Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Road to the Pigeon River Forest




“He who chooses the beginning of the road chooses the place it leads to. It is the means that determines the end.”

-- Harry Emerson Fosdick (American clergyman 1878-1969)

Information on the Pigeon River Forest as quoted by it's Association:

The Pigeon River Country Association began in 1971 when a group of local citizens, sportsmen, and environmental activists banded together to save the last great tract of undeveloped land in Michigan's lower peninsula. This land, which Ernest Hemingway called the "pine barrens east of Vanderbilt" and what Michigan pioneer conservationist P.S. Lovejoy liked to call "The Big Wild", is home to the largest herd of wild elk east of the Mississippi and forms a major part of the watershed of three of Michigan's premier trout streams, the Sturgeon, the Pigeon River, and the Cheboygan Black. Left a shambles by early logging and the fires that followed, by the rapid expansion of the oil and gas industry and facing the threat of other forms of overdevelopment of the northern lower peninsula, the efforts of this grass-roots association, working in concert with other concerned organizations, were to result in the official establishment, in 1974, of the Pigeon River Country Forest as a special management unit of over 100 square miles in four counties administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources according to a special Plan of Management overseen by a special state-appointed advisory council. The association's efforts, backed by law-suites and court decisions, also led to the precedent-setting Hydrocarbon Development Plan that has served as a model for responsible oil and gas drilling and production practices that are now being implemented throughout the rest the state of Michigan.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very interesting and such a beautiful picture. Enjoy your day.

Patsy said...

That said it so well about the road you take in life, Beautiful.
Patsy

Ashley said...

Thank you for sharing. What a pretty yet simple picture.

Cedar ... said...

As a person who retired from The Nature Conservancy I certainly can appreciate this post. Good!

Dawn Marie said...

what a beautiful photo, once again. I would love to drive down this road...very peaceful looking

Busy Bee Suz said...

Just gorgeous...thanks for sharing the info too. ;0
have a great day. suz

Unknown said...

That looks like good sledding country ... but watch out for traffic!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Beautiful photo, Shelley... That's what I LOVE about WINTER.... I want to get a sleigh and take a ride.
Hugs,
Betsy

Anonymous said...

lol, first, I couldn't have worded the history better, so simply put! Secondly, should I be upset you stole a blog idea of mine...naaa I am totally honored you posted a wonderful blog.
Thirdly..this is my favorite...that's is my mountain in the back ground. The road on the right before you head up the pass is my road. Great Photo! I have many of these!
P.S. will keep you posted on a saturday group snowshoe!

Anonymous said...

They actually saved that patch of land from development? Am I reading that correctly? Superb!

Karen said...

I'm with Dawnie! I'd love to drive down the road. Hey - you just might see the two of coming, laughing all the way!!!! Ha!
By the way Michigan begins with "M" too!! lol
HAGD!

Chrissy said...

Fantastic shot.

Tina said...

This was very interesting to read and I also enjoyed the music as I read! Beautiful shot and nice quote.

mo_inoh said...

I use to go up to Michigan with my dad when I was kid to go fishing. I wish I could back and fish with my dad just one more time.

Jeannette StG said...

The snowy road makes the trees look so regal. Beautiful pic-glad I found you.

Sunny said...

I Love that quote, and love the photo! The road, which looks like a path (in myown eyes:) "leads" me to somewhere when I gaze at it. :) Beautiful shot!

Shelley said...

Mildred - thank you!!

Bennie & Patsy - I love going down beautiful roads like this...

Ashley - Thank you - I think this road will look even nicer come spring w/ more greenery!

Darla - thanks!

Cedar - you never told me you had worked at the Nature Conservancy! You & I need to talk more! :)

Dawnie - when me & the hubby were driving down this road - we felt so peaceful and content to drive slow.

Busy Bee - I hope you have a great weekend!

Robert - exactly! Maybe I can put up roadblocks...

Betsy - I'll have to put horses and sleighs on my list for Christmas next year! LOL!

Nature Lovin - you SHOULD post all the photos of your beautiful neck of the woods! I would love to see em!

Tricia - I believe Michigan is ranked in the top 5 for the most preserved state land.

Karen - I would love to see that!!

Chris - thank you very much!

Tina - glad I didn't bore you w/ the history - LOL! I never know whether people will read this stuff or not.

MO - northern michigan is a beautiful place to fish - I can see why you have so many great memories!!

jeanette - welcome - so glad you stopped by!!

Judy - I was hoping to find an elk at the end of the road - but no luck! So we just enjoyed the trees...

Jeannette StG said...

Thank you for commenting on the sketch of the "Happy Feet." Yeah, I like the original the best too, but I like to experiment in Photoshop :) cheers.

Cape Cod Rambling Rose said...

What a fabulous photo!