MNA Keepers

Winter Events In The Keweenaw

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 23:03:00 +0000

www.kewtrav.com

Season's Greetings

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 03:03:00 +0000

Here is wishing each one of you the best of holidays and the greatest
2009! I look forward to working with all of you as we labor to preserve
and protect these great places.
Charles Eshbach

Estivant Remodeling

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:08:00 +0000

This Fall we got started on the rebuilding of the board walk in the
Estivant Pines. In 1974 I helped install the first. Then in 1978 we
rebuilt with cedar. Thirty years later the old boards were just about
out of spring. Nails have eroded the wood and some boards were turning
into spring boards. We are replacing the old with a new plank walkway
that will be easier and safer. A lot of the old boards are being
recycled as decking. With over a 1,000 ft. to build it will take a lot
of material and a few work days. Ted and Alice Soldan are the stewards
and are excited about getting it all done early next summer.
Visitation in the Estivant Pines this summer was over 8,000. With
this steady increase we had to provide more parking spaces at the
entrance. Ten more angle spots were put in along the Burma Rd.
Additional trail re-routes and improvements are planned for next summer
as we protect and preserve this unique place.

Bragging Rights

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:10:00 +0000

The MNA is leading the way in the stewardship of natural areas in the
Keweenaw. I have the finest group of volunteer stewards,(several are
resource managers) who keep me busy finding ways to facilitate their
suggestions as they protect and improve their sanctuaries. We have 9
other conservancies in the region who often quiz me about how I get so
much done. I give the credit to my volunteers.
The following photos illustrate my point. Black Creek N.S.was ravaged by
ORVs. It took a major 2 yr.effort to inform, educate and enforce, these
trespassers. We were successful only because the stewards kept a 24/7
vigil. Our next task was to help nature repair the damage to the
habitat. We re-routed over a mile of our hiking trail to take all the
pressure off the damaged areas. Then came the bridges, plantings (3,000
total)and other erosion control measures. Three years later we are on
our way with a restoration plan and education of the hikers, skiers, and
snowshoer's who visit.
We have accomplished these kinds of projects at a low cost. Truck loads
of native cedar logs were purchased, milled and installed as board
walks, bridges, signs, and benches. All this, including the milling by
volunteers! It is a story I have to tell as the snow flies and I look
back over this past year. It is a tribute to all my stewards and
volunteers, I only buy the nails and haul the lumber.
Photo Captions:
The bridge beams were floated the mile to the site.
Beams in place
Vista from new trail bench
2006 ORV damage
Tree planters filling in trail

Grinnell Mem. at Bare Bluff

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:46:00 +0000

The Grinnell Mem. at Bare Bluff has seen a steady increase in visitors
the last couple years. This increase traffic makes us as stewards look
at the increased impact. At Bare Bluff our trail is one of the most
difficult and the increased use and steep elevation changes, caused us
to look at how we could make the trail easier, safer, and eliminate
potential erosion. In August and October work days were held to design
and build two big improvements. On the lower trail we now have a 365 ft.
re-route which includes 3 switchbacks and traverses a talus slope
greatly improving the footing. On the NW portion of the 3 mile loop we
designed and built 700 ft. of sustainable, low maintence trail with
grades of no more than 15%. The old trail was over 30%. These two
re-routes are major improvements to the visitors comfort and safety as
well as lessning the impact.

Trail Builders School Comes to Keweenaw

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:40:00 +0000

In August a Trail Building School was held in Copper Harbor. The 2 day
school was well attended with over 40 people at the lectures on Saturday
and work session Sunday. Building sustainable, low maintence trails to
national standards was the emphasis.
Sunday morning the group put its newly attained knowledge to practice by
building a badly needed 1,200 foot re-route in the James D. Rooks
Memorial N.S. at Garden Brook, one mile south of Copper Harbor. It was a
great learning experience and the knowledge will certainly be applied in
the Keweenaw.

Nature is the Winner

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:32:00 +0000

This summer we have been busy with people problems. The task of allowing
the public to enter and enjoy our sanctuaries, yet protect and preserve
what is special about that particular place requires a plan. Many of you
helped me write management plans for your sanctuary back in 03 / 04. It
was a detailed process that organized our thoughts and put you as the
steward and I as the manager on the same page. This year we saw the real
value of those management plans. They have sure helped us set
priorities, focus activities and on occasion brought us back to the long
range outlook. The mapping of habitats, plant communities, and
documentation of these has been valuable when it came time to design
that trail re-route to buffer a delicate area. Please read your
Management Plan at least once a year so we can talk when the conditions
and need for updates arise.

noreply@blogger.com (Charlie) — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:07:00 +0000

Bare Bluff-Grinnell outing Postponed

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:44:00 +0000

The slow spring is hurting us as the road conditions are not improving
very fast at Bare Bluff. So I have postponed the work days and LNT
campout which was scheduled for this weekend May 16-17. I will be out of
town the following week so I will reschedule when I return. Stay tuned.

The Black Creek restoration work progressed well. We planted 1,500
White and Red Pine, 1,000 Red Osier Dogwood and 500 White Cedar. Photos
of all the progress are forth coming. Phase II will happen this fall
after we access our spring success rate. Jim and Joy Ziemnick, Black
Creek Stewards are proud of the new trail complete with sitting spots to
slow the hiker down and help us appreciate the beauty of Black and Hill
Creeks. I invite you to hike the trail soon.

Bare Bluff / Grinnell Rescheduled

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:06:00 +0000

We are rescheduling the LNT campout and work days at Bare Bluff
/Grinnell for Friday May 16 and Sat. May 17. See details on the Keepers
Blog from earlier announcements. The slow spring is the reason for the
reschedule as the road into the sanctuary is impassable now.
Please consider helping plant trees at Black Creek next Mon. May 5, and
Wed.May 7, and Thurs. May 8.

Tree Planting at Black Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:51:00 +0000

The first phase of our ORV damage restoration at Black Creek will
involve planting Red and White Pine seedlings in damaged areas and on
eroded trails. Our schedule is Monday, May 5, Wednesday, May 7 and
Thursday, May 8. The time of day is flexible to your schedule. The
longer daylight in the evenings will be idea for teams of two to plant
in 3 hour blocks. Call me (281-3500) or Jim Ziemnick (337-1332) If you
live south of Calumet call me so we can ride out together. Come and join
us as we help nature recover from this abuse.

Grinnell Memorial

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:23:00 +0000

Bare Bluff / Grinnell Mem. is a spectacular view from the top. The trail
to get there is one of our most difficult. Our plans this summer will
greatly improve that.

Mud Holes

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:18:00 +0000

Black Creek has some of the worst ORV damage in the U.P.
With access stopped we will start the restoration process with phase one
in May.

Outlook for Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Josh Eshbach) — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 16:25:00 +0000

It has been a long but nice winter in the western U.P. Now the longer days and warming sun mean getting ready for spring sanctuary visits and putting the final touches on summer plans. As stewards of your various sanctuaries, you are the first line of defense. Your visit in the spring and follow-up report to me of your observations, sets my priorities for the season.

Observations I need you to make:

1. Signs of change from your last visit such as increase in human activity and natural changes.
2. Condition of our signs, trail heads, trail conditions, erosion, windfalls, ORV trespass etc.
3. Neighborhood changes, logging, new building, road construction all may affect our
sanctuaries and will prompt me to follow-up so everyone is aware of our responsibility to protect what we have preserved.
4. I need to hear your thoughts and concerns as how better to improve signage, visitation and
any materials or help you need.

I appreciate each one of you for your faithful work. We have had a steady schedule of events, from the Fall Color Tours to the winter hikes and ski trips, all attended well with lots of compliments from participants due to your help and participation. Work projects have been successful as you have come to the aid of fellow stewards.
We are the leaders in the Keweenaw among conservancies with the most sanctuaries open to the public, beautiful trails, good signs and educational programs and exhibits. Each one of you has played a part in making the MNA shine in the Keweenaw.

Summer Plans

We have an ambitious list of projects for this summer which are going to be fun to accomplish. I will list a couple of the bigger projects so you can consider signing up. I will be putting together crews which will make the work fast and efficient saving our time commitment.

-TBA (due to road conditions) We are having a combination LNT campout and work day at Bare Bluff / Grinnell Mem. N.S. We will be building three switch backs on the trail in order to traverse the loose rock at the base of the bluff. With no bugs, and warm days we plan to set up camp and layout the project on Friday afternoon, then build the trail Saturday. Dig out your camp stove, and LNT gear for a great time.

-May 5 - 7 we will start our Black Creek restoration project, phase I. See success story. We will have 1,500 Red and White Pine seedlings to plant on old ORV trails and along the streams.

-We have a trail re-route and extension to construct at the Garden Brook / James Rooks Mem. That work will be done with the help of Sam and Jason and their Copper Harbor Trail Club.

-The second observation platform will be constructed at the Lake Perault / Robert T.Brown N.S the last part of May. Jeffers High School students will play a key role.

Other smaller projects include, bridge building on Black Creek, scrap metal clean up, trail design and flagging, “you are here” sign routing, gate installation, and display design and erection. I will be talking to many of you soon concerning your projects.

Success ! Now What

I am sure most of you read the stories in the Mining Gazette and January MNA newsletter about our efforts last summer to bring the ORV traffic at the Black Creek N.S. under control. It had been a frustrating problem for years but impossible to act upon until Jim and Joy Ziemnick stepped up as stewards. Without them on sight as monitors we wouldn’t have succeeded. Jim reports no activity all fall and a big increase in skiers and snowshoers this winter. He lead 31 on a snowshoe hike of the newly revised trail earlier.

Now what ? The ORV damage in the lagoon region of the sanctuary was MDNR accessed as the worst in the U.P. To assist nature in repairing this destruction we are starting a multi-phased restoration program. With the help of 1970s photos we have designed several plantings to stabilize banks and replace missing tree canopy. The first plantings of red and white pine seedlings will start May 5. followed by, willow, dogwood, and beach grass plantings in the fall. We are receiving great technical assistance from restoration experts and look forward to watching this special place recover. Let me know if you can join one of our teams.