November 19

Last Wednesday, I drove 31 miles northeast of Alma to hike on the River Point Trail, one of several trails within the 1200-acre Chippewa Nature Center. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 23 degrees and no wind. Leaving the car parked in the cul-de-sac at the end of E. Hubert Rd., I followed my shadow onto a groomed trail northeast into a wooded area that included maples as indicated by the leaf litter. At the fork where a mile-long loop began, I veered right and hiked along with my shadow through a wooded area dominated first by Pin Oak and then by Red Oak and Aspen as indicated by the leaf litter at my feet. Scanning my surroundings, I noticed many downed tree trunks dusted with last week’s snow. Approaching the edge of the Chippewa River, I paused on a high bluff to observe the slow moving current. The main branch of this river begins its 92-mile journey from a dam impoundment in Mecosta County’s village of Barryton. From there it meanders southeast through Mt. Pleasant and then flows more easterly along the M-20 corridor to this point. From here it continues east about a mile where it picks up the Pine River tributary and flows another 4 miles to Midland where it empties into the Tittabawassee River. Continuing counterclockwise on the loop trail, the only green vegetation I noticed were the roundish leaves of a Pagoda Dogwood tree. Nearby, a decaying tree trunk was covered with fresh Oyster Mushrooms. Following the trail as it curved south, I noticed the litter contained more American Beech leaves. Turning east, I walked on a narrow boardwalk over one of many vernal ponds. Continuing east toward the rising sun, I completed the loop and retraced my steps back to the car for my trip home.

Season moves ahead

Nature rids of green

Autumn colors exposed

Falling leaves are seen

Barren is the meadow

Frost glazes the ground

Swallows leave the pond

Wooly Bears around

Grasses cease to grow

Creatures go away

Comes the colder night

Comes the shorter day

D. DeGraaf