Gordon Three,
How did you like the 2-1/2 miles of pristene pure sand beach and Lake Michigan bottom and the huge tall dunes at Hoffmaster that turn your you thought athletic legs to rubber when climbing them for the lookout views etc? Miles of hiking trails that vary from along Black Creek to very dense hardwood and pines woods/forest to pure soft sand and a steep sand climb and back down again and then to the flowered meadows teaming with colorful birds and butterflies and with gobs of wildlife both large and small including many whitetailed deer from spotted babies to 12-14 point bucks? Lots of wild purple concord grapes to pick and safe to eat on the dunes. The wild flowers abound from early spring until after the first frost in later fall.
Those pure soft sand dune climbs are 2 steps forward and slide back 1 so it as if the dune is twice as high and so steep in many areas and makes your ole ticker pound so hard clear up thru your ears and head! The inland side of the dunes are extremely steep and more like 6 crawls forward/up and slide back down 5 crawl distances. Seems like it takes an hour to get to the top but the views are more than worth the torture!
Years ago before it was a state park, there were long stretched out motorcycles with wide paddle tires that couldn't even climb halfway up most of the dune inland sides. Just north of the state park is the Mt. Garfield professional Hill Climb site (the first in America) Google it for various articles and pics: www.mlive.com/.../all_star_pro_hill_climb_return_1.html
Last about 30 year they've planted grass to help with tire grip and stabilize the steep hill and they only have the climb every 2 years there so the grass roots can grow deeper. Used to be that out of 50-60 climbers only a couple wouldn't make it to the top and there were so many spectators injured badly with motorcycles that flew or tumbled down the hill with no rider on it and they were forced to make it safer. It now a timed climb rather than can you even get to the top! A mind boggling sight sitting and watching them go up that hill burning nitro etc.
We used to love climbing the 9 tall dunes as fast as we could for over 30 years but at almost 73 it's a bit much now and especially can't now because my wife is disabled now so it's a no no. Not sure I could do it either today! No one can ever take the fabulous memories of the fun we'd had there. It's our forever to remember and enjoy!
The 2 story Gillete visitor center between the dunes with it's displays, shows, and many programs for adults and kids and even classrooms for kids with live animals from the park is very unique? Where Little Black Creek flows into Lake Michigan near the campground beach changes constantly. The flow will move from almost in front of the stairway down to the beach at the end of the beach path all the way north to past the dune on the north side of the creek. Varies about 1/4 mile from year to year or over a few years and that's what forms the usually large little kids shallow playing in/wading pool that forms a hundred feet or so before the sand dammed water spill over into the lake. Very popular with little kids! Don't be surprised if the creek and the camping area big beach looks different the next time you go there. It changes constantly with the shifting sand!
