August 26

Here I am, 3700 miles from Alma, hiking near Flam, a small village in southwestern Norway, surrounded by steep mountains, waterfalls and narrow valleys. The weather is foggy and misty with a temperature of 48 degrees. My goal is to walk about 1½ miles to the edge of Brekkefossen Falls, one of the larger falls in the area. From the hotel, I start out hiking north on a paved road along the fast flowing Flamselvi River as it empties into the nearby Aurlands Fjord, a steep, water-filled canyon carved out by glaciers. Along the riverbank, I spot a patch of Yellow Hawkweed as well as clusters of bright red berries from a Mountain Ash tree. Continuing down the road, I notice the familiar blossoms of Moth Mullein in addition to the unfamiliar blossoms of Melancholy Thistle. Blossoms of Bellflower and Buttercup also catch my eye. Up ahead on the road, I see a Robin-size, bird called a White Wagtail while nearby I notice some colorful Fireweed blossoms. Turning east onto a narrow earthen trail, I begin my climb up the mountain toward Brekkefossen Falls. These falls drop about 1,790 feet, but because of the narrow, twisting shape of the gully it descends, only a very small veiling plunge of 377 feet can be seen near the bottom of the rock formation. Continuing my ascent, the trail takes me along a fast moving stream where I notice some Wavy Cap Mushrooms as well as the mottled tree trunks of Downy Birch. As the path becomes too steep and slippery for me, I pause, take one last look at the falls before turning around. Back on the paved road, I begin retracing my steps where I spot a gathering of Hooded Crows. Beside the road, I spot blossoms of Alfalfa and Aster. On a fence post ahead, I catch a glimpse of a perching Willow Warbler. As I return to the riverbank and make my way back to the hotel, I’m amazed once again by what nature has to offer here in Scandinavia.

Why do I walk distant lands

Doing hikes in rain or shine

Why do I get up early and go

Start before the stroke of nine

What brings me to these places

With meadow, river and hill

What draws me to the wild

There’re needs I must fulfill

My spirit connects to nature

Feelings for her are strong

Another place on earth

A place I truly belong

D. DeGraaf

August 19

My adventures down the Chippewa River continue as I arrive at Midland County’s 150-acre, Manitou Park, located 10 miles west of Midland. After an overnight rain, the midday weather is cool and clear as I make my way south from the parking lot through a corridor of lush vegetation. Along the way, I spot a patch of Water Hemlock with a few colorful Cardinal flowers mixed in. Straight ahead, I reach the top of a 50 ft. wooded bluff overlooking the river. Descending the steep slope to the water’s edge, I look and listen as the subtle sound of the current breaks the quietude of this scenic landscape. Walking upstream along the bank, I spot a few flowers of the invasive, Purple Loosestrife as well as a towering dead Ash tree on the far shore. Turning my attention to the bank, I notice Jerusalem artichoke, Agrimony and Queen Anne’s lace. Climbing back up the slope, I continue west on the bluff where my attention is drawn to the blue sky beyond the dense canopy in addition to a few “Chicken of the Woods” shelf fungi growing on a decaying log. Back down the slope again to the river’s edge, I’m in awe how noontime sunlight bounces off the babbling water. Exploring the flood plain, I get a close up look at the colorful abdomen of an Autumn Meadowhawk Dragonfly as well as colorful blossoms of Virginia Knotweed. Early signs of the next season that come to my attention include: Red Maple leaves on the ground and Asters in bloom. While returning to the car, I come across some Witch Hazel leaves with cone shape galls. These growths are produced by aphids that emerged from eggs laid last fall. As new leaves grew this spring, the aphids sucked the sap from them resulting in the growth of these galls, referred to as “witches hats”. Nearing the car, the bright red stems and unripe green berries of Gray Dogwood shrubs catch my eye. Finally, homeward bound, I’m pleased again to have reconnected to such a valuable natural resource.

Water in motion

West to east

Splash of the fish

Heron’s feast

Bullfrogs moan

Just because

Mallards quack

Cicadas buzz

Rocky rapids

All daylong

Riparian rhapsody

Chippewa’s song

D. DeGraaf

August 12

It’s midday at Gratiot County’s Reed Park, a 100-acre, multi-recreational facility located near the small village of North Star. I’m at the entrance to a ¾ mile rectangular loop called the Beech-Maple Trail. Close to the ground, I spot a few stickseed plants. It is doubtful anyone has taken many walks in the woods without ending up with a several of these sticky seeds on their legs or socks as well as their dog’s hair. I continue on the trail through this shaded landscape noting the closed canopy above me. Also, I observe the contrasting color and texture of bark on a nearby beech and maple tree. Further ahead, I pause and listen to a faint Cicada buzzing sound. These insects have a special organ called a tymbal that produces sound. The tymbal contains a series of ribs that buckle one after the other when the cicada flexes its muscles. Every time a rib buckles, the rib produces a click. Many clicks produce a buzzing sound. Noticing the leaf litter, I’m surprised to see unripe acorns, since they usually fall to the ground after turning brown later in the season. Continuing around the Beech-Maple Trail, I focus on nature’s decomposers including: mushrooms and slime mold. Also, I notice an interesting combination of decomposers on a tree trunk; fungi along with a shredded hole made by a Pileated Woodpecker. Just ahead, movement on the ground catches my attention. Scanning the landscape, I see minimal growth in the understory except in some clearings, where Elderberry bushes are growing. While perusing the leaf litter, I come upon a few Beech Drops sticking up. This herbaceous plant, lacking chlorophyll, makes its living parasitizing the roots of beech trees. A growing plant inserts a root-like structure into a beech root, absorbing enough nutrition to sustain itself. After perking my ears to birdcalls, I make my way past a patch of Sensitive Ferns to the trail exit and the end of another great hike.

Let me stand firm

In the forest deep

In a special place

I long to keep

Let me spread shade

To the earth below

Feed the squirrel

Shelter the crow

If only a hour

Wish I could be

Pride of the woods

A stately oak tree

D. DeGraaf

August 5

I’m gingerly making my way down a steep, muddy slope toward the edge of the Chippewa River. Since my last river rendezvous, 3 weeks ago at Indian Pines Park, it has meandered about 5 miles east to this location. In the cool of the early morning with no mosquitoes bothering me, I’m exploring the 3½-acre, Szok Riverbend Preserve, a new acquisition of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. Located 6 miles east of Mt. Pleasant near the corner of E. River and Wise Rds., this densely forested property protects about a thousand feet of unspoiled riparian habitat. Pausing on the bank, I renew my acquaintance with the sight and sound of the river. According to the river monitoring station in Mt. Pleasant, today’s flow rate is quite slow at 215 cubic ft./sec compared to 431cfs on July 1. Not surprisingly, the water level has gone down about 1 ft. during that same period. Hiking upstream near the water’s edge, I spot Mussel shells as well as tracks of the Raccoon that likely feasted on them. Mussels are important to the river ecosystem because they remove contaminants from water as they filter it for food. The more mussels there are, the better the water quality. Large trees leaning over the water include Elm and Basswood. Continuing upstream, I notice blossoms of Bergamot, Water Parsnips and Daisy Fleabane. Trudging through a patch of Tick Trefoil, several of their small sticky seedpods cling to my pants. Suddenly, I hear the raucous call (stock video) of a Great Blue Heron as it takes off from the far side. Turning around, I retrace my steps downstream and take one last look at the river as it continues its journey toward Midland. Finally, I climb up the steep slope past a patch of Maidenhair Ferns to the car. So ends another close encounter with the “Chip”.

Chippewa River

Lo and behold

Your many secrets

Yet to unfold

Your journey I follow

Your banks to walk

Flora to find

Fauna to stalk

Mile after mile

Straight or veer

Your waters speak

Your call I hear

D. DeGraaf