Outdoors

There’s a field I know that I often drive past on my way to quiet and contemplative places in the surrounding woodlands. I always look, but there’s rarely anything to see here but what was once a hopeful landscape, from a time that has long since passed away.

Earlier this month, along a snow-covered highway near the Schoolcraft-Luce County line, Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jason Ruth pulled his vehicle over to the side of the road.

Nestled in the wooded hills of Alger County about 15 miles from Munising, Hiawatha Slopes in Rock River Township stands as a cherished winter retreat for families and outdoor enthusiasts. The hill, which has been in operation since the 1960s, continues to provide an affordable and welcoming space for downhill skiing, snowboarding, sledding and cross-country skiing — a rarity in today’s era of expensive winter sports.

Bear baiting — a harvest practice authorized in 12 states, two territories and eight provinces in North America — poses several potential risks, and associated mitigation measures have been inadequate, according to a study published in the PLOS One peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Our plan was to arrive early enough to pitch our tent before nightfall, and as we made our way north and crossed the Mackinac Bridge — the gold, scarlet and tangerine leaves increasingly colorful and more vibrant with each mile — we were right on schedule.

You’ve seen them in the movies and Halloween cartoons. They’re big.

What if bald eagles or Kirtland’s warblers or lake sturgeon no longer existed? Fifty years ago, this hypothetical question could have become a reality. Populations of these iconic wildlife species — and many others — were dwindling and in danger of disappearing.

It’s midmorning, with the savory smells of sizzling bacon and campfire coffee lingering in the air as my campground neighbors sit at picnic tables finishing their breakfasts. I realize I’d better get moving before the day’s forecasted humidity and full sun make my planned adventure unbearable.