Fall Colors are running about 2 weeks behind normal peak this year, and I was able to swing a last minute trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to coincide with it. It was a trip that almost didn’t happen. I had planned on going somewhere this week, but wasn’t quite sure where. The week started bad with a little tickle in my throat indicating that I might be coming down with something. I had a pre-scheduled checkup doctor appointment Monday and by then I already had a bad sore throat. Despite it being early on in the symptoms, I persuaded him to give me a script for some antibiotics “just in case” it got much worse. It did.
Oh yeah, well take this sinuses – a nuclear warhead of Alka-Seltzer Severe Cold-Flu fizzy tablets, with antibiotics and Red Bull. Ha!! I committed to this and I’m gonna take some photos. I proceeded to perhaps not do the smartest choice and take the difficult trail up to Sugarloaf Mountain. What can I say? My head wasn’t exactly clear at the moment. All the other people there seemed to be headed that way anyway, how tough could it be?
Well, it wasn’t THAT tough – a lot of rocks and roots that act as your staircase. Some good ankle twister close calls and stumbles – but hey – I was on drugs. Then the stairs, the never ending stair cases it seemed. Just when you think you were close, there was another. It was probably overly dramatic given my state of mind at the time, but hey – there are officially 308 of them.
Michigan Fall Colors! Sugarloaf Mountain panoramic, 4 image stitch
So this is getting overly whiny and this post needs to end soon. At the top you are granted with a 360 deg view of the area overlooking Marquette and Lake Superior. The view was really spectacular, with Michigan’s fall color in all their glory. The skies were turbulent with clouds and small isolated rainstorms over Lake Superior. I spent a good amount of time walking around exploring all of the different views. Then it began to hail.
To be continued.
Hey, you’ll always remember the act of taking this photo and the story behind it…just think of it as an enriching experience…a real “high” so to speak. Wonderful colors and well captured…as always!
True, and I’ll think of the healing powers of nature, or medicinal supported nature… 🙂
Mark, fantastic shot considering that you weren’t feeling well, or perhaps not feeling anything. 🙂 Good thing there is auto focus! 😀 Not a lot of spectacular color happening around here, so it’s nice to see some from “up north”.
Lol Paul, and vibration reduction! I needed both with my contacts drying out from decongestants and fiddling around for tissue constantly. It is still early for you folks down there eh? Don’t your colors start rockin around the end of October?
This past summer I climbed 260 rock steps on Trail Ridge 14,005 feet elevation. They call it Huffers hill. Both of us were huffing within the first 30 steps.
A “hail” of a story, even if it was a bit whiny. I like your honesty, telling us, “I was on drugs”, again. You probably wouldn’t have made it otherwise. 🙂 And the gorgeous images prove it happened and it was worth your effort. You may have to do it again.
Well that is certainly a lot more elevation than we had here in Michigan Monte! That thin air makes a difference I’m sure.
I was absolutely drenched in sweat and needed to sit a bit before reaching the top. Despite being sick, in peak shape I am not.
Great shot Mark! Sounds like quite a hike up…..As you know I was there about a week too early, so I’m glad one of us got to see the ‘glory’!
Thanks Howard. I hope you at least got some color. The UP is beautiful anytime regardless.
It certainly is beautiful no matter what the season. We got some nice color the day before we left finally. Before that had a lot of nice waterfalls and lakes to shoot!