The most memorable trip we took was to the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It was memorable largely because of the rugged beauty of the dunes and the magnificent views of Lake Michigan. Of course, there was the crazy climb. We were at the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, with all the other old folks and retirees, admiring the views of Lake Michigan. Then Edna decides that it would be fun and challenging to scramble down the 450 foot bluff. There's actually a warning sign that suggests that you not try it but, well, I guess the thrill of being physically challenged augments one's judgment. If Edna was going, I was as well. I'd seen one young man crawl up and sit breathlessly on the boardwalk, so I knew that it would be difficult. Anyway, we made the descent easily enough and the high bluff loomed ominously above us. Going down, we passed another guy, who could only say, "It's very tough ..." as he scrambled up the sand past us.
To give an idea of how physically demanding the thing was: we had to climb on all fours, we kept slipping because of the sand, and we had to stop every twenty steps because our hearts were beating so hard and our limbs were fatigued. And we're not exactly out of shape -- we've been running quite a lot. After a while we realized that we were providing some entertainment / drama for people at the top who were taking pictures of the Asian couple crazy enough to make the climb. We did make it, after about half an hour of climbing, and were congratulated by an old couple who were monitoring our progress up the bluff ("We were wondering if you'd make it before the park closed ....") Apart from the sense of achievement, we came away with sand filled shoes, forearms, quads, and gluts that ached for several days after, and a healthy respect for warning signs (more me than Edna).
Anyway, some pics:
The long descent. If one looks carefully, you can actually see a person at the beach already. This was the other guy that tried the climb while we were there.
This pic was taken at about the half-way mark, it was about a 45 to 60 degree (?) incline. Anyway, after a while you lost sight of the boardwalk at the top of the bluff and really began to feel alone.
Of course we finally make it down and have all the way up ahead of us.
One of our many rest stops. I think the number of stops we made dissuaded anyone else from attempting the climb...
"Let me be your manifestation in the granite streets of the cities, leaving you free for all unencumbered missions. I will be your mark. You will be my meaning. I will be your sign. You will be my signification. You will be the freer, relieved of the mark I carry, to move more fully, further, faster." (S.R. Delany, Flight From Neveryon)
