Old Baldy and Green Point Hikes

 
Today was a hike with the Spirit of the Woods Chapter of the NCTA. We chose to go somewhere other than on the North Country Trail for a change. We used to do this a lot, but the past few years we've stuck to the NCT because of the 100 mile challenge. But we wanted to see something different again. We went north and hiked two trails at Arcadia Dunes. I thought I had hiked all of those in July 2017, but somehow I missed Green Point, so that one was new to me.

Here's our group picture. It's taken at almost the exact spot of the fourth picture down in the post linked below. Different season! We did a three-mile loop at Old Baldy. (Of course there are many bare dunes along the Lake Michigan shore nicknamed Old Baldy, but this is the one at Arcadia Dunes Nature Preserve.)



Out on the bluff at the top of the dune, you look down to the lake. It's a lot farther than it looks in this picture!



This is the view to the north.



It's early April. We have to take our green where we can find it. This is a club moss, probably Northern Ground Cedar, They used to all be in the Lycopodiums, but now there are new genera. Diphasiastrum complanatum



And probably shining fir moss, Huperzia lucidula



Then we drove a few miles north to hike a two-mile loop at Green Point. This trail has three overlooks above Lake Michigan. Since the day was gray and misty (but we didn't really get wet), the views are sort of magical. This one is looking south with the big lake on the right and Lower Herring Lake off on the left.



At the third overlook there are stairs so you can go down to lake level. Here's the view north toward Frankfort.



I just liked this picture of the bluffs. Looks wild.



The best green on that trail was some moss on a lumpy tree.



and I liked this fungus growing on a dead tree.



Fun day!

There is no other news. This really took all day. After I got home and cleaned up I've just been taking it easy and looking up a few odds and ends.

Arcadia Dunes, Old Baldy loop 3 miles, and Arcadia Dunes, Green Point loop 2 miles, Banzie County, Michigan

	See Arcadia Dunes
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