Visit to the Michigan CCC Museum

 The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) Museum for Michigan is at Higgins Lake State Park.  FYI the CCC’s were started as way to get America back to work during the Great Depression.  Over 100,000 men enrolled in this program across the US.   Reforestation and land management was the emphasis in MI. These CC Corpsmen lived a basic training, military lifestyle and were paid $35.00 a month.  $30.00 was sent home to their families.  This was the Depression so this was good hard earned cash.  Plus they got three squares and a cot.  I am proud to know that my dad stepped up and helped replant Michigan with white, red and jack pines and take care of his mom and the farm back home.  Michigan had almost been lumber to death.   I mentioned earlier that there is only one natural forest left in Michigan (Hartwick Pines).  

 As you ride around MI you will see pines planted in straight rows.  This is some of the work done by the CCCs.   Just for a few fun facts:  the Michigan CCCs planted 484 million trees, spent 140,000 days fighting forest fires, constructed 7,000 miles of truck trails and 504 bridges and 222 buildings.  The program was operational from 1933 – 1942.  Coincidentally it ended at the startup of WWII. 

The CCC museum is just a small building that is a replica of a CCC barracks.  Also on the grounds is the original Higgins lake nursery (1903).  Seeds were collected from pine cones, seedlings started and then planted.  Pine cones would be heated, then tumbled to release the seeds.  Reforestation was all experimental.  Examples of over planting and under planting are highlighted through the fitness trail.  This is a good example of good practices learned and bad practices discarded.

Yes, we did walk the fitness trail. It was another beautiful walk in the woods.  Funny enough….I had phone reception for the first time in two days.  I found this out after I back pack dialed my sister Gail, twice and she called me back worried.  It was nice to stop for a talking break.

The next morning I kissed Les and Brady good bye and went to visit my mare Sophie.  She is staying with my friends Dug and Val.  Val and I had a great ride.  She took me to trails I had never ridden with her before.  We crossed dams and wooden bridges.  Saw hidden ponds and a lake.  None of which you could ever drive to.  This was really a bad day to forget my camera.  They do live in a great horse friendly area.    It was so nice to ride Sophie again and I think she was happy to see me.   Plus we picked wild blueberries (huckleberries).  Very yumm.  And saw at least 8 deer.

When I came back to the campground Les said that Brady had caught and played with a ground squirrel until it wouldn’t play anymore (you can take the puppy out of the farm but you can’t take the farm out of the puppy)  Good job Braders!! 

Houghton Lake Camping World tomorrow to get our Satellite dish system and buy bikes.

12 July 2011