Turnip Rock

2/20/2021

Port Austin, MI

I had a last minute substitution. Poor Gob’s little paws don’t hold up to the frigid temperatures and deep snow (especially when he won’t keep his shoes on). He sure does love to roll in it though…Mason steps in, promising to keep his shoes on.

He inquires about the temperature as we near our starting point. It’s a balmy 20 degrees. I had promised 25. He pouts. Five minutes later, the thermometer reads 24. I make sure to point out that I was right. We pull in to Bird Creek Park.

While researching how to best make the trek over frozen Lake Huron to Turnip Rock, I found few resources. A rough kayaking map. General recommendations for snow shoes or cross country skis. I looked over the map. The lack of available snow shoes left us with hiking boots.

There are indentations in the snow showing the path of a few cross country skiers who are as crazy as us. I keep looking around, commenting on how empty the “trail” is. Mason reminds me that hiking on frozen lakes when it’s below freezing isn’t exactly a normal activity for most people. Thankfully we are not most people.

As the sun shines brighter, we begin to shed layers. Mason opts to leave his coat in the snow to pick up on our way back. I am reminded of how explorers in Antarctica will bury stashes of food in the snow to find as they make their way home on a trip – delighting over a frozen candy bar they had forgotten about. I doubt we will experience the same joy when gathering Mason’s coat.

The distant light house never seems to get any closer. I figured deep snow would slow our typical hiking pace significantly, but we are making surprisingly good time. That is until I am drawn in to the mesmerizing blues and greens hiding within the ice.