April 5

Tuesday, Remi and I traveled 10 miles west of Alma to hike once again at Lumberjack Park. This park was established in 1927, when one of the last stands of White Pine in Gratiot County was going to be cut and a group of local lumberjacks and rivermen bought the threatened forty-acre tract for $3000. Since we planned to hike in a natural area north of the Pine River, I parked the car just off Lumberjack Rd. and walked east along a little-used two track where the leaf litter displayed a mix of mostly Red Oak, White Oak and some Sugar Maple. Curving south toward a high bank of the river, I paused as a dozen Wild Turkeys flew noisily, one by one, over a 100 ft. span of the river. After they quickly ran into the woods, I was able to enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful riparian landscape. Continuing east along the high bank, I came upon a feather of one of the turkeys that had earlier flown across the river. Also, I spotted a Wood Duck box just before a nesting pair flew away over the river making their familiar squeaking noise. Approaching a mature stand of Red and White Pine, I saw that one of the trunks had sap leaking out from the holes made by a Pileated Woodpecker. I continued east to the Mud Creek flats and was not surprised to see that it was flooded and partially iced over. I turned around and hiked west through the tall pines where the leaf litter also revealed Scarlet Oak and Aspen. Finally, we found the car, turned on the heater and took off for home.

Dawn of April

Wonder to see

River of spring

Speaking to me

Nourishing earth

Clean you must be

River of spring

No guarantee

Over smooth rocks

Under arching tree

River of spring

Running fast & free

D. DeGraaf