Tower Hill Camp

Saturday, January 11

Sawyer, Michigan

About 30 of us met at Tower Hill Camp under a blue sky full of white fluffy clouds and temperatures right at freezing. Around 4 inches of packed snow covered everything. After learning the difference between hibernation, torpor, frogcicles and several other winter animal survival strategies, we headed down First Ave. and made our way to the local beach access trail. The snow- and partially ice-covered Painterville Creek was beautiful. Eventually, we came upon snow-covered dune grasses and an shelf ice forming on the snow-covered beach. A perfect example of an active ice volcano was waiting right in front of us and after a short walk down the beach we found huge ice balls, nearly two feet in diameter, that were still forming. After everyone had a chance to get their photos, we turned around and made our way back to the parking lot. Most of the hikers decided to continue to Tower Hill Woods. We shared the trails with cross country show skiers. All in all, it was the perfect day for a gorgeous hike. (Photo of a Lake Michigan ice ball by Greta Elizabeth Hurst.)