I really appreciate my home in the UP. I have traveled all of the this country and others including Canada, and nothing and no where can beat this place in all seasons! Thanks for this!!! We have completed the M-123 Tahquamenon Scenic Heritage Route designation and plan and cannot wait to see people traveling to take advantage of its setting.

By: Jan Reese

Jan Reese — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:04:25 +0000

Loved the article and the photos! We live on Lake Superior by Eagle River in the Keweenaw. You are right. There is a power of this place. The people, history and the fresh air as well as the pristine rugged scenery. I can’t ever imagine leaving this place! Brenda, your pic is perfect! There are no expressways here….enjoy the ride!

By: Joltinjoe

Joltinjoe — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:38:44 +0000

I live just below the bridge with my body, but my heart still lives in the copper country. The view of Copper Harbor from the Brockway Mountain Drive is still the best in the world.

By: Mark D Olson

Mark D Olson — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 11:00:17 +0000

its nice to have magazine to articles on the U.P. i grew up there right off the Lake Superior. and the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park. In full fall color right now.
Al Y. i spent many nights in eagle harbor listening to the fog horn coming form the light house in the late 70′s. i missed that sound