Two words--Mackinac Island

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:49 am

We got 12 earthcaches, 10 on the island and two on the mainland. There's one more near St. Ignace but we didn't have time. Almost every one of them is pretty cool. Sea caves, sea stacks, a couple different neat springs, a geologic fault in the island you wouldn't want to cross in the dark. Fun stuff! We were surprised at the lack of fossil traces in any of the Mackinac breccia limestones we studied. The limestone around here is riddled with that kind of thing. I wonder if the lack of glaciation here accounts for that?

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:56 pm

We are looking at doing the Machinaw area. Have EC's loaded. Congrats on the adventure. We were jealous that you hit the area before us!! wink

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:48 pm

I was there two years ago last week...sadly that was before most of the ECs got placed there....and most all the other caches as well. I so wish I was going back again.....maybe someday.

The funny thing is when we were there I was on the mainland and walked about 100 yards into the water and found a ring in the sand....it was a black stone ring...very odd luck to find that way out in the water like that and in the sand to boot.

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 6:55 pm

Prior to all the madness that I call the last year of my life I was planning a trip up that way specifically for caching and the couple earthcaches that they had there at the time. Maybe next summer I can make that well deserved trip.

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:47 pm

Trekkin' and Birdin' wrote:

We got 12 earthcaches, 10 on the island and two on the mainland. There's one more near St. Ignace but we didn't have time. Almost every one of them is pretty cool. Sea caves, sea stacks, a couple different neat springs, a geologic fault in the island you wouldn't want to cross in the dark. Fun stuff! We were surprised at the lack of fossil traces in any of the Mackinac breccia limestones we studied. The limestone around here is riddled with that kind of thing. I wonder if the lack of glaciation here accounts for that?

Thanks for the tip. May be worth a side trip on the way back from MWGB....Where do you go to catch the ferry? I have never been there before.

z

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:50 pm

Ferrys

From the South at Mackinaw City: N45 46.652 W84 43.274

...or from the North at St.Ignace: N45 52.019 W84 43.284

...just bring lots of money the ferry's aint cheap.

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:49 pm

I wouldn't make this a side trip, but the main event. There are currently 60 active caches on the island, and because of the terrain, you will be working for many of them. But very well worth the effort. We truly had a blast and saw many areas of the island untouched by tourists. Fun time!

We were able to buy two day tickets from Sheplers for $33. Otherwise, it would have cost each of us $50. The bikes are an extra $7.50,. but rentals on the island start at $7/hour for a one speed. Two fo the four of us camped on the mainland, we packed most of our food and enjoyed just a little fudge and a celebratory ice cream cone on the island, keeping our expenses for the trip fairly reasonable, considering.