RIVER WALK - PART 4

This is the final installment of the blog about our hike along the Escanaba River. I hope you enjoy it.

By: Ray Hansen

CONSISTENT WATER SOURCES

The artesian wells do not seem to be affected by drought. When other sources run low, they continue to flow. I remember the drought of 1976. We owned an eighty-acre tract east of here on the Stonington Peninsula, about 35 miles away. On that piece of land, we found a big spring that held water when most other sources dried to dust. Deer from miles around visited that spring and wore “cow paths” into the earth leading to the water.

BEARS PARADISE

I recall taking a long, straight cedar pole and using it to try to see how deep the spring was, but the pole went straight down and found no resistance. Its outflow was not too large – probably four feet across – and it must have been connected to an open water source somewhere because I could see small fish in it at times. A cranberry bog was situated farther east, that had open water visible out toward its middle. The ground around the open water was composed entirely of spongy, intertwined bog plant roots. Approaching the water was impossible because you would simply sink through the roots and become mired in them. Deer especially, were unsuited for trying to move through the spot since their legs are too thin. Bears though, liked the sour berries and simply flopped in and wallowed along to get to them.

COPPER COUNTRY HIGHWAY

Archaeologists have determined that this river (the Escanaba River) was one of the major routes leading from Lake Michigan northwest to the Copper Country area on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Many ancient people travelled there to gather copper because it is one of the very few places in the world where this metal could be literally picked up on the surface or mined from shallow excavations, in a form pure enough to use without any refining. Technology has now advanced enough to determine where raw metals originated, and Upper Peninsula copper has been found over a wide part of the country, partly due to trading between tribes, but also from groups traveling to the area seasonally to gather it. Many ancient shallow pit mines were found on Isle Royal in Lake Superior, and have been extensively studied and documented over they years. Some date back many thousands of years.


EAGLE VISITS

On our hike, we watched one of the resident eagles pass by several times. The big bird would not fly directly above us, but he has a series of trees he stops in along the course of the river. They are usually pines, and each has a sort of flat top that lets the majestic bird survey the surroundings from an unobstructed point. These trees are also close to the water’s edge so he can watch for fish. The other fish-eaters that visit are ospreys and kingfishers. All are a real treat to watch as they forage along the waterway and occasionally dive-bomb fish. So far, the osprey has captured the largest fish that I witnessed. It looked like a twelve to fourteen inch brown trout through binoculars.

So our river walks will continue through this fall. Starting October first, I’ll be bowhunting for deer, and this will take up some of my time. The trees along the river have started changing color. Kate and I will enjoy some excellent photo opportunities when the maples, poplar, beech, ironwood, cottonwood, and ash compete to see which can display the most vivid colors.

Copyright Ray Hansen, 2008