OT- Camping kicks ass!

[pixburgher66]

i'm currently planning a camping trip out to the laurel highlands or somewhere...ohiopyle or something. hopefully there will be a big group of us going...i really love it. i've never been much for ritzy vacationing. my family always goes to northern michigan (NOT the UP) every summer. we have family up in glen lake (not too far from traverse city). i love the weather and it's a great vacation town...not overly crowded, but not too secluded...not too hot, can see the stars perfectly, get to fish. i love everything except that it's 9 hours away...

 

[postmaster]

i'm currently planning a camping trip out to the laurel highlands or somewhere...ohiopyle or something. hopefully there will be a big group of us going...i really love it. i've never been much for ritzy vacationing. my family always goes to northern michigan (NOT the UP) every summer. we have family up in glen lake (not too far from traverse city). i love the weather and it's a great vacation town...not overly crowded, but not too secluded...not too hot, can see the stars perfectly, get to fish. i love everything except that it's 9 hours away...

sounds real close to my cabin except it is around a 4 hour drive for me. I love it up there. People are great, scenery is excellent and good fishing. We have downriggers on the boat and have the option of getting a charter out of Leelanau if we want to get out into Lake Michigan.

 

[pixburgher66]

sounds real close to my cabin except it is around a 4 hour drive for me. I love it up there. People are great, scenery is excellent and good fishing. We have downriggers on the boat and have the option of getting a charter out of Leelanau if we want to get out into Lake Michigan.

yeah, sounds like it's about the same place. you said your's was near charlevoix and traverse? i know i've been to charlevoix on the way to mackinac (loooong ride, but beautiful to take the ride along the coast. i love it up there. my great aunt and uncle have cabins ON lakeshore (little glen). they lucked out with it, bought it back in the 70's before it was a big spot, but now it's worth millions. the nicest part is that they have 2 boats (pontoon and speed) that they let us use all the time. i love it up there...though now that i'm growin' up, i don't know how much longer i'll be going up there.

 

[pixburgher66]

oh, and i love leeland. we head up there just about every year. nice shops...though the area seems to have lost it's step recently. not the same number of shops. with my rents getting older though, we really just fish up there anymore.

 

[postmaster]

yeah, sounds like it's about the same place. you said your's was near charlevoix and traverse? i know i've been to charlevoix on the way to mackinac (loooong ride, but beautiful to take the ride along the coast. i love it up there. my great aunt and uncle have cabins ON lakeshore (little glen). they lucked out with it, bought it back in the 70's before it was a big spot, but now it's worth millions. the nicest part is that they have 2 boats (pontoon and speed) that they let us use all the time. i love it up there...though now that i'm growin' up, i don't know how much longer i'll be going up there.

It is in between Traverse and Charlevoix close to Elk Rapids on the Bay.
My grandfather built the cabin and other relatives own some nearby property. The taxes are getting outrageous and put a strain on us but we wouldn't trade it for anything. People are building multi million dollar "summer homes" down the street and that doesn't even include the property value.

 

[postmaster]

oh, and i love leeland. we head up there just about every year. nice shops...though the area seems to have lost it's step recently. not the same number of shops. with my rents getting older though, we really just fish up there anymore.

Fishtown is awesome. They went bankrupt and almost destroyed it to make condos but the historical society stepped in and are saving it for now.
Have you ever been for the Wine Tasting Festival?
It is so lively, but I guess it is not surprising that people of all ages pack that festival since it is likely the biggest event that is held there.
Edit: It is cool to go to the Cove Restaurant when the Salmon run and eat overlooking the Salmon trying to jump up the mini dammed falls they have there.

 

[pixburgher66]

It is in between Traverse and Charlevoix close to Elk Rapids on the Bay.
My grandfather built the cabin and other relatives own some nearby property. The taxes are getting outrageous and put a strain on us but we wouldn't trade it for anything. People are building multi million dollar "summer homes" down the street and that doesn't even include the property value.

i blame the chi-towners. the rich city folk drive the prices up a ridiculous amount. i mean, the summer season isn't too long up there and most people are only there a few weeks out of the year. some of the houses up near the lake are ridiculous. i've been out on a few charters on lake michigan, and just near the glen haven bay area the houses on the lake are ridiculous. leeland is even worse! i mean, these are drop dead goregous homes, but i know they aren't up there in the hell of winter they have. i don't know how my aunt and uncle afford it...i mean, it's paid off obviously, but they own a home in irving, ca as well (not cheap in the least). between those taxes and being retired...oi vey. of course, i think they're fairly wealthy. i know my uncle's family has lived up at glen lake for years and years though. they were full-timers though.

 

[pixburgher66]

Fishtown is awesome. They went bankrupt and almost destroyed it to make condos but the historical society stepped in and are saving it for now.
Have you ever been for the Wine Tasting Festival?
It is so lively, but I guess it is not surprising that people of all ages pack that festival since it is likely the biggest event that is held there.
Edit: It is cool to go to the Cove Restaurant when the Salmon run and eat overlooking the Salmon trying to jump up the mini dammed falls they have there.

yeah! i love the cove, but we're never there at the right time for the salmon. the latest we go up is mid-august, and i'm pretty sure the salmon don't start the trek til about september, right?? i could be way off there. fishtown is an awesome place to fish (shocker). right off those docks (which i'm always afraid some kid is gonna fall in...) around the boats? TONS of fish, and some are monsters!!! i've gone up there for about 15 years now and i still haven't caught bubba...the day will come...i just know it.

 

[elocomotive]

i blame the chi-towners. the rich city folk drive the prices up a ridiculous amount. i mean, the summer season isn't too long up there and most people are only there a few weeks out of the year. some of the houses up near the lake are ridiculous. i've been out on a few charters on lake michigan, and just near the glen haven bay area the houses on the lake are ridiculous. leeland is even worse! i mean, these are drop dead goregous homes, but i know they aren't up there in the hell of winter they have. i don't know how my aunt and uncle afford it...i mean, it's paid off obviously, but they own a home in irving, ca as well (not cheap in the least). between those taxes and being retired...oi vey. of course, i think they're fairly wealthy. i know my uncle's family has lived up at glen lake for years and years though. they were full-timers though.

I know, doesn't it suck? The trouble is the population keeps increasing and our shoreline/lakefront in America stays almost exactly the same. The prices are just going to keep going up.

 

[pixburgher66]

I know, doesn't it suck? The trouble is the population keeps increasing and our shoreline/lakefront in America stays almost exactly the same. The prices are just going to keep going up.

what makes me most upset is that i know i'll never be able to afford it, and if the trend continues that my family won't experience what i got to. maybe i'll find me a sugar daddy one day, but the prices are astronomical just to witness natural beauty. all i know is that if i ever make it big (not...really possible in my profession of the future??) that's the FIRST place i'll put a summer home. i guess it's the same as ocean city, MD (where everyone in the burgh goes, i swear), but it's frustrating regardless. when my family walks down the road on vaca we always take the fliers at the homes for sale...there was the home next to where we stay for sale 2 summers back. just under a million (around 980?) for a SHACK. it hadn't been updated, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen/living area. but it was on the smaller of the 2 lakes...ridiculous. but it sold.

 

[Automattic]

sounds real close to my cabin except it is around a 4 hour drive for me. I love it up there. People are great, scenery is excellent and good fishing. We have downriggers on the boat and have the option of getting a charter out of Leelanau if we want to get out into Lake Michigan.

I was just about to ask how the fishing is. Everything looks awesome!

 

[postmaster]

I was just about to ask how the fishing is. Everything looks awesome!

Caught a bunch of lake trout and a small king salmon last summer trolling.
Hope to catch a big King this summer.
It is a lot easier to catch the Kings and Steelhead chartering out of Leeland though.

 

[Automattic]

Caught a bunch of lake trout and a small king salmon last summer trolling.
Hope to catch a big King this summer.
It is a lot easier to catch the Kings and Steelhead chartering out of Leeland though.

Sweet! Those are two fish that I haven't fished much for. Actually never been salmon fishing, love to eat it though. I'd fish for trout more, but I'm not in a good area. I do a lot of Walleye, Crappie, and catfishing. Grew up fishing summers in Ontario, making Walleye my favorite of all.

 

[JustAsking]

i'm currently planning a camping trip out to the laurel highlands or somewhere...ohiopyle or something. hopefully there will be a big group of us going...i really love it. i've never been much for ritzy vacationing. my family always goes to northern michigan (NOT the UP) every summer. we have family up in glen lake (not too far from traverse city). i love the weather and it's a great vacation town...not overly crowded, but not too secluded...not too hot, can see the stars perfectly, get to fish. i love everything except that it's 9 hours away...

Me and the old man where backpacking through the laurel highlands when crossing one of those wooden bridges during a rain storm, he slipped, went head first about 5 ft and landed on rocks... thank goodness he had the backpack on so his neck didn't smack back, the sleeping pad prevented a neck break... but within 2 seconds his face was blood covered... we were 11 miles out, but found a fire road a few miles back, hiked up to it and waited for a car to drive by. He was rushed to the hospital and took over 60 stitches right between his eyes.

 

[JustAsking]

I noticed the snake picture... so I though I would share this, me and the wife (still sounds funny to me) came across 5 bears up in Yosemite... 1 rattle snake... I would post a picture of the bears, but I have no idea how to. She was more scared of the snake than the bears, I found that funny.

I have a trip coming up for the Joshua Tree (maybe too hot now, so may head up to Mount San Gorgonio instead) and Big Sur in June... back in Pittsburgh, my family always goes to Prince Gallitzin in July (I'll be home for that) and then in August I'm headed back up to Yosemite.

Zion then Byrce in August to catch the Perseids meteor shower. (hoping, not planned) ... went there once to watch it, and it was unreal.

I'm trying to get my brother out here during his off week in September (he lives in State College) to go fly fishing in Yosemite.. so if he says he'll come out, I'll be back in Yosemite in September as well.

Needless to say, I enjoy the outdoors.

 

[pixburgher66]

when's the pereseids this year?? i always forget the time frame. i LOVE astronomy, but i really live too close to the city. where i go in michigan is perfect for stargazing and we occasionally get the northern lights (a real treat).

 

[JustAsking]

when's the pereseids this year?? i always forget the time frame. i LOVE astronomy, but i really live too close to the city. where i go in michigan is perfect for stargazing and we occasionally get the northern lights (a real treat).

"People in Canada, for instance, can see the meteor shower by mid-July, but generally there isn't much activity at such an early date. Throughout Europe, the US and the rest of North America, meteor shower activity usually peaks sometime around August 12th, when it is not unusual to see at least 60 meteors per hour streaking across the Northeast sky."

 

[Automattic]

HERE WE GO AGAIN! Leaving for the lake within the hour. Here's to me trolling! No really, I'll be trolling. Oh nevermind...

Get out and get some fresh air! Have a great weekend!

 

[elocomotive]

I noticed the snake picture... so I though I would share this, me and the wife (still sounds funny to me) came across 5 bears up in Yosemite....

From the road? While hiking? How close? I saw Grizzlies in Yellowstone a LONG time ago, but they were so far away. Maybe almost a mile.

 

[JustAsking]

From the road? While hiking? How close? I saw Grizzlies in Yellowstone a LONG time ago, but they were so far away. Maybe almost a mile.

3 of them where road side all together (about a football field away). 1 in our campsite, 25 ft away or so (had to chase him away)... and the smallest on a trail (made me the most nervous, momma had to be around somewhere).

I'm off to the Joshua Tree tomorrow... taking some first time NYCers out into the "wilderness" of car camping. It'll be hot hot hot though.